The problem with 223 for PRS is twofold. The first is the PRS bullet weight and speed limit for the 223 in Tactical Division.... Okay so go ahead and exceed it and shoot in the open division. Then you wont be going into the fight with one hand tied behind your back.
Once you decide to shoot bullets that exceed the tactical division rules, the sky opens up for the under estimated 223.
Most of you have probably seen my posts before on my 223 rig, but I'll state it again.. I'm running 88s and 90s at 2900 FPS in my 223. To get that kind of speed I had a reamer made to a seating depth of 2.625". That's way longer than any available mag for 223.
That's the next problem, but there's a easy fix. I modified the plastic inserts inside 223 Accurate Mags. Now the mags can run loads of 2.640" long. No Feed Issues!!!
Sure the small sixes probably have a lower velocity spread... too early to tell, but I don't think there's much of a payoff once you figure out the ballistic dispersion between the 223 and any 6 out to any reasonably likely hit distance.
The ranges often put targets out at 1400 yards to a mile, but those targets get so few hits that we can attribute it to either luck or someone who shoots a whole lot more rounds in a year than most of us can afford.
Dave Preston told me he shoots over 8,000 rounds per year in PRS practice. Keith Baker told me he shoots more like 30,000 rounds per year. Being realistic, few of us have the range, time and cash to feed such a habit, so if I lose to those guys, I'm happy to give it to them, and if by some miracle I beat them, well its exactly that... a miracle.
I focus on high probability shots, which depending on wind conditions are out to about 900 yards... Past that is just ego bait, not to get hung up on, unless you have a place where you can frequently practice at such distances with your PRS rig.
On that note, I was in a match a couple years ago shooting a different 223 and 3 squads went through before me, and the spotter thanked me for confirming the shot indicator light worked on the 900 yard target, because nobody in 3 squads before me hit it. He was about to send someone down range to fix it.
There's a bunch of reasons that a guy shoots well and the ammo is just a small part of it.
I stopped cheaping out this year for PRS and set up everything I can think of. Changed from a Garmin 701 to a Kestrel, bought a Kahles scope, bought a Send It electronic shooting level, a couple new shooting bags, balanced out the rifle properly, spent a ton of time shooting a tweaked out PCP air rifle in the basement using PRS stages. That really helps build stable positions. I'm running a red dot at 9:30 position so I can use it with my left eye while on the scope with my right. With all that, at 60 years old, I still don't expect to do all that well but I'll have a good time and feel good about how I do no matter what.
Guys need to stop chasing what the pros use and apply a little common sense. Factor in how well you really think you are going to do, and spend your time and money accordingly. Just be patient with your progress and realistic.
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