Preferences for .223 varmint ammo?

[surfclod]

Looking for advice on buying ammo for a .223 bolt gun.

I want it to be suitable for varmint and predator hunting (hollow point, nylon tip, or similar bullet construction) and deliver a reasonable level of accuracy. Another point of consideration is that I want the brass to of good reloadable quality.

Eventually I hope to have about 1000 rounds of brass and accumulate the precision reloading equipment and components and then exclusively shoot reloads.

Until then I plan to find a decent factory load, shoot it and save the brass. I picked up a couple boxes of Winchester white box 45 grain (just to have something on hand) and hope to try some Hornady as well. Obviously it will depend a lot on what my gun prefers (1 in 12" twist) but wondering if there are any other lower priced offerings that I should look into; are there any FMJ surplus offerings that can deliver MOA accuracy and decently reloadable brass? (I expect a FMJ bullet would be fine on gophers as its the velocity as much as bullet expansion that does the dramatic effect I have come to enjoy)

 

[nowarningshot]

Not sure about Sask, but FMJ is illegal in BC, most also consider it potentially dangerous and unethical. True surplus that is FMJ would also often be a copper washed steel case, unsuitable for reloading.

Find what your rifle likes, keep an eye out on the EE for that brand brass. Then as you are discarding brass through your reloading, at least the factory ammo you are buying will give you identical brass for consistent reloads.

 

[Cranky Pants]

My 10 xp likes the white box stuff better than more expensive Hornady and I have had very good groupings from cheap federal red box as well. I buy anything I can find and try it, sometimes you can be surprised.

 

[skypilot]

Hornady 55 Vmax
Federal AE 50 JHP

FMJ make poor hunting rounds and seem to ricochet badly especially in winter conditions.

 

[brybenn]

Winchester white or Grey box positive expanding should work fine and the brass is very good

 

[unstableryan]

My favourite for gophers is either the 35gr vmax at about 3500 or the 40gr Berger hp at a similar Mach 3.

 

[unstableryan]

The 35gr vmax is meant for the .22 hornet... So it's silly at high speed.

 

[surfclod]

I do prefer the V-max bullet but if I can get FMJ that shoots MOA I would be happy. On a gopher a FMJ at over 3000fps is still far better than a regular 22lr bullet; and where I shoot ricochet us not a concern, houses and people are far apart. For coyotes I would stick with an expanding bullet but 2 boxes would do me all winter, when it comes to gophers 75-150 rounds of center fire is not an uncommon weekend.

But the true test is what the barrel likes so its just ideas for now

 

[the spank]

I have had better results with the Winchester white box 45 gr jhp than most other factory loadings. Hornady is the least accurate in my 1V.

 

[savagecanuck]

My vanguard s2 likes the 45 g winchester varmint white box shooting sub moa at 100yds. $39.99 @CT for 40 rounds. The 55gr fmj American Eagle is so so,good for ringing gongs that's about it but pretty cheap $50 /100.I picked up a box of the hornady 55gr sp 50/$45 @wholesale but winter hit so I have yet to try them.The Russian stuff is really cheap but steel cased. Your barrel is 1 in 12 twist so try lighter gr ammunition.

 

[fiddler]

I like Hornady 70gr fragmenting rounds for just about everything. Wind drift while shooting across a field is half of what a 55gr moves.