njc110381 Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 Hey guys. I'm developing a load for my .223 and I'm not happy with the bullets I've tried so far. I want to go heavier but I'm not sure how far I can push it? I have a Browning A-Bolt, so 1-12 twist I think. I've tried 50gr Blitzkings which the gun didn't like that much, and 40gr V-Max which I don't like much because they seem to drift a lot in the wind. I'd like to try the Sierra Varminter 60gr HP as I think they'd be better for range use and also ok for Fox. Are they too heavy for a 1-12? Borderline perhaps? Or even fine? I have considered A-Max but I want to try something cheaper - I'm as tight as it gets when I feed my bunny rifles and I waste a lot of ammo at the range! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deershooter Posted September 25, 2011 Report Share Posted September 25, 2011 try sierra 1365 55 grain 350 foxes + can not be wrong is all I use Deershooter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackley Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 52 gr Berger Varmint un beatable for accuarcy and consistancy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 try sierra 1365 55 grain 350 foxes + can not be wrong is all I use Deershooter Very sound advice. When I had a 223, these were accurate and devastating. Drive them with varget - around 26grn IIRC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Ok, thanks for the advice. It seems 50-55gr is as high as you've all suggested I go. Is that because anything heavier doesn't handle well with a slow twist or because you like to keep the trajectory as flat as possible? 55gr is a good step up from what I've got now. Hopefully it will help with the windage a bit because the 40's, well they wander all over the place! I was shooting at the range yesterday and my 7-08 was drifting about an inch over 200 yards - the .223 was three or four. I know I can't make the .223 shoot like the 7-08, but a bit less drifty would be good! I don't mind drop as I find it easy enough to range things. Wind baffles me though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyb Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Put simply. They kill things and I never had a runner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 same here same bullet with 26.5 grains varget just used to kill things, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Well I dropped in to see my RFD and get some. He didn't have Sierra Varminters but he did have Bergers in 55gr so I got those as I want to get on with trying them. If they work then I'm happy. If not I guess I'll have to make an order for the suggested bullets from the states and wait for them to arrive. It's a long drive to most RFD's around here and I couldn't stand the thought of going home empty handed. Should have phoned first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coyotemaster Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 I am a little late with the recomendation but the Hornady 53 gr. V max has an advertised BC of .290 and are supposed to work in a 12 twist. I have a box to try in the Swift but have not been to the range to try them.( It's a 14 twist, I am gonna have to push them fast) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunkield Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Hopefully it will help with the windage a bit because the 40's, well they wander all over the place! I was shooting at the range yesterday and my 7-08 was drifting about an inch over 200 yards - the .223 was three or four. Unless you regularly shoot in that sort of wind you can more or less forget any results from yesterday. Those 52grn A max's one holed at 50 but were blowing off and inch or 2 at 100 yards, depending on the gusts. I was messing about plinking with the .22 and was aiming up the right hand side of stuff just to hit it :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 That range certainly does test you at times. Yesterday was nothing - last time I was there it was that windy I thought my gun was going to blow away! I just found the 40's winded more than I'm used to. I don't mind an inch or so but not three. That's excessive. When you're out on a rough night it's one less thing to worry about if you know you don't have to worry too much about anything other than range and the backstop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamie g Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 try the 53 grain vmax. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 (edited) 52gr a-max driven by h4198 works well in my a-bolt, cant say about foxes because we dont have any but rabbits dont like them!!! plus i can get them through the post. Edited September 26, 2011 by aister Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 You can get whatever you want through the post fella! PM me if you want the details. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aister Posted September 26, 2011 Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 You can get whatever you want through the post fella! PM me if you want the details. i cant seem to get a message through to you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Yeah that'll be my fault! My inbox was full so I've cleared it out. Should be fine now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njc110381 Posted September 26, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2011 Strangely, I've just been on the Berger website and they list all their bullets up to 64gr as suitable for a 1-12. They must be short for weight as everywhere else I've looked suggests that 55gr is about the heaviest I should go? 60 as an absolute maximum depending on the gun? So how come Berger (who should know) say that 1-12 will handle up to 64gr? I'm confused! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
highseas Posted September 27, 2011 Report Share Posted September 27, 2011 same here same bullet with 26.5 grains varget just used to kill things, i dont know if its just me but 26.5-27 varget fills my cases right up! i use 55grn for almost every thing mostly in v-max form and they work fine i like them for deer to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3800lloyd Posted October 1, 2011 Report Share Posted October 1, 2011 hi i load 60 grn v max with 25 grns of varget in my tikka 1 in 8 twist very accurate , may be different in your 1 in 12 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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