Thread: Who still makes 0.223" diameter projectiles?

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.

Originally Posted by NAKED_GOOSE

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.

The .223 bores seem to be made using rimfire tooling hence the 1-16" twist, standard for the likes of 22LR. I've not heard of or personally encountered an older .223 barrel with anything faster. The .22WMR is faster twist usually but runs .224 pills.