Recommend Ammo for Browning BLR .223

[mlgs00]

I am looking for recommendations for a brand and bullet weight that has worked for you in your Browning BLR .223 lever action rifle at 100 yards. The barrel has a 1 in 12 twist rate. I tried some 55 gr originally that grouped well at 50 yards, but wouldn't group at 100 yards. I searched Google for info about what bullet weights are appropriate for that twist rate. Basically, 40 to 50 grain bullets are supposed to be best.

Most ammo websites carry mostly 55gr, 62gr, 69gr 75gr and 77gr .233 and 5.56. Not a great selection of lighter weight bullets in stock.

I bought several brands and types to test:

American Eagle 50gr JHP
American Eagle 50gr Polymer Tip BT
Fiocchi 40gr V-Max Polymer Tip
Freedom Munitions 40gr V-Max (new)
Winchester 45gr JHP Varmint

Of the five listed above, the AE 50gr JHP grouped the best at 3 inches for a 10 shot group at 100 yards. Not the type of results I was hoping for.

Any suggestions of what has worked well for you?

[Scratch705]

can't help you but i do want to ask how is the BLR?

been wanting a lever gun, but not wanting to buy a new caliber, so a .223 lever gun was right up my alley.

did you get a chance to handle the henry long ranger which is the only other new production .223 lever rifle.

[mlgs00]

can't help you but i do want to ask how is the BLR?

been wanting a lever gun, but not wanting to buy a new caliber, so a .223 lever gun was right up my alley.

did you get a chance to handle the henry long ranger which is the only other new production .223 lever rifle.

I love the BLR. The action is so smooth. It shoots like a dream. The stock has very nice wood. I just haven't found the right ammo for 100 yards, yet. I haven't seen a Long Ranger, but I did read up on it. It looks like a great rifle. It has a higher list price than the Browning.

[Gunsrruss]

barrel

I love the BLR. The action is so smooth. It shoots like a dream. The stock has very nice wood. I just haven't found the right ammo for 100 yards, yet. I haven't seen a Long Ranger, but I did read up on it. It looks like a great rifle. It has a higher list price than the Browning.

You need a 1 X 9 or a 1 X 8 twist if your looking for accuracy. That's just the way it is. Of course this comes from a shooter who has been shooting .223 for 17 years

[Divernhunter]

Gee I shot a 1-12 or 1-14 twist for many years using 55gr bullets and shot very tiny groups. A 1969-70 Rem BDL Varmint 223 rifle. Mostly I shot(with few misses) squirrels at ranges out to 400+ yards.

I started shooting mine in 1970. Many, many rounds out of it being raised on a ranch with squirrels and permission to shoot on many neighbors places.

Shot so many squirrels(and some other animals) that I shot out the barrel and the groups opened up too much. I had it rebarreled with a 1-10 barrel so I could shoot both 36 and 50gr NON_LEAD Barnes VG that we must use here. I used a SS Douglas Premium barrel and it shoots the 55gr lead core and the 36 and 50gr VG bullets basically into one hole at 100 yards

I will have to reconsider all my past shooting since I need a 1-9 or1-8 twist for accuracy. I did not know that is the way it is and to think of all the squirrels/PD's I have killed that I should never have been able to
Note---I said I only use 55gr bullets. Hornady 55gr SX is my preferred squirrel/PD bullet. For yotes and such I use the Hornady 55gr SP usually. A few times I have shot 40gr Nosler BT bullets but usually they are what I use in my 223 pistol---------do I need a 1-9 or 1-8 twist in it also for accuracy? The PD/squirrels I have shot with it would like to know

Now if you are talking about 62gr Mil or heavier bullets I can somewhat agree with you about a faster twist. EXCEPT I have 63gr Sierria bullets which shot just fine in a Rem700 BDL Varmint rifle made in 1970 with a 1-12 or 1-14 twist barrel. That is the rifle I had to rebarrel. I have taken several yotes and a deer with them. The deer was a easy head shot and I would never use a 223 for deer again.

[stevec223]

1x12 twist should shoot lead 55gr bullets just fine... 50gr unleaded fine too... If your shooting factory ammo try different brands with above weights... Do you have a scope on your rifle ???... That could be a big factor at 100 yds versus just iorn sites... Nice rifle,,, and hope you find your loads.... Cheers...

[1859sharps]

You need a 1 X 9 or a 1 X 8 twist if your looking for accuracy. That's just the way it is. Of course this comes from a shooter who has been shooting .223 for 17 years

Nothing wrong with 1 in 12 when using appropriate bullet weights and loads.

M16a1 uses a 1 in 12 for the M193 round.

what "accuracy" means is pretty broad and depends on what you are doing. accuracy to win a 100 yard bench rest match is going to be much different then the accuracy needed to hunt squirrels or coyotes.

your shooting activity drives the definition of accuracy.

the only time you NEED 1 in 9, 1 in 8 or 1 in 7 twist rates is when you are shooting longer and thus heavier bullets such as 69gr to 90gr out past fort mudge.

[Horrendo Revolver]

People telling you what has worked for them won't help you one bit. Every rifle is different, even if it is the exact same make and model and chambered for the same cartridge.

[Jjwisled]

Not to stray to far off topic but that's the beauty of reloading, finding that sweet spot for your gun.

[NorCalFocus]

Of the five listed above, the AE 50gr JHP grouped the best at 3 inches for a 10 shot group at 100 yards. Not the type of results I was hoping for.

What kind of groups are you hoping for?

We're talking about a lever action... is it scoped? How'd you shoot the gun for groups?

[mlgs00]

I have a Vortex Diamondback HD 4-16 scope on the rifle. I am shooting with it resting on sand bags on a bench. Shooting at 50 yards with cheap 55gr ammo I had a 10 shot group of 3/4 inch. The same ammo at 100 yards was spread out over 6 inches. I would expect that the right ammo could produce 1.5 to 2 inch groups at 100 yards.

[1859sharps]

People telling you what has worked for them won't help you one bit. Every rifle is different, even if it is the exact same make and model and chambered for the same cartridge.

not entirely true.

while true what worked great in my rifle may not give the exact results in yours.... it can give you starting points to try.

while every rifle is different...they aren't soooooo different that a similar or even identical round won't work for a great many similar rifles. hence the whole commercial ammunition market. and why soooooo many people have good luck with specific bullet/powder combos be it commercial or hand load recipes.

yes, no guarantee...but no, not worthless to ask what worked for others.