Hi. I'm looking to get into the long range game. I think I have the gun I want picked. The plain ol' 12FV. I just can't decide on 243 or 223. I think 1000 yrds will the the max I go for a quite a while. I was thinking the 243 at first. Because then I could take it deer hunting. (But I dont really have a varmint gun in the closet. I've got my 17 HMR, but no centerfires). Now I'm seeing what you guys are doing with the 223. Less powder and spot my shots easy. So now I'm torn. What do you all think for a guy starting out?
First Long Range Gun
- Thread starter gophergunner
- Start date
Any Savage in 223. I haven't shot past 300 meters but gunnutz like Mystic Player have shot the 223 to a mile sucessfully (there is a post here on Nutz about it). I have a BTVSS in 223 and last year I won 3 shoots with it. The drawback like you mentioned is the 223 is not for deer. But in my case I have my M77 in 30-06 for that.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
M77, that is a superb 300m group. If you shot F class, you would be really turning heads in F(F). I bet you shot without wind flags.
The fast twist 223 is ALOT of fun. Cheaper, easier on the shoulder, lots of shooting before cooling the pipe.
But it does get bounced around in the wind. NO worse then a 308 but way more then a 243 and 87gr Vmax/90gr Scenars. Lots of shooters enjoy the 308 out to 1000yds. The 75gr Amax/223 will do the same thing.
I have been pushing my new 223 to a mile and it gets there with surprising accuracy. The big problem is wind. miss a gust and 'where did it go?????'
I have shot the 75gr Amax out that far as well and the bullet definitely will make the trip. Doesn't work as well as the 80gr Amax in the wind but this bullet will not stabilize in a 9twist pipe.
For best value for LR S&G's, the 223 is hard to beat.
Jerry
The fast twist 223 is ALOT of fun. Cheaper, easier on the shoulder, lots of shooting before cooling the pipe.
But it does get bounced around in the wind. NO worse then a 308 but way more then a 243 and 87gr Vmax/90gr Scenars. Lots of shooters enjoy the 308 out to 1000yds. The 75gr Amax/223 will do the same thing.
I have been pushing my new 223 to a mile and it gets there with surprising accuracy. The big problem is wind. miss a gust and 'where did it go?????'
I have shot the 75gr Amax out that far as well and the bullet definitely will make the trip. Doesn't work as well as the 80gr Amax in the wind but this bullet will not stabilize in a 9twist pipe.
For best value for LR S&G's, the 223 is hard to beat.
Jerry
Hi Jerry. I am still working on a better load for my 6.5. You probably remember our conversations on the forums. I'm currently working on H4350 as per your suggestion. As you noticed on my target our range is still working on getting up some wind flags.
Thanks for the positive comment.
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I shoot the Savage 12fv in .243.
I bought it in the fall and absolutely love it. You mentioned that you don't have a varmint rifle... well here you go. 65 grain vmax for gophers and coyotes... then i have the 95 grain bergers or the Hornandy SST for deer.
The 95 grain bergers are also a fantastic target round.
If money is tight and you can only buy one rifle for the next few years... like me... go with the 243 and get some good glass. Never look back. Once some more money comes in then you can diversify your investments with a .223.
My 2 cents.
ps... this was also my first long range rifle and it was 1 inch groups out of the box.
I bought it in the fall and absolutely love it. You mentioned that you don't have a varmint rifle... well here you go. 65 grain vmax for gophers and coyotes... then i have the 95 grain bergers or the Hornandy SST for deer.
The 95 grain bergers are also a fantastic target round.
If money is tight and you can only buy one rifle for the next few years... like me... go with the 243 and get some good glass. Never look back. Once some more money comes in then you can diversify your investments with a .223.
My 2 cents.
ps... this was also my first long range rifle and it was 1 inch groups out of the box.
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
M77, I hope you don't wait to get out and have some F class fun. If this is a typical group for you and the rifle, you are competitive at 300m NOW.
The key for LR comp is controlling your vertical. That 1" vertical at 300m is shooting in the high 2's low 3's. That is equal to just about any shooter on the line. If you can keep that up, you can shoot a clean relay with a high X count. That is how you win matches.
The windage is a matter of watching the flags/mirage and knowing what they are telling you. You get marked on each shot so you know right away if your read was right or wrong. This you can learn with time and experience.
Controlling vertical whether load, rifle or shooter is much harder to resolve.
Get your vertical consistent and you are off to the races.
Jerry
The key for LR comp is controlling your vertical. That 1" vertical at 300m is shooting in the high 2's low 3's. That is equal to just about any shooter on the line. If you can keep that up, you can shoot a clean relay with a high X count. That is how you win matches.
The windage is a matter of watching the flags/mirage and knowing what they are telling you. You get marked on each shot so you know right away if your read was right or wrong. This you can learn with time and experience.
Controlling vertical whether load, rifle or shooter is much harder to resolve.
Get your vertical consistent and you are off to the races.
Jerry
Thanks for the positive feedback all. Yes Mike E that is a $106.00 tasco on it. It was all that was left in my budget at the time and it came with 2 shooting bags in the box. I had planned on replacing it but it holds it set just fine and for 300 meters it does the job quite well, so it's staying on until it fails or some really nice Christian says: "here's a Bushnell 4200 (or Nightforce)for you, free, no catch, just because your a real nice guy". I guess I'll be waiting a while.
Gopher. Here is a fair rifle posted on this site. You may want to look into it.
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=231469
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=231469
