Need a scale and a .223 bullet/powder recommendation for groundhogs

.22LRGUY

.22LRGUY

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Looking for maximum effect. :) Let me back-up a little...

I shoot a Savage Precision 10 Carbine in .223, 20" barrel / 1:9 rate of twist. Up 'til now, I've been shooting factory Hornady 55gr. V-Max with good results, but I want better control and heck...want to try my hand at re-loading anyway. Long winters with most of my free time after 9pm. So, I've rounded-up pretty much everything but a good digital scale, powder, primers, and bullets. I'd like to do some load testing between now and early spring..but was hoping you guys might have a few ideas of loads you like, bullets that really get it done, etc. Specific powder brand/primer/bullet combos would be very much appreciated. Have most of the .223 Hornady brass I've put through the gun waiting. :) I get the impression that twist rate should favor slightly heavier bullets, the ideal round would be pretty flat out to 200-250 yards. I know...I want it all. :)

I'm also hung-up on the scale decision. A friend of mine uses a Lyman XP1500 with the built-in trickler and this makes sense to me (@ approx. $210) but I'm wondering if you guys have any other ideas? I'm in S. Ontario, so a local dealer would be preferred..but I'm open to ideas. I know I do want digital.

More questions will follow I'm sure, thanks for taking a moment to reply.
 
I use 27 grain of varget with 55 grain V-max, Federal Match primer,Winchester brass. consitent 1/2 MOA shooter. Same twist as yours but a 26" barrel.

I use a Lyman beam scale. I have a very basic reload setup, takes a bit longer but loads are always very consistent.
 
Nothing wrong with sticking with the 55 vmax. If you want more pink mist move down to a 45 or 50gn bullet. Use a finer powder such as H335 it will trickle/throw better in an autodispenser, Varget is a awesome stable powder and is my current go to for long range and heavier bullets. Primer I use cci450 Chargemaster is the best in a side by side comparison. Good luck.
 
50gr vmax as fast as you can drive them. Each gun is different so you must try a few powders. I use varget, blc2, and reloader10x. Good luck. I use a lee beam scale and a cheap digital scale. Works for me
 
I use 55 VMAX and H335 or AA2230. Both moving around 3300fps... blows up realllly good! I didn't have the best accuracy with the 40gr VMAX, but my Tikka is a 1:8 twist.
 
Thanks for the replies, guys, keep 'em coming! brybenn~I see you're in southern Ontario, do you varmint hunt? Groundhogs?
 
Although they are on the hairy edge with a 1:9 I have had success with Hornady 55gr SP SX. The jacket is so thin that with a 1:9 at 223 velocities they could spin the jacket right off. Mine hold together and are positively explosive.
 
lcq said:
Although they are on the hairy edge with a 1:9 I have had success with Hornady 55gr SP SX. The jacket is so thin that with a 1:9 at 223 velocities they could spin the jacket right off. Mine hold together and are positively explosive.
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Hey Icq~thanks for the recommendation. What powder are you using/grain weight, etc.? Primers? What rifle are you shooting with 1:9?
 
Well with a 1in9 twist your gun should stabilze most .224 bullets. I would say that the 55grn Vmax is a great projectile and there is really not need to change it up. If you want a lighter bullet you could look a barnes varmint grenades, on the flipside for a heavier bullet the hornady 75grn A-max is also good (overkill for groundhogs though).

For .223 powder I like Accurate 2230, not too expensive but good produces good accuracy and it was specifically designed for the .223rem so that is a plus.

Primers, I find most american made match primers offer similar performance but if you are just shooting groundhogs you don't exactly need match primers.
 
AlbertaGunslinger said:
Well with a 1in9 twist your gun should stabilze most .224 bullets. I would say that the 55grn Vmax is a great projectile and there is really not need to change it up. If you want a lighter bullet you could look a barnes varmint grenades, on the flipside for a heavier bullet the hornady 75grn A-max is also good (overkill for groundhogs though).

For .223 powder I like Accurate 2230, not too expensive but good produces good accuracy and it was specifically designed for the .223rem so that is a plus.

Primers, I find most american made match primers offer similar performance but if you are just shooting groundhogs you don't exactly need match primers.
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I beg your pardon sir?!? :D lol If I actually thought that way, I'd stick with factory ammo. I'm looking for an accuracy edge, while maintaining/improving on the whallop-factor. On a serious note, define "overkill" with the 75 gr. A-Max...? I know a 17HMR will kill a groundhog so .223 anything is overkill unless I'm really reaching out to them. "Overkill" meaning some performance is lost=not necessary OR, the end result/destructive nature?
 
It is just that the 75 grain A-max is the kind of projectile you might use for deer in a .223 in areas where that is legal. However you make a valid point that any .223 will do more than enough damage to kill a groundhog. The A-max is a fine projectile so use it if you wish.
 
I use my 223 for coyotes and gophers. 25.7gr varget pushing 53gr vmax (~3050fps). I have been playing with 60gr bergers with 27gr varget(~3100 fps), berger 77gr with 24gr varget(~2680fps). I have also used varmint grenades with 26gr varget(~3450fps), and 40gr sierra hp with 27gr h4895 and varget (~3400fps) All shoot alot less then an inch at 100 if i do my part My best is ~.3" and worst 1.3" at 100 but consistently hovers around .7" at 100

All that said I will not buy the varmint grenades ever again. They act like fmj. I had a few gophers just run away after 2-3 rounds into it at less then 20 yards. Vmax are alot more fun there is nothing left after

Edit: My rifle is also a 1 in 9 twist
 
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I have been doing some varmint work with 40gn nosler ballistic tips over a max load of CFE-223 in a 12 twist Tikka T-3, never chronied but it has amazing results and still in an inch at 100yrds (or so). In my neck of the woods we have a bunny overpopulation and if you aim a tad low it will disintegrate a rabbit. I popped one momma bunny at about 70 yrds and there were baby bunnies blown out about 10 feet away in several directions. lol Simply a sight to see...

A good shot will simply remove the head and it makes for quick cleaning and skinning.
 
I second that varmint grenades suck. They do drill nice clean holes thru a metal burn barrel. BOTH SIDES. So much for blowing up inside a grape. They patterned not grouped in 3 different rifles with 3 different powders. Went back to vmax and got great groups.
 
brybenn said:
Yup. I wouldn't call what I do to groundhogs quite hunting (more like assassination) but yes I hunt fox and coyote as well as ground hogs and small game
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Sounds like I don't need to send you any 55gr. V-Max+groundhog photos then. :) Yes, long-range dispatch (and sometimes NOT-so-long range) is key, a side-order of re-arrangement being the bonus if the bullet finds any bone. Man..spring can't come soon enough. :)

Thanks for this guys, a really appreciate the input. Think I'll grab that Lyman XP1500, need a trickler anyway.
 
I found great results with 13.5gr of Bluedot pushing a Hornady 55gr SPSX with Federal cases & Winchester Small Rifle primers. These bullets explode when they hit a gopher & they get big air time. I get abbout 500 rounds per lb of powder. I shoot them from a 1in9 twist Stevens bolt gun.
These won't cycle a semi.
Regards, Henry
 
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