Shooting a 223 to a mile accurately..Video posted!!!

can't wait for the video of .223 hitting a far far away target

ps.Wow nice pics of the target :sniper:

I didn't think that 16x zoom will actually let you see it that "close" :)
 
Suputin, great pics. Yes, it is a ways out and seeing the dust will be the number one problem. Still snowing in the hills so will be at least another week before it thaws. The ground is very sandy with little grass. When it dries in the spring, it shows impacts very well.

Oh well, spend that time working on stocks.

I was hoping to get some scopes with alot of elevation but their release dates will not be until the summer. Will not make the Summerland Shoot.

I have shied away from the Super Snipers cause the resolution and mag isn't enough for me to spot my own shots. It has lots of elevation and great mechanicals. If it was blessed with better optics, I would have kept the many I have owned.

My Bushnell Tactical is shimmed for the moon. Use elevation and reticle to finish the trip.

The bullet stability issue is likely more a function of bullet shape/balance then anything else. We know the 168gr MK is not designed well for subsonic flight.

I have also seen the 175gr MK do funky things but AFTER it went subsonic - 1400yds.

Then I have pushed a 155gr Amax to way out there with zero problems. This from 12 and 13 twist pipes.

I am sure there is some way to 'know' which bullets will or will not make the journey but I am not a math whiz. So I will do it the old fashion way...Launch lead downrange and see what happens.

The bullet either will or will not make the trip.

Jerry
 
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Does anybody make a camera system where you could have the camera down range pointing at the target, say 20 feet away. And relay back the signal to a monitor where your shooting?
Maybe you should just shoot at full grain bin, then you know where your hitting.:D
 
Short answer is YES - long range wireless cameras are available. Big issue is range. Going to 1 mile requires a powerful transmitter and that might push you into licensing ie TV broadcasting.

Definitely for shorter distances like out to 1000yds, lots to choose from and not that expensive.

For this test, I would strongly recommend against using anything valuable in the target area. Considering the drift, 20ft might just be in the "kill zone".

We could always have some brave volunteer go nearer to the target and call in the adjustments. I think they call them FORWARD OBSERVERS :)

Jerry
 
Thanks for those pictures suptin, that really illustrates how far it really is. What kind of scope did you use?
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Tasco Super Sniper 16X. Lots of people don't like these scopes but I really like the three that I have. They are hellishly tough and work so well for what they cost.

I have shied away from the Super Snipers cause the resolution and mag isn't enough for me to spot my own shots.
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Having a spotter is critical to making such long shots. While it is possibel to see your own misses, it is difficult to get an accurate correction without a spotter.

Ideally the spotter should have a reticle the same as the shooter's. That way corrections are much simpler to make and relay.
 
Having a spotter certainly doesn't hurt, however, I don't always have someone with me. That is why my 223 weights 15lbs. I have no issue spotting my own shots and with my mil dot reticle, corrections are a simple.

Big reason for high resolution optics.

Besides, seeing the bullet land is half the fun...

Jerry
 
Resorting to a very steep scope angle (like the rigs pictured in the chapter dealing with the 3000 yard shot in "Precision Shooting at 1000 Yards") creates all sorts of challenges, not only from a gunsmithing point of view but also from the point of view of the shooter. By necessity, the scope must be mounted extremely high so the barrel does not block the view, thus a proper cheek wield becomes a huge issue. Getting a repeatable eye position behind the scope will drive you nuts, unless a high cheek piece was built onto the rifle, making the rifle only useful for that one application.

Perhaps a better solution is to do what I did when I began long range shooting and didn't have an appropriate long range scope. My solution was to set up a sighting target above the impact target. This worked quite well, and down south you guys cold simply fill a large balloon with helium and attach it a measured height above your target. The balloon would also work well as a wind indicator. Thus your target rifle would be useful for normal long range shooting where as the steep scope mount would make it a dedicated extreme long range shooter.
 
Got great weather conditions this am so darted out early to see what would happen.

Unfortunately, the ground is way too wet and now like clay. ZERO dust so was unable to spot my own shots.

Hopefully, the weather will continue to stay warm and dry and by next week, it will dusty.

Bummer.

