What .223 Bullet for 3-gun

[bsdubois00]

So I'm posting this for a buddy - he is getting into 3 gun and looking for a bullet to load. He was actually thinking of loading TWO bullets - 69 SMK and 55 FMJ - what are your thoughts? Is it best to load ONE round? What is the best, most cost effective round for 3-gun?

18" Barrel - 1:8 twist - Tac Ops divison.

Thanks

 

[jtischauser]

Montana gold makes some inexpensive .224 bullets. A heavier bullet is good for those heavy LaRue targets. Other than that 55's are cheaper and make the same size hole in paper.

 

[FD807]

So for long range 300yds plus you would use a heavier bullet and close in targets use a lighter bullet or do you suggest just one load for everything

 

[Ksmirk]

I've been shooting those cheap varmint bullets from MidSouth shooters supply, 55gr HP and like Jesse said same size hole in paper and will ring steel out to 300 so far. I've shot p-dogs much further and I get awesome groups granted you have to push them a touch harder than say a V-Max but faster is not always a bad thing.

I've not shot any of the LaRue targets Jesse is talking about so not sure how they would do but I'm guessing they would be fine inside 300, get further out and I might step up to a 69gr. I like simple so I just load all the same stuff, same powder, bullets, primer, COL as I'm getting older and less to remember is nice LOL Later,

Kirk

 

[jtischauser]

So for long range 300yds plus you would use a heavier bullet and close in targets use a lighter bullet or do you suggest just one load for everything

Not necessarily. Most targets react easily with a 55gr bullet but there have benn instances I witnessed first hand where a 55gr PMC round to the head of a LaRue target didn't knock it over. Was it the bullet energy/weight or a malfunctioning target? I will never know. What I do know is that the 69's have more energy at longer ranges with the proper load. So there may be instances where a load with a heavier bullet could be beneficial.

Kurt Miller who is one of the games top riflemen uses all 55gr bullets. I plan to do the same in 2012.

I ran 69gr loads last season for long range because I had was buying black hills ammo that was very accurate in my barrel. The thing I didn't like was that my hoser 55gr ammo shot to a different POI that my 69's. So anytime I had to shoot a target farther than 100 or those pesky 4" autopoppers at 75-100 I had to shoot more expensive ammo than I wanted too because of the change in POI for the two bullet weights.

 

[jtischauser]

I just zeroed my rifle with 55gr Hornady Steel match ammo and was consistently under 2 MOA with my best 5 shot group being under 1 MOA. I'm gonna run the crap out if that ammo at all distances this year. The other thing I like about 55's is that they are moving faster so there is less elevation change in your bullet trajectory from 100-300 yards as compared to the 69's. Less holding over is a good thing. That's why Horbady makes that super hot Superformance ammo. Those 53gr bullets traveling well over 3200 fps are good on MGM flashers out to 400 with out having to hold off the target when u use a 300 yard zero.

 

[Cajun0007]

Jesse, have you had any light primer strikes with the 55gr Steel Match? I have had about 5 or 6 out of 800 rounds. I was told by someone that when using the yellow JP springs, light primer strikes become more prevalent. I have only had it happen with Hornady Steel Match 55gr.​

 

[KurtM]

Hey Jesse, you better chrono that stuff, before you go to thinking it,s fast. that stuff was fairly slow in my barrels.

Cajun, I haven't had any problems with the J.P. springs and steel match, are you running a speed hammer?

 

[Cajun0007]

I am running the JP speed hammer. I also switched out the firing pin and it did it with both.

 

[bsdubois00]

Kurt - can you chime in on the original question - do you shoot 1 bullet or 2? What is your preference? Etc etc etc

 

[PapaWheelie]

Kurt is right, of course. I have chrono'ed Hornady Steel Match 55gr. in 3 different 18" barrels and have found the velocities to be in the 2925-2950 range.

 

[PapaWheelie]

To answer the original question, I would use one bullet weight for matches. Shoot it alot and know your drops and holdovers.

For practice, use the cheapest and shoot often.


Kalani

 

[technetium-99m]

PMC is dog slow out of my gun, I mean it barely makes USPSA minor for rifle. So it not knocking over a Larue doesn't surprise me.

 

[FD807]

So 55gr bullets would be fine out to 500yds as some of the matches have targets that far out ??

 

[bsdubois00]

Matches out to 500? I thought usually around 300 were the max for matches

 

[Wall]

Matches out to 500? I thought usually around 300 were the max for matches

Depends on the venue?
OKCGC is 300 max. 3MR has been 400 but could easily go farther

 

[bsdubois00]

Gotcha

 

[jtischauser]

The Superfornance chrinoed through Chris' 18" over 3200. Not sure on steel match. I'd guess closer to 3000.

 

[Spiff]

PMC is dog slow out of my gun, I mean it barely makes USPSA minor for rifle. So it not knocking over a Larue doesn't surprise me.

My Hornady 55 FMJs at 2950 weren't knocking them over at FB3G. Ought to have a load cooked up with 53 gr VMax or 55gr Nosler BTs at 3100-3200 before long. Hopefully that'll do better.

 

[jtischauser]

My Hornady 55 FMJs at 2950 weren't knocking them over at FB3G. Ought to have a load cooked up with 53 gr VMax or 55gr Nosler BTs at 3100-3200 before long. Hopefully that'll do better.

U are going light and fast rather than heavy and slow?