Effective Range .204 VS .223

smile661

smile661

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I would just like to know how big a difference there is in range and stability between a .204 rifle with 1-12" twist and a .223 rifle with 1-9" twist. The range i am considering is from 250-500 or 600 yards. Any input appreciated.
 
ive shot 556 out to 600 meters and past 300 you cannot trust it not to tumble. the other cal im not sure about it. but ive fired many thousands of 556 and i dont trust it past 300 meters.
 
angrysoldier said:
ive shot 556 out to 600 meters and past 300 you cannot trust it not to tumble. the other cal im not sure about it. but ive fired many thousands of 556 and i dont trust it past 300 meters.
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Really? I shoot my .223 target rifle out to 1000 yards and even hit the bull once in a while. There is a whole series of matches just for .223 at Connaught during the DCRA matches every summer. Ranges from 300m to 900m.
 
If you can, put in another bullet and you will be able to reach WAAAAYYY out there.

75gr Amx in a HK SL8 shot well enough at 1000yds to hit a large pizza box more often then not.

Even the 55gr Vmax can reach out really well at 1000yds. I wouldn't say it if I didn't see it myself - spotted for the shooter.

It is all about the bullet.
Jerry
 
Before we went to handloads we shot issued IVI. The 5.56 was way better than most of the 7.62 IVI. Now most are shooting 80 gr handloads but the IVI will make the trip and punch holes in paper targets at 1000 yards.
 
angrysoldier said:
ive shot 556 out to 600 meters and past 300 you cannot trust it not to tumble. the other cal im not sure about it. but ive fired many thousands of 556 and i dont trust it past 300 meters.
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If your bullets are tumbling you are using the Waaay wrong ammo for the twist of the gun. 223's are REGULARLY used in competitive TR and fullbore shooting to 1000M and Mystic has video of it being shot to a mile.

As to the 204 vs 223,

I love the 204 for varmints... velocity is everything, but it loses ground at long distance. 32 and 40 grain bullets do not have the ballistic coefficients for much beyond 5-600, although i have hit gophers to ~700M with one ("Indirect" fire though)
 
well i have to disagree. from the sand box to canada, we dont trust it past 300 meters 400-500 on a real good day. handloads might be diffrent but in real world not using paper as a target ill stick to my c-6 and all the 7.62 it will take. we have seen on many paper targets the 556 will enter the target sideways at 300 meters plus. we use it cause we have no choice. ive shot 338 past 800 meters and i love it. 7.63 out past 600 and loved it, 556 no further than 300 meters thank you. maybe your getting better ivi tha the army is getting????
 
angrysoldier said:
well i have to disagree. from the sand box to canada, we dont trust it past 300 meters 400-500 on a real good day. handloads might be diffrent but in real world not using paper as a target ill stick to my c-6 and all the 7.62 it will take. we have seen on many paper targets the 556 will enter the target sideways at 300 meters plus. we use it cause we have no choice. ive shot 338 past 800 meters and i love it. 7.63 out past 600 and loved it, 556 no further than 300 meters thank you. maybe your getting better ivi tha the army is getting????
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You guys are seeing tumbles on a c-7 with ivi past 300m? How are your bores?

I use a rather candy a$$ 69 gr load usually, but have used AE 55gr, and a whole host of military crap out to 500m with decent results. I am not the best shot, but I have never seen one go in sideways. I've even used a 10.5 shorty at that distance.

I have shot at this distance from the -30s to the +30s.

Can you send a couple crates of this ivi out west for me to try?
 
i work out of the infantry school in gagetown. our rifle are about halfway through their bores. as i said we dont trust them past 300 meters. 400 -500 on a good day. i wish i could give you some of our ammo but i cant. you might find some surplus and if so try it. im just telling you whay i know from shooting c-7's and c-8's.
 
Not the best shooting(though certainly not the worst). I don't even think this was the best of the day, but this is 10 shots(of 10) from 500m prone unsupported with a 16inch tube(IIRC), and RUAG ammo:

2009CSRAProvincials002.jpg


It is also not mine.
 
angrysoldier said:
i work out of the infantry school in gagetown. our rifle are about halfway through their bores. as i said we dont trust them past 300 meters. 400 -500 on a good day. i wish i could give you some of our ammo but i cant. you might find some surplus and if so try it. im just telling you whay i know from shooting c-7's and c-8's.
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Sorry to hear that.

How many rounds do you call half way through a bore BTW?
 
Obtunded said:
If your bullets are tumbling you are using the Waaay wrong ammo for the twist of the gun. 223's are REGULARLY used in competitive TR and fullbore shooting to 1000M and Mystic has video of it being shot to a mile.

As to the 204 vs 223,

I love the 204 for varmints... velocity is everything, but it loses ground at long distance. 32 and 40 grain bullets do not have the ballistic coefficients for much beyond 5-600, although i have hit gophers to ~700M with one ("Indirect" fire though)
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So with a .204 i could get to 5-600 yards but that would be pushing it and it wouldnt be too consistent. Whereas the .223 at that distance would still be decently stable and stay consistent?
 
In all honesty

people are going to hate/flame me for saying this but it is as honest as it can get.

The bottom line is do you take a Chevette to the dragstrip against a rail or Funny car?

That is my opinion of a 204 or 223 at the longer ranges. You want performance go with the appropriate horsepower required.

You can do it with the Chevette but NOT RELIABLY.

MHO
 
In decent conditions a .22 long rifle will work at 300. I don't have a 556 but my .222 with cheap 50gr Hornady SPSX bullets hits way further than 300. Those service rifle matches are shot at up to 600 with irons don't they use 556 and .223?
 
In all honesty why use either of those ballisticly challenged rounds? get something that can shoot 95-100gr high BC bullets like a VLD around 3100fps and you'll be golden grab a .243 or any other 6mm and you'll be happier.
 
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