Best "Tactical" Bullet?

[DanaT]

I am spending the little bit of time that I have this winter reloading.

I have a 223 load that I like for prairie dogs. I have been loading lots of them. I use a 55gr v-max bullet and TAC powder. I chose 55gr so that point of aim was basically the same with 55FMJ and other cheap ammo.

Now, I am wanting to load up some "tactical" ammo. You never know when tactical ammo is needed.

Now, my constraints are: 223 (yes, i know that a 308 is better and I load it but I am talking 223), about 55gr so that I can shoot to approximately the same point of aim. I like v-max bullets, but I think on anything bigger than varmints, they just won't penetrate enough. Also, I doubt a v-max would penetrate much in the way of cover.

I was thinking of loading something along the lines of Hornady's TAP ammo. Does this use the A-ma bullet or a proprietary bullet? The A-max is a 52gr bullet. The v-max seems too much like a varmint bullet.

I don't think there are any "fail-safe" type bullets available for 223. What bullets shoudl I try? What are some pet tactical loads anyone might have?

-Dana

[car-15]

i use the ballistic silvertip bullet's they sell them at s.w. with the following load (DISCLAIMER USE THIS LOAD AT YOUR OWN RISK I WOULD START LOWER AND WORK UP I DO NOT WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INJURY OR DEATH) 55 grn. bullet, wsr primer, 26 grns. hodgdon H4895, oal of 2.280, fps of 3,315 and a pressure of 49,000 cup. I got this load off of the net a while back I dont remember where, and it has been real accurate.

[stubbicatt]

According to the writeup on Hornady's website, the TAP ammo is loaded with their Vmax bullet. I use the 55 grain Vmax, but the 60 grains also works well, just not meeting the parameters you specify.

If you have a nice day sometime soon, do some "ballistic" testing on various media using the Vmax. I think you will be surprised at what a superb bullet it is. It goes through drywall, 2x4's and when it hits a gallon jug with water, that's all she wrote.

After as extensive tests as a backyard hack like myself can imagine, I use the home made TAP ammo with the exact load you specify, only using CCI primers and military once fired cases.

FWIW