Building up a load .223 results

fratri

fratri

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With the nice weather here, I decided to build up a load that I could use for coyote hunting next winter. Changing over from my SP's to Vmax....

Here are the results. It was pretty windy out so only took the target out to 70 yds... More testing to be sure but looks like the 25.5 gets the nod for now.





Shooting a Stevens 200 in a .223 topped with a Bushnell 3200 4x12 scope.
 
fratri said:
With the nice weather here, I decided to build up a load that I could use for coyote hunting next winter. Changing over from my SP's to Vmax....

Here are the results. It was pretty windy out so only took the target out to 70 yds... More testing to be sure but looks like the 25.5 gets the nod for now.





Shooting a Stevens 200 in a .223 topped with a Bushnell 3200 4x12 scope.
Click to expand...

55 grain Nosler Varminator /25 grains of Varget work well with my Savage
 
any idea on velocity? I use 25.0grs H322 in my 223 and BLC2 is way slower burn rate. Might only be in the 2900 fps range?
 
55g VMAX with 25.5 Varget is my load too. The .223 Savage Axis c/w Burris Fullfield 4-12x42 gets .6-.7 MOA @ 100 yards if I'm reasonably steady. I thought you said on OOD that you preferred the 55g SP for slightly better penetration if hitting bone? (or was that CoyHunter?) I would like to chrony the load but don't have the equip either.
 
Hey Frat

If you are doing load development I strongly suggest doing it on a calm day, you might be surprised on how the wind changes things...especially with a .22 cal bullet. Id also suggest trying a 50 gr Vmax too,,,they are deadly poison for a coyote and do very little pelt damage.

Cheers!!
 
canthitathing said:
55g VMAX with 25.5 Varget is my load too. The .223 Savage Axis c/w Burris Fullfield 4-12x42 gets .6-.7 MOA @ 100 yards if I'm reasonably steady. I thought you said on OOD that you preferred the 55g SP for slightly better penetration if hitting bone? (or was that CoyHunter?) I would like to chrony the load but don't have the equip either.
Click to expand...

No, it was me that said that about the 55 sp bullets and hitting bone makes them a better penetrating bullet...... but reading some of the other posts where guys are getting a lot of coyotes dropping right in their tracks, I thought I should at least buy a box of vmax bullets and give them a try. Most of my coyotes tend to spin a couple of times before falling over, just looking to try something new and maybe better? I guess luck and time will tell :)
 
Try 23.7 grains of Benchmark powder for 55gr V Max OAL 2.240". At 100 yards I get .177" groups with that load. Shooting with a Tikka T3 HB.

I use Benchmark for all my .223 loads, 50 - 60 grain bullets. Great consistency and tight groups.
 
The best bullet for anchoring coyotes for me so far has been the 69gr TMK.

I dont know if its because of the time and money Ive spent shooting since Ive first started this journey or not. But I can tell you that shot placement is a major factor in getting them to eat dirt where theyve been shot. :)
 
55gr Sierra Gameking + 25gr Varget = 0.75'' 5 shot group @ 100m.

from everyone else's post, seems like 25gr varget is a good starting point for 55gr bullets. anyone would like to confirm this? or have other result with Varget?
 
55gr cheap BTFMJ's, 25.0gr Varget - 2,995 fps out of a CZ, don't know the barrel length off the top of my head. Could load 'em slightly hotter, but why? - these ones kill every piece of paper they hit...

Shot my first <MOA group with these (yeah, I don't shoot rifle much) - only thing I dislike about Varget is, it won't go through a standard charge thrower; rod powder flakes jam it.

Anybody using CFE223? I'd like to try some.
 
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I don't like Varget with lighter bullets I find the load is very compressed with any charge that gives decent speed.
 
I've used Varget in reloading for several .223's with a 1-9 twist and 55gr v-max. Seems most rifles prefer close to start loads in the 25gr range. 25.1, 25.4gr of Varget. Benchmark has proven to produce some " one ragged hole groups" at 23.4gr, 23.5gr using both nosler 55gr and 55gr V-max bullets.

As someone suggested, try to stick to clam days for load tests, early am when winds are calm.Results can change drastically due to windy conditions. Try to keep variables the same when load testing ie) test at 100yrds for all load tests, one other thing I have learned after you find what you think is a good load at 100yrds, try some testing at 200yrds and beyond. Sometimes what's a good load at 100yrds is not so good at 300yrds.

One important point about load testing, best results seem to occur when OCD is in high gear.... consistency between each bullet is key to great groups ie) case prep, charge weight consistency , bullet seating depth etc. Careful though the rabbit hole is deep and dark....LOL

I do have 2 rifles that I load for that like Varget a bit hotter 25.9 and 26.2 gr one is a Ruger predator and the other is a savage. So It does pay to try loading through a good range of charge weights.

Varget and benchmark have really worked well in all the .223 rifles I have shot it from using 55gr nosler and hornady bullets flat based soft points and nylon tipped projectiles.

Good luck with load testing.... but careful of the rabbit hole cause once you fall in money disapears and its hard to climb out!
 
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