223 Rem. ammo?

New_York_Hunter

New_York_Hunter

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I have a Remington 700 5-R 223 Rem., 24" stainless fluted 1 in 9 twist heavy barrel, a older Leupold Vari-X 4.5-14x50mm, w/fine crosshairs and target turrets which works really well.

I originally just used this rifle for target shooting and settled on Federal 69 gr. Gold Medal Sierra Matchking (#GM223M) ammo. I want to get more use out of this rifle. I figured I'd try some varmint/predator ammo. I have a few boxes of both Hornady Superformance 53 gr. V-MAX (#8025) and Federal Premium 55 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip (#P223F) ammo.

It shoots all three types really well. I'll use it for crows, woodchucks, fox, coyote ect. Should I just pick one type and use them until they're gone than switch to the other?

ETA; my range will be out to 300 yards or so.

Thanks, NYH1.
 
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I would pick one, shoot it until you know if it produces the results you want on warm targets, and if so, buy more.
I'm a fan of the 53 v-max, but at 223 velocities, it kills, but it doesn't always anchor coyotes. It has a lot more authority at 22-250 speeds, but that's probably true of most bullets. I have no experience with the other 2.
 
my AR with a wilson combat barrel loves the federal factory 53 grain v-max. shoots sub MOA at 200 yards, less than an inch if i do my part.

when i found that round grouped like that (from the bench) i bought a bunch of it and still do if i can find a great deal. no need for me to try anything else unless PA makes SA rifles legal for deer.
 
bohunr said:
my AR with a wilson combat barrel loves the federal factory 53 grain v-max. shoots sub MOA at 200 yards, less than an inch if i do my part.

when i found that round grouped like that (from the bench) i bought a bunch of it and still do if i can find a great deal. no need for me to try anything else unless PA makes SA rifles legal for deer.
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Yeah, I shoot the 53 gr. V-MAX ammo in my Colt M4 (6920). They shoot really well in it. I can't remember how we ended up with the Federal ammo. We have a bunch of 223/5.56 rifles and carbines. I've never shot anything with either of them though.

NYH1.
 
During Covid and all the hoarding going on the only .224 on the shelf was 40 grain VMAX. I was sure my 20" 1/8 twist would not shoot them well. I finally got bored enough to find out. I used H335 pushing them to an estimated 3600 FPS. Man was I surprised with the results, bug holes at 100 yards. I can shoot the cloths pins holding my grandsons target up. I have room to push it faster but I'm happy with it. I have not shot a yote with it yet but at that speed what ever is in the way is in trouble. Two of my roosters attacked my wife one day, and when I got home from work I got ORDERS. Let just say it was ugly. Devastating destruction.
Now I know that long distance, energy,whatever that there is better choices but out to 300 yards I'm giving it a try. I have 2, 22-250's and a .243 and others. But near 22-250 speed in a 40 grain pill is just fun to me out of an AR. that is accurate.
 
All three bullets will kill a coyote fine with good shot placement. I would stick with shooting one type of bullet until it is gone and then switching to the next because I highly doubt they all have the some point of impact at 300 yards. Hitting exactly where you are aiming is more important than deciding between v max vs ballistic tip. I've never shot any varmints with Sierra Match Kings but I'm sure they would kill a coyote fine. They wouldn't be as explosive and smaller varmints at the V max is.
 
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