I have two 233/5.56 rifles I setup for medium/long range target shooting. One is a Remington 700 5R 223 Rem. w/24", 1/9 twist heavy barrel. The other is a Mk12ish 5.56/223 w/18", 1/7 twist heavy barrel.

Both are great shooters with a lot of different factory loads, to include the lighter 55 gr. varmint loadings. However, I keep them zeroed with heavier target loadings because that's what I use them for the most. I really don't want to have to change the zeros back and forth.

In my Remington I shoot Federal Gold Metal 69 gr. BTHP (Sierra MatchKing). In my Mk12 I shoot Hornady's 223 Rem. (not 5.56, loaded hotter) Superformance 75 gr. BTHP.

I've shot crows, woodchucks, fox ect. with the lighter 40-55 gr. varmint loads in various 223 Rem. rifles and they seem to cause an excessive amount of damage to them, overkill if you will. That's not an issue for me because it's pest control, don't want to have to change zeros as mentioned.

So my question is, how well do you guys think the heavier, non-expanding target loads will work on woodchucks, fox, coyote and such?

Thanks, NYH.