Sierra .224 60gr HP

I had read somewhere on Sierra’s website, that their .224 60gr HP was designed to expand violently at 22-250 and 220swift velocities. The technician said that if kept between 2800-3000fps that it would perform like a standard hunting bullet and would be a good choice for deer. I found some in my garage and gave it a go. Winchester brass, Winchester primers, IMR4064, with the 60gr HP seated .010” off the lands. I used 23.0gr, 23.5gr, 24.0gr and 24.5gr of IMR4064. All of these loads are supposed to keep me in the 2800-3000fps range I am looking for. On a side note, I’ve read that these bullets suck on coyotes and smaller vermin at 223 velocities. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...90a827b8a2.jpg


JTD

I’ve loaded up 10 of the 23.5gr charge that gave me a 3 shot group of .397”. I will chronograph and shoot 5 shot groups to confirm accuracy. Updates to follow.


JTD

Looking forward to seeing those dialed in over a chrono! You always post good shit I like to follow [emoji16]

Thanks Holland. I hope it does as well as I want it to.


JTD

Well initially the 60gr Sierra HP shot a .397” three shot group with 23.5gr of IMR4064. Today I shot a 5 shot group with that load that measured 1.701”. Velocity AVG was 2712.4fps. Needless to say, that group was not near good enough. I am looking for velocity between 2800-3000fps also. Back to the drawing board.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...93eb0ac346.jpg


JTD

I Absolutely love that bullet out to 300yrds. I don't know what rifle/caliber you shoot, but 25.0gr Varget CCI #400 Fed. brass= 2836fps with a SD of 7 out of my Savage .223 avg. five shot group @100m is under .5in. I load to .005 off the rifling.

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Originally Posted by Papajoe222

I Absolutely love that bullet out to 300yrds. I don't know what rifle/caliber you shoot, but 25.0gr Varget CCI #400 Fed. brass= 2836fps with a SD of 7 out of my Savage .223 avg. five shot group @100m is under .5in. I load to .005 off the rifling.

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Dang! I thought I put that info in the original post. The rifle is a sporter Remington 700ADL .223 with a 1-12” twist.


JTD

Finally made it back to the range. Sunny 77° with a nice breeze. My previous attempt left me wanting with 2700fps and a 1 3/4” group. Today I tried 24.5gr of IMR4064. Average velocity for 5 shots was 3000.2 and the 5 shot group measured .956”. I pulled the fifth shot but it still meets my criteria of 2800-3000fps and 1” or better group. I’ve only got 24 more of these bullets left and will probably not buy anymore, but at least I can shoot the last of these up in style, and maybe actually kill a deer or hog with them. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...fdc3f3cc59.jpg
The first four shots measured .406”.

JTD

That bullet is flat base,right ??
Depending on it's length,at 2700fps out of a 12 twist bbl,the rotational velocity could be down just below the "majical" 1.300. ( which is semi-ok,as long as it is not too far below)
I have a 22-250 with a 12 twist bbl that I have been doing some expieramenting with. FB bullets are definately my friend. Not many solid coppers either.
In this,bbl twist is much more important than fwd vel. --- SAWMAN

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Originally Posted by SAWMAN

That bullet is flat base,right ??
Depending on it's length,at 2700fps out of a 12 twist bbl,the rotational velocity could be down just below the "majical" 1.300. ( which is semi-ok,as long as it is not too far below)
I have a 22-250 with a 12 twist bbl that I have been doing some expieramenting with. FB bullets are definately my friend. Not many solid coppers either.
In this,bbl twist is much more important than fwd vel. --- SAWMAN

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Yes, they are a flat base. I got much better accuracy with them at 3000fps.


JTD

You know,those speeds that you got from Sierra are most likely for "optimal" expansion. IMO if he stated 3000 top end,if it impacted at 3050 or 3075 . . . no discernable difference.
Doing expieraments with bullets at 300BLK vels,the manufacturers like to use the words like . . . "optimal expansion" . . .
WTFork is that. Perfect ?? Heck,I would settle for a little less or more than perfect. --- SAWMAN

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Originally Posted by SAWMAN

You know,those speeds that you got from Sierra are most likely for "optimal" expansion. IMO if he stated 3000 top end,if it impacted at 3050 or 3075 . . . no discernable difference.
Doing expieraments with bullets at 300BLK vels,the manufacturers like to use the words like . . . "optimal expansion" . . .
WTFork is that. Perfect ?? Heck,I would settle for a little less or more than perfect. --- SAWMAN

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I couldn’t agree more. I use their recommendation as a guideline only.

On another note, that bullet was designed for 22-250/220 swift velocities, I’ve read multiple reports online that this bullet out of a 223 does not perform well on coyotes or bobcats, but does well on deer.

In the end, until I try it myself, it’s just stuff that I read online. Hopefully this fall, I will get to find out.


JTD

Completely your choice Jeff . . . but just gotta say,there are a ton of good to great,to exceptional,bullets for the 223/5.56 velocities out there. ESPECIALLY for the guns with longer bbls and faster twist rates.
I have a 24" . . 1:7 . . 5.56 . . that shoots most anything great. It loves the 60gr Nosler Partitions and the <63gr Barnes.
The 60gr NosParts are a especially a great killer of deer and hogs at the 223/5.56vels.They exit, leaveing a nickle size hole,and do alot of damage going through.--- SAWMAN

I definitely won’t argue that there are better alternatives for deer. Bullets that were actually designed for hunting. This whole thing started because I’ve been stockpiling bullets for the last 30 years, I’ve got so many partial boxes of bullet that were either given to me or I tried and didn’t like. I just happened to read that quip, from a Sierra technician, about the 60gr hp being adequate for deer if driven between 2800-3000fps. I had a half box of them sitting on the shelf, so I said what the hell, I’ll give this a try. I’m slowly shooting up all of the excess bullets I’ve got, that don’t serve a purpose. Now that I’ve found my load for the 60gr hp, I’m going to work up a load for the 55gr Speer gold dot. I picked 200 of these from Wes, and I think they should make a pretty good hunting bullet.


JTD

Looking at my bullet shelf,I have about 20-30 bxs that I do not even shoot that caliber any more. Eight or so in .429" and at least that many in .284". --- SAWMAN

I just found a box of bullets hidden on the shelf (that I forgot I had ) that reminded me of you sawman! I am working on them right now. When I’m done I will make a post.


JTD

They aren't .416" are they ?? Sold my Rigby about a year ago and still have 3 bxs of bullets for it.
If I told you just how many partial boxes of .224" bullets I have you would go . . . HUH !!?? After reloading for 10-15 different .224" cal guns (both rifle and pistol) over the last 35 years or so,a person just accumulates alot of "stuff".
Several times in the past I have tried to sell some partial bxs of different caliber bullets. You would think that this offer would be a new reloaders dream . . . but nobody was interested. Oh well. --- SAWMAN

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Originally Posted by SAWMAN

They aren't .416" are they ?? Sold my Rigby about a year ago and still have 3 bxs of bullets for it.
If I told you just how many partial boxes of .224" bullets I have you would go . . . HUH !!?? After reloading for 10-15 different .224" cal guns (both rifle and pistol) over the last 35 years or so,a person just accumulates alot of "stuff".
Several times in the past I have tried to sell some partial bxs of different caliber bullets. You would think that this offer would be a new reloaders dream . . . but nobody was interested. Oh well. --- SAWMAN

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I’ve run into the same problem. So many partial boxes. It seems people just want them for free or just aren’t interested. So I’ve held on to them all, and am now just slowly going through them.


JTD