.223 good for 500yard max??

[shortandlong]

abczar

The CF shoots their 5.56 at 500m at the CFSAC. It is accuarate, with some very fine groups at that range.

I thought it was 600?

 

[tiriaq]

keep in mind service rifles are likly shoot ammo rated to nato pressure specs which are like 10000 psi higher to reach the mandated penitration requirments if you hand load and have a .223 rated for milspec ammo then you can with reason push it further then standard rounds

Not sure what you mean about NATO ball being loaded to 10 000 higher pressure to obtain penetration requirements.
Muzzle velocity of 5.56mm 55gr 5.56 ball is about 3200 fps; mv of 62gr 5.56 ball is about 3100fps.
Commercial spec. .223 (not 5.56mm) lists 40gr @ 3600, 55gr @ 3150, 68gr @ 2850, and 75gr @ 2750.
5.56 and .223 velocities are similar, is there any reason for 5.56 to require higher pressures to achieve similar velocities?.
Pressure measurements for 5.56 service ammunition and .223 commercial ammuntion are obtained using different methods, and direct pressure comparisons are difficult. 5.56 and .223 chamber specs are different. Using 5.56 ammunition in a .223 chamber can cause pressure increases.
I would suggest that 5.56mm 55gr @ 3200, using a milspec case and chamber isn't running at significantly higher pressure than a .223 55gr load producing 3150fps.
In addition, I doubt that an AR type rifle is inherently stronger than a Remington 700, etc.
As mentionned above, a rifle's chamber can be optimized for use with the VLD bullets. Long barrels on .223 target rifles also help keep velocities up.

 

[Longshot]

abczar

I thought it was 600?

Its 500m.The bull is more than 12 inches at 500m so in reality the groups are not that spectacular.But they are good enough to lay waste to a fig 12.