Once again guys, this is in response to getting emails at home requesting this info once again, since it is the start of varmint season, or time to work up loads getting ready for varmint season.

And as usual Seafire is not getting his forum email working right, not knowing if it is the systems fault or my own usual personal fault. I am sure the latter applies much more than the first.

Anyway the three calibers I have had a lot of requests for are the 223, the 22/250 and the 243.
You will find all three calibers have fantastic accuracy potential with varmint weigh bullets and blue dot. It has even really cleaned up the accuracy on several of my rifles, which are usually not what I consider Varmint accurate potential.

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire

Blue Dot Range Report: 223 Caliber ( Full )

Bullet Weights Tested:
1. 35 grain Hornady V Max
2. 40 grain Hornady Vmax
3. 45 grain Sierra SP
4. 50 grain Sierra SMP
5. 52 grain Sierra Boat Tail Match
6. 55 grain Winchester FMJ

Rifle Used: Ruger 77 Mk 2, VT 26 inch Barrel, Stainless Steel First yr Model

Case: Lake City Surplus, previously fired

Primer: Remington 6 ½

Powder: Blue Dot

Charge Weight Tested: 4 grains to 14 grains.


Weather: Sunny, NO clouds, 80 degrees, NO wind,

Altitude: 2000 ft

Humidity: Very Low


Field Results:


35 grain Hornady V Max:

4 grs: 1284 fps
5 grs: 1488 fps
6 grs: 1862 fps
7 grs: 2163 fps
8 grs: 2392 fps

9 grs: 2636 fps
10 grs: 2722 fps
11 grs: 3076 fps
12 grs: 3205 fps
13 grs: NO Reading
14 grs: 3518 fps

15 grs: NO Reading, Too hot, Extractor Marks, Scrapped Case
16 grs: NO Reading, Too Hot Blew Primer


Hornady 40 grain Vmax:

4 grs: 1161 fps
5 grs: 1538 fps
6 grs: 1798 fps
7 grs: 2148 fps

8 grs: 2243 fps
9 grs: 2539 fps
10 grs: 2771 fps
11 grs: 2956 fps

12 grs: 3013 fps
13 grs: 3218 fps
14 grs: 3375 fps


Sierra 45 grain SP

4 grs: 1239 fps
5 grs: 1447 fps
6 grs: 1688 fps
7 grs: 1880 fps

8 grs: 2118 fps
9 grs: 2363 fps
10 grs: 2553 fps
11 grs: 2811 fps

12 grs: 2875 fps
13 grs: 3008 fps
14 grs: 3164 fps


Sierra 50 grains SMP

4 grs: 1064 fps
5 grs: 1345 fps
6 grs: 1624 fps
7 grs: 1788 fps

8 grs: 2033 fps
9 grs: 2257 fps
10 grs: 2466 fps
11 grs: 2655 fps
12 grs: 2779 fps

13 grs: 2882 fps
14 grs: 3038 fps


Sierra 52 grain Boattail Hollow Point Match

4 grs: 1061 fps
5grs: 1460 fps
6 grs: 1632 fps
7 grs: 1916 fps

8 grs: 2142 fps
9 grs: 2225 fps
10 gr: NO Reading
11 grs: 2673 fps

12 grs: 2782 fps
13 grs: 2879 fps
14 grs: 3012 fps


Winchester 55 grain FMJ

4 grs: 896 fps
5 grs: 1264 fps
6 grs: 1568 fps
7 grs: 1825 fps
8 grs: 1994 fps

9 grs: 2201 fps
10 grs: 2328 fps
11 grs: 2453 fps

12 grs: 2677 fps
13 grs: 2821 fps
14 grs: 2915 fps



Notes:

1. IN the evaluation of the 223, I came further to the conclusion of the versatility of the 223 in the use of training new shooters, and for a very versatile varmint caliber.
2. Essentially the 223 can be loaded to the specs of a 22 Long rifle, a 218 Bee, a 221 Fireball, a 222 Remington, a 22 Hornet, and a 22 Win Mag., while allowing the shooter to be able to pick the type of bullet that he prefers.
3. Bullets were limited to use of 35 grains to 55 grains. Heavier bullets will not serve any purpose unless a 223 is to be used for deer hunting. I do not believe that their would be a significant difference in the use of a 55 grain bullet vs a 60 grain bullet.
4. The recoil on the lighter loads using 4 to 6 grains of powder had minimal recoil if any at all. These would be ideal for young shooters being trained.
5. Noise level on the lighter loads ( 4 to 6 grains) were on par with a rim fire. An increase in noise level was very noticeable above 7 grains, but still very acceptable. ( No sounding like a rim fire any more)

Noted Observations:

1. It was noted but not considered part of the testing, with a tree used as a back stop for some of the testing, that all bullets ( 45 to 55 grains)penetrated thru the tree at a distance of 20 yds.
2. The diameter of the tree was measured at 5 inches.
3. The 40 grain Vmax loads failed to penetrate the tree at loads above 10 grs, above 2771 fps. However at 10 grains and less, the bullets penetrated thru the tree and did a large amount of damage ( like turning the wood into tooth picks) on the exit side of the tree. The penetration stopped at the 5 grain load.