Jerry
 
Took a drive up to the LR site. Road was still a bit sloppy and icy so we have a week more to thaw. The flat and a few areas on the hillsides were clear so I set up to shoot.

Started with the GOPHER at 1000+yds. The Amax were indeed landing high and the drop was about right. A few rds to get the windage zero. Then off to almost 1100yds. Groups there were positive.

Found a nice clear spot at 1485yds. Tried some but couldn't see any hits so went back down in range.

A nice boulder was at 1180yds so I went for that. The amax did very well at this range with impacts looking MOA or better. F class out to 1000m with this bullet is no problem.

Back to 1485yds on a big flat boulder. I shot a few but nothing. So switched to the Berger and got a hit. Adj elevation a bit and got more hits. Windage was pretty good but elevation was inconsistent. Could have been some updrafts/wind that was bouncing the bullets around.

Since I was mucking with the scope and aiming points, hard to say what the accuracy was but it wasn't MOA for sure.

Let the pipe cool for a bit, tried the amax again,and nothing. Tried some bergers but this time got no hits. Maybe the winds had changed and these were landing off the rock (can't see any dust off the dirt).

Fired the rest of the Amax and a few more Bergers with no impacts. Not sure where they landed.

So I know for sure that the 80gr Amax out to 1180yds is working very well. Beyond that, no clue as I couldn't see any impacts.

The 80gr Bergers seem to be holding together at 1485yds. The question is why did my second set not show up - wind? light? Accuracy however was not that great but again, if there was some winds blowing off that hilltop, moving these bullets around would be easy.

The reg area I would shoot into is still covered with snow. When it dries, you have a huge open area that kicks up good dust. That way I can see if the bullets are tumbling and zinging off all over the place.

For now, I feel happy that I was able to get 4 for 4 on that boulder at 1485yds with the Bergers. With a spotter and some calm air, hopefully, I can figure out where the missing bullets are landing.

Jerry
 
Present barrel has a 7 twist and works great with both the 75gr Amax and 80gr Amax/Bergers. If you only plan on using the 75gr Amax, a 9 twist should be enough.

However, going 8 ensures both bullets will stabilize.

Hoping to get out tomorrow and try again for some distance.

Max, as you have seen, most of the targets are on steep cliffs not easily accessible. Marking with flagging tape is not always possible.

Jerry
 
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go for it, but if it was really feasible, the military would already be doing it. we are talking about downrange energy and wind are we not? The benchrest crowd has their #### wrapped tight if you know what I mean. You will require atleast a 140 grain projectile to achieve any kind of concistancey at those ranges.
 
zthou said:
go for it, but if it was really feasible, the military would already be doing it. we are talking about downrange energy and wind are we not? The benchrest crowd has their s**t wrapped tight if you know what I mean. You will require atleast a 140 grain projectile to achieve any kind of concistancey at those ranges.
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The military is not the leading edge for small arms accuracy tech. That is the land of the civi target/match shooter. All the bullets and tunings used started life with us trying to win at shooting games.

The 77gr MK now the darling of the sandbox, was first developed from High Power events like Camp Perry.

I think you may want to do a bit more research in what is working at very long distances. 6mm bullets have reached the mile and only weigh 105/107gr's. Many heavier larger cal bullets will not make the trip.

There is more to LR bullet stability then just bullet weight.

Hopefully, I will be able to post some positive findings on the 223 today.

FS, thanks for the elevation info. Didn't think we were much over sea level.

Jerry
 
go for it, but if it was really feasible, the military would already be doing it.
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As Jerry already noted, this is not true. All the .50 BMG sniper rifles the military currently uses were developed for civilian long range shooters. All the .50 cal match bullets they use to do that ultra long range shooting were developed for civies.

Long range isn't about bullet weight. What makes a long range catridge is muzzle velocity and BC. If you look through a big BC chart you will see a peak of both at the 6.5 caliber.

When I got a .243 I was quite surprised to find that it beats (both for trajectory and energy) the .308 Win from muzzle to 1000 yards where the venerable .308 falls flat on its face and the little .243 keeps going like a freight train.

What Jerry is attempting is definately going to be difficult because it involves crossing the sonic barrier which few of us ever do. But that doesn't mean it is impossible. I hope he succeeds because that could open up an whole new part of the long range shooting game.
 
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