Self defense loads for .223

My office issues the 64 gr Win Ranger power point as well. So far it’s been 100 pct reliable in M-4 and Mini-14 rifles, fortunately we haven’t had to use them outside of training.

At home I load my AR’s with Win 64 gr Razorback XT mono-metal rounds. These would also work well for hunting should I decide to use a .223 for anything more than a varmint.


Stay safe.

For my AR, my number one self defense magazine is a Lancer 20rd loaded with PPU 75gn “match” JHP. I have another Lancer with Federal 55gn SP.
But, I’m more likely to use my 12ga.

cdb1 said:

My self defense load is Winchester 64 grain PowerPoint. I live in the country and am not worried about over penetration. The reason I use them is they are very accurate in my AR and I like their performance on every animal I’ve shot, which granted isn’t much. A couple of hogs, deer and one coyote.

Click to expand...

Winchester ammo has been disappointing me since the 90s. I kept buying it off and on when a deal was just too good to pass up, only to get screwed again.

It’s on my ‘nope’ list no matter how good the price looks.

BSW

BigBL87 said:

Bought about 200 rounds of this a little while back:

https://www.luckygunner.com/223-rem-62-grain-ot-winchester-dhs-purple-casing-1000-rounds

Its DHS contract overrun, 62 gr OTM. Runs fine through my AR and point of impact doesn't change much at self defense distance from the 55gr bulk ammo I usually run through it. I had V-Max for awhile, but moved to this stuff for a little better penetration. I'd honestly feel fine with either though.

Click to expand...

I bought mine after seeing your post in the last thread on this subject. And I agree with you 100%.

We had a very similar thread recently on 5.56 loads.

My answer is the same, 64 or 75 Gold Dot.

briansmithwins said:

Winchester ammo has been disappointing me since the 90s. I kept buying it off and on when a deal was just too good to pass up, only to get screwed again.

It’s on my ‘nope’ list no matter how good the price looks.

BSW

Click to expand...

Maybe I’ve just been lucky.

As others have said, and what i've seen and heard, 55gr xm193 seems to be good for two legged critters, but I have no experience in that department.

I load .223 60 gr Hornady SP Varmint bullets. These will come apart on impact.

Hog huntin Harry said:

What loads would y'all recommend for self defense in .223 ?

Click to expand...

Whatever you're using for hogs should also be OK for self-defense. Officially, I use Gold Dot 62gr LE. Unofficially, I could also use reloaded 62gr TBBC - a soft-point hog round.

Either M193 or M855. Doubt I would use either for hunting but for SD against something on 2 legs, they work fine.

I keep and use a 5.56 pressure level handload based on the Speer 62grn GD.

But, my AR stands a much greater chance being used on a Coyote than in an HD situation. Speaking of which, I've seen a couple yotes hit with 69 OTM and they required quite a bit of tracking, one of them we never found. One of the guys I hunt with thought that OTM was actually a standard hollow point. Apparently those bullets didn't get the chance to tumble and fragment.

Nobody that has ever shot a coyote with a V-max would say it would be an ineffective defense round!

Hog huntin Harry said:

Since I've received a plentiful amount of reliable suggestions I'll ask, how would a Hornady V-max 123 grain 7.62x39 or 120 grain Winchester PDX1d compare to some of the loads yall suggested ?

Click to expand...

What are you looking to compare?

Compare in energy? Velocity? Distance? Penetration in gel?

Hog huntin Harry said:

Since I've received a plentiful amount of reliable suggestions I'll ask, how would a Hornady V-max 123 grain 7.62x39 or 120 grain Winchester PDX1d compare to some of the loads yall suggested ?

Click to expand...

Comparing two different animals. .30 caliber vs .22 caliber rifle loads. Can't place them together to compare.

Telum Pisces said:

Comparing two different animals. .30 caliber vs .22 caliber rifle loads. Can't place them together to compare.

Click to expand...

Why not? They are both fast pieces of copper and lead which hit things and damage them.
I found some data from AR15.com that says they are quite comparable.


.223 64 grain Gold Dot, 16" barrel, 2549 fps
Bare Gelatin

Penetration: 15.4"
Neck: 2 cm
Maximum temporary cavity: 9.5cm @ 12cm (extending to 21cm)
Recovered diameter: 0.50"
Recovered weight: 59.2gr



7.62x39 123 grain SST (VMAX), 16" barel, 2242 fps
Bare Gelatin

Penetration: 15.6”
Neck: 0cm
Maximum temporary cavity: 8cm @ 8cm (extending to 19cm)
Recovered diameter: 0.58”
Recovered weight: 99.6gr

Hog huntin Harry said:

Temporary and permanent wound cavities, and penatration in gel.

Click to expand...

75 Gold Dot at 100 and 200 yards

Probably more on the tube for 7.62X39.

I'm good with M193 fired from a rifle length barrel.

briansmithwins said:

Winchester ammo has been disappointing me since the 90s. I kept buying it off and on when a deal was just too good to pass up, only to get screwed again.

It’s on my ‘nope’ list no matter how good the price looks.

BSW

Click to expand...

What haven't you liked about them?

LoonWulf said:

What haven't you liked about them?

Click to expand...

Silvertips that had no antiflash additives and were blinding to shoot in low light, one cartridge that was loaded backwards, plus a squib.

Revolver ammo that left so much powder residue behind that it jammed the revolver.

Rifle JHPs that caused FTFeed in rifles that were 100% reliable with any other ammo, including Russian stuff.

BSW

Vmax here.
Well the first 5.

briansmithwins said:

Silvertips that had no antiflash additives and were blinding to shoot in low light, one cartridge that was loaded backwards, plus a squib.

Revolver ammo that left so much powder residue behind that it jammed the revolver.

Rifle JHPs that caused FTFeed in rifles that were 100% reliable with any other ammo, including Russian stuff.

BSW

Click to expand...

That sucks! I can't say I've ever had an issue with any Winchester ammo, besides the bulk pack .22s. They were still better than cheap Federals, and Remingtons, but pretty bad.