.223 ammo choices

[hunt12ga]

I decided on a .223 barrel for my Optima Elite and it should be here this time next week. I have a 3-9X40 Bushnell Trophy XLT that I will top it with. I decided to look into ammo for it. Wow. Oh, the choices I have! There are 45gr, 50gr, 55gr, heavy match bullets, FMJ's, hollow points, soft points, etc. I guess I was hoping someone would toss out some suggestions for where I could start as far as inexpensive plinking, and what I can try for coyote hunting. Is there anything I should stay away from? Anything that's going to tear my rifle up?

My best friend is getting his reloader set up for .223 so at some point I will be able to get some handloads from him to try out. I'm just looking for a starting point to get me going.

Thank you-
rw

[Sheridan]

I use this ammo whenever I can.

Good starting point............Inexpensive but use Hornady V-max bullets.

I move to more expensive ammo, only if I have too.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Bulk-....223+bulk+ammo

BTW - Comes with ammo box; I have one for each gun I own now.

[GTOHunter]

I would stay with a lighter grain bullet if You intend on shooting Varmints with it,45 and 50 grain would be my choice but I would try a few different ones to see what shots the best in your Rifle?

[Bernie P.]

What's the twist rate?

[hunt12ga]

Bernie P.-

it's a 1:10" twist

rw

[Bernie P.]

I would stay away from anything under 50gr.Bullet weights between 50-70gr should shoot well with that twist.For coyote you want something that will expand quickly so most any soft point would be a good choice.My preference is for Sierra bullets.If you don't reload the new Hornady Super Performance varmint ammo would be a good choice.They got a very good write up in the last issue of American Rifleman.

[Nomercy448]

I reload for three different .223's, so for a few of my rifles, I just use factory ammo. They're both Bushmaster AR-15's with a 6 Right 1 in 9" twist. Our Gander Mountain has 40rnd Remington UMC 50grn JHP for $34 a box. I've had flawless reliability (several thousand rounds fired), great accuracy, and great performance on varmints and coyotes.

For handloading for coyote hunting, I use 50grn Nosler Ballistic Tips. The thickened jacket base (compared to Hornady V-max's) gives better weight retention upon impact, but the ballistic tips give explosive expansion, and the spitzer tip plus the boattail give great advantages for accuracy.

The Hornady A-Max and SST's are also great boattail spitzers, but the jacket base is too thin in my opinion. I've had problems with jacket failure with any thin-based varmint bullets.

[Backwoods7]

I've always liked 55gr bullets. For plinking a fmj or hp work great for hunting I like 55gr Winchester psp

[hunt12ga]

I appreciate the input. Thanks guys.

rw

[Ridge Runner]

ultramax first, then black hills, accuracy is the same but ultramax is cheaper. They both shoot great in all 5 of my 223'sRR