Project .223 1 mile Part #1

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Clayne_b

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Project 1 mile 223!



Yes I know there are better for this that and the other blah blah blah, I wanted to try this so I am

I started with working up a load for my Savage 12 LRPV .223 I have never used Ramshot TAC so it was time to do some load work.

I am using 75gr Hornady BTHP match, TAC powder, New Lapua Brass. .015 off the lands



I neck sized the brass first, looks like the die needs a nip tuck.



Here are 100 neck sized virgin brass



Primed and ready to dump some powder



Now the fun starts, Using the RCBS Charge Master
Look here for more info on that > http://forum.snipershide.com/snipers-hide-reloading/222006-weighing-scale-test.html <



Powder dumped and ready to go. I will seat bullets at the range to save on components
Loaded 10 of each at


1- 21.4
2- 21.7
3- 22
4- 22.3
5- 22.6
6- 22.9
7- 23.2
8- 23.5
9- 23.8
10- 24.1

More info here > http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f28/ladder-testing-1k-detailed-article-video-42881/index3.html <

It was cold and had a bit of an on and off again wind.





I had other rounds for sighters, and a 24x24 inch steel set of for that

Shot the ladder test from min to max
Driving down to look at the target after each shot and recording it on a note pad, I could not see the hits.



Loads 4-8 looked promising so I shot each of those as a 3 shot group
All of these numbers are Elevation measurements only. The wind was off and on, So I did not worry about that.

4- 22.3


5- 22.6


6- 22.9


7- 23.2


8- 23.5


At this point loads 7-8 were looking promising, So I drove down to paint a few more dots to aim at.

Set up and put 2 sighters from load 7 & 8 into the steel

At this point I had 4 rounds left from row 7 & 8 left so I let them fly!

Measurements done on elevation spread only

7- 23.2


8- 23.5


Looks like 7- 23.2 is the winner, here is the over all group size center to center


Here is the total round count fired, the rest will be dumped and re measured and loaded at 23.2gr



For those of you wondering about pressures


24.1 - 23.2 - 21.4
 
Crap.. I have been using my .223's wrong all along... I just take my ammo and drive it just under a mile down the road, unload the truck, load the gun, then shoot from 100-300 yards.

Huh. :D
 
A great project and a nice read Bravo!

I'm sure the limitation on that .223 besides the load and you is going to be how well the bullet goes through transonic range and of course wind over in the next county. I'd imagine Jerry would be he one to talk to about this cartridge at extreme range for sure.
 
For the future, consider just setting up the camera and record the ladder test. Saves a bunch of driving and ensures you are shooting in similar air.

I don't use the ladder test but it works for some.

consider putting a large piece of white paper on your target. Amazing how well you can see a black spec (bullet hole) against a white background.

Wireless cam set up would solve that issue too. Let's me track the impacts even on a windy day. Sometimes a great load looks bad only because wind pushes things around. By seeing each shot land and comparing to flags, you can tell what was wind and what was load.

When I am testing at 700+yds, there is no way to see the bullet holes on target and life is way too short to drive back and forth

Jerry
 
I've only tried tac with 55 grain bullets for plinking but am looking forward to testing with 69-80 grainers when the temperatures go above -20. Tac meters so well you might have better luck throwing it out of a quality thrower.
 
Drop at 1 mile will be around 2500 inches, moa/mrad of scope adjustment will need to be ~125moa/37mrads. Please list the optic you think can accomplish this lol.
 
My suggestion is to shim your scope so you have plenty of up AT 1000yds. The drop is horrendous from 1400yds to the mile.

The first picture showed a lot of snow on the ground. That will make spotting impacts very challenging. If there is a spot which is sandy to kick up dust, you are golden. Just work backwards so you can see drop for each 100yds once you are past 1400yds.

Once you know what the drop should be, its no different then any other distance except ANY change in wind conditions is going to move you around a bunch. Also, by working out from 1000yds, you can confirm the bullet will go subsonic and not tumble. Otherwise, move to another bullet.

I flagged behind my target to see pending headwinds. A few MPH gust can drop you many yds short so it is best the mile target has a lot of clear real estate around it. Missing by 20ft is not out of the question with a gust.

Good luck,

Jerry
 
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