Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Create Account now to join.
  • Login:

Welcome to the NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.

Terminator Alpine


User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Page 2 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 16 to 30 of 48
Like Tree33Likes

Thread: Most destructive 223 varmint projectile ?

  1. #16
    Member Timmay's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Taupo
    Posts
    2,683
    To expand on what I said before about spinning quickly, I really wanted a varminter a while back so did some research, speed is obviously important but what is overlooked is rotational speed of the projectile... RPM.
    The high speed spinning does a shed load of "impressive" damage.
    So get a fast twist rifle if you can
    puku likes this.

  2. #17
    Caretaker
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Hawkes Bay
    Posts
    9,265
    Quote Originally Posted by Timmay View Post
    To expand on what I said before about spinning quickly, I really wanted a varminter a while back so did some research, speed is obviously important but what is overlooked is rotational speed of the projectile... RPM.
    The high speed spinning does a shed load of "impressive" damage.
    So get a fast twist rifle if you can
    One in 8 in .223 is fine
    puku and YosemiteSam like this.
    A big fast bullet beats a little fast bullet every time

  3. #18
    Member Timmay's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Taupo
    Posts
    2,683
    Yep, 1:8 is probably perfect
    puku and Beaker like this.

  4. #19
    Member viper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Rabbitvegas
    Posts
    2,619
    Absolutely fucken brilliant come back Dougie, they say down here in Cromwell that 6 rabbits = 1 sheep, looks like in HB 6 sheep = 1 rabbit.....go girl
    Dougie likes this.

  5. #20
    Member Savage1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Whangarei
    Posts
    3,492
    I think with varmints it really doesn't matter with a .223, the shock damage even from a FMJ is more than enough.
    gadgetman and 223nut like this.

  6. #21
    Rabbit Herder StrikerNZ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    South Canterbury
    Posts
    1,913
    Quote Originally Posted by Savage1 View Post
    I think with varmints it really doesn't matter with a .223, the shock damage even from a FMJ is more than enough.
    The FMJs will mostly kill, but you'll tear your hair out trying to figure them out. Based on my experience, FMJ is not a good option for any live game, even rabbits. I shot over 500 rabbits in around a month last year with PMC brand 55gr FMJs. (Just what I was given to use, but I told him after not to order any more)

    Maybe 20% of hits were convincing messy 'dropped jam jar' type hits. Usually these were ones that contacted the spine on entry - shooting downwards onto the rabbit from a hillside, or hitting it in the back as it faced away.

    Another 20% would just drop dead when hit. Fine, no issues there. These were more often 'end-on' chest shots.

    Now for the less than ideal -

    While a roughish guess, I would say that around 40%, when hit, simply run off with almost no indication of actually having been hit. I had a guy watching through binos when we picked off 80 in an afternoon and he reported that the vast majority of these rabbits that ran off had been solid chest or shoulder shots. (Obviously just not breaking legs) These rabbits would easily run 100m plus, over the ridges and out of sight. I'm sure they died, but how quickly I don't know. Many of these I would have said the shot felt right and should have been a hit, but watching the rabbit run away I was prepared to accept failure until he told me he'd seen the hit perfectly in the chest.

    Over time I could start to pick if the hit had been good or not, just by watching the rabbit run away and following a mental checklist. A lot of guesswork though.
    - Did the shot feel good.
    - Did the hit sound right.
    - Does the rabbit look like it wants to pause, but keep running ("ouch, keep moving")

    The final 20%, when hit, often with a leg hanging off or an obvious bleed, would not die quickly. Many requiring at least one follow up shot if practical. I remember one that I shot from 200m in a wee clay pan, clean chest shot dropped it on the spot and I could see the entry wound on the shoulder through the scope. 10 minutes later when walking by I stepped closer for a look, only to have it try to push itself away with its back legs while squealing.

    Please use something more suitable than FMJ for rabbits..

    FMJs will see you using more ammo for the same task.
    FMJs will see you frustrated because you can't hit anything, when really you're connecting.
    Timmay, gadgetman, Dougie and 4 others like this.

  7. #22
    res
    res is offline
    Member res's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Quebec
    Posts
    3,379
    Fmj on bunnys, done it a fair bit-especially 77smk, and my experience is the same as StrikerNZ. Personally would still use them if it's all I had but it would be a last resort
    Using Tapatalk

  8. #23
    Member viper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Rabbitvegas
    Posts
    2,619
    I 100% agree Striker, when I got this current 223 it came with 50 odd rounds of FMJ, I had never shot FMJ before and would have thought that the grunt of the 223 would more than make up for lack of expansion.
    That illusion was soon proved wrong with maybe 20 shot on the first afternoon with 4 recovered. My shots were ok but most resulted in the rabbit running away sometimes in a side ways sort of run.
    I figured all I was doing was drilling holes through them. It will be the last time I use FMJ on any animal.
    Steve123 likes this.

