.223 for range and accuracy

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fathomn

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How accurate and at what ranges? What are max ranges on a .223?

I plan on starting off small and close and working my way further out as time and my shooting improve but what will be my cut offs in terms of accuracy and range with this cartridge? Basically when will I have to step up to a better and longer range cartridge?;)
 
if its calm, you can go 500-600 yards with a 1:12" twist 223 (40-55 gr.)

fast twist (1:9) can do further, when loaded with heavier, high BC bullets
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that is a 1:12" twist

you'll be pretty much limited to 55 or 60 gr. bullets

your best bet is a 55 gr. Nosler BT for long range in a 1:12 twist 223. Its what I use in my m700 LVSF.
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that is a 1:12" twist

you'll be pretty much limited to 55 or 60 gr. bullets

your best bet is a 55 gr. Nosler BT for long range in a 1:12 twist 223. Its what I use in my m700 LVSF.
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Got that twist in a mini mauser and a remmy classic, both shoot awesome with 52/53 gr Match
With the remmy I put 3 right together, and 6 inside a dime. The mini will do the same.
Frank
 
A 1:12 twist will limit range. With 1:8, maybe 1:9, and VLDs, 900m is quite reasonable. Bullet must stay supersonic. Many of the folks shooting long range .223s are using 30+" barrels to help with velocity.
 
tiriaq said:
A 1:12 twist will limit range. With 1:8, maybe 1:9, and VLDs, 900m is quite reasonable. Bullet must stay supersonic. Many of the folks shooting long range .223s are using 30+" barrels to help with velocity.
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For me 600M is quite far enough to even contemplate at this point.


Thanx guys for the info.:D
 
My little Sako A1 is accurate enough to bust clays at 350 metres, but is not accurate enough to bust the pieces of clay left after I break them the first time. I shoot 55 gr Vmax over H335 and varget powder, it's also a sprter weight 22 inch barrel.
 
I own an AR15 with a 1/8", 24" kreiger barrel.

I can shoot under 1/2moa accuracy 40gr up to 80gr bullets.

Currently shooting 75bthp at 600m, the wind is my only problem.
Best group so far at 600m, 98mm spread, 4 out of 5 rnds
 
At 600M what kind of scope are you using, or thinking of using? When you talk long range shooting, good glass is at least (if not more) important than the gun, imo. ;)
 
Monty said:
At 600M what kind of scope are you using, or thinking of using? When you talk long range shooting, good glass is at least (if not more) important than the gun, imo. ;)
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That remains the biggest consideration. Intitally I was thinking of a Bushy Banner 6-24 but I want to see what the Mueller line can put out first. Im not even going to try 600M anytime soon though. 100-200 will be the first priority. I figure Ill learn the rifle and if I can get into reloading build up a few good loads for it and go from there. Honestly I dont even know where I can shoot past that distance at any ranges around here, so Id have to find a range finder, or buy one, and head off into the bush to reach farther. But for now Im sure that will be the intial ceiling. I just wanted to know what I can doable get into and start planning for in the long term and use as a benchmark goal or idea to aim for.
If I do get out that far I figure a new scope will have to be a must. But that would be some time down the road and hopefully funds will improve to pay for everything Im planning on doing.:D
 
I believe the Savage has a 1:9 barrel, so it can handle heavier bullets - not sure about 80gr VLDs though. The 1:9 I installed on a 112J Savage won't, although 75s are fine, and the 68s and 69s shoot really well. One catch with long range field shooting, even if you are using a range finder so you can apply the proper elevation, is that it can be very hard to spot the bullet strike. And if you have to trek back and forth to a target, it is hard to analyze the effects of wind.
 
so for 500m, 600m+ shooting would a .308 be a more logical choice?

I take it 500-600m would be more in the .308's 'comfort' zone.
 
johan said:
so for 500m, 600m+ shooting would a .308 be a more logical choice?

I take it 500-600m would be more in the .308's 'comfort' zone.
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Fast twist barrels and heavy bullets in a .223 will keep up the a .308 with 155 grain bullets. Some even find it easier to shoot .223 do to less recoil.
 
The 80gr is equal to the 308 performance.

The 223 can be better than a 308, if you shoot the 90 gr bullets.
The only problem with going that route is that you need a special twist(1/6.5") which will limit you to that bullet.


The other approach to a high performance ballistic cartridge with little recoil is the 6mmBR.
http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html
 
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