Inexpensive but accurate .223 target ammo?

[roscoe]

Shooting my daughter's CZ 527 really showed me the difference between accurate and inaccurate ammo. Her Winchester 64 grain softpoint ammo is very accurate, whereas we received a case of 55 grain 'American Eagle' as a gift and it shoots all over the place.

Are there decent, accurate, but cheap FMJ loads that people have had success with? I want her to be able to plink, accurately, but also cheaply. I do reload other calibers, so obviously reloading is a possibility.

 

[someguy2800]

Hornady steel match

 

[Bfh_auto]

Not FMJ, but monarch brass cases 55sp are way more accurate in my 12 twist 223 than 55fmjs.

 

[243winxb]

reloading is a possibility.

Reloading is the best of 2 worlds, cheaper and accurate.

 

[kenboyles72]

As far as factory ammo and what works in my rifle, I shoot Monarch 55gr steel cased FMJ. At 50 yrds, I can put 7 out of 10 rnds in a nickle with a low powered scope, with irons it's a bit bigger group.

 

[Walkalong]

FMJ and target should not be used in the same sentence. Some shoots decent though.

Any good soft point, hollow point, or ballistic tip bullet will shoot substantially better than FMJ open base (Some are terrible) bullets. The base is essential to accuracy.

 

[stillquietvoice]

I've used hornandy 55 v max and 55 sp both accurate in my 1-9 twist axis 2 also reloaded 55 interlocks using a e brass will shoot 5 shot 1 hole groups when I do my part.

 

[IndianaBoy]

Geco brand, Swiss made 223 ammo is about 2 MOA ammo in my 3-gun rifle. It comes in boxes of 50, usually runs about 30 cents per round.

Handloading is the way to go if you need excellent accuracy and cost savings. You have to figure the value of your time as well in that equation.

 

[d2wing]

Black Hills 55 gr sp. I haven't found a FMJ load that is accurate in my rifle.

 

[Demi-human]

so obviously reloading is a possibility.

Cheaper, more accurate and cleaner as a byproduct. Handloading is the path to take. I shall second the fifty grain V-maxs as well. And the Seventy five grain hollowpoints, and the eighty grain Elds, and the one hundred ten grain thirty caliber V-maxs, and the XTPs...

The Hornady Soft Points are just as inexpensive as a full metal jacket when one considers all the bullets that won't miss the target.

If she really likes shooting with Dad, there should be no reason she couldn't help with some of the brass prep too!

All time spent with them, is well spent...

 

[Frostbite]

OP, unfortunately, my .223 ammunition exploration points in the opposite direction. Expensive factory match ammunition shoots best.

I second the Hornady steel Match as an honorable choice for plinking. I shot approximately 1.25" to 1.5" with the heavy ones (was it 73 or 75 gr.? Can't remember) and 1.75" to 2.5" (less consistent) with the 55 gr. last time. My barrel is 1:8. 5 shots groups at 100 yards.

What I don't get it that the previous time, the .55 gr. (same boxes of ammunition) shot better. Barrel has not been cleaned between the two outings. At 200 yards, the heavier ones were noticeably better, but I did not walk to measure and had difficulty to estimate the size of the groups accurately in the scope. I think I switched the order in which I shot them, so maybe barrel temperature could be an explanation.

If I go tomorrow, it's going to be the third outing without cleaning (245 already shot). Will shoot cheap Aguila 55 gr. FMJ so not to scrap good ammo and to observe how the rifle shoots the same cheap ammo when dirty as opposed to when clean.

Hornady Black 5.56 (don't remember weight, my rifle is safe to shoot both calibers as per its manufacturer) was OK at 100, maybe 2" or a tad more, don't remember exactly, but all over the place at 200. I finished with that one last time.

 

[sparkyv]

Hornady steel match

+1

 

[Varminterror]

All depends what your rifle likes. My wife's Savage 12 has put out several groups with 50grn Remington UMC JHP's in the 1's and 2's. Depressingly accurate rifle, with absolute garbage ammo.

 

[stillquietvoice]

It's a good thing for her rifle.cheap ammo lots of useable brass cheap, now the trick chasing better groups with handmade.

 

[GAF]

You could try this.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2...-223-remington-45-grain-jacketed-hollow-point

 

[ford8nr]

I went through the same search a year or so ago when I ran out of reloads mid shooting season. Went and bought a box of 5 or 6 different brands and test shot them in 2 rifles. Best overall averages in both rifles were with black box American Eagle 55gr and Wolf Gold 55gr. Best hand loads were 68gr Hornadys

 

[Dr T]

FWIIW, I saw a "gun test" by an Internet expert the other day that was wringing out a rifle in 223 with various types of ammo including some match ammo. His best 3 shot group at 100 yds (about 0.4") was with Remington UMC FMJ bulk ammo.

Your mileage will definitely vary. Some rifles are very picky about what they will shoot well (I have a Ruger 308 that comes to mind). Others will shoot everything well (I have a T/C Icon in 243 that likes everything I have tried from 75 gr to 100 gr).

 

[Bfh_auto]

This is Monarch 55gr sp . The holes with tape on the back were hand loads.

 

[Walkalong]

His best 3 shot group at 100 yds (about 0.4") was with Remington UMC FMJ bulk ammo.

Accidents happen.

 

[WestKentucky]

Hornady steel match worked ok for me, but the most accurate ammo I have used was cheapo Wolf. Maybe my gun just likes it, but the only thing I can do better with is handloads.

 

[jmr40]

Hornady Steel match has been good,but this in the 50 gr V-Max has been the most accurate 223 ammo I've shot regardless of price. Even in my 1:7 barrels.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/Fiocchi-Rem-Ammunition-Per/705991.uts?slotId=1

The 55 gr FMJ at $15/100 rounds is good too,but not nearly as accurate as the 50 gr stuff.

 

[ford8nr]

I got excited then looked...

$15 / 50

 

[Sappyg2.0]

Monarch 55 grain SP brass cased ammo has been reasonably accurate in two of my rifles. Expect 1.5- 2" groups 5 shot groups at 100 yards... maybe better depending on the rifle and shooter. One of my shooting buddies thinks that a 3" 5 shot group is perfectly acceptable from steel cased FMJ monarch. It depends on what you mean by 'accurate '

IME nothing will beat hand loads: hornady 53 gr. BTHP match bullet and 25.5 gr. Of varget should get you there. This is 20 rounds at 300 yards. The box of 22lr is used as a reference. Flyer and all.

 

[roscoe]

All good information. Many thanks - I will try the Steel Match first, and then . . . probably to new .223 dies.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Walmart sells some Winchester bulk packed USA brand (have also seen some similar Remington) with 45gr HP bullets. Usually 50/box. These are about the same price as FMJ. Reports are that it’s quite accurate.

I have no experience with them but a former coworker goes out west p.dog hunting and quit reloading after he started using them. He sells the fired brass. He burned out a HB .22/250 Savage barrel in a single morning. He now only shoots .223...