Some of the Author’s Conclusions:

1. I learned some significant items beyond the versatility of the 223 with the bullets tested, but focusing on its use in the field, got some ideas.
2. A light rifle such as a Winchester Featherweight or Rugers Compact model with a 16.5 inch barrel or the Ultra Light with a 20 inch barrel would make a good combo with the use of Blue Dot.
3. Since the powder is burned cleanly in the first 10 to 12 inches of barrel, the shorter barrels are not handicappiing velocity in the lighter shorter rifles.
4. The penetration of the 40 grain Vmax into the tree did make me ponder the use of those plastic tip varmint rounds as potential loads for small deer for youth shooters. Just like my observations in the larger calibers, the plastic tipped bullet seem to do a lot more damage, at velocities under 27000 fps. The Vmax surprised me. This is a decision any shooter will have to test on his own and make their own decisions. I am just passing on that I saw potential merit in the application.
5. Although one has to weigh out the potential of Plastic Tipped Varmint bullets on bigger game like deer and antelope, some of these loads in life rifles, utilizing Barnes’s X bullets in 22 caliber I can recommend. They make a 45 grain, 50 grain and 53 grain bullet. The way I saw much better penetration and more damage in wood, at the lower range velocities, 2200 to 2700 fps, this would make a good deer load in many parts of the USA, and recoil is minimal.


I did not test any bigger bullets as I feel that those tested would be represent the best potential with the powder. 60, 63, 64, 65 grain bullets and then the larger match bullets did not give what I considered useful velocity when I have shot them before with Blue Dot, in respect to their field design uses.

What happened? roger

seafire/B17G,
Thanks for posting that data. I never saw anything that good in the years I suscribed to Handloader magazine.

The Title for this thread is 22/250, but the data seems to be .223.

quote:

1. IN the evaluation of the 223, I came further to the conclusion of the versatility of the 223 in the use of training new shooters, and for a very versatile varmint caliber.
2. Essentially the 223 can be loaded to the specs of a 22 Long rifle, a 218 Bee, a 221 Fireball, a 222 Remington, a 22 Hornet, and a 22 Win Mag., while allowing the shooter to be able to pick the type of bullet that he prefers.

As the result of your posts on Blue Dot, 200 ground squirels died from my .223 downloaded with 13 gr Blue Dot, 60 gr. Tactical And Police soft point bullet moly coated bullet. The barrel never got warm, and the bore never got dirty. The noise was ok, and it reached way out there to cut the rodents in half. I reckon I was shooting at the 218 Bee level.


It is interesting that the Velocity to powder charge ratio stays consistant over such a wide range, 4 to 14 gr.

Seafire,

Other than a slightly misleading header, you ARE THE MAN Thanks for the info. My kids' shoulders love you.

HS

Clark, Roger and High Slot:

It appears Seafire was definitely on cruise control when he posted this. I will repost the correct data.

Thanks for the heads up,

What a dumbass I can be at times. "Just because you can dress them up doesn't mean you can take them out anywhere respectable." As my granddad use to say.

cheers
seabiscuit.


actually,
I just checked my word file on this, and somehow the data is listed for the 223 instead of the 22/250. Operator Error, big time!

My output is information.
I am an engineer.
Everything I do has about 20% error, even if I check it myself first.

The guys, who make a living being checkers, know how to ask about a mistake without pissing off the author.

Holy Mackeral, "lot more damage under 27,000 fps". Man I can't even measure that with my Pact even if I go to 4 foot spacing. Bet the crack of the bullet going over is impressive. I think this is why we all should check numbers we read to be sure they are correct.
Of curse I nevr meke a misteak whn I type stuf.


I have used the Blue Dot loads several place and one of the best so far has been with 30-06 and 7.7X50 with 130 grain pistol bullets to match commercial "Low Recoil Rounds" in those cases. Interestingly enough the best charge with both was proportionally correct according to case volumes.

4. The penetration of the 40 grain Vmax into the tree did make me ponder the use of those plastic tip varmint rounds as potential loads for small deer for youth shooters. Just like my observations in the larger calibers, the plastic tipped bullet seem to do a lot more damage, at velocities under 27000 fps. The Vmax surprised me. This is a decision any shooter will have to test on his own and make their own decisions. I am just passing on that I saw potential merit in the application.

Yeah TC; I corrected that 27000 fps also.

I really just forgot the decimal point is all!
Other than that, it is not a typo.

In fact that is the velocity for those guys that shoot those Elk and Cape Buffalo at 750 yds, and prairie dogs at 1500 yds.

One gets 27000 fps out of a single shot rifle with Blue Dot. It is a 50 caliber case necked to 22 caliber, full of 350 grains of blue dot. Of course the rifle is called a single shot. After you pull the trigger on that 27000 fps load, the rifle explodes, hence the name Single Shot.

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire