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223 bullet selection #6913510 10/09/17 02:31 AM
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I'm putting together a 16" 1/8 twist bolt gun that will be suppressed the majority of time.

Lots of choices out there with some new ones in the mix. This will hopefully fill my spot as a dedicated predator gun. The bullet I choose would ideally not explode the thin skins animals.

Go with it

Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6913553 10/09/17 03:02 AM
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What's Hornady got in the ELD-X line?


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6913578 10/09/17 03:24 AM
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If it’s a dedicated predator rifle that makes it easy.... 60 gr VMax. Most consistent predator bullet for 223 for both DRT and very fur friendly for coyotes if that matters to you. I have seen literally hundreds shot with that bullet....also works on hogs and deer in a pinch. Of course that’s if it shoots well in your rifle which it should and run just shy of 3000fps.
Now there is no 223 bullet that will be Consistently easy on Fox fur but the 60 gr will do well I n Bobcats and coyotes with minimal damage with solid hits.


"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."

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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6913633 10/09/17 05:11 AM
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60 grain V-max works good. I know many 223 shooters who deer hunt with this bullet. One of the guys I used to hunt with came for 1 hunt, and took a NICE 8 point with an AR shooting a 60 grain V-max and A-Cog. I was pissed (in a good way!) Buck was DRT.

If you want a tough 223 bullet, then the 64 grain Nosler bonded bullet will do well. It holds together well.


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6913636 10/09/17 05:43 AM
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I run the 60gn Nos BT in my 20" 9tw 223ai. It is quite accurate with a stiff charge of H4895. Don't overlook the 69gn TMK either.


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6913649 10/09/17 09:27 AM
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To the OP. I am a tad confused. You mention that you are going to be shooting suppressed most of the time. Will you be running 3000fps+ or will you be shooting a reduced load?


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6913844 10/09/17 01:45 PM
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If I was going to shoot coyotes and pigs, that Nosler 64 gr BSB would be a good choice. If it was just coyotes, try the 40 gr Nosler BT. I haven't seen it exit a coyote yet and it kills them dramatically fast. I wasn't planning to use it on coyotes, but one showed up in the front yard/pasture and that little bullet put him down hard. Hmmm, so I tried it again and again and it works great. But not on hogs.


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6914238 10/09/17 06:06 PM
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Good old 55 soft point Hornady is my do everything bullet for .223.

Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6914302 10/09/17 06:44 PM
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Sierra game king for fur friendly. I get an exit but it's small and nothing a good taxidermist couldn't hide. Vmax if you want them to drop where they stand but if they exit then you're left with a mess. If foxes are in the discussion I'd definitely go game king. I shoot the 55s in my rock river predator Pursuit. The bonus with the game kings is they're designed for deer and pigs also.

Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: J.G.] #6914304 10/09/17 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
What's Hornady got in the ELD-X line?


Nothing... they have the ELD-M. Really wanted a 75 X

Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: aggiehunter03] #6914313 10/09/17 06:53 PM
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Originally Posted By: aggiehunter03
Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
What's Hornady got in the ELD-X line?


Nothing... they have the ELD-M. Really wanted a 75 X


Ironically, I just looked it up myself. There is no 70+ grain .224 in the ELD-X line.

Shame.


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6914353 10/09/17 07:20 PM
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I would go light rapid expanding with the goal of no exit. 40 grain v max and H 4895 is where I would start as mentioned earlier. Stay off the head if you don't want to split em open.


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6914461 10/09/17 08:26 PM
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I have experience with a 55 vmax from years back.

Two I have wonders about are

Hornady 73 gr eld

And

The tipped sgk

Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Smokey Bear] #6914500 10/09/17 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted By: Smokey Bear
I would go light rapid expanding with the goal of no exit. 40 grain v max and H 4895 is where I would start as mentioned earlier. Stay off the head if you don't want to split em open.


It makes no sense to me, to not take advantage of the 1:8 twist.


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Smokey Bear] #6914506 10/09/17 09:10 PM
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Originally Posted By: Smokey Bear
I would go light rapid expanding with the goal of no exit. 40 grain v max and H 4895 is where I would start as mentioned earlier. Stay off the head if you don't want to split em open.


The 40 gr VMax can kill fine when they work(get penetration) but when they don’t you end up with a splash wound and a possible hunt to find the animal. I have multiple pictures to illustrate if I could figure out the new IOS picture format that would work on the forum now.

It’s similar to the risk you take using a 17 rimfire on Predators.... sometimes it works then it don’t.

I will add I do love the 55gr Hornady SP as an all round bullet but not if saving fur is one of the goals. They normally exit predators.

Last edited by DStroud; 10/09/17 09:16 PM.

"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."

