.223 load exploration

[wakefield]

I am ready to start preparing for this summers prairie dog hunt, and am looking into trying some new load combinations. I shoot a 20" 1:9 heavy barrel AR. I've had luck with 69g Sierra HPBT's, 60g Sierra HP, and 55g V-Max. All of those I've found a pretty good recipe for. Looking for something accurate and explosive, considering trying something a little faster, maybe a 50g of some sort. Just looking for some good load suggestions, bullet and powder. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You might want to try the Varmint Grenade and Varget powder. That combination produces accurate ammo which looks like it explodes on contact with my rifles. Of course you may not get the same results but the Varmint Grenade is an amazing bullet. Check out the video HERE. VERY NASTY STUFF!!

 

[Tim the student]

FWIW, the VG didn't impress me any more than the V-max, generally speaking.

If you can catch a dog at the right angle, they are mighty impressive. But, for most of my shots, they didn't do more than the V-max. I was also able to get very good precision out of them. You can get the 36 grainers smoking fast - but of course, they are only 36 grains, so that has some drawbacks too.

I'm a fan of the 50 and 55g V-max, and may buy some 60 grainers for my trip out this summer.

I'm generally partial to 8208.

 

[pdawg.shooter]

50gr Remington bulk pack and H335 for my 1 in 9 bolt gun.

 

[wakefield]

I've tried some of the 36g varmint grenades. They shot maybe 1.5 moa at best. Guessing the 1:9 was a bit too fast for them. Wish they made one in a heavier bullet! Considering just loading a bunch of v-max as they shot really well, and were good for explosion on impact. Has anyone tried the the 52g A-max? Thinking that would be worth while to try as well, or maybe instead of the flat base v-max, a v-max boat tail. What are the remington bulk packs? thought about the remingtion accu-tips or power-lokt. Have good luck with the core-lokt in my .280 but haven't tried a rem. bullet in the .223.
Thanks for the recomendations!

 

[Blackrock]

The VG's are fickle as he77. One blade of grass will mess up a shot. But on a standing Dog on a high mound it is awsome. Last two years in SD we had a lot of tall grass to contend with so we went to the PSP Midway bulk bullets a lot.
I did load 200 rounds each in .222Rem and 6mm Rem though.

Right now I am loading Sierra 55g for .223, Midway Dogtown 50g for .222 and 40g Vmax for 22-250.

 

[cfullgraf]

I, also, have not been impressed with the 36 grain Varmint Grenade. Plenty fast but it just did not seem to explode as well as the more conventional bullets.

I have had good luck with V-Max's, Blitzkings, and Sierra's soft point spitzers. It depends on what the particular rifle prefers.

I have been wanting to try some of the other green bullets but haven't taken the time yet.

 

[Tim the student]

I've tried some of the 36g varmint grenades. They shot maybe 1.5 moa at best. Guessing the 1:9 was a bit too fast for them

I doubt it was too fast for them - they are really long for the weight, and the length is what really matters. I have a 1:8 that shoots them ok.

Wish they made one in a heavier bullet!

They do. Link

 

[nastynatesfish]

ive shot the 35gr vmaxs but that was a bolt gun. i use the 50 gr vmax with 24.5 gr reloader 10x @ about 3450. pow right now. good round

 

[788Ham]

I've got one for you. Hornady 52 gr. BTHP Match bullets, pushed by Win. 748 @ 27.0 grains, 3200 fps. I know you're using an AR, I use a Remington 788 bolt in .223. Everyone talks about using the Grenade bullets, "these" are the grenade bullets! If you hit a Pd with one of these, well.......... its over for them. I've used this recipe for years. In fact, I just put a new Timney trigger in that old boltgun, set @ 36 oz's, made some very impressive holes @ 100 yds re-sighting, 3 hole clover leaf. YMMV

 

[suzukisam]

VARGET I haven't found a varget load that didn't shoot well out of my WOA sdm

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I wasn't talking about the 36gr VG, I was talking about the 50gr VG since the OP was asking about a 50gr bullet as per his first post.

Looking for something accurate and explosive, considering trying something a little faster, maybe a 50g of some sort.