Chas 3 gun max rifle distance
- Thread starter Djb1
- Start date
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- Republic of Alberta
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We've got 200, 300, 500, and 800 berms open on our long range bay. It's our first year back on the long range in a while, so I can't say what typical engagement distances are for a typical match. It's unlikely we'll be asking competitors to shoot out to 800, but 200 and 300 would be likely.
Say you're shooting Rem UMC 223 55 grain ammo:
10" Barrel: 2489 fps
14" barrel: 2808 fps
16.5" barrel: 2968 fps
(sorry the lengths are a bit goofy, went off this article for speeds)
Zeroed at 100, those barrels give the following drops (measured in yards)
10" barrel: -5.56" at 200, -23" at 300, -119" at 500
14" barrel: -3.69" at 200, -16" at 300, -88.5" at 500
16.5" barrel: -2.96" at 200, -14" at 300, -76.5" at 500
And Windage with a 10mph cross wind:
10": 8.8" at 200, 21.6" at 300, 69" at 500
14": 7.3" at 200, 18" at 300, 60" at 500
16.5": 6.7" at 200, 16.5" at 300, 55.6" at 500
I would say that a 14.5" barrel would be more forgiving, but that 300 is totally doable with good ammo in a 10" AR.
Say you're shooting Rem UMC 223 55 grain ammo:
10" Barrel: 2489 fps
14" barrel: 2808 fps
16.5" barrel: 2968 fps
(sorry the lengths are a bit goofy, went off this article for speeds)
Zeroed at 100, those barrels give the following drops (measured in yards)
10" barrel: -5.56" at 200, -23" at 300, -119" at 500
14" barrel: -3.69" at 200, -16" at 300, -88.5" at 500
16.5" barrel: -2.96" at 200, -14" at 300, -76.5" at 500
And Windage with a 10mph cross wind:
10": 8.8" at 200, 21.6" at 300, 69" at 500
14": 7.3" at 200, 18" at 300, 60" at 500
16.5": 6.7" at 200, 16.5" at 300, 55.6" at 500
I would say that a 14.5" barrel would be more forgiving, but that 300 is totally doable with good ammo in a 10" AR.
Not sure how other clubs are.
But I know we try to avoid doing longer shots in 3gun because it is a lot harder to manage for the support team. Calling hits is a lot less reliable. (I have seen multiple spotters getting into arguments on whether something was a hit or not. .223 doesnt have much umph to move steel at distance)
With that being said though, if you know your system well enough you can make hit with irons out to 500m with a 10" barrel if you wanted to. My point is, I wouldnt build a 3gun system specifically for doing just long shots. Majority of your engagements will be short distance.
I am personally running a 18" barrel, rifle length gas system and a 1-4x scope and I have never been limited on the targets I can engage so far. (That includes going out to 500M, although I do wish I had a 1-6x)
PS (I run the longer barrel and gas system not for the accuracy but for the insanely light recoil impulse. )
But I know we try to avoid doing longer shots in 3gun because it is a lot harder to manage for the support team. Calling hits is a lot less reliable. (I have seen multiple spotters getting into arguments on whether something was a hit or not. .223 doesnt have much umph to move steel at distance)
With that being said though, if you know your system well enough you can make hit with irons out to 500m with a 10" barrel if you wanted to. My point is, I wouldnt build a 3gun system specifically for doing just long shots. Majority of your engagements will be short distance.
I am personally running a 18" barrel, rifle length gas system and a 1-4x scope and I have never been limited on the targets I can engage so far. (That includes going out to 500M, although I do wish I had a 1-6x)
PS (I run the longer barrel and gas system not for the accuracy but for the insanely light recoil impulse. )
