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

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.

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?

What's the twist rate?

Bernie P.-

it's a 1:10" twist

rw

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.

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.

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

I appreciate the input. Thanks guys.

rw

my ruger loves the 53 gr. black hills ammo,hornady is also very good.Your rifle may shoot something total different than another rifle just like it so try different things and see what it likes best,it is hard to go wrong with 50 or 55 grain bullets in a 223.My little ruger m77 thows 72 grain target loads at the target side ways....