Sako 50gr Gamehead Varmint .223

[Tikkat3xl]

I’ve been shooting foxes with the .223 50gr gamehead varmint round from Sako for the last year, lately I’ve been having a few more blow up on bone more than I’d like resulting in a couple runners.

Has anyone else been using this round and what results have you had?
Maybe the 55gr soft point is worth a try compared to the varmint b.t round for slightly better penetration as I do like Sako ammo as it’s so accurate

Thoughts anyone?

 

[antsa]

No experience of Sako ammo. What projectile is used in these rounds? I use three different rifles/loads for foxing - depending on my mood when I open the safe: a .222 (1:14) with 50gr Z-Maxes, a .223 Varmint (1:12) with 50gr Sierra BKs or a .223 (1:12) Sporter with a factory-loaded 55gr Sierra BK. All of them virtually gut foxes.

Cheers

 

[Tikkat3xl]

No experience of Sako ammo. What projectile is used in these rounds? I use three different rifles/loads for foxing - depending on my mood when I open the safe: a .222 (1:14) with 50gr Z-Maxes, a .223 Varmint (1:12) with 50gr Sierra BKs or a .223 (1:12) Sporter with a factory-loaded 55gr Sierra BK. All of them virtually gut foxes.

Cheers

I believe it is Sierra Blitzking out of a 1:12 barrel, perhaps I’ve just been unlucky but I would have thought a 50gr bullet at 3500fps should punch through some bone even with the ballistic tip, might be time for a change in ammunition I think

Thanks

 

[Somersetdk]

I used to use these and thought they were fab rounds , very accurate and had no problems with them dropping.
I then moved to federal 53gr vmax because they were alot cheaper, another good round !

 

[Tikkat3xl]

I used to use these and thought they were fab rounds , very accurate and had no problems with them dropping.
I then moved to federal 53gr vmax because they were alot cheaper, another good round !

I think I’ll have a look around and see what’s about these days

 

[sharkbait]

I believe it is Sierra Blitzking out of a 1:12 barrel, perhaps I’ve just been unlucky but I would have thought a 50gr bullet at 3500fps should punch through some bone even with the ballistic tip, might be time for a change in ammunition I think

Thanks

That's your problem right there!
3500 fps is seriously quick especially for that bullet tip that will explode on a blade of grass! You should consider lowering your fps or changing to a soft point or both
Sierra blitzking as the vmax are at that speed snappy and explosive and great for long range crow bashing

 

[Tikkat3xl]

That's your problem right there!
3500 fps is seriously quick especially for that bullet tip that will explode on a blade of grass! You should consider lowering your fps or changing to a soft point or both
Sierra blitzking as the vmax are at that speed snappy and explosive and great for long range crow bashing

It’s a factory load, I don’t have the knowledge of homeloading I think I’ll be trying a soft point round,

many thanks

 

[sharkbait]

My freind it's time you came to the dark side then and start tinkering with powders and potions
No but seriously what you've got there has obviously workd for you in the past and does work but you have found that a couple of times it's not dropd the fox as it should where like you say its hit its shoulder bone and not penetrated enough.
And indeed a soft point would give better penetration!
I use sierra soft points and I can honestly say when they go down they stay down also I'm running a tad less hot than you at 3000fps which all helps with barrel life

 

[Cottis]

It is theoretically not the bullets fault as someone has mentioned. That bullet is designed to withstand velocities north of 4000fps and a factory round put together for a very standard twist .223 like the OP mentioned should not provide an issue.

Foxes are squishy and while they take a bit more killing than a crow, they are not exactly difficult to kill. It could be a batch of bullets with thinner jackets than normal that might be failing to withstand the velocity/twist combination but the actual bullet itself should be suitable for your application.

When you say you have had some runners, are they going 20 yds and falling over or are they running off to god knows where and not found? If the former, then I would say that can happen. If you shoot enough, they don't all fall over dead on the spot. Most do with a good round and a sound placement but it is not possible to replicate the same outcome each time.

Handloading will allow you to tune a bullet to your rifle but it will not make the bullet anymore or less suitable for the task. I use a .222 for most of my fox shooting. I don't know how many I have shot but it is certainly well in to the hundreds, maybe more. I bought a couple of boxes of Sako 50g SP's with the rifle just to sight it in and get familiar with it. The second box I shot entirely at foxes and I recall one making it nearly 30yds to a hedgerow despite a solid shot placement just behind the shoulder as it stood broad sideways. The others all fell over on the spot.

I then reloaded for that rifle and have shot mostly either 50g Vmax or 53 Varmegeddon through this rifle. Again, most fall over but both bullets I have seen the odd one leg it before blood loss sees it cartwheel over 20, 30, 40 yds from shot site. Milage for others might vary but if you shoot enough, you will see some oddities.

I would not be changing to a SP personally. Highly frangible bullets are good for fox shooting. Anything north of 50grains doing north of 3000fps is generally going to result in the fox having a bad day. Keep shooting and keep putting the bullet in the right place. It will even out.

 

[NP435]

It’s a factory load, I don’t have the knowledge of homeloading I think I’ll be trying a soft point round,

many thanks

Consider the cheap and thicker jacketed stuff from Wolf, yes its dirty, it does shoot fine IMO and no the steel case wont hurt the chamber. Having shot thousands of these in 9mm in IDPA comps in a very well used Argentine P-35 I would have noticed damage.

 

[DVS1]

It is theoretically not the bullets fault as someone has mentioned. That bullet is designed to withstand velocities north of 4000fps and a factory round put together for a very standard twist .223 like the OP mentioned should not provide an issue.

