Just picked up a mint a-bolt SS in .223 for the boys.
Not sure on twist but what are people using for fallow, wallabies, goats?
The Hornady 55grn SP seem reasonable buying from Gunworks and what I would expect to be suitable.
Thanks
Printable View
Just picked up a mint a-bolt SS in .223 for the boys.
Not sure on twist but what are people using for fallow, wallabies, goats?
The Hornady 55grn SP seem reasonable buying from Gunworks and what I would expect to be suitable.
Thanks
Barnaul was great back in the good old days as you never worried about the brass.
It's cheap too.
Otherwise Belmont black is good
Grab a few different packs off your local shop and see what the gun likes . Getting cheap ammo is good but only if it actually works in your rifle.
Check out belmont site, i used to all ways use there 223 products with success untill i got into re loading my own
+1 for Belmont
I run Buffalo river through mine , cheap and it loves it and good knock down as well providing placement is good obviously
Measure your twist rate, super easy to do with a rod, brush, black marker pen and ruler. That will let you know how heavy a bullet it can take. Otherwise start at 55 grains and keep going up till they dont get on the target or if they do its sideways.
If you run a supressor its best to take it off after say 65 grains to avoid a nasty suprise.
Belmont black, their 55gr sp is awsome, cheap as chips to, my howa mini shoots them into hole as big as my thumb nail at the 100
Belmont black for the win
just tried some GECO 223 69gr they use the sierra 69smk and they go bloody well. good price too.
Winchester 64gr for a fast twist 1:8 barrel
55gr per pervious if a slower twist
IMHO
fallow wallaby or goats DONT REQUIRE heavier than 55 grns....so try the hornady stuff first off...if rifle likes it,go shoot stuff and be happy...the privi is very slow and not very impressive by comparison. I used a box of 64grn winchester once upon a time...didnt see any real improovement on the 50-55grns so have never bothered trying heavier stuff again....out to 200 max the 50-55grn hasnt let me down yet.....find some mono loads if you think something bigger is around...what a 50 grn ttsx does is rather impressive. wallabies you best suited with something really soft,a true varmit projectile is ideal....currently running 50 grn zmax (cause they were cheap) and cant fault the terminal preformance.
@Marty Henry
“If you run a supressor its best to take it off after say 65 grains to avoid a nasty surprise”
This is news to me - am now running 69gr Sierra in my 1:8 Tikka - can you explain the issue?
Thanks!
too heavy for twist it MIGHT yaw on exit...collecting baffles on the way out.
Thanks for all the feedback quite a swing to Barnaul and looking at the prices I can see why. I will give then a try.
Think the twist will be suited to sub 55grn.
Interesting looking at prices GC is off the chart, Gunworks was quite good and the Barnaul would question the value of reloading at their prices.
Before you commit to buying a heap of Barnaul, Google
"Lucky Gunner Epic ammo torture test"
Food for thought.
That’s a read and a half. Interesting the wear factor after 6000 rounds compared to the federal brass case setup. I wasn’t even aware of the steel cases. Thanks @Max Headroom
If you don't mind treating your barrel as a disposable unit, using steel cased ammo over the long haul might make sense.
Up to you. That article from memory also said that you are saving so much money that the cost of new barrel still works out cheaper.
My 223 steel case was mint. Impressive muzzle flash. Good terminal results. And best of all no mucking around finding brass. Just bomb up the goats and move on to the next mob.
(Buffalo River) Hunting and fishing used to. In 5 round blister packs so very handy. Haven't seen it lately but they do have some ADI loaded 55gr SP which are comparable but not "ballistic tip" or whatever.
68-69gr will stabilise in most barrels, they seem to be the "sweet spot" for .223. 1:8 is fast, AR fast, you could easily go 74gr or higher.
I would do ALL testing without a supressor. As mentioned above, yaw and instability leading to baffle strike.
90gr in a 1:12.5
neat photo...interesting one projectile looks to have made a bent projectile shaped hole (4;00)
Pretty devastating terminal performance with those IF you can hit the target.
Check out ammodirect Wanganui company. I have been buying from them. Wide selection of 223 starting art 35gr going right up. And very good prices. I brought bulk of their 55gr sp freedom ammo. Brass cases. Groups under an inch. Not sure exactly what the projectiles are but kill very well. Have a good selection of well known projectiles
i have a few different factory loads and handloads, you are welcome to come grab a few and see what works for you
Stag, if it groups ok I’d stick with it. I’ve used this https://www.gunworks.co.nz/shop/item...-eagle-223-rem to good effect on wallabies & rabbits
They would have stableised at around 4000 fps, if you could get them that fast.
In the transition zone at around 2500 fps interesting things happen with marginal bullets, they go from good grouping to where did that go. Its all to do with gyroscopic stableisation and rpms.
I get the Buffalo from Magnum Sports here in Stratford. There are 2 types; one with the 55gr Blitzking and one with the 55gr Gameking. I've been using the Gamekings on goats and even on big shaggy billies it doesn't blow the shoulders to hell and back. Very little wasted meat. So I'd say it must be a fairly robust projectile; probably ideal for fallow etc. Accurate too. I'm sure any gun shop would order some in? H&F don't have it; maybe because it might compete with their own branded cheaper 223 ammo?
When i reload 223 which isnt often now, my go to projectile is the 55 gr hollowpoint gameking, flies like a brick but hangs together and penetrates. 200 yds is its max practical range though plenty of reds and a scrub bull can testify.
Now for most shooting i use the 62 gr belmont black loaded rounds are literally the same price as the sierra projectiles alone.
Try Hornady Frontier 55gr SP
$139 for 150 rounds at Reloaders
Been shooting heaps of it, decent accuracy of 1 to 1.5 inch groups out of my Marlin X7 223.
Works well on goats.
I use PMC 223 Bronze Hunting 55gr SP from Gunworks. $19 for a box of 20.
I really like it and have shot Fallow and wallabies with it no problems.
Bunnies and roos I just use Belmont 55gr SP ammo. Cheap as chips for the amount I'm shooting so not worth reloading.
For a bit more popping shock stuff I reload a few different pills. 55gr Ballistic tipped Varmageddons, V Max, 50Gr Blitzkings and also a few heavier as well from 62 - 75gr for LR gong shooting.
My 223's have 1:8 and a 1:12 twist rates. Heavier pills only used in the 1:8
Go see the guys at Shooter Supplies, they have a good range of ammo there and are great to deal with