.223 & gophers

[RolHammer]

In another thread, elkhunter11 and Dean2 really got me intrigued with the .17 Hornet. While I'm waiting for my application to branch out into that to clear through the Appropriations Committee the thought process goes naturally to .223 in the interim.

Are guys using their .223 bolt rifles for gophers bothering to load up anything smaller for the occasion, like say 35gr, or just roll with whatever you've already got dialed in?

Also, with projectiles like V-Max is there any realistic concern about ricochets or whatnot from ground strikes?

[Robmcleod82]

I like 50 grain ballistic tips for gophers in mine. Some ricochets but not too many.

[Dean2]

Ultimate 223 gopher blower upper is the Hornady SPSX, Spire Point Super Explosive, in 50 grain. Never ricochets, extremely accurate to about 400 yards and about 2/3s the price of the Vmax. The 40 grain Vmax is also another great choice, the 35s Vmax are too lgiht and don't fly well past about 150 yards, Very explosive, work good in the 22 Hornet and 221 FB, where the 50 grain is a little heavy. IF you want one bullet for three guns, the 40 Vmax or 40 Sierra Blitzking, if you are just shooting them in 223 then the SPSX is your Huckleberry. They make a 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenade look like a solid FMJ and the Barnes don't group well out of many guns.

[fps plus]

Used thousands of vmax ,good bullets, am changing over to the varmagedeon line simply for price point . They seem to shoot as well as the v max and terminally good .

[fatboyz]

I use my Savage VLP with 69 grain SMK's out to 300m

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by fatboyz

I use my Savage VLP with 69 grain SMK's out to 300m

The 69gr SMK is one of the worst that I have used for ricochets.

[fish_e_o]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

The 69gr SMK is one of the worst that I have used for ricochets.

my enfield with surplus ammo wins hands down i bet



as to a 223 for gophers absolutely! every spring it's what i look forward to most. i call it snow art.

[Scott N]

I'm with Dean2.... I love the old Hornady 50 gr SPSX bullets.

[lclund1946]

It has been a few years since I shot gophers with a 223. The last rifle I owned in that cartridge was a Rem 700 SPS that shot well with the Speer #1030 TNT. I don't remember having any problem with richochets and it was very effective to 400 Meters. I also ran the Speer #1014, 33 Hornet HP to about 3200 fps with Blue Dot. It surely didn't richochet and really blew up gophers to 100/150 yards. It has a very low BC so not very good for longer ranges. I could likely come up with the loads if you happen to find some bullets and powder, I believe I used Benchmark with the 50 grain TNT. The 33 grain load shot to the left but it was easy to adjust using the first windage mark in the scope. I used nothing but Range Pickup brass so was cheap to shoot.
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[Rdamours]

I'm shooting 50 vmax and 75 vmax for the longer stuff. Our target holder is a non solid core door which has the structural integrity of toast. The bullets completely frag onto the snow behind it.

[Redfrog]

40 gr white box from Walmart.

[rembo]

Originally Posted by Redfrog

40 gr white box from Walmart.

This stuff actually shoots quite respectably in two of my 223's, a heavy one I put together about 8 years ago with a King barrel on a 700 and a Gaillard barrelled Sako L461. I've killed a more than a few gophers with the King barrelled rifle with 50 gr VMax's over WW748. But sadly it hasn't been pointed at a gopher in 3 or 4 years.

[Unregistered user]

Varmint type bullets are least likely to ricochet, they blow up by design. I use James Calhoon 37 gr and they blow the snot out of everything and no bounce.

[ForwardBias]

Originally Posted by Redfrog

40 gr white box from Walmart.

It ran decent in my first 223. Haven't tried it in any of my new ones because I handload.

[bobinthesky]

50 Gr TNT, the cheapest bullet I've found with good accuracy.

[RolHammer]

Originally Posted by Dean2

Ultimate 223 gopher blower upper is the Hornady SPSX, Spire Point Super Explosive, in 50 grain. Never ricochets, extremely accurate to about 400 yards and about 2/3s the price of the Vmax.

Hey, thanks Dean - good stuff. Tried P&D today, but no go on the SPSX in any weight. WSS doesn't list them on their site that I can see. Cabela's shows them on their site but is on b/o for the 50 gr. Where do you normally buy yours?

[RolHammer]

Thanks for the thoughts and advice everyone.

Oh hey - question: for the guys hitting at 400m or whatever, are you shooting prone or set up on a portable table out in the field? Those aren't offhand shots, right?

[bat119]

I made up a load for gopher vaporizing season
Nosler Varmageddon 40 Gr. FBHP over Varget shot great on paper out of my CZ527 1:12 twist. I wouldn't think they should ricochet much.

[dfrobert]

Originally Posted by Redfrog

40 gr white box from Walmart.

Do you mean the 45gr JHP white box value pack? I have had great results with these in my .223 Weatherby Vanguard Varmint Special. Also excellent on Coyotes. Have not had one exit on a Coyote yet even on multiple broadside shots under 50yards. Great ammo for the price!

[YYC338]

Originally Posted by Scott N

I'm with Dean2.... I love the old Hornady 50 gr SPSX bullets.

Yes the SPSX bullets are excellent, can be a little hard to find though. They do have an upper velocity limit where they will come apart in the air, but you should be fine with a .223.

A smoother barrel can get away with a higher velocity than a rough bore also.

[gunluvr]

Iv'e always used 40 gr. HPs from Sierra. Or 36 gr. Varmint Grenades from Barnes, which give me a smidge more velocity. Berger 40 gr.FBHPs seem to shoot the tightest groups, though. Always used 23grns. of IMR 4198. 223 and gophers is better than sex. At least from what I remember.

[Metalmike123]

I usually just interchange my coyote and gopher loads, but the faster ligher bullets might be a little more dramatic, and (maybe) reduce the chance of a ricochet depending on bullet construction. Most varmint bullets won't be much of an issue.

My best load for general varmint is the 55 gr Speer Soft Point over Varget.

Other ones that I like include the 50-55 gr Hornady V-max, 55 gr Nosler BT, and the Speer 52 gr hp and 50 gr TNT.

add: This is all for the 223 rem in my x-bolt btw.

[tchardy1972]

I've personally had some erratic behavior from the spsx. Both in accuracy and in terminal performance. I would say about a third of the last box I used would just pencil through with no "pop". I normally use the 55 grain Sierra blitz king.

[waldedw]

hornady 52 gr HBT match over 26.5gr varget, deadly

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by YYC338

Yes the SPSX bullets are excellent, can be a little hard to find though. They do have an upper velocity limit where they will come apart in the air, but you should be fine with a .223.

A smoother barrel can get away with a higher velocity than a rough bore also.

You are right about the velocity limit, 3600 fps in up to 1:10, 3300 fps in 1:7 and !;8 twist. Faster than that use the SPSX 55 grain that was designed for the 22-250 and 220 Swift. It will tolerate velocities up to 4200 fps.