You’re Accurate Rifle Bullets

[burneyr]

I've had and still have plenty of stock and full custom varmint rifles from .221 Fireball to .220 Swift.

For slow twist .223 calibers 1:12 to 1:14 - I've found nothing that outshoots flat base bullets short range inside 300 yards. I keep a few hundred 53 gr SMKs around all the time as in my experience if your rifle won't shoot that - it won't shoot anything.

I wouldn't give up on Hornady either. Their flat base V-Max (22271) doesn't give up much of anything to Sierra shooting prairie dogs. I've bought those in the bulk pack 6,000 piece carton for week long guided trips. Those good ones where you're rotating four/five rifles to keep barrels cool, and the guide moves you to a fresh field when the shooting gets slow.

Talking specifically about .222/.223 Remington, never had a lick of luck with Varget under 60 gr bullet weights. For lightweights, I've never found a powder that generally outperforms H335 in accuracy. Velocity won't be the highest, but I'm thankful it shoots in everything I've ever had.

 

[Timb1]

I have and older Sako with a Douglas barrel in 222 Mag. It likes 40 gr Vmax bullets the best with BLC2. I hope this helps.

 

[venomballistics]

You have a very slow twist. Logically, the lighter and shorter bullets should be more accurate. You can try the lightest match bullets you can find.

This is likely your issue.
As I recall, the Hornady A Max offerings specified higher rates.
Not sure where 1:14 came into being for the cartridge. I believe 1:12 was standard outside MSRs which run between 1:9 and 1:7 ( preferred rates for most of Hornady's match offerings)
Now 1:14 might be really interesting with a gas check 55grain coated cast over 4227.

 

[Miracle Man]

Mark me down voting for Sierra as well. I did a really extensive test with a 22-250 twenty+ years ago and the 52 gr. HPBT Sierra won hands down.

I also done a fair amount of testing with an AR few years back and the 60 gr. flat base Sierra won that test by a good bit.

 

[Jebus35745]

Lot of good info, keep it coming. Thanks for telling what works for you though the years. Just starting out with .223. I like the Hornady XTP in pistol calipers and figured their rifle bullets would shine also.

Hand-loads being shipped are 27.5 of 748, 50gr Nosler Ballistic tip and REM bench rest primers. Velocity at 3200fps. He had several rifles he rotated after cleaning and cooling. This load averaged 1/2" at 100. I may duplicate it or search for a better combo.

Just took the gun out for a few pictures, very heavy. Love the Ruger NO1 and single shot rifles. Larry

 

[rockquarry]

Lot of good info, keep it coming. Thanks for telling what works for you though the years. Just starting out with .223. I like the Hornady XTP in pistol calipers and figured their rifle bullets would shine also.

Hand-loads being shipped are 27.5 of 748, 50gr Nosler Ballistic tip and REM bench rest primers. Velocity at 3200fps. He had several rifles he rotated after cleaning and cooling. This load averaged 1/2" at 100. I may duplicate it or search for a better combo.

Just took the gun out for a few pictures, very heavy. Love the Ruger NO1 and single shot rifles. Larry

I no longer have any slow twist .223s, but I had a Ruger MKII bolt-action for about thirty years. The most accurate load used the 50 Sierra Blitz and Reloder 7 powder. I think R7 is a little fast for the .223, but I got exceptional accuracy. I'd have to look at my old notes, but I think my load was about max.; muzzle velocity was about 3200-3250 fps.

 

[Gamecock]

If we're going to talk powders, my .222 loves IMR 8208 XBR.

 

[twodog max]

My vote is a issue with the No.1. They are notorious for have accuracy problems. The interweb is loaded with people trying to solve this problem. I have a No.1 45/70 and I love the rifle but I did not buy it as a match rifle but switching bullets weights open a can of worms.

 

[rockquarry]

My vote is a issue with the No.1. They are notorious for have accuracy problems. The interweb is loaded with people trying to solve this problem. I have a No.1 45/70 and I love the rifle but I did not buy it as a match rifle but switching bullets weights open a can of worms.

I had a #3 .45-70 that held zero much better than any #1 I had owned. I only used cast bullets. It was very accurate with the Lyman #457122 HP (330 grs.) and the Lyman #457193 (420 grs.). Generally, if a barrel does well with cast bullets it will shoot jacketed bullets about as accurately, maybe better.

 

[AJ]

I no longer have any slow twist .223s, but I had a Ruger MKII bolt-action for about thirty years. The most accurate load used the 50 Sierra Blitz and Reloder 7 powder. I think R7 is a little fast for the .223, but I got exceptional accuracy. I'd have to look at my old notes, but I think my load was about max.; muzzle velocity was about 3200-3250 fps.

