Where to start: .223 Rem loads for coyote hunting in a Winchester Model 70

Rich the Butcher

Rich the Butcher

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Hi Folks, I've recently acquired a Winchester Model 70 Varmit (SS Heavy barrel) and would like to start working up some loads. I have found a bunch of recipes, but am not sure if there is a difference between loading for a semi vs. bolt action. I have been reloading for a few years now for my 270wsm bolt action, but am just wondering if anyone here had some input on powder, projectiles (brand and weight), primers, etc.
by the way, it seems to shoot the 45gr, white-box Winchester cheapies pretty good...but like all reloaders, I want better, especially for hunting yotes.

Thank you in advance...
Rich.
 
well pick a bullet, Vmax 40,50, or 55gr . powders, there must be 20 that work, I use H335 in mine with 40gr Vmax bullets and 27.5 gr
 
I've posted a ton of load development questions, comments and photographs in my thread, if you're interested in checking it out.

I've worked up loads for the Hornady 55SP and 53gn V-Max. There is information there about both IMR4320 and Varget. Lots of good discussion from more knowledgeable people than me. Obviously I accept no liability if you use any of my load data - work up your own load safely from published starting loads.
 
+1 for varget, its a great powder. As mentioned above Hornady V-max seems to be the most popular choice as well, at least in the GTA it seems to be the easiest to acquire locally
 
Where to start: what is your barrel twist rate ? what kind of distance you want to be able to reach ?

40g and 45g bullet are on the light side you won't be able to shoot past 250y in most field situation. will need a barrel twist rate around 1/12 , good powder: burn rate like H335 , benchmark , h322. ( 40g Nosler B-tip with benchmark is my gopher load )

55g 60g bullet ,better BC a little less wind drift maybe up to 350Y depending on situation ( gestimated for varmint shooting.... ) barrel twist around 1/10 , other can give you good powder for that one as I never did any load with these bullets.

70g bullet, less wind drift, harder hitting a distance, make for long range target as well ! up to 500y !!! ( maybe....) barrel twist required 1/8 . good powder : Win748, Varget, H4895 ( 70g Berger VLD, H4895 is my coyote/target load tested and true.)

Don't be afraid of the heavier bullets drop, it's easy to calculate and at longer range they have less drop.

I use the 40g when I'm on farmland closer to houses, the light varmint bullet are less prone to ricochet !!!
 
Gonna go out on a limb here but just FWIW - I'm going to be moving away from Varget. It is really, really dirty in my rifle and the performance over ~275 rounds has not lived up to all the hype, IMO. I will be testing Benchmark and/or H4895 (faster powders) with my light bullets (up to 55gn). A lot of the praise that I've seen for Varget has been with heavier bullets.
 
I prefer the 75gr for open field coyote hunting. While the trajectory is more the wind drift is quite a bit less and the 75gr do a much better job of stopping them in their tracks than the 55gr. If they run, they don't go far.

In my heavy barrel 1:9 twist my honey load for 75gr vmax is 23.0gr of H4895
 
fiddler said:
I prefer the 75gr for open field coyote hunting. While the trajectory is more the wind drift is quite a bit less and the 75gr do a much better job of stopping them in their tracks than the 55gr. If they run, they don't go far.

In my heavy barrel 1:9 twist my honey load for 75gr vmax is 23.0gr of H4895
Click to expand...

I've tried the 75g A-max but never had any luck with them, I wish I could shoot them in my CZ-527 in 1/9 twist..... Then I went to 69 scenar with good luck ( best 5rnd group @ 750y 3 1/2" ) and I'm now trying the 70g VLD berger and they seem as accurate as the Scenar in my gun.
 
thenerdboy said:
Gonna go out on a limb here but just FWIW - I'm going to be moving away from Varget. It is really, really dirty in my rifle and the performance over ~275 rounds has not lived up to all the hype, IMO. I will be testing Benchmark and/or H4895 (faster powders) with my light bullets (up to 55gn). A lot of the praise that I've seen for Varget has been with heavier bullets.
Click to expand...

My Rem 700 with factory carbon fiber barrel and 12 twist loves 36gr Varmint Grenade over IMR4198. Not the best long distance load but it will put 5 rounds touching at 100yds every time if I don't muck it up. More of a gopher load than a coyote load but I've got three non restricted 223 semi auto's for coyotes. My 17 fireball loves IMR4198 as well.
I haven't used varget in a 223 for years even though I've probably got close to 15 pounds of it.
 
cr5 said:
My Rem 700 with factory carbon fiber barrel and 12 twist loves 36gr Varmint Grenade over IMR4198. Not the best long distance load but it will put 5 rounds touching at 100yds every time if I don't muck it up. More of a gopher load than a coyote load but I've got three non restricted 223 semi auto's for coyotes. My 17 fireball loves IMR4198 as well.
I haven't used varget in a 223 for years even though I've probably got close to 15 pounds of it.
Click to expand...

4198 would also be a good one for me to try, thanks. Seems (to me) the faster powders are where the accuracy performance lies with bullets up to 55gn in .223 bolt rifles. I've been curious about varmint grenades in a hunting capacity for a while - glad to hear they shoot well, too.
 
24.5 grains of H322 with Federal 205 primers in Rem. cases and 50 grain Speer TNT's gives 3350 fps and 1 3/4" all day at 300 yards
 
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