snipers eye Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 (edited) hi folks,need some opinions,(will prob get different ones,but here goes)about to pick up a Savage 12 BTCSS Laminate Thumbhole Stainless .223 9 twist rate.its a new gun,with a bushnell banner 6-18x50, will be used for long range shots 200 yds plus on bunnies,fox etc, i know not every rifle will like the same rounds,so to start i would get maybe 3 boxes of different ones to try out,but with so many available,im stumped,so asking on here what would be your first 3 boxes of choice to try out,accuracy is important,price per box is not,would be wanting head shots at 200-250 ish yrds,i would imagine 223 capable of that?thanks folks,,,,,,,,title should read 223 ammo Edited February 18, 2023 by snipers eye Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silver fox 1 Posted February 18, 2023 Report Share Posted February 18, 2023 Hi, a 1 on 9 twist will favour a slightly heavier bullet, but would also depend on the length of your barrel probably a good place to start would be around 60 grains, in my 1 in 9 twist it shoots 55 grain Vmax very well and 60 grain probably slightly better, Nosler 60 grain ballistic tips are good and nosler 62 grain, varmageddon also good this is out of a 16 inch barrel hope this helps All the best sf1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dekers Posted February 21, 2023 Report Share Posted February 21, 2023 Mine is 1-12 twist so I can't really help, other than say, try and get closer than 200-250 yards, then you can use cheaper ammo! 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snipers eye Posted February 21, 2023 Author Report Share Posted February 21, 2023 cheers lads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoBodyImportant Posted February 21, 2023 Report Share Posted February 21, 2023 1/12 favors light 40-55g. 1/7 favors 62g-75g. 1/9 is a compromise that shoot both well but not as good as the others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted February 22, 2023 Report Share Posted February 22, 2023 Sounds like you want to get into long range shooting you will be better off finding someone that reloads and work up a load to suite your rifle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andilicious Posted February 27, 2023 Report Share Posted February 27, 2023 My Howa 223 with a 1:9 twist absolutely loves the 55gr Vmax. I have been meaning to try others but I just don’t need it. 100 yard group with my thermal which isn’t as accurate as a normal scope due to it pixelating at higher mags I've taken foxes off the sticks standing at 215 yards which in the real world in a muddy field on a cold February night is good enough for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted February 28, 2023 Report Share Posted February 28, 2023 Just buy some cheap ammo for the first 60 or so rounds while you are shooting in the barrel and getting your scope more or less sighted in at different ranges You can never go far wrong with privi in my opinion. Many shooters I know swear by it. It's a good starting point It's all very well saying this brand or that brand is best. These days its more or less a case of what can you get? So you start by walking into your local gun shop and asking what has he got Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewulf Posted March 1, 2023 Report Share Posted March 1, 2023 Anything 50g upwards should work well, 53g Vmax would be my recommendation for starters, but I'm puzzled... Why such a requirement for head shots at long range {for a 223} are you trying to preserve the meat on the rabbits? Chest shots on the foxes will kill far more reliably than head shots {5x the kill area} It's obviously up to you how you shoot them, but if you just need to cull them for pest control, head shots at that range are making life difficult for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted March 1, 2023 Report Share Posted March 1, 2023 13 hours ago, Rewulf said: Anything 50g upwards should work well, 53g Vmax would be my recommendation for starters, but I'm puzzled... Why such a requirement for head shots at long range {for a 223} are you trying to preserve the meat on the rabbits? Chest shots on the foxes will kill far more reliably than head shots {5x the kill area} It's obviously up to you how you shoot them, but if you just need to cull them for pest control, head shots at that range are making life difficult for yourself. My thoughts exactly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 22 hours ago, Rewulf said: Chest shots on the foxes will kill far more reliably than head shots {5x the kill area} It's obviously up to you how you shoot them, but if you just need to cull them for pest control, head shots at that range are making life difficult for yourself. This is spot on you don't shoot Rabbits for meat with a 223 and its more humane to shoot Foxes in the boiler room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windswept Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 (edited) On 28/02/2023 at 21:41, Vince Green said: You can never go far wrong with privi in my opinion. Many shooters I know swear by it. It's a good starting point Well it's cheap but I wouldn't say it's the most accurate. I'm also not keen on the brass for reloading so if I intended to reload the brass at a later point I would choose something else. Anyone notice much difference between flat base and boat tail? My 1 in 12 seems to prefer flat base but I'm only working up loads at the moment. Edited March 2, 2023 by Windswept Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vince Green Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 1 hour ago, Windswept said: Well it's cheap but I wouldn't say it's the most accurate. I'm also not keen on the brass for reloading so