.223 and 40gr Z-MAX's

Reloading equipment, methods, load data, powder and projectile information.

.223 and 40gr Z-MAX's

Post by Wilso1994 » 14 Jul 2014, 8:41 pm

So I'm new here (obviously just look at my post count :P ) and I have been reloading for a good 12 months favouring the 55gr hornady soft point.

My uncle (used to be a pro roo shooter) sugested to me to try using 40gr projectiles. Browsing used guns I came across these Z-MAX's and I got a 500 pack. I currently use 25gr's of ar2208 with a 55gr SP.

I'm going to use this same load (as it's the minium load for ar2208 anyway) and work my way up to about 26-26.5. The reasons behind this change is I find myself spotlighting foxes and having to lob those 55gr's a long long way out over oats crops and such.

The 40gr projectile has way more sufficient path of impact for what I intend to use it for. Has anyone ever used this light of a projectile in a .223 before with any sucess at the longer ranges of 200-400 yards?

Also any suggestions on a different powder or a zero distance for this load would be awesome :D thanks
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Re: .223 and 40gr Z-MAX's

Post by Chronos » 14 Jul 2014, 10:08 pm

I have no experience loading 40 gr pills in a .223 but here's some numbers for you

A max load of ADI BM2 shows the highest velocity on the ADI tables and with the Vmax BC(zmax should be very close) a drop table could look like this if you zero'd at 200m you'd be close to 1" high at 100m, dead on at 200 m and 2" low at 300m. Maybe a zero about 1" high would work, it's a common zero for hunting rifles with this trajectory

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Re: .223 and 40gr Z-MAX's

Post by Wilso1994 » 14 Jul 2014, 10:17 pm

Thanks mate, should be quite interesting shooting foxes and rabbits. I'll give a few hogs a taste of it when I've got the powder scaled where I want it.
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Re: .223 and 40gr Z-MAX's

Post by Carter » 15 Jul 2014, 10:31 am

Welcome to the forum Wilso :)
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Re: .223 and 40gr Z-MAX's

Post by bunnybuster » 16 Jul 2014, 11:50 pm

I've used 40 grainers on 26 gr of 2208,about 3300fps, kills cats like lightning, I expect the same on foxes and rabbits,but it will break up on wheat heads shooting into crop.

I think 40s are too fragible to try on porkers, I'm loading 62 grain Barnes TSX on 26 gr of 2208 for them,

Be Safe BB.
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Re: .223 and 40gr Z-MAX's

Post by AusC » 20 Jul 2014, 1:40 pm

bunnybuster wrote:I've used 40 grainers on 26 gr of 2208,about 3300fps, kills cats like lightning, I expect the same on foxes and rabbits


Out of a .223 for sure.

No worries for busting bunnies and foxes.
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Re: .223 and 40gr Z-MAX's

Post by BBJ » 20 Jul 2014, 1:41 pm

bunnybuster wrote:I think 40s are too fragible to try on porkers


I'd second that.

A bit too much bone and skin in the way for a 40gr to be ideal IMO.
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