223 using a 55 soft point?

Oberg · April 13, 2008, 03:44 AM

What are you guys finding for accuracy and bullet drop in your 223's using a 55 gr soft point or something simalur like a spire point and pointed soft point and such and things?

SmokinTom · April 13, 2008, 06:08 AM

I have reloaded 1000`s of 223`s with Hornady 55gr. SX bullets over the years with great results on chucks.

rwilson452 · April 13, 2008, 07:01 AM

in my rifle the Sierra Biltzking worked best.with the 55 gr hpbt being the most accurate. the Blitzking has great terminal ballistics.

BigV · April 13, 2008, 08:28 AM

I use Hornady 55gr V-Max bullets and see about a 1 ½ in drop from 100 to 200 yards. These bullets are deadly on ground hogs!

Oberg · April 13, 2008, 12:47 PM

I should of added that at the moment I am shooting 40 gr V-Max and they are shooting very well. most the time under 1" at 100 out of My 16" AR. but they are alot more expensive to shoot. I was just bought 200 rounds of Remington 55 gr PSP and was wondering what I could expect from them. I'd be using them on flicker tails (Richardson ground squirrels) and muskrats and propli them annoying killdeer LOL. thanks guys

MADISON · April 13, 2008, 04:59 PM

First you need to verify a 1 in 12 twist by:
Start a tight patch; being sure the jag is tight on the rod.
Mark the rod with a felt tip to indicate Top Dead Center and a starting point.
Advance the rod until it comes back to Top Dead Center.
Measure the distance traveled from the start mark. That is the rifling twist, one turn in xx inches.
A lot easier than trying to estimate the amount of twist in a foot.
My wife and I have two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT bolt action Rugers.

My gun is an ULTRA-LIET. Because of the pencil thin barrel I have to load
21.5 grains of Winchester 748 with a 55 grain bullet or 25.0 grains with a 60 grain bullet.

My wife uses a 55 grain bullet with 26.5 to 27.5 grains of 748.

rrp · April 14, 2008, 09:05 PM

First check and see what twist your barrel is. I have three ar 15's one being a1 in 7 twist. I have had on several different trips to the range found that the 55 gr sp will not make it down range with this twist. Some of them fall apart in flight. I am now using 68 gr and above in this rifle with great results. My two other rifles with 1 in 9 and 1 in 12 twist handle the 55 gr sp with no problems. I hope this helps. Good shooting.

Oberg · April 14, 2008, 09:58 PM

Its a S&W M&P 15 with a 19" 1:9 twist. It shoots a 40 gr. v-max best and but not far behind is the 60 gr v-max the 69 gr matchkings i tried weren't as tight of groups but still not bad as they shot an average of 1 1/2" but the 40's have been under an 1" and the 60's slightly over 1" I am wondering about the 55 sp mainly cuz i want a cheaper shell to shoot cuz i seem to rap off alot of rounds with it. I tried some 55 gr sp hornady's last weekend and with 3 5 shot groups they shot i'd say 1 3/4" with one group being under an 1" and the other two being around that 1 3/4" mark. I was using ramshot x-terminator as that is what i use when i shoot the 40 gr v-max but with teh 55 gr it leaves alot of empty space in the case. so i'm going to try some ramshot tac powder

April 13, 2008, 03:44 AM	#1
Oberg Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2008 Location: Minn Posts: 212	223 using a 55 soft point? What are you guys finding for accuracy and bullet drop in your 223's using a 55 gr soft point or something simalur like a spire point and pointed soft point and such and things?

April 13, 2008, 04:59 PM	#6
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	223 loads for 55 gr. bullets First you need to verify a 1 in 12 twist by: Start a tight patch; being sure the jag is tight on the rod. Mark the rod with a felt tip to indicate Top Dead Center and a starting point. Advance the rod until it comes back to Top Dead Center. Measure the distance traveled from the start mark. That is the rifling twist, one turn in xx inches. A lot easier than trying to estimate the amount of twist in a foot. My wife and I have two COMPLETELY DIFFERENT bolt action Rugers. My gun is an ULTRA-LIET. Because of the pencil thin barrel I have to load 21.5 grains of Winchester 748 with a 55 grain bullet or 25.0 grains with a 60 grain bullet. My wife uses a 55 grain bullet with 26.5 to 27.5 grains of 748.

April 14, 2008, 09:05 PM	#7
rrp Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2006 Location: west central Wi Posts: 300	55gr soft point First check and see what twist your barrel is. I have three ar 15's one being a1 in 7 twist. I have had on several different trips to the range found that the 55 gr sp will not make it down range with this twist. Some of them fall apart in flight. I am now using 68 gr and above in this rifle with great results. My two other rifles with 1 in 9 and 1 in 12 twist handle the 55 gr sp with no problems. I hope this helps. Good shooting.

April 13, 2008, 06:08 AM	#2
SmokinTom Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 479	I have reloaded 1000`s of 223`s with Hornady 55gr. SX bullets over the years with great results on chucks.

April 13, 2008, 07:01 AM	#3
rwilson452 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Tioga co. PA Posts: 2,647	in my rifle the Sierra Biltzking worked best.with the 55 gr hpbt being the most accurate. the Blitzking has great terminal ballistics.

April 13, 2008, 08:28 AM	#4
BigV Senior Member Join Date: October 26, 2005 Location: Akron, OH Posts: 328	I use Hornady 55gr V-Max bullets and see about a 1 ½ in drop from 100 to 200 yards. These bullets are deadly on ground hogs!

April 13, 2008, 12:47 PM	#5
Oberg Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2008 Location: Minn Posts: 212	I should of added that at the moment I am shooting 40 gr V-Max and they are shooting very well. most the time under 1" at 100 out of My 16" AR. but they are alot more expensive to shoot. I was just bought 200 rounds of Remington 55 gr PSP and was wondering what I could expect from them. I'd be using them on flicker tails (Richardson ground squirrels) and muskrats and propli them annoying killdeer LOL. thanks guys

April 14, 2008, 09:58 PM	#8
Oberg Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2008 Location: Minn Posts: 212	Its a S&W M&P 15 with a 19" 1:9 twist. It shoots a 40 gr. v-max best and but not far behind is the 60 gr v-max the 69 gr matchkings i tried weren't as tight of groups but still not bad as they shot an average of 1 1/2" but the 40's have been under an 1" and the 60's slightly over 1" I am wondering about the 55 sp mainly cuz i want a cheaper shell to shoot cuz i seem to rap off alot of rounds with it. I tried some 55 gr sp hornady's last weekend and with 3 5 shot groups they shot i'd say 1 3/4" with one group being under an 1" and the other two being around that 1 3/4" mark. I was using ramshot x-terminator as that is what i use when i shoot the 40 gr v-max but with teh 55 gr it leaves alot of empty space in the case. so i'm going to try some ramshot tac powder