A 223 Remington

[Buckmastr]

A bunch of years ago I put together a fast twist 223 Rem to shoot paper with. That kept my interest in it for a summer. I was shooting the 75 gr Berger VLD and it shot well. The gun has been hibernating in the back of the cabinet since.
I liked the 222 Rem and the 222 Rem Mag in 2022 so figured I should shoot a 223 this year for prairie vermin. So the fast twist target rifle was going to get re-purposed.
It was originally in a McMillan stock but that isn't very summery. I had a pressed checkering Remington ADL take off stock sitting around. It was stripped and refinished because that's what I like to do when I'm bored. I added a metal buttplate for fun.
The barrel was originally bead blasted matte, again not very summery. So it was polished. Rempel bedded it into the refinished stock as well.
The 75gr Berger VLD isn't much of a varmint bullet so I tried some lighter ones starting with the 40 gr Vmax and 50 Sierra Blitz. The Blitz bullets were not making the target all the time. Likely coming apart due to the 1:7.7 twist. The 40 Vmax were and today shot a nice 5 shot group in terrible conditions. 3800fps 25 gr RL7 @2.25" OAL. So that's where i'll go and see where it takes me.
Remington 700, 7.7T Bartlien 2B, and a Leupold VX3 4.5-14 I got from Littleboylefty iirc.

 

[pete dobinson]

Another nice rifle Buckmastr, good shooting as well.

 

[Klondiker]

A very good looking setup sir.

The 223 is such a fantastic cartridge. Accurate, long barrel life, great for young and old alike. So much to like

 

[ShrtRnd]

Another excellent build Buckmastr, kudos

I’m liking that Leupold, I’ll have to add that model to my list of “wants”: as I’m on the hunt for something similar for a build of my own.

 

[Buckmastr]

Thanks guys.
Yes, a 223 is the most fun you can have in a rifle. It’s like a Daisy Red Rider for grown ups.

 

[lpel]

Another beautiful rifle. You do a fantastic job of refinishing your stocks. What do you use for a stain/finish on them? Do you have a secret to stripping down those 700 stocks? That gloss is usually a bear to remove.

Any once again. Very nice.

 

[dan belisle]

Very nice looking and shooting rifle. Thx for sharing. - dan

 

[Buckmastr]

Thanks.
I used multiple coats of circa 1850 and scraper to strip it. This stock wasn’t as hard to strip compared to the high gloss 80’s bdl stocks which can be painful. It was refinished with multiple coats (maybe 6 or 7) of minwax antique oil, wet sanded all the way down to 1000 grit.

 

[kamlooky]

Great on the taste buds.
Well done.

 

[Ice-Pick]

That seems fast ? You've MEASURED that speed ?

M.

 

[Buckmastr]

40 gr bullet, 3800 is what works. Yes it was measured.
For reference a 222 gets it to 3700. A 222 Rem Mag 3900. Give or take a little bit of unnoticeable over pressure.

 

[LittleBoyLefty]

Yes, a 223 is the most fun you can have in a rifle.

Totally agree, and take at least one most range trips. Nice rifle! Henry puts together real shooters.

 

[ATaducci]

do you think the PMC bronze are a good .223 ammo?

 

[Buckmastr]

I’ve never shot that ammo so cannot say. Most other fmj ammo is good for moa accuracy. Maybe a bit better in the right gun ime. Pmc brass cases are normally good for reloading too.

 

[Longstud]

Nice shootin and beauty job on the stock and rifle. Did you checker the metal but plate or just leave it plain? Just curious

 

[Buckmastr]

Thanks. I used a factory Remington aluminum buttplate from an early series 700 that I had laying around. It fit nice and looks pretty decent.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

Thanks guys.
Yes, a 223 is the most fun you can have in a rifle. It’s like a Daisy Red Rider for grown ups.

You ought to try a 6BR. It leaves the 223 in the dust.

 

[Buckmastr]

You ought to try a 6BR. It leaves the 223 in the dust.

I have one. It’s not even close.

 

[StraightShooter4570]

Very well done!

 

[Buckmastr]