Best .224" for the money? Best overall?

[Rule3]

With a 1:7 twist a heavier (than 55)bullet (all other things equal) will probably work better.

Any of the premium brands Nosler, Sierra, Hornady all work well. For hunting deer with a 223/5.56 I would think a heavier bullet would be better anyway.

For range blasting the 55 gr you are using are fine, I use them also and get about the same groups as you, I am not getting money, throphys or medals.

 

[mtrmn]

Sierra 60 gr HP Varminter does quite well and relatively cheap if you can find them in stock

 

[blarby]

I've found the hornady Vmax is great, and they are usually on the shelves when all the vultures snap up the 55 FMJ.

Nice bonus ? You can hunt with the Vmax if you were inclined.

Edit : didn't notice that deer were the hunt target.... Vmax is a thin skin, and I wouldn't use them on anything larger than a 'yote. In the same price category is Hornadys Soft point- which would work just fine, as is more than accurate enough for deer.

 

[777funk]

I'd like to try the nosler partition 60 gr on deer. I'll see how that works on the bench. Sierra Game Kings and even the Hornady SP also looked like good possible options and from what I've read have good accuracy. I've heard V-Max can go either way for clean deer kills. I'd like something that will have an exit and holds together so the deer is easier to track if need be.

I was originally searching for accuracy from the bench but if there was a one bullet fits both bench and field that'd be even better.

 

[243winxb]

Sierra .224 cal, 65 gr. SBT GameKing
Please Note!! This bullet requires a 1x7" to 1x10" twist barrel.

 

[jwrowland77]

I can attest to the Nosler 60gr Partitions. Great accuracy and my daughter has taken a few deer over last couple of years from a Rossi single shot .223 with a 1:12 twist over H4895. I shot some over my new chronograph yesterday and I had 15 shots in a 1" square at 50yards and that was with the chronograph attached (MagnetoSpeed). Average speed was 3015fps.

50yds is the limit that I have given my daughter for distance to shoot since she's only 8.

You might be able to find some Nosler 60gr Partitions on Shooters Pro for a discounted price for seconds. They shoot great even as seconds.

 

[gdcpony]

Cheap and pretty accurate, Hornady Z-Max, 50 or 55gr. Just like V-Max, with a green tip, but less expensive. Or 55gr Hornady SP.

I use these now as they are the most available around here. However, Midway's "Dogtown" and Midsouth's "Varmint Nightmare" are both capable of extremely tight groups. I doubt your rifle will know the difference. Mine, at least with me behind it has trouble telling and it averages .5-.75 depending on load. Not enough difference for a 'yote to notice out to the ranges I use the .223 at.

Edit: Since it looks like deer are your target, I like the 55gr Hornady SP's. They are supposed to be a varmint bullet, but they failed to expand on some ground hogs and 'yotes for me so I tried them on a small deer. It worked perfectly and I used it for my daughters when they wanted to hunt. Some decent NC does fell to them last season. One did go about 50yds before dropping, but sprayed blood the whole way (daughter described it as a "red spray paint can out each side of the deer"). I limited them to 100yds though. This season I have an extra .243 and .308 so I won't use them.

 

[jwrowland77]

The Nosler 60gr Partitions are in stock right now at the following link. They are over-runs.

http://www.shootersproshop.com/nosl...-22-60gr-partition-spitzer-over-run-50ct.html

$16 per 50 instead of $30 per 50.

 

[777funk]

I ordered some of those (60 gr Noslers) this past weekend. Looks like this should be a good youth setup for deer hunting. My 9 year old managed a 2" group at 100 yds with the bulk FMJ Hornady's. I told him we'd practice from sitting and spontaneous out in the field style rests to find what kind of real ranges he's able to achieve. I'm guessing within 100 yds and he'll be ok.

 

[blarby]

a 2" group from a novice shooter.....for deer ?

I'd practice other things now, like calls, rattles, and effective quiet stalking.

It appears his shooting is ready

 

[777funk]

Ha blarby, I'll have to tell him you said that I was proud of him and his target.

He still needs to work on sitting shots or blind supported shots (real life situations). I was thrilled with his bench shooting and he did it fast. I kept telling him to REALLY take his time on the trigger squeeze. But he didn't listen. Shell loaded, BANG, next shell, BANG,... and the 5 shot group was done. Sad thing was I took my time and only got a 1/2" better than he did. lol.

 

[oldreloader]

I like both the Hornady 55gr sp and the Mid South VNE HP for bulk bullets.

 

[divad]

I had horrible results from the Walmart bulk federal 55g factory ammo. 4 inch groups at 50 yards.
Currently I'm loading a batch of 65g Sierra Gamekings to try in my 1:8 and 1:9 20-inch rifles. I keep hearing Sierra is expensive, but at <$20 per hundred they're one of the cheaper options I can find right now.
I just ordered a box of the 55g Dogtown from Midway based on positive comments in this thread, will give them a try over the next few weeks.