Bullets for A .223 [Archive]

terryt

09-19-2012, 02:10 PM

Hi:

I am thinking about getting a bolt action or single shot rifle in .223 and would like to know if anyone has experience with 60 & 70 grain cast boolits. What twist works well as well as what powder & primers?

Can cast boolits shoot a good group at 200-300 yards?

Any info on jacked bullets would also be appreciated.

Thanks,

Terryt

9.3X62AL

09-19-2012, 03:39 PM

The fastest (and only) twist I have in any of my 223 rifles is 1-9". One is a bolt action, Ruger 77RC with 16.5" barrel. It has fired two different 55 grain cast designs quite accurately to 200 yards--I haven't tried this at 300 yards yet. I'm holding off on further work until I get a digital scale and better lube into the mix. I'm hoping that scaled boolits reduce or eliminate flyers for me.

I tried a 72 grain NEI round-nose design to 1700 FPS, and could not get it to fly straight.

69 grain Sierra Matchkings shoot very well in this 1-9" twist, in all three rifles. Their higher velocities (2700-2900 FPS) may account for this. 55 and 60 grain jacketed bullets do very well also.

I'm likely a "minority opinion" on this subject, but I'm not all that jazzed with the uber-long 22 centerfire jacketed bullets of 69 grain weights or heavier. The heavier bullets cost significantly more than do 52-55 grain bullets, and unless there is a specific need for them--like 600 yard match shooting--they price themselves out of consideration for me for varmint hunting. I have a bolter 22-250 being re-barrelled presently, and I chose a 1-12" for that application. One project in the pipeline for next year is a rat-strafing upper unit for my AR-15, and it is also likely to have a 1-12" twist. Hurling javelins is fun, all right--but the 223/5.56 is a 300 yard varmint caliber, and can be stretched to 400 if you know the load--and 55-60 grainers will abide in those circumstances.

NO, I'm not going to re-start an RPM discussion concerning cast boolits. Not going there. NOT.