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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6914554 10/09/17 09:32 PM
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Im really liking the 62gr leheigh defense controlled chaos rounds in my 223 and 22 nosler, especially since they are solid copper and rated to expand down to 1400 fps.

Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6914932 10/10/17 01:49 AM
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Originally Posted By: Brother in-law
I have experience with a 55 vmax from years back.

Two I have wonders about are

Hornady 73 gr eld

And

The tipped sgk


Shot the 77 SGK out of my new 22-250 Tikka 1:8" twist yesterday out to 400 yards. Shot really good. Now just need a live target to test expansion. Not sure they'd load in an ARmag very well though?

Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: J.G.] #6914979 10/10/17 02:12 AM
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Originally Posted By: FiremanJG
Originally Posted By: Smokey Bear
I would go light rapid expanding with the goal of no exit. 40 grain v max and H 4895 is where I would start as mentioned earlier. Stay off the head if you don't want to split em open.


It makes no sense to me, to not take advantage of the 1:8 twist.


I understand where you are coming from and I thought about the same. Two things came to my mind.

The first is it wouldn't surprise me if something heavier shoots better out of an 8 twist.

The second is something heavier is going to have enough energy to exit on varmints.

When I was in college in the late '70's & early '80's, I stayed broke all the time. I was able to earn a little pocket money predator hunting and selling the pelts. I used a .223 and had the best results preserving the hide with a light bullet that stayed in the animal. So that is why I recommended the light bullet, even though it is not maximizing what he can do with that 8 twist barrel.


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6914995 10/10/17 02:19 AM
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69 or 77 grain TMK?



Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: DStroud] #6915043 10/10/17 02:51 AM
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Originally Posted By: DStroud
Originally Posted By: Smokey Bear
I would go light rapid expanding with the goal of no exit. 40 grain v max and H 4895 is where I would start as mentioned earlier. Stay off the head if you don't want to split em open.


The 40 gr VMax can kill fine when they work(get penetration) but when they don’t you end up with a splash wound and a possible hunt to find the animal. I have multiple pictures to illustrate if I could figure out the new IOS picture format that would work on the forum now.

It’s similar to the risk you take using a 17 rimfire on Predators.... sometimes it works then it don’t.

I will add I do love the 55gr Hornady SP as an all round bullet but not if saving fur is one of the goals. They normally exit predators.


I like the 55 gr Hornady sp as well but you are gonna get exits. This is a triple my son shot with them. The second and third were running but you can see what he got.


This pic is the boy operating with a 40gr and no exit. Most times they are within 10 yards of where they are shot


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6915051 10/10/17 02:55 AM
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For the most part bullets that are designed for longer range shooting are not good for shooting predators as they tend to exit. If they kill good they usually leave a big exit and if they leave a small exit they for the most part don’t kill as well and you get runners. The OP asked for a fur friendly bullet so that narrows .223 ammo and bullets down considerably and with the 1/8 twist that also makes a difference on how bullets perform on animals.


"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."

Jack O'Connor 1963
Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6915073 10/10/17 03:17 AM
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DStroud, I agree with all you said, and to that end, a 12 twist barrel on a .223 is a more suitable setup for a fur friendly little varmint gun, but I bet the OP's 8 twist will get it done.


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: DStroud] #6915083 10/10/17 03:25 AM
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Originally Posted By: DStroud
For the most part bullets that are designed for longer range shooting are not good for shooting predators as they tend to exit. If they kill good they usually leave a big exit and if they leave a small exit they for the most part don’t kill as well and you get runners. The OP asked for a fur friendly bullet so that narrows .223 ammo and bullets down considerably and with the 1/8 twist that also makes a difference on how bullets perform on animals.


If fur is a concern, I might try a SMK.

I don't concern myself with fur, just making coyotes dead. I've hit them with what ever is beside me at the time. 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm-08, .308. All damn sure make them dead very quickly. wink


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Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Brother in-law] #6915094 10/10/17 03:38 AM
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I like hornady and winchester 55gr soft points in my 223 and 22-250.

Re: 223 bullet selection [Re: Smokey Bear] #6915107 10/10/17 03:55 AM
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Originally Posted By: Smokey Bear
DStroud, I agree with all you said, and to that end, a 12 twist barrel on a .223 is a more suitable setup for a fur friendly little varmint gun, but I bet the OP's 8 twist will get it done.


I should have added in my original post the fact that most all the coyotes etc we have shot with the 60gr V Max we’re using all 1/8 twist ARs
When you get to 22-250 speeds and slower twist we drop back to 52/53gr Berger or Sierra Match bullets but then some of the fur friendlyness goes away. grin
These days When I hunt for fur(mostly bobcats) I bring out the 221Fireball ......and when I am serious it’s the 22Creedmoor.


"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."

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