I am new to reloading and so far I have stuck to .223 with 60gr. Nosler Ballistic tips for bullets. My rifles are both 1:9 twist so I could fire a heavier bullet. I am thinking of getting a Stevens 200 bolt action rifle to accurize which also has a 1:9 twist for my .223's. My question is: what is the advantage of using a heavier bullet? Are the heavier bullets more accurate. Since the COL for .223 is 2.50 to just under 2.56, doesn't the bullet protrude into the case too much? Wouldn't this cause too much pressure? So why the heavier bullets?
why heavier bullets for .223
- Thread starter Denn0001
- Start date
Ignore the COL in the book. that was with their rifle, not yours. Load the buillet as far out as you can get, and experiement with touching, 10 tou off and 20 tou off the rifling.
Some rifles have deeper throats to accomodate the longer bullets. My rifles withthe 80 Sierra allow the bullet to be seated only to the bottom of the neck.
I shoot them back to 1000 yards and compete with 155 bullets in 308.
If you are only shooting real short range - say 300 yards, try the 68 and 69 match bullets.
Some rifles have deeper throats to accomodate the longer bullets. My rifles withthe 80 Sierra allow the bullet to be seated only to the bottom of the neck.
I shoot them back to 1000 yards and compete with 155 bullets in 308.
If you are only shooting real short range - say 300 yards, try the 68 and 69 match bullets.
LuckyLuc82
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rockwood, Ontario
Here is a question that just popped into my head, would a 68gr be enough for deer?
The main reason for using heavier bullets as mentioned by beltfed is a higher ballistic coefficient this allows the bullet to not be effected by wind as much. Using a heavier bullet will also retain more energy down range then the lighter offerings making longer shots on game possible.
The bullet weight has no effect on accuracy a rifle that shoots 55gr like a laser may not shoot as well with a 75gr....heavier does not always mean more accurate.
The bullet weight has no effect on accuracy a rifle that shoots 55gr like a laser may not shoot as well with a 75gr....heavier does not always mean more accurate.
depending on bullet construction yes provided its a TSX or Nosler Partition and shot placement is bang on you would be ok. Would I do it? hell ya I plan on taking a white tail with my .22-250 using 55gr TSX's one day. But I will only take a perfect broad side shot and I will continue to practice calling my shots at various distances to a max of 350yds for a .223 I would only go 200-250yds max.
Todd Bartell took a white tail last year with a 45gr TSX I believe pics of the damage are around here somewhere.
In discussion with Sierra one day about 222 on deer (I have a combo gun -12ga over 222Rem) they said their best deer bullet is the 69 gr match bullet.
My rifle would not stabalize that bullet, so next best was the 60gr flat base hollow point.
he told me that a hollow point bullet has more penetration than a soft point. This struck me as counter-intuitive, so I soaked a couple of Toronto phone books in a pail of water over night and them shot them. he was right. the soft point opened up right away.
I never did use that gun, but would not hestitate, having tried it. I did shoot fairly large kangaroos with a 223 at about 100 to 200 yards using Hornady 55gr soft points. I was surprised to see that they all exited on the far side, leaving a fist-sized hole.
So yes, I think a 223 would work just fine on a deer, so long as large bones are avoided.
My rifle would not stabalize that bullet, so next best was the 60gr flat base hollow point.
he told me that a hollow point bullet has more penetration than a soft point. This struck me as counter-intuitive, so I soaked a couple of Toronto phone books in a pail of water over night and them shot them. he was right. the soft point opened up right away.
I never did use that gun, but would not hestitate, having tried it. I did shoot fairly large kangaroos with a 223 at about 100 to 200 yards using Hornady 55gr soft points. I was surprised to see that they all exited on the far side, leaving a fist-sized hole.
So yes, I think a 223 would work just fine on a deer, so long as large bones are avoided.
I let go on a rogue black bear with a 69 grain nosler and it decked him with one shot from about 65 yards. Bullet hit the base of the neck/upper chest and exitted.
LuckyLuc82
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Rockwood, Ontario
Nice, guesss I have 7lbs of powder, 1000 primers, tons of empty cartridges, gonna go pick up some noslers and start working on a load, should be ready by deer season!
I have tested the Nosler custom competition 69 grain .224 bullets in wet phone books, etc. and found that they penetrate very well, mushroom to over 2x diameter and stay together quite well. I doubt that is what their designers had in mind, but they have excellent terminal ballistics.
Sorry for hijacking the thread.
Sorry for hijacking the thread.
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
And even more important than energy, a heavy, high B.C. bullet retains the velocity, much better than lighter bullets, that is necessary for bullet expansion that you want when hitting animals at long range.
Yep, some CGN hunters do get off on tracking wounded animals
, so a 22 cal fits their style. A good belly shot should improve distance.I am just out to shoot paper targets at 300 yards from a bench rest as I am not a hunter. I am still a bit concerned about how deep the bullet has to seat in the casing. I usually crimp my bullets but I guess that would not be necessary in a bolt action rifle. Anyone using the Stevens 200 or inexpensive Marlin rifles perhaps with a better trigger?
While I was thinking about the Marlin (XS7) for less than $400.00 I read a number of reviews and they were very good. Perhaps I should just stay at 60gr. Nosler bullets for my .223 rifles and get a Marlin .243 for long range target shooting. Just a thought. Sorry to stray off the topic I started.
Yep, some CGN hunters do get off on tracking wounded animals
Oh here we go again ... Yes we all know that there are calibers that provide more energy, etc. blah, blah, blah. Like a deer has never been wounded with a .30-06 and had to be tracked ...
No one is saying that the .223 is the best deer cartridge here.
.
