.223 Rem

[SixShooterBP]

Working on load development for my Mossberg MVP (1-9") and wondering if it would be better to try 40-50gr bullets, or 60-69gr?

 

[12Bravo20]

It's hard to say until you shoot different weight bullets to see what your barrel prefers. I've seen some 1-9 barrels prefer 50-55gr bullets and others that do better with 62-69gr bullets.

 

[243winxb]

Try the Nosler 55 gr Balistic tips.

 

[AJC1]

https://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html
I would start with the 69 smk.

 

[peels]

https://www.6mmbr.com/223Rem.html
I would start with the 69 smk.

I second 69 smk. Alternatively, Nosler 69 custom competition. Both run great in my Savage 12

 

[entropy]

You left a gap in your choices; 50-60. My Axis (1:9.25) shot 55gr. Hornady FMJBT's, 55 gr. Ballistic Tips, (as 243winxb says) Hornady 55 gr. V-Max, and Nosler 55 gr. Ballistic Tip Varmint quite accurately.

 

[flashhole]

Your gun will let you know what it likes and you will likely end up trying a lot of different bullets.

My Kimber Longmaster Classic doesn't like mid-weight bullets 50-60 grains. Shoots these more like a pattern than a group and during load development I thought I had purchased a POS rifle. Turns out it loves 40 grain bullets and anything 63 grains and heavier. These bullet weights produce one ragged hole at 100 yards. If you come across them, try the Sierra 63 grain Semi Spitzer bullets. Good luck.

 

[Random 8]

Depends on what you're wanting to do with it. If you're not shooting past 200 yards you'll get no benefit from heavier bullets (unless one is particularly sweet in your rifle). You will have the negatives of generally higher cost per bullet and higher likelyhood of overpenetration and carrying farther past target. At 300 you will get some benefit from say a 69 or 75 BTHP, but unless you're shooting for tiniest group, you may never notice.

I recently made up a load for casual shooting in a 1:9 carbine. I'm using the Speer 55 SP. So far very impressed with the accuracy potential to 200 yards, and I haven't done any real load work, just made up a safe load that functions the rifle and quit there. This bullet is one of the least expensive expanding types I've found.

 

[Skeptic13]

I have loaded everything from 55 gr to 69 gr for my Mossberg MVP. It seems to shoot all of those well. I have not loaded anything lighter than 55gr.

 

[SixShooterBP]

Thanks for the responses. I have some 40gr BT and V-Max, so will give them a try. Will pick up some 69gr and try them as well. I plan on using it for gophers and also punching paper.

 

[AJC1]

Tho

Thanks for the responses. I have some 40gr BT and V-Max, so will give them a try. Will pick up some 69gr and try them as well. I plan on using it for gophers and also punching paper.

Those 69 smk bullets are the standard for punching paper. They are what many people use for testing to see if a rifle is still good or gone. They are very jump tolerant and work great loaded to magazine length for service rifles. Another that seem to be well liked are the 50 flat base Sierras. I have not shot those but I have with 69 and 77s.

 

[edwardware]

From experience, you really do need to try a range of weights, and give each a fair shake. You won't know until you do.

At 1:9, I'm not sure I'd go heavier than ~70 grain, but it's still worth a box to try.

 

[Demi-human]

I know you suggest Nosler, @243winxb and I do too, (I suggest all of them!) but your photo gives proof to why I have had such great result from the Hornady 50grain soft point. The bearing surface is longer on every weight Hornady bullet.

In a nine twist I would stay with the fifty to sixty grain bullets.
The sixty grain Vmax is known to be a great and accurate varmint bullet, long bearing, thin jacket and flat base.
My favorite is the 50grain Vmax with its easily loaded boat tail.
The 52grn Amax(It’s ELD now I think) is popular on the bench.
Even the 68grn BTHP may work in your barrel, as it is a shorter bullet than average.

Hornady makes nineteen different bullets that would work for your rifle, twenty four altogether.

I just purchased another thousand 80ELDs for my seven twist, yesterday.

How far away are you shooting these, @SixShooterBP ?

 

[Chuck R.]

Both!

Honestly it really depends on the rifles purpose. I've got 4 .223s, two bolts and two semis, each has a different load (or two) based on it's intended use.

A strictly target gun in 1-9, I'd go with either a 69 SMK or a TMK.

A .223 used for varmints, I'd go with a 55 Nosler BT for coyote and slightly smaller, for prairie dogs I'd look for something in the 40-50 grain range.

My basic do everything rifle has two loads, it stays loaded with 55BTs as it's primary purpose is varmint (coyote) control on my property, the 2nd is a 69TMK load for ringing steel. Luckily modern ballistic programs make it easy to switch back and forth. I use Strelok Pro and on tgt shooting days I just select the 69TMK catridge for that rifle and "Bingo" all my sight settings and corrections are for that load.

 

[Blue68f100]

I like the 1:9 twist barrel, I have one in 1:10 too, all with a min spec 223R chamber. If by chance yours has the Wylde chamber it may not like the lighter pills due to an excessive jump to lands. The 69gr has been my go to bullet for the most part using Varget. I've also had very good results with the 52gg SMK using TAC.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Thanks for the responses. I have some 40gr BT and V-Max, so will give them a try. Will pick up some 69gr and try them as well. I plan on using it for gophers and also punching paper.

I found 40 gr bullets in a 1-8 twist to be the most accurate.
My 1-12 does best with a 55 flat base.
If I used normal recommendations, I wouldn't have found the best load for the 1-8.
Just remember the twist rate limits your max bullet weight more than the minimum.

 

[Nature Boy]

69g SMK and Varget. You'll find the magic formula with those 2 components

 

[SixShooterBP]

Found some Hornady 53gr match and 60gr SP in my stash. More options.

 

[AJC1]

Found some Hornady 53gr match and 60gr SP in my stash. More options.

Gas up those 53s and get to testing

 

[mustanger98]

From experience, you really do need to try a range of weights, and give each a fair shake. You won't know until you do.

At 1:9, I'm not sure I'd go heavier than ~70 grain, but it's still worth a box to try.

I've noticed some reviews for Hornady's 75gr BTHP match bullet... they said it does great in 1:9 twist. If that works in your barrel, you probably got a lot of leeway to try lighter bullets too. I recall 68's working nicely in a 1:9 too.

 

[Random 8]

I've noticed some reviews for Hornady's 75gr BTHP match bullet... they said it does great in 1:9 twist. If that works in your barrel, you probably got a lot of leeway to try lighter bullets too. I recall 68's working nicely in a 1:9 too.

Haven't extensively tested, but the 75 BTHP Hornady was stable in my Bushy 1:9 at 300m. No keyholes, decent group for the crude iron sights.

 

[SixShooterBP]

Gas up those 53s and get to testing

What powder would you suggest?

 

[AJC1]

What powder would you suggest?

Have any Tac? That or h4895 would be a good start. Test both head to head if you got them.

 

[Demi-human]

I’ve been loving CFE 223 and, of course, Varget.
TAC has also been great.

Do you prefer extruded or ball powders?

 

[Varminterror]

The 35-45grn bullets have never interested me in 223/5.56. 50-69grn bullets are generally what I prefer to shoot in a 1:9” twist. Varget is the king of 223/5.56 powders.

If 27.3grn Varget under a mag length 50 Vmax doesn’t shoot well, there is something wrong with the rifle.