223 hand loads for prairie dogs

[GJ12]

What’s everyone had good luck with for prairie dogs in a 223 bolt gun? Ruger m77 MKii with a 1:12 twist I believe.

 

[NDhunter88]

It’s pretty tough to beat 40gr, 50, and 53gr Vmax. I use benchmark powder for those bullets. Speer 50 gr TNT or spire point are good budget bullets for prairie dogs. At longer ranges past 300 i use 69 and 77 gr TMKs out of a 22-250. They all work well some bullets are just more entertaining than others

 

[Pharmseller]

1-12” I’d stick with 50 gr V Max or BT Varmint.




P

 

[GJ12]

I’ve had trouble getting v max bullets to be consistent… 50 grain varminators shot pretty good. Got some 50 grain Blitzking on the way to try.

 

[stanginthe11s]

I run 24.4 h322 with speer 52 gn hp. if you cant get vmax's to shoot then look at a different powder.

 

[GJ12]

It’s pretty tough to beat 40gr, 50, and 53gr Vmax. I use benchmark powder for those bullets. Speer 50 gr TNT or spire point are good budget bullets for prairie dogs. At longer ranges past 300 i use 69 and 77 gr TMKs out of a 22-250. They all work well some bullets are just more entertaining than others

How much benchmark? I’ve been messing with 25.5-25.8 on it with 50 grain pills.

 

[Michigansf]

How much benchmark? I’ve been messing with 25.5-25.8 on it with 50 grain pills.

I like 60 gr Sierra hpbt. 26 g of varget

 

[MT-nuffgun]

I have a cz-527 American .223 with a 1:12 twist. I have had good luck with the 50 gr vmax and the 55gr Speer tnt hollow point. The Speer tnt was very picky with seating depth though. Once I run out of tnt’s I am going to try the 53 vmax.

 

[wind gypsy]

Buddy uses thousands of 55 sierra blitz kings over benchmark or H335 each year. Those bullets have shot well for me in everything as well.

 

[GJ12]

Thanks guys.

 

[Browninglover1]

I had a Ruger like yours and it flat out rocked with 40 grain Ballistic Tips and a stout loud of Benchmark or Varget. To 400 yards that load was lights out and the increased speed of the lighter bullet was great for the splat factor.

 

[GJ12]

I had a Ruger like yours and it flat out rocked with 40 grain Ballistic Tips and a stout loud of Benchmark or Varget. To 400 yards that load was lights out and the increased speed of the lighter bullet was great for the splat factor.

What ballistic tips? I never found any powder that would shoot under an inch with 40 grain v max’s.

 

[Dos Perros]

My 1:8 likes everything from the 55gr Vmax / 60gr Vmax to the 69gr Sierra HPBT to the 75gr Amax. I use H335 on the lighter pills and Varget on the heavier.

I've also loaded for a 1:12 and it liked the 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip better than the Hornady. That was H335 too.

Varget is good if you're developing loads in March and then shooting on the prairie in August.

 

[T3ninja]

50 gr speer TNT bulk packs can’t be beat for the price. Excellent out to 300 in light wind. Much past that you’re fighting wind pretty bad

 

[NDhunter88]

How much benchmark? I’ve been messing with 25.5-25.8 on it with 50 grain pills.

I’m only using 25grains of Benchmark with 50 vmax. Lake city brass.

 

[Browninglover1]

What ballistic tips? I never found any powder that would shoot under an inch with 40 grain v max’s.

The Nosler Ballistic Tips. They shot awesome in a 7 twist AR too and the RPM’s were so high the squirrels helicoptered more often when hit. Great fun.

 

[Pharmseller]

Nosler max for 50 gr BT is 26.5 gr Benchmark. It’s stiff so work up to it. That’s what is use, I get 3400 fps and great accuracy.




P

 

[GJ12]

I got some 50 grain blitzking in to try and had to back off a little on velocity but accuracy was great. Norma brass, br-4’s, 25 grains of benchmark at about 3320 fps.

 

[kota]

We also settled on the 40 grain Nosler ballistic tips, and used a stout dose of accurate 2015 to drive them. We mostly shoot out to about 250, and as mentioned the accuracy and splat factor were both impressive.

 

[Ddubs20]

I have a cz 527 .223 1:12 twist. It loves the lighter bullets. I use the 36gr barnes varmint grenade and 26gr benchmark. Chronograph at 3500 fps. The barnes bullets wouldn't be very good for coyotes, but are great for Prarie dogs, and are pretty cheep. It also likes the 40 grain vmax and RL7.