.223 Rem Bullet is Best? Soft Point or FMJ

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Load Master

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What is your experience in regards to target accuracy, which bullet performs best?

Hornady 55gr Soft Point with Cannulure #2266

Hornady 55gr FMJBT with Cannulure #2267

Or is the difference too small to see at 100 to 200 yards?

Lots of good bullet sales this weekend!
 
No opinion. My particular favorite is Hornady's 60 grain hollow point.

At the ranges I shoot (never more than about 200 meters), pretty much any composite of lead and copper is going to be able to hit the vitals of a 125 pound deer or the side of a milk jug.
 
SP will have better accuracy.

Bases of a bullet determine the accuracy, the noses determine the trajectory.

Bases of normal FMJ rifle bullets are typically open,
which are harder to make consistently.

Bases of SP rifle bullets are normally closed,
which are easier to make consistently.

I've used both of those specific Hornady projectiles,
vague recollection is that the SP's had better accuracy.
(Recent SP usage, historic FMJ usage).
 
SP

Better accuracy, better terminal performance, and if you look around you can find the Hornady SPs for the same price as the Hornady FMJs.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
What is your experience in regards to target accuracy, which bullet performs best?

Hornady 55gr Soft Point with Cannulure #2266

Hornady 55gr FMJBT with Cannulure #2267

Or is the difference too small to see at 100 to 200 yards?

Lots of good bullet sales this weekend!
I've used both of Hornady's 55-grain .223 Rem bullets, and found that at 100 yards there was very little noticeable difference between them. That being said, I didn't like the way Hornady made their FMJ (for reasons rodregier pointed out), so I started looking around. I found a manufacturer who was able to do both: sharp pointed nose, and draw more copper around the base (with consistency). They're selling 1000 bullets for $85 shipped: 223 Bulk Bullets. I have loaded and tested these bullets, and will be using them in next month's Short Range Tactical match.
 
Hornady Spire Points are slightly more accurate in many rifles but 55 FMJ's are very close. Spire Points are better for varmints and such. Only negative for the exposed lead tip of the Spire Points is that tiny lead slivers can scrape off feeding into AR chambers. A little more debris in the feed ramp and locking lugs but it is not an issue that you would be concerned about. Possible cleaning the chamber a little more often with Spire Points. My points of impact between the two is very close. I like to have plenty of both loaded.
 
At 100-200 yds either one will give you good feedback, but the FMJ's may be harder to keep tight. I've been using 55's at 400 lately and it would never occur to me to try FMJ's at that distance. Photo from this morning, Nosler BT's at 6" bull
 

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Thanks for the input. I have this deal on order. I figure this will give me a good sample to try and evaluate the best combo for my gun.

From American Reloading
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.223 Premium Projectile Mixed Lot - 1000+ CT Be sure to use voucher code MEMORIAL25
25% Off Sitewide Memorial Weekend Sale
Use Voucher Code: MEMORIAL25
Code Valid Until Tuesday, May 31 LINK

I just ordered these, not to see how long it takes for them to arrive.

Includes But Not Limited To:
* 50 grain Hollow Point
* 55 grain Power Shok Soft Point
* 55 grain Hollow Point
* 55 grain Speer Gold Dot Soft Point
* 55 grain FMJ
* 60 grain Nosler Partition Soft Point
* 60 grain Hollow Point
* 61 grain Tracer
* 62 grain SS-109 Steel Core Penetrator
* 62 grain Fusion (Must be tumbled prior to use)
* 62 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw Soft Point
* 67 grain Sierra Match King
* 77 grain Sierra Match King
223-primium-projectile-mixed-lot-500-ct.gif
 
I just ordered these, not to see how long it takes for them to arrive.
I really hate to say it, but it looks to me like you just bought 1,000 pulled & damaged bullets.

If your ultimate goal is a search for accuracy??

You won't find it there!!

They will be fine for killing beer cans at 50 yards, but probably not much else.



rc
 
This isn't my first time buying from them. Past purchases proved to be worth while. The only complaint from past orders was the wait on shipping. I ordered today and they have already shipped. I I'll see if it was a bad deal early next week.
 
I received my order today from American Reloading. I am very pleased. It is a good selection of .223Rem bullets of various types and weights. Just what I was looking for. For $50 for over 1k I'm a happy camper!

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