Thread: .223 projectile weight experience

I have a 1:9 twist Howa that shoots 55 grain and 62 grain projectiles very well. The 77 match kings are good, but I feel the weight is at the upper end of twist suitability. The 55’s are certainly affected by wind at 300.

Has anyone tried Belmont’s 60 grain sp as currently advertised in a 1:9. It appears they have no 62 grain stuff (bulk purchase) left.

Cheers,
Ingrid 51

55gr hornady SP everything

Yeah, used that. Everything I have whacked has gone down. Guess it’s the old adage of ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ Was keen to try the 60 grain, but can only buy in bulk. I believe Belmont produces excellent products, but would hate to be landed with 1000 rounds my rifle didn’t like.

I have been using Belmont's 62gr SP to great affect on goats, definitely better than the 55gr SP. Using a tikka 1:8 twist.

Tom

50 grn zmax for varmits and 50 grn barnes for big stuff works for me...that 55grn bulk stuff works good. if you are going to load .223 with close to 80grn projectiles you may aswell run a .243

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

50 grn zmax for varmits and 50 grn barnes for big stuff works for me...that 55grn bulk stuff works good. if you are going to load .223 with close to 80grn projectiles you may aswell run a .243

Yea those 50gr Z-max's are great. Wish I had more......

68 gr Hornady in my Mossberg MVP with a 24" barrel is an absolute laser....I have seen it shoot 5 shot 1" groups at 200m in a capable shooters hands... not me obviously.

Running 60gr vmax in Howa mini 1in 9, very very accurate.
Enough bullet for anything but only if picking your shots.

Barnes 55g I think I used to use or nosier partitions in 60g,both kill well above their weight..

The 77s won't stableise in a 1:9. Are you target shooting or intending it for game use. 300 yds is in my opinion way past the ethical limit for the 223.
I've been using the 62 grain belmont it's pretty good. When I was reloading for it I tried the 60 grain hornady, pretty unimpressed the 55 gr Sierra hpbt was outstanding for animals out to 200 maybe 220 yards.

I use the .223 mostly on the local range where we shoot out to 300. That’s where I found the 55 gainers drifted badly, though still able to impact just out of the X ring. I agree 300M is not on for game. I use my 6.5x55 for that. The Oz Outback 55 gr with Sierra projectiles drops goats, splat flat. Really impressive when hit in the right place.

I am really wanting to buy a bulk lot of s.p. That will be stable and accurate to 300 when we have timed shoots plus field capable for goats and wallabies. It could be too easy to fall into the trap of buying 62 fmj in bulk. Belmont currently doesn’t have that weight in s.p. and is bulk selling the 60 s.p.
It’s gonna be either a steel box of 55 or same of 60.

Heavier .223 bullets in a suitable fast twist barrel retain energy better at longer ranges, and for this reason I'd say the Hornady 60 gr. would be fine for what you want to do.

I'm using factory loaded .223 Speer Gold Dot 64 gr. in a .223 chambered 1-8 twist barrel, and Frontier 5.56 62 gr. spire point in a 5.56 chambered 1-7 twist barrel.
I would be just as happy to use 75-77 gr. hunting loads in either rifle. Mostly goats plus the odd pig and fallow.

Have you asked Belmont when they expect to have more 62gr sp in stock? I had to wait about a month awhile back and they finally made more of it. From memory the delay was because they were busy with a military order

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