  9. #24
    Fulla
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Cni
    Posts
    1,660
    Quote Originally Posted by StrikerNZ View Post
    The FMJs will mostly kill, but you'll tear your hair out trying to figure them out. Based on my experience, FMJ is not a good option for any live game, even rabbits. I shot over 500 rabbits in around a month last year with PMC brand 55gr FMJs. (Just what I was given to use, but I told him after not to order any more)

    Maybe 20% of hits were convincing messy 'dropped jam jar' type hits. Usually these were ones that contacted the spine on entry - shooting downwards onto the rabbit from a hillside, or hitting it in the back as it faced away.

    Another 20% would just drop dead when hit. Fine, no issues there. These were more often 'end-on' chest shots.

    Now for the less than ideal -

    While a roughish guess, I would say that around 40%, when hit, simply run off with almost no indication of actually having been hit. I had a guy watching through binos when we picked off 80 in an afternoon and he reported that the vast majority of these rabbits that ran off had been solid chest or shoulder shots. (Obviously just not breaking legs) These rabbits would easily run 100m plus, over the ridges and out of sight. I'm sure they died, but how quickly I don't know. Many of these I would have said the shot felt right and should have been a hit, but watching the rabbit run away I was prepared to accept failure until he told me he'd seen the hit perfectly in the chest.

    Over time I could start to pick if the hit had been good or not, just by watching the rabbit run away and following a mental checklist. A lot of guesswork though.
    - Did the shot feel good.
    - Did the hit sound right.
    - Does the rabbit look like it wants to pause, but keep running ("ouch, keep moving")

    The final 20%, when hit, often with a leg hanging off or an obvious bleed, would not die quickly. Many requiring at least one follow up shot if practical. I remember one that I shot from 200m in a wee clay pan, clean chest shot dropped it on the spot and I could see the entry wound on the shoulder through the scope. 10 minutes later when walking by I stepped closer for a look, only to have it try to push itself away with its back legs while squealing.

    Please use something more suitable than FMJ for rabbits..

    FMJs will see you using more ammo for the same task.
    FMJs will see you frustrated because you can't hit anything, when really you're connecting.
    What twist rate were you using?

  10. #25
    Rabbit Herder StrikerNZ's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    South Canterbury
    Posts
    1,913
    Quote Originally Posted by bully View Post
    What twist rate were you using?
    1-12

    24" tube

  11. #26
    Fulla
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Cni
    Posts
    1,660
    Quote Originally Posted by StrikerNZ View Post
    1-12

    24" tube
    I wonder if that twist had something to do with your results. I used fmj in a 1:8 to hope for a little less damage than a 50 vmax. And it didn't work, just as much damage really. Nothing as bad as you mentioned.

  12. #27
    mkm
    mkm is offline
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    the mighty Manawatu
    Posts
    127
    Been trying out a few rounds through the x-bolt - These were going well until . . . . . . .

    Name:  IMG_0155.jpg
Views: 612
Size:  720.1 KB

    so won't be going back

  13. #28
    Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Stewart island / canterbury
    Posts
    9,186
    @mkm that's a shame, my t3 seems to love them! Haven't had a squib yet

  14. #29
    Member GravelBen's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2012
    Location
    Gorrre
    Posts
    3,601
    Quote Originally Posted by res View Post
    Fmj on bunnys, done it a fair bit-especially 77smk, and my experience is the same as StrikerNZ. Personally would still use them if it's all I had but it would be a last resort
    I had a lot of pencilling with the 69smk on wallabies, using hornady 68bthp and 53vmax now with much more reliable killing.

  15. #30
    Member viper's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Rabbitvegas
    Posts
    2,619
    yeah the 53gr Vmax is a killer Gravel, I also drilled holes with the 69smk, .......hence this thread

 

 

Similar Threads

  1. 338 Projectile wap
    By Nibblet in forum Projectile and Factory Ammo Exchange
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 08-03-2013, 06:28 PM
  2. 308 Projectile
    By Happy in forum Reloading and Ballistics
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 12-11-2012, 07:21 PM
  3. T3 Varmint & Super Varmint's
    By Philipo in forum Firearms, Optics and Accessories
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 15-12-2011, 10:59 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Welcome to NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums! We see you're new here, or arn't logged in. Create an account, and Login for full access including our FREE BUY and SELL section Register NOW!!