Accurate and hard hitting

[Nomad]

Looking for a hard hitting load for for a 223 rem to shoot sage rats and chucks
40 -55gr bullets shooting an 1-12 twist. Shooting open desert country, some
of the area burned off a couple of years ago....

[jerrschmitt]

I've been using the Hornady 50 gr. VMAX over a near max load of H322. Before that, I used the 50 SX with a stiff load of BLC. Just about any of the major brand bullets work well.

[johnnyk]

My most accurate load in the Savage 110FP .223 (1-9") that I used to own was 26.5gn of W748, Rem brass and 6.5 primer. OAL was 1.8865" (that's ogive to case base). Accuracy was .136" for 3 shots @ 100yds. 25.5 came in a close second @ .162". JohnnyK.

[Sharon Tate]

You can try the 50-vmax's with :
Hodgdon H335 @ 25.0 grn. -or- Vihtaviori N-133 @ 23.5 grn.
Neither loads are maxed-out on the Vel. so there is a ( little bit ) of upward Vel. to push . but see how it Groups with 3250 -3300 fps 1st before pushing it up
I shoot both loads from two 1 in 9-twist and one, 1 in 10-twist barrels. , 2 of the barrels are 24-inches long .
Your barrel is 1 in 12" twist but it is still going to be close in the handloading with 9 & 10 twist barrels shooting the 50 grn. bullets .
.

[436]

You might try, Barners Burners (code 1199-1B) Ref; as Barnes 50gr VLC with {29.0grs} of Win 748, primer WSR giving you a vel of 3420 fps from a 24 inch barrel.
436

[emillioaldrich]

Ive got an r700 .223 20" bbl 1:12

Excellent results with the 50gr Barnes VGs and benchmark within 450yards- after that you REALLY have to dope the wind. My pet load for the gun is 53gr sierra hpfb and 24.8 of benchmark. It avgs .3 for 5 shot @100 and 3" at 350-from a bone stock gun. I feel like I won the lottery. Varmint Grenades are devastating with almost explosion on impact while the hollow points create nice neat entry holes and large exits.

I found that .2 grains was the difference in .38" and .077" 3 shot groups at 100 yds. You have to be really patient while testing to find your Jedi magic load.

Good luck!

Nate