.223 varmint load suggestions

[armoredman]

Bullets available, Hornady 60 grain soft point, and Sierra 65gr GameKing spitzer boat tail.

Powders available, Hodgdon H-335 and H-4895.

Brass is LakeCity once fired with Remington 7.5 primers.

Firearm, semi-auto carbine with 16.17 inch barrel, 1-7 twist.

Looking for something for coyote and other small varmint game. Any suggestions? Thanks for any reply.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Either powder will work just fine but I prefer H-335 in the .223. I would rather see you buy a 55gr bullet with a ballistic tip for varmint hunting. You want to keep the velocities up for flatter shooting and the two bullets you listed might not do that well. I think the GameKing bullet will work better than the soft point but the weight puts me off. (unless you are shooting no further than 100 yards)

 

[armoredman]

Stuck with bullets listed, for now. The GameKing is a soft point, actually. It says on the box 7-10 inch twist only, which I have a 7 inch twist.
Wasn't planning on engaging much outside of 100 yards, 200 absolute max.
I have 55 grain and 62 grain bullets, all FMJ, not great for hunting/varmint control.

 

[sourdough44]

Either bullet or powder should be fine, I'd lean H-4895. For small varmints(P-doggin) I like a more frangible bullet, like a 50 grn V-max or Blitzking.

 

[NCsmitty]

Of the bullets listed, the Hornady spire point is more frangible for varmints, and a better match for the 223 velocities that you'll get out of a 16" barrel. I use H4895 in my 223 loads.
As mentioned, you might be better off trying the new 50-55gr Z-Max or V-Max for good explosive results on smaller varmints, but the 60gr Hornady has been doing it for many years, and may be a better choice on coyote size game, if you can get enough velocity.


NCsmitty

 

[Clark]

Shooting at coyotes, I would want hot loads for long range performance.

Shooting at ground squirrels or prairie dogs, I want reduced loads with Blue Dot to keep the barrel cool and clean. I can fire 100 shots per hour and keep sub moa out to 200 yards.

Rock chucks are kind of in between.

 

[armoredman]

Thank you. Any thoughts on what grain weight of either powder with the 60 grain Hornady SP?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Stuck with bullets listed, for now. The GameKing is a soft point, actually. It says on the box 7-10 inch twist only, which I have a 7 inch twist.
Wasn't planning on engaging much outside of 100 yards, 200 absolute max.
I have 55 grain and 62 grain bullets, all FMJ, not great for hunting/varmint control.

I know the GK is a soft point. I was only referring to the bullets the way you wrote them.

 

[armoredman]

Thank you.

 

[NCsmitty]

Any thoughts on what grain weight of either powder with the 60 grain Hornady SP?

The start loads for the 60gr V-Max, found at www.hodgdon.com, would be fine to load with the Hornady 60gr. Work up from there if you wish.


NCsmitty

 

[22hornetguy]

.223 load 60 grainers

27.5 grains of 4895 will fill the case while the 335 wont but all most muzzle velocity should be somewhere close to 3200 little more little less

 

[MtnCreek]

27.5 grains of 4895 will fill the case while the 335 wont but all most muzzle velocity should be somewhere close to 3200 little more little less

That sounds like too much H4895 to me!

 

[788Ham]

Me too ! My reload book shows 27.1 of 4895 as a MAX load for the 60 gr. bullet. Using 25.0 gr. of H335 will give you 3100 fps with the 60 gr. bullet. Sounds like a better powder for that bullet to me, the H335.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

27.5 grains of 4895 will fill the case while the 335 wont but all most muzzle velocity should be somewhere close to 3200 little more little less

That's WAY too much IMR4895 or H4895 with a 60gr bullet. Hodgdon lists a Max charge of 25.2gr IMR4895 and 26.0gr H4895 with a 60gr HDY V-MAX bullet. Both are listed as compressed loads. Can you even get 27.5gr in the case?

I would no use that load if it were my ammo...

 

[armoredman]

Are those test velocities with 24 inch barrels?