bullet choice

[223sav]

Wondering what some opinions are as far bullet choices others use as far as grains, etc. in .223.
The most accurate round I get from mine is a 50gr v-max, but the last 2 dogs I have shot left a pretty good exit wound, (the shots were 40-50yds). I also shoot alot of 55gr soft points, but don't always get the accuracy I would like. Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

[lyonch]

In my .22-250 i am shooting the 55 grain sierra spitzer boat tails and really like them so far. I will have to take a pic of the one i cut out of a coyote i shot at 100 yards in the chest looking at me and found it right in front of the hind quarter.

[LeviM]

I dont think you can judge the exit hole on shots that close. I would keep trying them for the winter, and see what the exit hole does at further ranges

[223sav]

I agree with the judging of the exit hole at close distance, one dog was broadside and it left a lttle bigger than quarter sized hole on the pass thru, the other was facing me, shot right below the jaw, and the exit was about 2" diameter out the back of the neck, but you can't do a little sewing if they aren't dead.
I was just curious as to what others on the site used, I really like the v-max, very confident with it.
I will have to try and get some stopped at 100-150 yard range and see what it does then. I have shot goats with this set-up and only one even wiggled after impact.

[DustyC]

I shoot 52gr Berger match varmint in my .223. Does a great job killing and has never been to hard on fur. I also shoot the 52gr in my 22-250 with great results.

[Optimax90]

I've been shooting 55gr V-Max out of my .22-250. And anything under 200 does a little damage, but that is what I want anyway.

Just got my new barrel back last week, and I shot some 75gr A-MAX loads today. Thay shoot very nice, and the long range potential is great. Don't know what they will do on fur. But anything over 400yrds is in trouble

[Varmintnv]

I shoot nothing but 50gr Nosler Ballistic Tips in my current .22-250. I have killed multiple coyotes from 100-300yds so far without a single exit wound, and all the dogs went down instantly. I shot the same bullets in my .223, killed 2 coyotes before rebuilding that gun for shooting prairie dogs. Both went down instantly, the one at 200yds had about a quarter sized exit wound, the other had no exit wound.
Back in '86-'87 when I was shooting coyotes for a living, I was shooting 52gr. Speer HP. Killed 45+ coyotes with em those two winters. Most exit wounds were about a quarter in size but a couple were larger. Part I hated was putting one through both lungs and watching the dog run as far as 200yds before going down. Didn't happen every time, but it happened enuff to make me try something different.
I tried 50 VMAX's that year as well, but had a couple bad experiences with em and gave up on them.
As for needing 60+ grain bullets for long range work, it's alot of hooey. LOL I have killed coyotes at well over 400yds with 52gr Speers without a problem. And I have killed prairie dogs at well over 500yds with 50gr Ballistic tips in both my .223 and my .22-250. Wanna shoot stuff farther than that? Shoot a bigger gun! Now I'm not trying to step on toes or piss anyone off, just my honest opinion. But I do speak with over 30yrs of experience shooting and hunting.

[Optimax90]

As for needing 60+ grain bullets for long range work, it's alot of hooey. LOL I have killed coyotes at well over 400yds with 52gr Speers without a problem. And I have killed prairie dogs at well over 500yds with 50gr Ballistic tips in both my .223 and my .22-250. Wanna shoot stuff farther than that? Shoot a bigger gun! Now I'm not trying to step on toes or piss anyone off, just my honest opinion. But I do speak with over 30yrs of experience shooting and hunting.
.

We'll as far as killing prairie dogs that don't take much of a gun. And I too have killed coyotes at ranges over 400 yards. Shot one in september @ 567yrds, killed her stone dead, w/55gr. V-Max. But conditions were perfect and there was no wind at all.

I'm not sure where you live or hunt, but in ND we have wind, and alot of wide open shooting. With a smaller caliber bullet and a little wind, given the opertunity to take a coyote @ over 400yrds, I'm taking the 75gr. A-Max over a lighter 50gr. bullet all day long I know there is way less wind drift with my bullet..

