Best long range 223 loads.
- Thread starter Jeremy1
- Start date
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
80gr Berger or Amax over Varget, lit by CCI 450 in collet sized Win brass.
Works for me.
Jerry
Works for me.
Jerry
What rifling twist? Heavy bullets are best for long range(69 grains and up), but you need a suitable rifling twist. Your rifle's manufacturer's site should have that info if you don't have a manual. A Remington SPS Varmint, for example, has a 1 in 12 twist. Good for stabilizing light bullets, not so good for heavier bullets. A Savage 12 Series Varmint uses 1 in 9. That's better for heavier bullets. The heavy bullet thing applies to all cartridges. Mind you, some calibres prefer specific weights for a given distance. .308's and .30-06's like 168 grain match bullets(match bullets make a difference, but cheap they ain't) out to 600 yards, but 175 grain match bullets past there.
Think Matchkings or A-Max bullets.
You can figure the twist out yourself, by putting a solvented(for lube) patch in your cleaning jag, then putting it into the chamber just to the rifling, mark the top of the rod near the handle and at the chamber, then run the patch through the barrel until the handle mark makes one complete turn. Mark near the chamber again. The distance between the marks is the twist. One turn in whatever number of inches.
Don't worry if your rifle doesn't have the right twist though. Go shoot the matches anyway. Lots of fun. Even when you're learning just how little wind it takes to push a .223 bullet left or right.
Think Matchkings or A-Max bullets.
You can figure the twist out yourself, by putting a solvented(for lube) patch in your cleaning jag, then putting it into the chamber just to the rifling, mark the top of the rod near the handle and at the chamber, then run the patch through the barrel until the handle mark makes one complete turn. Mark near the chamber again. The distance between the marks is the twist. One turn in whatever number of inches.
Don't worry if your rifle doesn't have the right twist though. Go shoot the matches anyway. Lots of fun. Even when you're learning just how little wind it takes to push a .223 bullet left or right.
Those will require a tight twist; 1-8 or 1-9. I've had reasonable luck with 1-12 twist 223s and bullets up to 69 gr, but it really depends on the rifle. Some I've owned will shoot it ok, some won't. 1-14 twist rifles pretty much restrict you to 55 gr or lighter. - dan
