Shooting a 223 to a mile accurately..Video posted!!!

1mile photos

So I hope you can see the hit. Jerry put 3 in a row here at 1 mile in a pretty good wind.

This is the area


1mile-shotMar08.jpg



This is a closeup before the hit to compare

1mile-shotMar08_3.jpg



This is the hit...223 80 grain A-Max All 3 were within a foot.

1mile-shotMar08_1.jpg


I'm sure Jerry will have more to say.

John
 
Took the 223 out today under some grey skies and some pretty strong winds.

Started at 1180yds with some good hits. Moved to 1481yds and again, good results. Both the Amax and Bergers were landing right on target and with good accuracy.

Finally, tried a few locations at 1730+yds. Quite a number of rds sent with zero impact info then.....

A PUFF!!!!

A few more "no shows" then we started to get a feel for where the bullets were drifting off to.

The winds at the top of the hill were blowing the pine trees around and I ended up using 11mins of scope windage PLUS 6 mins of reticle adjustment.

17mins at 1730yds = 294 inches or 24.5feet of wind drift. Yeah, we were pushed around a smidge.

Best part was that the conditions would hold steady for a bit so after getting the elevation and windage sorted, I went for a "group".

Firing 3 rds at a boulder, the bullets would land on another rock 6mins over (based on reticle subtension). The bullets landed in a nice tight cluster that could be covered by one of the dots on my reticle.

The dots cover 0.9mins so I had a group of approx 1 MOA at 1 MILE. This was with the 80gr Amax.

Tried some Bergers but got some HUGE vertical dispersion. Don't know if it was the winds going swirly, load not quite dialed in, or bullet falling apart. Got a few in the right area but others WAY off.

I know the 80gr Amax will make the trip now. The Bergers I might do a bit more testing to figure out, however at almost twice the cost, not really a big priority.

So shooting to a mile with a 223 is not only possible, it can be done accurately even under some pretty strong winds.

Now to go do it a few more times. Best part is you can take the shot, adjust your scope, have a cup of coffee all before the bullet arrives. Almost 4 sec time of flight feels like an eternity

Thanks for taking and posting the pics. The camera gear was great. That is a BIG lense.

Jerry
 
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Being able to achieve 18" groupings on a .223 travelling 1,760 yards to target would be something. I'd be happy if I could hit a truck-sized target at that range.
 
Max Owner said:
Can't wait to hear the posts from the Fun Shoot in the next month. All those people talking about a 223, 1 mile shot............

We'll see where the naysayers are then.....................:evil:

Take no stuff, Jerry. :cool:
Click to expand...

Pfftt...getting lucky once or twice doesn't mean it's repeatable day in day out. Nor does it mean each and every one of you are going to have the means to pull it off. It's not an easy feat. The slghtest change in variables will humble your ass quickly.

Congratulations on the efforts to date.
 
thanks

After talking with you & reading your posts this is great reading. Those of us that have neither the abilitys not the toys to do this thank you! Like you said- thats a lot of up. It is great to be in the loop & will continue to watch with deep intrest.:) We are humbled:wave: AJ
 
Guys, thanks for your kind comments. Depending on what happens with the 75gr Amax and another Savage rifle, having this type of fun may not cost all that much.

Scopes like the Elite 3200 10X and Super sniper give plenty of elevation adj for moderate costs. Optics are so so but if you have a spotter, one will see the splats. burris rings and shimmed bases are common and cheap (EGW and Farrell).

New scopes coming from Sightron and Bushnell should make LR shooting 'affordable'. Or you go with the shimming route like me and just aim low at shorter distances.

Will post more results as I get into some serious testing of the 80gr Amax/Berger, and 75g Amax.

Right now, the rifle that I am shooting costs less then a custom action so not really crazy money.

Enjoy...

Jerry
 
Max Owner said:
Well.

We've heard from one.

Wonder if the other will make an appearance?
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if u r reffering to me MAX OWNER you can quit stirring the pot and go wait in the car. i already said my 2 cents about the whole thing and im ready to leave it at that. u on the other hand are trying to get ppl worked up for ur own amusement. i would like to congradulate jerry on his acomplishment. but one thing we should all think about is that anyone with enough ammo can walk a gun in if u have a big enough place to spot hits. but how many times could you come out and make a cold bore first round hit or even in the first five shots. i will eat my words in saying that it cant be done because jerry has proven that it can be done.


mutt
 
Nope.

