Yote load

[jeff100]

I'm spooling up to develop some Coyote hunting loads for my Ruger M77 Mk II chambered in .223.  The barrel has a rifling twist rate of 1:12 (RH).

I am interested in what other reloaders use for this caliber for predator hunting. 

I'm not looking for specific load data. 

What I'm looking for instead is what brand and type of powder is preferred.  What brand and type of bullet is preferred in weight.  I can research my own load data and work up the loads myself.

Unless somebody recommends otherwise, I'm probably going to go with a 55 grain bullet in the .223....

Thanks in advance.

[Gutpile]

I use a lot of 52 grn HPBT match bullets for yotes in my .223. Choose any brand.... sierra, hornady, etc and see which is most accurate. They are great though, I don't get splashes and they are exceedingly accurate.

You may want to look at barnes. I've got some old blue ones that are discontinued that were out of this world and the old (varminator?) were awesome too. I'd assume the varmint grenade would be just as good. as soon as I run out of my stockpile I want to try them.

[Sagedawg]

 



  Sage

[MountainWalk]

Does anyone know how much different the twist is for the 223 as opposed to the 220 swift?
My swift does great with 48, 50 and 55 grainers, but 60's are out. Does the 223 stabilize heavier bullets better?

[Gutpile]

That really depends. .223's are all over the board. AR's can be real fast 1:7 and up. I don't own a swift (wish I did) but I have read that they'll still spin heavy bullets well due to the speed generated from the large powder charge. Same goes with 22-250's.

I would think most bolt .223's float around 1:12 unless they are some sort of long range target rifle where heavy tips would be more practicle.

I have an AR with a 1:10 twist to find a happy medium. It loves light stuff but surprisingly it does not like any 55's I've tried. To qualify that, they shoot fine and would work for hunting but handloads of 52grns or less are very very accurate.

Have you tried different 60 grainers? I'm surprised to hear that they wont shoot. Also are you being too picky? Are they still sub moa but you want a little better?

[MountainWalk]

Nah, not sub moa.. more like handspread size groups. The rifle is a Ruger made in the late 70's. As far as the rate, I dont know. It does best with the discountinued 48 grain Norma loads.

[rainshadow1]

27.5gr IMR4895, 60gr V-Max, CCI 400 primers, Remington 700 w/ 1:11. Shoots very good, < 1.5" handheld over a bag.

[Sagedawg]

 I seem to remember reading someplace that to shoot the heavier 22 cals you need like a 1 in 9 or 1 in 8.5 to stablize them. Ill see if I can find the article, and let you guys know.


  Sage

[Gutpile]

more like handspread size groups

Argh!! Now next question, why 60's?

Your right sage but like I said I thought I remember seeing that 220's and 250's do better with them since they're so fast however, in a .223 a fast twist is a must. I'm only quoting what I've read, the heaviest I shoot is 52's in my 22-250 and .223.

[MountainWalk]

Because they are interesting to me. Id also had the idea that it would be a little easier on a hide. The 48's are just too much too fast.  They make a fine mess of everything.

[Sagedawg]

 Im with Gutpile on this one. I shoot 55gr in my 22/250 and 50 gr in my 222 and 223. These calibers were built for speed more than penetration, so the idea of heavier bullets seems abit backwards. If you wanted a heavy for caliber bullet why not step up to the .24's or .25's? Just my 


  Sage


     

[MountainWalk]

Its just that the 48's and the 50's go splat.

[Sagedawg]

 I can understand that.


  Sage

[Gutpile]

If you wanted a heavy for caliber bullet why not step up to the .24's or .25's?

Thats an awesome idea! Then I can have the 220 swift!  

Seriously though, I'd give some other loads a look. In my 22-250 I max out a lot of 40 grain loads. These things flat knock the hell out of coyotes. Very rarely do they splash. I read about all the splashing with light tips over at PM but no problem with them for me. Unless you hit the shoulder blade. This has only happened to me once though.  I use 40's in calm weather my average shots for the last 4-5 years is at around 160 yards. Some close, some very far. If it's windy or I know I'm going to be shooting 200-300 I use 52 grn HPBT match bullets. Same results, these things are ass kickers. They tend to exit on broadsides but damage is minimal.

Back to the .223. I've been disappointed with the cartridge. BOOKOO splash problems for me. I've not killed too many yet with it but wont use any poly tip varmint bullets in the .223. Damage was horrendous. The 52's seem to be the ticket, unfortunately I only killed a couple last year as the snow kept me in towards the really good part of the season last year.

Coincedence? who knows but I'm done with light poly tips in the .223.

[Sagedawg]

Gutpile, you talking bout the snow down south? Out of 4 trips I stuck my truck 3 times,good thing I had my chains.


 Sage

[Gutpile]

Yep! wait for snow all year then we get a mini ice age!! 

39? Spokane? WTF? We need to get together. Don't think I noticed your profile before. Lets go get some dogs and Bobbies. Gotta run for a bit PM me sometime.

[Sagedawg]

Will Do.


  Sage

[AWS]

I find that Nosler ballistic tip are alot tougher than V-max or Blitzkings.  I'm running 40gr NBT's at 3900fps out of my 22-204 1-9twist, killed eight dogs last season with this load no splashes, no exits.  My favorite 223 load is the 50gr NBT over IMR-3031 and I've had the same type results.

AWS

[demontang]

I have had good luck with 45gr jhp's. The 40gr vmax I have leave nasty holes, everything I have shot with them has had at least a base ball size hole. The 45gr jhp I have a hard time finding the entry and havent seen a exit yet, The 52 jhp shot nice but tend to exit most of the time. Longest shot so far was a 457yards and was a clean kill

[Bofire]

My Tikka is 1:8, you will find high BC bullets are more accurate over all and much better long range. BC rules. 223 is a much better long range gun than either a 22-250 or 220 swift,(they average 1:10-1:14) as with the faster twist it handles heavy bullets better, how ever it is obviously not as fast. the 60 grain bullets are absolutely wonderful.
Carl
Now a fast twist barrely on a 22-250 is way cool but you get very short barrel life.
Carl