Okay not a huge selection at my local supplier so I picked up a box of these to develop some loads for my Remington 700 ADL .223. Initial load development was at 100 yards and yielded a .6†group at 24.5grs of powder. So I set up for group 2 and worked in 1 grain increments forward and back from 24.5 and shot a .6 group again with 24.5 and a .3†group at 24.6. I did a confirm loading and went back and shot a .5†again with the 24.6. So now that I have worked this up it dawned on me that I was using a match bullet and not a game bullet. I will use this rifle for varminting and paper punching. Will this bullet be sufficient for game or do I need to start over with a game type bullet. My varmints include wild dogs, armadillos, possums, coyotes etc..., with coyotes and wild dogs being my biggest varmint.

oops typo did .1 grain not 1 grain increments

you didn't specify what you meant by "game"...of you meant deer, I'd be looking at Nosler's 60 partition......but many 55 grain softpoints will work as well.

That 52 grain Hornady isn't your best effort at deer.

guess I should have used the term "hunting type bullets" This 223 will not be used on anything larger than coyote/wild dogs. Above this size I move up to my 243 and 100gr game kings

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This 223 will not be used on anything larger than coyote/wild dogs

that 52 grain Hornady will do the job just fine.....stick with it as it seems to be working for you.

The Hornady's should do fine for your varmints. I've shot groundhogs and prairie dogs with them and they were fine.

If you want another 52 grain bullet that is just as accurate as any of the match bullets, try the Speer 52 grain HP... they also make a 52 grain HP Match, so make sure you got the right one...

the Speer 52 grain HP, is explosive on ground hogs, sage rats, gophers, and can be used effectively on antelope sized criters, to include coyotes etc...

I think you'll find that the .1 grain differences in powder charges won't yield a significantly different result. .1 grain on a 24.5 grain load is only a .4% change. You'll probably spend your time better by moving in 1/2 grain increments. This is a 2% change in powder weight, which should yield a meaningful change in result.

Your results bear this out. The minute differences in group size on only four groups shot by hand don't tell you enough.

LWD

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Originally posted by BigBlack: I will use this rifle for varminting and paper punching. Will this bullet be sufficient for game or do I need to start over with a game type bullet. My varmints include wild dogs, armadillos, possums, coyotes etc..., with coyotes and wild dogs being my biggest varmint.

You're in business with the above mentioned load. FWIW, I prefer heavier bullets because they buck the wind better.

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Originally posted by LWD:
I think you'll find that the .1 grain differences in powder charges won't yield a significantly different result. .1 grain on a 24.5 grain load is only a .4% change. You'll probably spend your time better by moving in 1/2 grain increments. This is a 2% change in powder weight, which should yield a meaningful change in result.

Your results bear this out. The minute differences in group size on only four groups shot by hand don't tell you enough.

LWD

My initial loads were in .5 grain increments. I found 24.5 to be the best in that series so I di some .3 back and forward from 24.5 and and 24.5 was still the best so I did 24.4 24.5 and 24.6 and 24.6 did better than 24.5 but really it was mniscul but I settled on 24.6. I going to play with seating depths now. I am currently .020 off the lands

quote:

Originally posted by BigBlack:
... Initial load development was at 100 yards and yielded a .6†group ... and shot a .6 group again ...and a .3†group ...and shot a .5â€

Hey Paul, It looks like you are doing something right to me.

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...it dawned on me that I was using a match bullet and not a game bullet. I will use this rifle for varminting and paper punching. ...

I'd like those Groups for "my" paper punching.

Somewhere a long time ago, someone mentioned that Match Grade Bullets tend to Ricochet more than a typical Game Bullet. I thought at the time I read it that I'd never noticed that, but I also remember respecting the opinion of who ever mentioned it.

For my normal Varmint Ventilators, I have had excellent luck with both the 50gr Speer TNTs and the 50gr Remington PLHPs(different from the PSPs). I'm not aware of any Ricochets that I've had with either of them. But when you hit what your aiming at, there is no Ricochet.

How `bout it Vapo(or anyone), any thoughts on Match Bullets bouncing around more than other styles?

I shot the best group I've shot in 30 years with that bullet in a 222 Remington just two weeks ago. It measured .184 for three shots at 100 yards. All three in the same hole.

BB, for what it is worth, I've had awesome results with the Hornady 53 flatbase for over 40 years. Kills chucks DRT.

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My initial loads were in .5 grain increments. I found 24.5 to be the best in that series so I di some .3 back and forward from 24.5 and and 24.5 was still the best so I did 24.4 24.5 and 24.6 and 24.6 did better than 24.5 but really it was mniscul but I settled on 24.6. I going to play with seating depths now. I am currently .020 off the lands

Then the small increments make more sense. Doing what you did, you might find the Audette ladder method interesting. Do a search here and on the internet to find some information on it.

LWD