.223 Rem Varmint Load?

[Picher]

Handloaded some "working-mans" Varmint ammo for the .223 Rem rifles this week, using 53 Hornady V-Max bullets and a near-max (Lyman Manual) load of Varget powder and CCI standard primers. I took the opportunity to fine-tune the 100 yard zero and needed a couple of clicks on the Bushnell 3-12X Nitro now on this rifle (not shown). Groups were under 1 MOA, but not the sub-1/2 MOA usually obtained with uniform brand, newer cases. Still, it was good to get back on my shooting bench and send lead/copper down our Son's "Blueberry Field" personal range, down back of our house. (A huge flat-faced boulder provides safe backstop, just behind the target.) Hope to have the occasion to nail some varmints, like the three young coyotes we spooked, driving down to the fields a few days ago.

Looking at the rifle with this scope, it looks like the rear ring could be set back, if the base were turned-around, but with the new scope on the rifle (not shown), it won't work. JP

 

[jak67429]

For cheap Varmint bullets that work. the Varmint grenades that midway puts on sale. Bought a bunch of the 55gr soft points. they hold about 1/2 in with all of my pd rifles.

 

[DMW1116]

I have one varmint load in 223 using TAC and Hornady 55 grain soft points without a cannelure. They’ll shoot under 1 MOA but just barely from my rifle. They’re also not too hot, running around 2700 fps. They’re more than adequate for anything I’ll shoot with them though, likely groundhog or coyote inside 200 yards.

 

[Varminterror]

Another Service Rifle gave me a pet practice load almost 20yrs ago, which he mentioned was “magic,” and had been given to him by another shooter, which was 55grn ball over 27.3grn Varget. Being the evolutionist I am, I tried the same load under more useful 50grn Vmax’s, and found the load to truly be magic. I’ve fired it from literally hundreds of barrels from 7” up to 29”, gas guns, pistols, break actions, bolt actions… it has worked well enough for me that I use it as a proving load for troubleshooting accuracy - if that load doesn’t shoot well, there’s almost assuredly an issue with the firearm.

 

[N555]

Another good one is a start to mid range load of H322.
But, good luck finding H322.
It doesn't heat up the barrel a lot per shot and is economical.

 

[redneck2]

26.0 Varget, 50 Nosler BT’s, WW cases, Federal primers. 268 yards, lasered. Varget for whatever reason seems to do quite well.

 

[trackskippy]

Ive been using 55 grain Nosler BT's over 25 grains of 4895 for that purpose for a couple of decades now. Very accurate, and pretty devastating on whatever you hit with them.

They turn little critters into meat grenades. Hair, teeth, and eyeballs, all over the yard. Literally.

 

[Bfh_auto]

View attachment 1103746

Handloaded some "working-mans" Varmint ammo for the .223 Rem rifles this week, using 53 Hornady V-Max bullets and a near-max (Lyman Manual) load of Varget powder and CCI standard primers. I took the opportunity to fine-tune the 100 yard zero and needed a couple of clicks on the Bushnell 3-12X Nitro now on this rifle (not shown). Groups were under 1 MOA, but not the sub-1/2 MOA usually obtained with uniform brand, newer cases. Still, it was good to get back on my shooting bench and send lead/copper down our Son's "Blueberry Field" personal range, down back of our house. (A huge flat-faced boulder provides safe backstop, just behind the target.) Hope to have the occasion to nail some varmints, like the three young coyotes we spooked, driving down to the fields a few days ago.

Looking at the rifle with this scope, it looks like the rear ring could be set back, if the base were turned-around, but with the new scope on the rifle (not shown), it won't work. JP

I've had bad luck finding accuracy with that bullet in 223 & 5.56. It's my preferred 22-250 bullet though.
Every 223 I get is tried with that bullet with the hope it will work.

 

[2ndtimer]

My “old school” cheap Varmint load is the old Hornady 50 gr SPSX bullet pushed by 26.0 gr of Ramshot TAC with a CCI-400 or Federal 205 primer. Shoots in the .4’s at 100 yards out of my 26” barrel Remington 700 1 in 12” twist and is quite explosive out to 200 yards. For more dramatic effects, one of the 40 gr tipped bullets with 27.5 gr of TAC will push 3700 fps and shoots a little flatter.

 

[entropy]

My pet varmint load is a 55 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint over 25.8 gr. BL-C(2) in LC brass touched off by CCI small rifle primers. This was also my deer load until recently, when I went to a 60 gr. Nosler Partition. My son uses the 25.8 gr. 55 gr. Load for varmints and deer, using V-Max bullets.

 

[lightman]

I watch for sales and buy Hornady, Nosler or Sierra plastic tip 50 or 55 grain bullets anytime they are on sale. The Sierras shoot slightly better than the others but not by very much. All 3 makes a mess of a Prairie Dog! I also use BL-C2 and either a Remington or CCI primer in Winchester brass. If I'm shooting in a place that I may loose brass I will load a bunch of mixed brass. I'm kind of looking for a replacement powder for the BL-C2. It meters great but I have had pressure problems going from Winter to Summer.

 

[TonyAngel]

It's been a while since I did any reloading, but I got very good results in both .308 and .223 using either varget or reloaded 15 under vmax bullets for most of my shooting. I used bergers when I wanted to see how small I could get. I've shot several zero groups at 100 using bergers of the vld variety.