.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

[grfox92]

I figure this is the best place to ask this question. I'm looking to start shooting the piss out of my 1:9 AR to practice field positions in order to save money, powder ect. Is there any bulk bullets I should be looking at or am I better off sticking with ELDs?

Not sure if there is anything out there in bulk, weight doesn't matter all that much as it's not for hunting at this point.

Edit: maybe another question I should ask is, how much is it costing you to reload .223? Is it even worth it for ringing steel at 400 yards? I bought a box of Fiochi 55gr Vmax for 50 rounds for $42. They have 50rnds of FMJ for $37 also.

Thanks fellas.

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[Pickettpuncher]

I figure this is the best place to ask this question. I'm looking to start shooting the piss out of my 1:9 AR to practice field positions in order to save money, powder ect. Is there any bulk bullets I should be looking at or am I better off sticking with ELDs?

Not sure if there is anything out there in bulk, weight doesn't matter all that much as it's not for hunting at this point.

Edit: maybe another question I should ask is, how much is it costing you to reload .223? Is it even worth it for ringing steel at 400 yards? I bought a box of Fiochi 55gr Vmax for 50 rounds for $42. They have 50rnds of FMJ for $37 also.

Thanks fellas.

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

I’ll be loading 73gr eldm at about $.51 each.

 

[grfox92]

I’ll be loading 73gr eldm at about $.51 each.

So $25.50 per 50. Do you think I'll see the benefits of eldm coming out of a factory gas gun?

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[blkqi]

I like to load pulls or blems for plinking, or else just your standard 55 HPBT.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

75 bthp is a very economical bullet.

 

[Pickettpuncher]

So $25.50 per 50. Do you think I'll see the benefits of eldm coming out of a factory gas gun?

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Maybe, does your gun shoot factory offerings fine? Do you like to load? Tinker?

 

[ztc92]

I figure this is the best place to ask this question. I'm looking to start shooting the piss out of my 1:9 AR to practice field positions in order to save money, powder ect. Is there any bulk bullets I should be looking at or am I better off sticking with ELDs?

Not sure if there is anything out there in bulk, weight doesn't matter all that much as it's not for hunting at this point.

Edit: maybe another question I should ask is, how much is it costing you to reload .223? Is it even worth it for ringing steel at 400 yards? I bought a box of Fiochi 55gr Vmax for 50 rounds for $42. They have 50rnds of FMJ for $37 also.

Thanks fellas.

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

You sound like you’re in the same place I was a year ago when I looked to ramp up practice with my 223. Here’s a write up I did with my thoughts on buying ammo vs reloading at that time. Ammo as well as reloading supplies are easier to find and less expensive now but I suspect the cost/benefit ratio is similar.

For what it’s worth, if I could do it all over again I’d probably just buy a case of Hornady Frontier 75g BTHP and only reload for bullets that are hard to find in factory ammo, such as the 77TMK. It was a lot of time and effort for minimal savings when I look back on it.

Cost to reload a .223 in the current market

Hey All, I've reloaded for blackpowder cartridge rifles in the past but have never reloaded smokeless powder before as I've always just bought factory ammo for my bolt guns. Well given the current shortage, I spent the last few weeks teaching myself the steps of reloading for modern smokeless...

rokslide.com

 

[robtattoo]

Keep your eye on Midway for blems. I usually end up grabbing anything I can with a soft point, 62gr or better. The last bunch I bought were Sierra Gameking 65gr at $10.99/100.
Last week I snagged 1000 of the 77gr blems (Hornady OTM) for $14.99/100
Usually won't reload bulk unless I can do it for under 20c a shot. My usual cost is around 12-15 cents per.

 

[Maverick1]

I was in the store today and looked at .223 ammunition. They are small.

 

[grfox92]

Maybe, does your gun shoot factory offerings fine? Do you like to load? Tinker?

I do reload and enjoy it. I've quite litterally never shot my AR once in the 3 years I've owned it and have shot the one I've owned for 10 years twice in that time lol.

I'm going burn 30 rounds of bulk fmj I have getting on paper and close to zeroed and see how those group, then I'll truly zero with the 55gr Vmax I bought so I can take my son Coyote hunting.

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[Pickettpuncher]

I do reload and enjoy it. I've quite litterally never shot my AR once in the 3 years I've owned it and have shot the one I've owned for 10 years twice in that time lol.

I'm going burn 30 rounds of bulk fmj I have getting on paper and close to zeroed and see how those group, then I'll truly zero with the 55gr Vmax I bought so I can take my son Coyote hunting.

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For low volume, I wouldn’t mess with it. If you want high volume and quality ammo I’d get to pulling the handle.

 

[PNWGATOR]

I was in the store today and looked at .223 ammunition. They are small.

Bullets matter.

Correct bullets (wound channel, depth of penetration, BC) delivered with high accuracy and high precision out of a robust delivery system with impact velocity adequate to deliver terminal performance with the highest hit rate and lowest recoil…

This entire thread is based on objectivity and efficiency and end results that matter.

Please, read the thread. Trust the process. Verify the process for yourself. Post your findings with pictures and necropsy results.

We’ll all learn!

 

[Tahr]

I’ll be there in September. You on the north or south island?

North - Wellington. Make contact if you pass through.

 

[atmat]

North - Wellington. Make contact if you pass through.

Wait you’re taking 70 deer annually on the north island? I thought the majority of the hunting was South Island. That’s awesome!

 

[Tahr]

Wait you’re taking 70 deer annually on the north island? I thought the majority of the hunting was South Island. That’s awesome!

Lots of hunting on the NI. I don't want to distract from the purpose of this thread so have PM'd you.

 

[PNWGATOR]

Lots of hunting on the NI. I don't want to distract from the purpose of this thread so have PM'd you.

Please keep posting your .223 experiences!

We all have a lot to gain from first hand terminal performance reports including pics!

 

[Tahr]

Please keep posting your .223 experiences!

We all have a lot to gain from first hand terminal performance reports including pics!

It's pretty good performance for a 52 grain bullet to go right through this deer and make a good exit wound (pic shows the width it penetrated). As said they are Berger jackets and the guy who makes them here seems to have got the core mixture pretty right. Im not advocating little bullets but it does show what can be achieved with the right mix of ingredients of speed plus bullet design.

 

[lhbackcountry]

Ruger American 223 / 23g TAC / sierra 65 htbt match.
One went about 30 yards into creek and crashed. The other looked at me, acted like nothing happened took 10 steps before keeling over.

 

[KHNC]

I was in the store today and looked at .223 ammunition. They are small.

Yep, and 6000+ posts about how they are devastators. Whats wrong with these people?

 

[mt terry d]

I was in the store today and looked at .223 ammunition. They are small.

Yes they are.

A lot lighter to carry, cheaper and kill as quickly as my 300 win mag.

Win/Win/Win