Thread: Who still makes 0.223" diameter projectiles?

Hi all,
Have recently acquired a rifle in 220 russian aka 5.6x39, the bore has come out as .223" dia (twist rate TBD) so I am trying to track down projectiles to suit, I'm not really having much luck with google so I was hoping someone could point me towards some .223" projectiles,
My understanding is that the older 22 hornets were also a 0.223" bore so there should be projectiles out there,

I have thought about just using 0.224" projectiles but due to my lack of experience reloading am apprehensive to do so as this would potentially increase pressures?

I'd appreciate if someone could tell me who is selling .223" projectiles here in NZ, or if you had some that you were wanting to sell that would be great too

I had an older ZKW465 with the .223" bore. I used to used .220 Bee projectiles, .224 caliber and provided you start low and work up following the usual best practice for handloading you should not experience anything adverse. After all, you are talking the difference of nominally 0.001", this is less than the diameter accuracy error of the projectiles in some brands of ammo. Also, when you are jamming them down the bore the engraving of the rifling into the projectile is more than the difference you are talking here. Also, if the rifle you have has had a fair bit of use it's probably only .223 at the muzzle end anyway!

More of a factor for me, is that the .223 bores in these older rifles were usually sourced from rimfire stocks - likely to be softer steels and slower twists (usual for rimfire being 1-16" if I recall correctly).

Sierra used to from memory. May still do. Whether the agent carries stock is a different story. Would be worth getting hold of the agent. Dead Eye Dicks , have a lot of sierra projectiles.

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Hunting and Outdoor Supplies are listing 40 and 45gn sierra hornet .223 diameter projectiles.

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I suspect the .220 Russian used heavier projectiles than the Hornet ones . Probably depends on rifling twist rate and velocities expected.

That is certainly a thought, I intend to measure the twist rate asap, really wouldn’t have a clue as information on this rifle is somewhat limited, the bore is chrome lined though so I’d like to think it should be fairly hard, at the very least not soft.

R87mm has pointed me towards some .223” dia projectiles so i think it would be best to start with them while I figure out some load data, I intend to use 222 rem data as a start but not sure how that’ll translate to 5.6x39, I wouldn’t be too surprised if the barrel had worn to the point that .224” projectiles help with accuracy, hopefully the twist rate ends up being fast enough to use 55gr projectiles but we’ll see.

Very helpful, I see that they also have a hornady .223” projectile too, for some reason their website never came up in my search results.
I think I’ll buy a box or two of them and play around with some loads and try the larger .224” at a later date as it seems probable that the difference in projectile size is negligible

Originally Posted by Fee Knicks

I suspect the .220 Russian used heavier projectiles than the Hornet ones . Probably depends on rifling twist rate and velocities expected.

I think you’re correct there, to my knowledge the 220 Russian was intended as a deer cartridge so it seems unlikely to me that it would be using projectiles less than 50gr, hopefully I’ll get a chance to measure the twist tomorrow which will give me a better insight as to which projectiles I should go with

Sierra and Hornady from memory

for what its worth....a7.62x39mm case holds pretty close to same amount of 2206h as a 223 case...I was loading 24.5grns of it in both cases...
was hard case as powder dropper didnt shift for ages.
there is load data out there for your cartridge,if you cannot find any sing out as many of us have lots of manuals with hard printed data.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

for what its worth....a7.62x39mm case holds pretty close to same amount of 2206h as a 223 case...I was loading 24.5grns of it in both cases...
was hard case as powder dropper didnt shift for ages.
there is load data out there for your cartridge,if you cannot find any sing out as many of us have lots of manuals with hard printed data.

I’ve got a few rounds that the previous owner loaded, I’ll be pulling them apart but they were apparently loaded with 20-21 gr of 2207, which looking at adi data for 222 is about right, I’m thinking of starting with 2206H or 2208 so I can share the powder between the 220 and my 303, guess that’ll depend on what I can find in stock

Measured the twist rate this morning, has come out as a 1 in 16" twist rate, guess that means I'll be going for 50gr or lighter projectiles,
Hunting and Outdoor Supplies has told me that hornady has discontinued their 223" dia projectiles and they cant get sierra projectiles in at the moment, so ill be starting load developments with .224" projectiles and seeing how far I get there.

So you limited to 50 grn. No biggie. Speer make awesome soft projectiles. The 50&52 grn hollow points are great on game from 223, yours will poke them out at similar speed to what I have done for years.

To be honest, it's been hard to find .223 diameter projectiles for the older bores for a long time. Some times they are available, and when they are you by in bulk. From what a couple of retailers have told me they don't move quickly if they get them in and it's generally one person picking up the whole contingent or half of it or so they are going to 'order in' (if they are available) if a customer really wants them.

Most people are just using .224 and going with that, if you measure them out using accurate kit most are slightly over diameter and the rifling in the throat sorts everything else out once the pill starts moving. I doubt you will notice anything using the nominal .224 pills... What you will get with the newer spec pills is the option to go to harder projectiles than what a lot of the available .223 diameter ones are specc'd for - most of those from my experience being 'varmint' style or exposed lead tip and designed to operate at Hornet to less than .222 velocities. That should offer better penetration on heavier game all things being equal, which offers a better safety margin if the pill encounters something harder than expected on the way to somewhere vital.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

So you limited to 50 grn. No biggie. Speer make awesome soft projectiles. The 50&52 grn hollow points are great on game from 223, yours will poke them out at similar speed to what I have done for years.

admittedly I was a little surprised the twist was 1 in 16, had expected 1 in 14 or so but I suppose 1 in 16 is about the same as the 222 rifles of the era, there seems to be plenty 30-50gr projectiles about so have plenty to choose from, just not quite as cheap as the bulk 55gr from hornady, may yet try some of those and see what happens.

Originally Posted by No.3

To be honest, it's been hard to find .223 diameter projectiles for the older bores for a long time. Some times they are available, and when they are you by in bulk. From what a couple of retailers have told me they don't move quickly if they get them in and it's generally one person picking up the whole contingent or half of it or so they are going to 'order in' (if they are available) if a customer really wants them.

Most people are just using .224 and going with that, if you measure them out using accurate kit most are slightly over diameter and the rifling in the throat sorts everything else out once the pill starts moving. I doubt you will notice anything using the nominal .224 pills... What you will get with the newer spec pills is the option to go to harder projectiles than what a lot of the available .223 diameter ones are specc'd for - most of those from my experience being 'varmint' style or exposed lead tip and designed to operate at Hornet to less than .222 velocities. That should offer better penetration on heavier game all things being equal, which offers a better safety margin if the pill encounters something harder than expected on the way to somewhere vital.

I suppose there aren't many of the older hornets with the 223" bores banging around anymore, at this point im not too concerned about the difference in diameter, it seems pretty common to just run the 224" projectiles, the bore being chrome lined should hopefully negate any jacket hardness differences, I've brought some hornady 50 grain projectiles to play with, turns out the previous owner still had some .223" projectiles that he had intended to give to me with the rifle so I should have enough to see if there's any difference in performance between the two sizes.