Thread: Most destructive 223 varmint projectile ?

45grn taipans don't exit hares...well whats left of the hare.
50grn hornady SPSX were deadly on wallabies pushed at around the 3k mark, made a heck of mess with large jellified bruise area,maybe not as fragile as the others but very effective.

I use 50g V Max on living things that I want to make into dead things and 50g Z Max on undead things I with to return to dead things. However I want to try out the Barnes Varmint grenade as it's just a copper jacket around metal powder so should be very explosive. I think if you load them down a bit they would make the perfect lifestyle block \ small property load as very little danger of riccochets with something that frangable.

Sierra Match Kings shot better than the V Max but didn't kill as well. V Max isn't a match projectile despite the fancy plastic tip.

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

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

Originally Posted by Timmay

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

Yep, 1:8 is probably perfect

I think with varmints it really doesn't matter with a .223, the shock damage even from a FMJ is more than enough.

Originally Posted by Savage1

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.

Originally Posted by StrikerNZ

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?

Originally Posted by bully

What twist rate were you using?

1-12

24" tube

Originally Posted by StrikerNZ

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.

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

Originally Posted by res

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.

yeah the 53gr Vmax is a killer Gravel, I also drilled holes with the 69smk, .......hence this thread

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.