In Post # 10, the first target I post was noted to have a velocity of 3325 FPS. Have never really checked the loading my friend cooked up, but willing to bet it is close to that.

 

[Skeet 028]

Had an early 4 digit No1 22-250 Drop dead gorgeous wood put a spacer in the forend hanger. Shot near 200 GHogs in Md Sierra 52 GrHP BT Match with out missing oe before a Ruger Collector just had to have it. If you go with the little faster powders 4198s 2230 and 40 gr Nosler BTs a little bit slow side of max, I think you might get happy. 250 yd yote round...one hole in none out for good fur. in 222 222 mag,722s, and 223 788. My daughter likes the hang time on PDs with them. Horn V max not as accurate. The 224 Weatherby liked the 50gr Rem match bullet...they shoot pretty well in everything...but seldom seen these days

 

[rockquarry]

Had an early 4 digit No1 22-250 Drop dead gorgeous wood put a spacer in the forend hanger. Shot near 200 GHogs in Md Sierra 52 GrHP BT Match with out missing oe before a Ruger Collector just had to have it. If you go with the little faster powders 4198s 2230 and 40 gr Nosler BTs a little bit slow side of max, I think you might get happy. 250 yd yote round...one hole in none out for good fur. in 222 222 mag,722s, and 223 788. My daughter likes the hang time on PDs with them. Horn V max not as accurate. The 224 Weatherby liked the 50gr Rem match bullet...they shoot pretty well in everything...but seldom seen these days

I still have some of the Remington Match and the Speer Silver Match 52s. I haven't tried any of these in a while, but did shoot them in .222 and .223. I never quite got the accuracy results I expected. Perhaps bullet technology has come a long way since the 1970s or I didn't do adequate load development. They're still fun to play with.

I probably remember this incorrectly, but were the Remington bullets made by hand?

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

If you're shooting under 400 yards, there is really no advantage to using the long boat tail bullets. In fact the flat base ones have been demonstrated to be more accurate at shorter distances. It's not until you get out past 400 yards that the high ballistic coefficient bullets out perform the flat based ones. I agree as well that with your twist rate, smaller is generally better.

 

[Gamecock]

. . . but boat tails are easier to load.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

. . . but boat tails are easier to load.

Very true.

 

[rockquarry]

If you're shooting under 400 yards, there is really no advantage to using the long boat tail bullets. In fact the flat base ones have been demonstrated to be more accurate at shorter distances. It's not until you get out past 400 yards that the high ballistic coefficient bullets out perform the flat based ones. I agree as well that with your twist rate, smaller is generally better.

You're right. If I have a choice between a flat base and boat tail, I'll always try the flat base first. The accuracy difference may not be great, but they will usually outshoot the boat tail, at least at reasonable distances.

However, you'll never sell the newschoolers, upgraders, and YouTubers on this. Since they figured out what a ballistic coefficent is, that number is the only one that has meaning to them. Accuracy at 400 or 500 yards or less is secondary.

If a boat tail bullet is easier to load in comparison with a flat base design, the alleged advantage is slight at best.

 

[ReloadforFun]

The 1:14" twist rate was fairly universal until the 223 came along. The military wanted the boat tail bullets. They, being longer, needed the slightly fastyer 1:12" twist.

Now, with the military going to much heavier 9LONGER0 bullets, the twist rate is something like 1:7".

The 1:14" twist should do well with the flat base bullets - depending on the gun and load.

 

[dwh]

I've never loaded for match accuracy but have been very successful with 50-55gr Nosler ballistic tips in the 22 centerfires for varmit hunting. Every now and then you get a combination that just doesn't make sense. The below group was fire from a Noveske Rouge hunter 1-9 twist. It's 27grs of WC844, mixed brass, Winchester bulk 55gr fmj and cci srp. This load is what I run thru the AR carbine. I shot this group just to see if it would function in the Noveske upper. It consistently shoots groups like this with this ammo. Go figure?!?!

 

[Miracle Man]

If you're shooting under 400 yards, there is really no advantage to using the long boat tail bullets. In fact the flat base ones have been demonstrated to be more accurate at shorter distances. It's not until you get out past 400 yards that the high ballistic coefficient bullets out perform the flat based ones. I agree as well that with your twist rate, smaller is generally better.

The 60 gr. flat base Sierra shot way better than half a dozen different boat tails in my .223 AR. I don't really shoot it past 400 yards though.

 

[ReloadforFun]

The barrel crown is an important aspect to accuracy. Even more so for boat tail bullets.

The crown should be square to the bore. That is not always square to the barrel OD.