Factory Ammo test in Generation II Predator, .223

[oldbbb]

Trying to find factory Ammo my Generation II Predator, .223 will like yesterday and it was surprising. My best group was 1/4 inch with Hornady # 80255, worst was frontier at 13 inches. The gun did not like Hornady 73gr Match, Sig Sauer Marksman 77 gr or anything above 55 gr

 

[s4s4u]

13 INCHES? How is that even possible....

 

[Dillonfriend]

I suggest you measure the barrel twist, using a cleaning rod with a patch. Sounds like the barrel twist is slow for the heavier bullets.

 

[oldbbb]

I used a bore scope and counted all six lands going around the mirror in 8 inches.
I did shoot some Sig Sauer 40gr Elite Varmint and that was a 2 inch group.
It just goes to show some guns really do like different ammo.

 

[the_leper_colony]

... It just goes to show some guns really do like different ammo.

Yeah, it can be surprising what a rifle likes! I tried a bunch of different factory loads in my Savage 110 .30-06, and the most accurate was Norma 150 gr Jaktmatch (I remember thinking, "That figures, it's the most expensive!"). I got lucky with my heavy barrel Savage 10 .223 - it prefers Federal American Eagle 50 gr HP, which was so cheap I went back & bought a bunch of the same lot...

 

[Mobuck]

I often question the 'WHY?" of some ammo choices for the .223. Generally speaking, the 75-77 grain heavy bullets only offer benefits when shooting far beyond what most folks consider 'normal' distances.
The AE 50 grain HP has done well in several rifles here while the 40 grain ammo has only done well in one 'slow twist' bolt action (!/2" groups).

 

[contender]

Welcome to the Forum oldbbb!"

As a long time handloader & chaser of accuracy,, I can say it doesn't surprise me to see your results. I say it often, "Every firearm is a machine unto itself! You have to find the balance for that machine."

 

[kmoore]

I used a bore scope and counted all six lands going around the mirror in 8 inches.
I did shoot some Sig Sauer 40gr Elite Varmint and that was a 2 inch group.
It just goes to show some guns really do like different ammo.

The manual might state the bbl twist. I asked google, it replied 1:8.

 

[rcs9250]

I just bought a Ruger Gen II Predator .223 just before Christmas 2025.
I took it to the 100 yd range with several .223 commercial loads.
The best one was Hornady .223 55 gn V-Max #8327. I had a couple cloverleaf groups. I also had a suppressor mounted to it. For whatever reason, that round works best in my Tikka T3X, my Savage Model 12 LRPV and my Sig MCX Spear. In the Sig it outperforms any other .223 ammo but it really shoots a lot better with 77gn Blackhills ammo, but that’s understandable considering it’s a 1:7 twist.

 

[oldbbb]

I am keeping a record of the different ammo I am testing. Last outing I shoot a 1.5 inch group at 200 yards with the Hornady SP 80255.
The cheapest, Frontier FMJ 55 gr, gave me a 3.75 group at 200 yards I have collected some more factory Ammo to test but it will a few weeks before i can go.

Win Super X SP 55 gr	1 and 1/4 inch ---- 100 yards	3 incj at 200 yards
Hornady superformance Varmint # 8025 53 gr	1 and 1/4 inch ----100 yards	3 inch at 200 yards
SigSauer Elite series Varmint & Predator 40 gr	2 inch ---- 100 yards	2 1/4 inch at 200 yards

 

[oldbbb]

I did shoot just over a one foot group, 12 and 1/4 inch, at 600 yards with some TrueVelocity 55g FMJ. but this stuff is pricey and strange with it's plastic case.

 

[seasterl]

I was going to get a Hawkeye Predator in 223 to fire a lot of bulk ammo I have on hand, but I vaguely recall it’s twist was slow and feared poor results and not being able to shoot 5.56 rounds through it, so I got the .22-250 version instead and will just handload for it. Thanks for sharing your results.

 

[oldbbb]

Well I did luck out with this 223 Generation II Predator, after testing 28 different factory ammo these are the ones the gun likes best.

Hornady # 80255 SP	1/4 inch to 1 and 1/2 inch	$0.60 per round
PMC - Bronze 55gr FMJ	1 and 1/4 inch	$0.50 per round
STV - Patriot Sports (2A) 55gr FMJ	1 and 3/4 inch	$0.50 per round
Rem UMC # R23812 JHP 50 g	1 and 1/4 inch	$0.95 per round
Rem UMC # 23748 JHP 45 gr	3/4 inch to 1 inch	$0.95 per round

It seems strange the Hornady # 80275 FMJ/BT 55gr, Wolf Military 55gr and Winchester Varmint X Polymer tip 55 gr would give 4 and 5 inch groups while these do well. Contender is correct "Every firearm is a machine unto itself! You have to find the balance for that machine."

 

[Rumrunner]

I shoot mostly 50 grain V-Max reloads in my Gen II 223. When I first got it, I shot half a dozen factory loads in it. While they all shot well, it loves MidwayUSA's 53 grain Dog Town ammo. I haven't benn able to beat them with my hand loads.