.223 ammo for groundhog

snipe2

Looking for suggestion of which .223 ammo for groundhogs. Shots would be 300 yards or less. Thanks

PA Shootist

I would suggest any standard 55 grain soft point that shoots accurately enough in your rifle. Most modern factory loadings will get close to, if not exceed, one minute of angle accuracy IF your rifle, scope and mounting, and your skills are adequate.

GunnyFreedom

I agree with PA Shootist except to ask one question - do you know the twist rate of your barrel? If you have a 1:7 barrel, official word is 55gr and lighter shreds to confetti within 100 yards. Honestly, I have a 1:7 barrel, and have never had an issue shooting 55 grain at 300 yards and closer. 45 grain rounds just make pinpoint shrapnel marks at 100 yards.

However, if you have a 1:12 twist barrel, you may go as light as a 45 grain, and if you have a 1:9 twist barrel, I'd try 50 grain, 53 grain, and 55 grain to see which one works best for you.

And I definitely agree with PA Shootist regarding soft points.

hth, sincerely,
Glen

BHAVIN

I prefer to shoot 55g Ballistic tip type bullets. I also shoot some 55g HP's and 52g double HP from Calhoun. I shoot a Colt AR15 with a 1/7" twist that will shoot 3/8" groups a 100 yards with 55g bullets. I also shoot a couple of 1/9" twist AR's and a Rem 700. 55g Hornady V max bullets usually run a bit cheaper then Nosler BT's or Calhouns (hard to find around here)and I have had very good luck with them.

GunnyFreedom

Bhavin - I have a Colt AR - Sporter HBAR Match preban. I love it. I'm just curious about your experience -- the "official" word is to avoid 55g and lighter in a 1:7 but I, like you, have not had an issue with 55g in my rifle at 300 yards and less. Past 300 yards, the 55g rounds do go kinda wonky though. What I'm curious about, have you tried those 45g and 42g rounds in your 1:7? I have, and they really do seem to shred. at 100 yds, I was lucky to get a real shot-hole 1 out of 10 rounds, most of the time I would get some shrapnel bits and nothing more.

5mmgunguy

I have the Colt HBAR with 1-7 twist. It loves the 55gr Win SP bullet with 28 grains of 748 in a Win case and Fed 205 primer. Shoots 5 shots well inside 1 inch at 100 yds.

GunnyFreedom

I've been feeding mine 69gr moly's and have been getting groups at 500 yds that make me break out into gleeful maniacal laughter. Sure I'm shooting iron-sights unsupported, but I'm getting between 7" and 9" groups at 500 yds, prone and on iron sights. I can only imagine what I'd be getting with a scope and a benchrest.

BHAVIN

I have shot 52g Calhouns in my 1/7" and have had no problems but accuracy wasn't fantastic. I bought some Sierra 69g MK's and the 55g loads outshot them at 100yards. I have not shot them at longer distances where they will be best yet though. I also have not shot anything lighter than 52g bullets. I have had the best luck with the 55g in several guns so for economy I have stayed mostly with them.

GunnyFreedom

That actually makes perfect sense. 55gr rounds "hyper-stabilize" from a 1:7 barrel, which is great until you reach out beyond max point blank range.

As long as the round is climbing to MPBR, the gyroscopic effect of hyperstabilization has no real effect. But once it reaches apogee and begins to fall, the gyroscopic effect of hyperstabilization keeps the bullet in a "nose-high" attitude even though it's dropping, which tends to screw up the ballistic coefficient and plays havoc with it's precision and accuracy.

The 62gr and heavier bullet properly stabilizes from a 1:7 barrel, which means that post apogee it takes the nose-down attitude that maintains accuracy and precision beyond MPBR.

Which explains why from a 1:7 barrel, the 55 grain is more accurate inside of 240 yards, and the 62gr and heavier rounds are more accurate at 300yds and beyond.