if I intended to reload the brass at a later point I would choose something else. Anyone notice much difference between flat base and boat tail? My 1 in 12 seems to prefer flat base but I'm only working up loads at the moment. One of the people I shoot with uses privi in his .223 out to 600yds and GGG as well. He regularly wins our high score of the day . It is as accurate as the OP needs to shoot foxes. The debate about flat base v boat tail goes on and on. Shoot what seems best for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewulf Posted March 2, 2023 Report Share Posted March 2, 2023 25 minutes ago, Vince Green said: One of the people I shoot with uses privi in his .223 out to 600yds and GGG as well. He regularly wins our high score of the day . It is as accurate as the OP needs to shoot foxes. The debate about flat base v boat tail goes on and on. Shoot what seems best for you Nothing wrong with Privi or GGG, the brass is good too, I prefer a ballistic tip for vermin though, I would say, in my experience boat tailed bullets work better in lower weight? I did a lot of experimentation when I first got my 223, and there was a definite improvement in grouping with BT s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snipers eye Posted March 7, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2023 On 01/03/2023 at 09:15, Rewulf said: Anything 50g upwards should work well, 53g Vmax would be my recommendation for starters, but I'm puzzled... Why such a requirement for head shots at long range {for a 223} are you trying to preserve the meat on the rabbits? Chest shots on the foxes will kill far more reliably than head shots {5x the kill area} It's obviously up to you how you shoot them, but if you just need to cull them for pest control, head shots at that range are making life difficult for yourself. I enjoy most aspects of rifle shooting, but for over 15 years I have reaped the most pleasure from long-range varminting. Ok, some would frown upon the discipline, and understandably so, but to be able to shoot at long range accurately is both fascinating and therapeutic....read these words on a review of the rifle im getting,to body shoot at long range is good,but to be able to head shoot at long range...hence the importance of accuracy,thanks all for reply's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rewulf Posted March 7, 2023 Report Share Posted March 7, 2023 43 minutes ago, snipers eye said: I enjoy most aspects of rifle shooting, but for over 15 years I have reaped the most pleasure from long-range varminting. Ok, some would frown upon the discipline, and understandably so, but to be able to shoot at long range accurately is both fascinating and therapeutic....read these words on a review of the rifle im getting,to body shoot at long range is good,but to be able to head shoot at long range...hence the importance of accuracy,thanks all for reply's All well and good if you can pull it off consistently, I'm not having a go, but you will find anything less that consistent humane kills are going to attract flak, especially when shooting moving animals, outside at night through NV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snipers eye Posted March 8, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 8, 2023 14 hours ago, Rewulf said: All well and good if you can pull it off consistently, I'm not having a go, but you will find anything less that consistent humane kills are going to attract flak, especially when shooting moving animals, outside at night through NV. i dont fire at anything moving,of use night vision Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex_P Posted March 9, 2023 Report Share Posted March 9, 2023 I’ve got a 1:8 .223 and I’ve found 55grn, 62grn and 69grn to be the same out to 300yrds, with the heavier bullets being more accurate at 600yrds. My rifle loves 62grn American Eagle, which is cheap and dirty, but very accurate. The GGG 69grn with Sierrra HPBTs is also excellent - I now reload my own version of this round and it gives 0.5moa at 600yrds - rifle is a lot more accurate than me! I tried PPU match ammo and my rifle wouldn’t shoot it, but knows someone who swears by it (in 62grn) through his Tikka… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beanieboy Posted March 10, 2023 Report Share Posted March 10, 2023 I have a 1:9 CZ527 24" Varmint. It is very accurate with 40g, 53g and 60g Vmax. Tightest groups are with the 40g. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted March 10, 2023 Report Share Posted March 10, 2023 On 02/03/2023 at 08:57, Windswept said: Well it's cheap but I wouldn't say it's the most accurate. I'm also not keen on the brass for reloading so if I intended to reload the brass at a later point I would choose something else. Anyone notice much difference between flat base and boat tail? My 1 in 12 seems to prefer flat base but I'm only working up loads at the moment. At 250 yards I get a 7” drop compared to 3” with a boat tail Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
team tractor Posted March 10, 2023 Report Share Posted March 10, 2023 On 02/03/2023 at 10:03, Vince Green said: One of the people I shoot with uses privi in his .223 out to 600yds and GGG as well. He regularly wins our high score of the day . It is as accurate as the OP needs to shoot foxes. The debate about flat base v boat tail goes on and on. Shoot what seems best for you I couldn’t group under 4” in mine at 100 yards with privi. I was shocked . I achieved 1” with Winchester and 1/4 “ with my reloads . My howa shoots 1” at 180 yards with the home loads I make . what’s strange is privi brass won’t even fit in my 243 . I’ve even bumped the shoulders back extra . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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