Hunting with the .223

Elvis · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 2:20 am Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

HE got a plurry good chew just after I snotted it, left some love bites on its front legs,for those who are puzzled by the kiwi expression murawaied is maori for singed to remove hair(got to love that crackling)

slimjim · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 4:02 am Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

Here is the grouping at 200 yards. The 62gr TTSX was exceptional. The 70gr GMX was also good. I'm going to work these loads some more to see if I can improve their grouping. Looks like I'll need to use my Lapua brass for the SMK if its going to compete for group size.

lesterg3 · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 5:14 am Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

murawaied???

lesterg3 · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 5:16 am Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

Sorry for the post got the explanation after I queried murawaied.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 6:09 am Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

Looks good Elvis, yum bacon.

Vince · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 6:24 am Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

Looking good Slim. That 62gn group is either under 1" (1/2 MOA) or around 1/4" (1/8 MOA !!!)...not sure if the red bordered box is 1" or 4 x 1". Whichever way mate, that is an awesome grouping.

Cheers, Vince

44marty · Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2011 1:15 pm Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

VERY nice shooting Slim.

Elvis, that hog looks like some sweet eating. Almost makes me wish there were hogs running around here. Nah, I'll pass. It's unnerving enough already that bears are likely to come charging in when we call coyotes. The woods are quite thick around here - don't think I'd like stumbling across those tuskers when out deer hunting. I would definitely change from sitting on the ground to using a tree stand.

Dang- that photo of the Aussie Hogzilla is something. Sure wouldn't use a .223 on that bugger. He looks like a great reason to carry a 300 Mag or a .375H&H

slimjim · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:45 pm Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

I got back out to the range today. A cool 50-deg F with a gust wind around 15 mph so I did my shooting at 100 yards. I started with the 16" S&W followed by the 24" WOA with select loads for the 62gr TTSX and 70gr GMX. Here are the results with the S&W.

slimjim · Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 9:52 pm Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

It was nice to see the tight groups with the 53gr TSX, 62gr TTSX, and 77gr SMK. Not sure what happened with the 62gr TSX. I've shot those through this rifle before and they hadn't done that badly. Neither rifle seemed to like the 62gr TSX. Both liked the 62gr TTSX. When I weight a dozen rounds, I was surprised to see how consistent the TTSX were - all within 62.0 and 62.1. You don't see consistency like that in many hunting bullets, match bullets yes. So far, these range sessions have shown that the new 62gr TTSX and 70gr GMX have good accuracy and came in at 1 MOA or less in both rifles. The velocity advantage of the 24" barrel is readily apparent. I'll post some more thought tomorrow.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:16 am Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

Wonder what happened with that 62gr tsx load?

Elvis · Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:35 am Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

the 53 likes the slower twist aye??? Imay have to try some.

Vince · Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 4:45 am Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

That's interesting...the lightest and the heaviest liked the 1:9 twist yet in the 1:8 they were "cheese and chalk". I would be having a good long hard look at the middle weight Barnes 62gn TTSX...it has returned the most consistent and best grouping over both barrels.

If you want to fart-ars3 around with different loads for different barrels, then you have plenty of data there to play with, but if you are after one universal load, that is damned good in both barrels, the the 62gn TTSX it is mate.

Cheers, Vince

slimjim · Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 5:50 am Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

Here are the results of some load development with the 24" WOA. Its nice to see both rounds do better than MOA. Very consistent POI. Looks like I could step the 62gr TTSX up to 25.5 and the GMX down to 23.8 and try for a tighter group but both these are fine for hunting. BTW, I used Remington brass and primers. The 77gr SMKs do better in Lapua brass. I included the best groups in the data table above. Now I need to take the 62gr TTSX out and get a down range velocity so I can figure its BC and be able to compare Energy. Even though the GMX is about 200 fps slower, its lower BC may give it the longer range advantage.

Vince · Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:18 am Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

Your almost scientific approach to the load development for this round is very impressive Slim.

I'll be interested to see what the final bullet and load is that you settle on mate...me, I'd be torn between the 62gn TTSX and the 7ogn GMX, although is that extra 8gns likely to make any real difference?

Cheers, Vince

Elvis · Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 1:35 pm Post subject: Re: Hunting with the .223

and now I know my Zastava has a 1 in 12 twist what the blue blazes is going to work for me Sad

I may just have stick to the 52grn hp speers they seem to be doing the biz. I have just worked out I have fired my .223 8 times at pigs resulting in 8 dead piles of pork. the only one that went further than 6 " was a 60lb sow shot in the neck with a 50 grn sp at about 175yrd and she just fell over Very Happy

and rolled down the hill stone dead. at least she rolled towards the track.the largest pig was around the 120lb mark.