When I'm out on stand and a coyote hanges up at 400+yrds, I don't have the option of goning back to the truck and getting a "bigger gun". I't don't happen often but at least when it does, I know I got the right bullet for the job. And yes I practice @ 300-400-500+ yard shooting, so I know that I can make that shot

I also don't want to insult you, but my dad has 30+ years experience of shooting and hunting, but he don't know shit about long range shooting or ballistics...... I'm no expert, but I spend enough days in the feild to know what works. And I want to take advantage of every chance I get

[22-250AI]

I also don't want to insult you, but my dad has 30+ years experience of shooting and hunting, but he don't know shit about long range shooting or ballistics...... I'm no expert, but I spend enough days in the feild to know what works. And I want to take advantage of every chance I get [/quote]


Thats funny !!


Limiting yourself to one bullet ( 50 gr Nosler BT ) Is as bad as only owning one rifle.

I shoot 36, 50, 52, 55, 70, 75 and 77 grain bullets in my 22-250..... 50's are my favorite to conserve fur the rest are rated by fun factor on relative GOO they produce from selected unlucky contestants.

[jaybic]

I and a buddy both shoot the 50gr Vmax and have had great luck with them in both .223s and 22-250s at ranges from maybe 40 yards out to maybe 350 or so. Almost invisible entrance and rare exit holes. Lots O' fellers on here shoot different bullets and lots of them kill many dogs so there is no one bullet that is above all others that I know of. If it shoots accurate(most important) and you hit them in the pocket, you have a winner imo. Heck, Les Johnson shoots Vmax bullets albeit a 55gr and his record speaks for itself. He flat kills coyotes with them.

Telling the truth, I have lost 2 coyotes shooting those bullets in maybe 5 years or so but it was my fault and lousy hits that caused it. I have also seen poorly hit coyotes run off after being hit with a 25-06 and a 270 and 100 to 130gr bullets and on another thread on this site, there is a coyote that survived being hit by a car(very large bullet @ 75 mph).

Point being, hit them hard were it counts and the 50s will do well for you. Dont and it wont matter much what your shooting.

Good luck to you,

Jaybic

[Coyotehunter]

I've been shooting 55gr V-Max out of my .22-250. And anything under 200 does a little damage, but that is what I want anyway.

Just got my new barrel back last week, and I shot some 75gr A-MAX loads today. Thay shoot very nice, and the long range potential is great. Don't know what they will do on fur. But anything over 400yrds is in trouble

what twist ?

[Tim Anderson]

I owned a few 223 in the past but was'nt happy with performance from the 223 case...
But if a guy has to use one i would go with the lightest, strongest bullet i could find. Bullet speed and flat traj. is going to put more coyotes down if shot in the proper place.. A heavey bullet like a 75 gr. has good long range accuracy but dose'nt have enough steam to do the job properly, but a good lite bullet that will penatrate inside the animal and destruct is what you want..
A 52 gr. H.P. comes to mind or a 40 gr. h.p. or the Hornady SX bullets if they are still made..

Oh i forgot to mention Calhoon bullets which come in 42 and 52 gr. with a double H.P. work real good..

[wolfpup30]

I shoot the 40gr. V-Max in my .223, I live and hunt in Southern Colorado but do not hesitate when shooting in the wind. I shot several balistic tips in the 40 and 50 grain and preferred Hornady for the price mostly but works great for prairie dogs and coyotes.

[22-250AI]

I've been shooting 55gr V-Max out of my .22-250. And anything under 200 does a little damage, but that is what I want anyway.

Just got my new barrel back last week, and I shot some 75gr A-MAX loads today. Thay shoot very nice, and the long range potential is great. Don't know what they will do on fur. But anything over 400yrds is in trouble

what twist ?

1-8 Douglas

[Optimax90]

Like .22-250AI said, Its 1-8 out of a Douglas Premium XX Barrel. Ive been damn happy with it so far

As far as speed Ishooting .22-250 Ackley Improved, and I'm getting 3425-3450fps consistant out of that 75gr. A-Max. I think that is fast enough.

Last night made a stand after work (working out of town in coyote country) and bumped one one the way in After he ran off and the stand came up empty. I layed down fire on pasture rocks, was able to hit rocks the size of five gallon buckets, out to 840yards. First shot willey almost every time That 75gr. A-max has good speed and is a flat shooting SOB. Oh almost forgot, my 55gr. v-max fire form loads shoot through the same hole @ 100yrds I like my Douglas!!!!!