Underwood 223 Rem 55gr Ballistic Tip – Superb 20 Round Varmint Box

Description

Underwood 223 Rem 55gr Ballistic Tip is a varmint and predator load built on one of the most proven bullets in the category. It pairs a Nosler varmint bullet with nickel cases and a low-flash powder, and it comes in a 20 round box.

• Who Makes Underwood 223 Rem 55gr Ballistic Tip
• Specifications and Performance
• Field Notes

Who Makes Underwood 223 Rem 55gr Ballistic Tip

Underwood Ammo started in 2013 and loads its ammunition in southern Illinois. The company built its reputation on premium components from established bullet makers, such as Nosler, Hornady and Lehigh, and on loading them to the upper end of what each cartridge allows. This load follows that approach: Underwood supplies the case, powder and assembly, and Nosler supplies the projectile.

The Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint is a polymer tipped bullet with a thin jacket and a lead core. On impact the crimson tip is driven back into the nose cavity, which forces the jacket open and makes the bullet fragment rapidly. That is exactly what you want on prairie dogs, groundhogs and coyotes: quick energy transfer and less chance of a ricochet across open country.

The cases are nickel plated brass with boxer primers, so the ammunition is reloadable. Nickel resists tarnish and slides into a chamber smoothly, which is a small but real advantage for cartridges that may sit in a truck or a range bag for a while.

Specifications and Performance

Underwood rates Underwood 223 Rem 55gr Ballistic Tip at 3,300 fps and 1,330 ft-lbs at the muzzle. Like most published figures these come from a test barrel longer than a typical carbine, so expect a 16 inch AR-15 to run somewhat slower. Chronograph your own rifle before building a dope chart for long shots.

MidwayUSA lists the G1 ballistic coefficient at about 0.255 with a sectional density of 0.16. For 223 varmint ammo that is a good figure, and the boat tail base helps the bullet hold speed. With a 200 yard zero this class of load is typically within a couple of inches of the line of sight out to about 250 yards, which suits most prairie dog and coyote shots.

• Product: Underwood 223 Rem 55gr Ballistic Tip
• Manufacturer item number: 424
• Cartridge: 223 Remington
• Bullet: 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint (polymer tip, boat tail)
• Muzzle velocity: 3,300 fps (published)
• Muzzle energy: 1,330 ft-lbs (published)
• G1 ballistic coefficient: about 0.255
• Case: nickel plated brass, boxer primed, reloadable
• Powder: low-flash
• Quantity: 20 rounds per box
• UPC: 816874021214

Field Notes

Where Underwood 223 Rem 55gr Ballistic Tip shines is varmint and small predator work at typical 100 to 300 yard ranges. The flat trajectory and violent expansion make hits obvious and quick, and the low-flash powder is useful at dawn and dusk when coyotes move. It runs in AR-15 rifles and bolt-action 223 rifles alike.

Be clear about the limits. This is a fragmenting varmint bullet, not a controlled expansion big game bullet. It is a poor choice for deer, and many states set minimum caliber or bullet requirements for deer that a 55 grain varmint load will not meet or will only barely meet. It can also cause noticeable pelt damage on furbearers you plan to sell, where a solid or a slower expanding bullet may be preferable.

At over a dollar a round, this is not plinking ammunition. Zero and practise with cheaper FMJ, then confirm your zero with a few rounds of this load before the hunt, as it may print in a different place. Store it cool and dry and it will keep for years. Rifle ammunition requires buyers to be at least 18, and some states add extra rules for ammunition purchases.

For training ammunition, compare the PMC Bronze 223 Rem 55gr FMJ-BT 1000 round case. For details on the projectile, see the Nosler bullet range from the manufacturer, and browse our full ammunition selection.