Foxes are squishy and while they take a bit more killing than a crow, they are not exactly difficult to kill. It could be a batch of bullets with thinner jackets than normal that might be failing to withstand the velocity/twist combination but the actual bullet itself should be suitable for your application.

When you say you have had some runners, are they going 20 yds and falling over or are they running off to god knows where and not found? If the former, then I would say that can happen. If you shoot enough, they don't all fall over dead on the spot. Most do with a good round and a sound placement but it is not possible to replicate the same outcome each time.

Handloading will allow you to tune a bullet to your rifle but it will not make the bullet anymore or less suitable for the task. I use a .222 for most of my fox shooting. I don't know how many I have shot but it is certainly well in to the hundreds, maybe more. I bought a couple of boxes of Sako 50g SP's with the rifle just to sight it in and get familiar with it. The second box I shot entirely at foxes and I recall one making it nearly 30yds to a hedgerow despite a solid shot placement just behind the shoulder as it stood broad sideways. The others all fell over on the spot.

I then reloaded for that rifle and have shot mostly either 50g Vmax or 53 Varmegeddon through this rifle. Again, most fall over but both bullets I have seen the odd one leg it before blood loss sees it cartwheel over 20, 30, 40 yds from shot site. Milage for others might vary but if you shoot enough, you will see some oddities.

This is sound advice, I've hit a fox straight in the bib and it ran a good 50m before dropping, chocked up on adrenaline I'm sure. I thought my 60gr STMK reloads weren't performing but to then see the fox had a gaping hole in its chest said otherwise.

Sometimes them buggers just have new duracells in them

 

[Tikkat3xl]

It is theoretically not the bullets fault as someone has mentioned. That bullet is designed to withstand velocities north of 4000fps and a factory round put together for a very standard twist .223 like the OP mentioned should not provide an issue.

Foxes are squishy and while they take a bit more killing than a crow, they are not exactly difficult to kill. It could be a batch of bullets with thinner jackets than normal that might be failing to withstand the velocity/twist combination but the actual bullet itself should be suitable for your application.

When you say you have had some runners, are they going 20 yds and falling over or are they running off to god knows where and not found? If the former, then I would say that can happen. If you shoot enough, they don't all fall over dead on the spot. Most do with a good round and a sound placement but it is not possible to replicate the same outcome each time.

Handloading will allow you to tune a bullet to your rifle but it will not make the bullet anymore or less suitable for the task. I use a .222 for most of my fox shooting. I don't know how many I have shot but it is certainly well in to the hundreds, maybe more. I bought a couple of boxes of Sako 50g SP's with the rifle just to sight it in and get familiar with it. The second box I shot entirely at foxes and I recall one making it nearly 30yds to a hedgerow despite a solid shot placement just behind the shoulder as it stood broad sideways. The others all fell over on the spot.

I then reloaded for that rifle and have shot mostly either 50g Vmax or 53 Varmegeddon through this rifle. Again, most fall over but both bullets I have seen the odd one leg it before blood loss sees it cartwheel over 20, 30, 40 yds from shot site. Milage for others might vary but if you shoot enough, you will see some oddities.

I would not be changing to a SP personally. Highly frangible bullets are good for fox shooting. Anything north of 50grains doing north of 3000fps is generally going to result in the fox having a bad day. Keep shooting and keep putting the bullet in the right place. It will even out.

It’s been 3 out of 8 in the last 3 weeks have ran with their shoulder practically like a windmill, coincedentally, it has been when I have change to this latest box of ammunition, definitely something to think about

 

[Tikkat3xl]

It’s been 3 out of 8 in the last 3 weeks have ran with their shoulder practically like a windmill, coincedentally, it has been when I have change to this latest box of ammunition, definitely something to think about

Sorry I should as that 2 out the 3 ran to a different field before I managed to get a second shot into them, the 3rd was never found

 

[Cottis]

It’s been 3 out of 8 in the last 3 weeks have ran with their shoulder practically like a windmill, coincedentally, it has been when I have change to this latest box of ammunition, definitely something to think about

Maybe a dodgy batch. 3 out of 8 is high if the shot was properly good?

 

[Tikkat3xl]

Maybe a dodgy batch. 3 out of 8 is high if the shot was properly good?

Placement looked good but I suppose you can never be 100% sure. They were quartering towards.
I will be taking this box to the range to use up then will try the last box I have and see how it goes

 

[sharkbait]

It could also be what mr north of south Watford mr cottis has said

 

[User00029]

It could also be what mr north of south Watford mr cottis has said

Averaging 50 foxes a year with the sako 50g gamehead varmint. I have never had a runner. They all drop on the spot. Stubbles and grass fields. Yours may have just clipped some shrubbery? Dredding my next shot now. Lol.

 

[Tikkat3xl]

Averaging 50 foxes a year with the sako 50g gamehead varmint. I have never had a runner. They all drop on the spot. Stubbles and grass fields. Yours may have just clipped some shrubbery? Dredding my next shot now. Lol.

Have you found that yours punch through the shoulders on quartering shots?

 

[User00029]

Have you found that yours punch through the shoulders on quartering shots?

Punching straight through both sides. Average distance under 120 yards. Keep knocking them over.

 

[Tikkat3xl]

Punching straight through both sides. Average distance under 120 yards. Keep knocking them over.

Many Thanks, I rattled through several shots at the range yesterday to use up the box so will be seeing how this next box goes on, time will tell