Guy I'm thinking of doesn't psot much. Member since early 05.

Less than 50 some odd posts. PMs have gone back and forth.

I presume there is a reason he doesn't post. Suspect he is reading, though.

Leave the pot stirring to you guys. You are the ones who have spoken up on the no way in hell it'll work. NOT me. :cool:

Kick hiney and take names Jerry.
 
mutt, precious few shooters or rifles/loads will be able to make a one shot cold bore hit at a mile in variable gusty winds upwards of 15mph...PERIOD. How many even train beyond 500yds? 1000yds?

There are way too many variables that can push a bullet off a small target. Of course, there are much better ballistic choices then a 223 which makes the job a whole lot easier. But that was not the point of this exercise.

Remember that my target area is a bit bigger then a milk jug and I did drop 3 consecutive bullets into the target.

Missing on the first shot is more then likely, but to be able to adjust and get back on target, no problem IF you can see where the bullet went. I think that most competent LR shooters in steady conditions can engage a target reliably within 3 shots, usually on the next shot, given that the rifle/load has the mechanical accuracy to hit the desired target.

I think the goal of one shot one hit is commendable but I don't think it happens very often at extreme distances on small targets.

The next few sessions will be to confirm that the load and bullet is making it reliably. If yes, then it is simply a matter of learning the amount of windage needed vs ambient conditions.

From there, you learn how to drive and with time and experience, first shot hits become more likely.

For me, the big test was seeing that the bullet could go subsonic AND retain functional accuracy. This it has done. Now to do it a few more times to prove it is working properly.

Vertical stringing has reared its head with some loads so that has to be dealt with. Once that is eliminated, it's just trigger time.

I would appreciate that the bickering on this post stop. Those that accept what's going on, thanks. Those that don't, fine and their thoughts are interesting. However, trying to entice a battle of words isn't my idea of a good time.

Besides, it really doesn't change what I am seeing through my scope and those bullet impacts ARE at 1730yds!

Jerry
 
WOW!

this makes me wonder what could be done with rounds like the .338 lapua .338 extream (there was an artical about it in special weapons for military and police) .408 cheytac .416 berret and the good old .50 bmg makes me wonder if someone might not only be able to make shoot at 3000 yards but that it might even be possible to make a confermed kill at such a distance rob furlong's record might not last long with the amount of development and improvement thats comming about in the near future all thats limited is how much distance someone can put between them and they're target

and the days when a 200 yard shot was almost un heard of i wonder what the people from those days would say to hearing about what is possible today

any ways congrats jerry i wish they're was space to do that in morontario i'd love to get into long range
 
AlderTK, the only thing that bigger more aerodynamic bullets do is reduce wind drift and hit ALOT harder. That makes hitting the object easier but doesn't make the rifle more accurate.

Getting big boomers to reliably shoot 1/2 min or under is not easy, however, better bullets are coming....maybe.

I think the largest "EASY" cal to make work at extreme distances is a 30cal. The bullets are well proven and so are the loads. The next up is the 338 but you are really only talking about a few bullet options.

The 50BMG is still a ways off to matching what 'small' bores are doing. The boutique 40's and 416's are so few in number that we really don't know what their potential is like. Plus, really can't do much research if you can't get any components.

Jerry

PS, there is/was a club in the US that was shooting out to 3000yds or meters with 308's. They put a big circle on the ground and launched lead into it. I am sure the group size was huge'.

There are gopher hits beyond 2500yds now. How many rds it took to do it is another topic :)
 
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so are you saying you hit a wilk jug sized target at 1 mile with a 223 three times in a row??? why not hang a paper target out there? so we can see the hits?
 
Jamie, that is about the size of the area the bullets fell into.

So yes, a milk jug would have been hit.

Ultimately, you either believe what I post or you don't. The 3 shots was viewed through some superb optics by another shooter and me on my scope. The impacts were clear. The area was sized with an indexed reticle.

I guess you had to be there :)

Jerry
 
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