.223 FT/R Suggestions

[Bully]

I am building a .223 gun for fun (primarily paper punching and steel) that I will use in some local FT/R matches this year. I'm really looking forward to it. I'm looking for any advice on my choices in the FT/R arena. My plan is as follows:

27" Rock Creek 1/7 5R MTU
Trued R700
McMillan A3-5
Vortex PST 6-24
Harris bipod
Single shot mag

I will chamber in minimum SAAMI spec and throat for 80's. I will probably try the 82's as well. I will only be shooting competitively to 600 so please keep that in mind. I will not be shooting this rifle at 1k on paper. If anyone has any criticisms for my set-up please feel free to chime in.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Great plan on the rifle. Lapua brass is dead nuts accurate and lasts a long time. Keep the pressures reasonable, find an accurate load at moderate velocities, and you'll get 10+ loadings from the brass and likely be shooting HM scores within a year.

 

[Bully]

Great plan on the rifle. Lapua brass is dead nuts accurate and lasts a long time. Keep the pressures reasonable, find an accurate load at moderate velocities, and you'll get 10+ loadings from the brass and likely be shooting HM scores within a year.

I have a couple hundred pieces of Lapua brass floating around as well as an annealing set-up. Thanks for the advice.

 

[stacy]

WITH THAT SET UP ALL YOU NEED IS SOME RL-15 AND SOME 80GR VLD'S AND 450 PRIMERS AND YOUR SET!!!!!!!!!

 

[Highpower-FClass]

It is difficult to have more fun than shooting 223 in mid-range F-T/R. Well, until the wind howls at 600, but even then it is fun, if sometimes in a humbling kind of way

I have two rifles in which I shoot 80 VLDs, one long freebore, one short. Both shoot best when jammed good, 20-25 thousands, and they are both very accurate.

In terms of setup, some people shoot really well with a Harris bipod but in TR the wider style bipods (JoyPod, Sinclair, Phoenix, Flexpod etc.) are more common, they make consistent tracking easier. For scope, magnification one of those things where more is often better. A 6-24 Vortex will work well, but if an option, a higher magnification scope is nice for holding off at 600.

 

[Bully]

It is difficult to have more fun than shooting 223 in mid-range F-T/R. Well, until the wind howls at 600, but even then it is fun, if sometimes in a humbling kind of way

I have two rifles in which I shoot 80 VLDs, one long freebore, one short. Both shoot best when jammed good, 20-25 thousands, and they are both very accurate.

In terms of setup, some people shoot really well with a Harris bipod but in TR the wider style bipods (JoyPod, Sinclair, Phoenix, Flexpod etc.) are more common, they make consistent tracking easier. For scope, magnification one of those things where more is often better. A 6-24 Vortex will work well, but if an option, a higher magnification scope is nice for holding off at 600.

Cool and thank you.
I will look into a different bi-pod at some point if I delve into it with any seriousness. I'm encouraged that my set-up should work well for the time being. Especially if my objective is fun rather than serious competition.

 

[1911mag]

Don’t know much about Rock Creek, my barrel is Bartlien 4R 1:7 HV 30” , wider BiPod will make a difference over Harris. I tried a Duplin and bought one soon after. Build it and have fun

 

[DirtySteve]

Rock Creek barrels are excellent. I have four of them. They are not as well known but are every bit as good as Krieger or Bartlien.

 

[kzin]

In terms of setup, some people shoot really well with a Harris bipod but in TR the wider style bipods (JoyPod, Sinclair, Phoenix, Flexpod etc.) are more common, they make consistent tracking easier. For scope, magnification one of those things where more is often better. A 6-24 Vortex will work well, but if an option, a higher magnification scope is nice for holding off at 600.

He said these things better than I was going to.

 

[Bully]

I have heard great things about the Rock's. Hence, I have 2 for 2 builds.

Any other tips y'all can give for a first time FT/R shooter?

 

[DirtySteve]

I have heard great things about the Rock's. Hence, I have 2 for 2 builds.

Any other tips y'all can give for a first time FT/R shooter?

Go, Shoot, Have fun and Learn. Most of all have fun and stay safe.

 

[Mozella]

I'll agree with what most others have said. You'll probably realize before too long that you will want a little more stable bi-pod and more scope power.

Read whatever you can get your hands on to learn about dealing with wind. Figure out how to shoot better than 1/2 MOA at 100 yards nearly all the time that should be just fine for accuracy. Work on reducing your muzzle velocity SD too, but the area which will yield the greatest performance improvement will be your ability to read the wind and react properly when it changes.

 

[mysticplayer]

When competing with the 223 in FTR years back, I used Win brass (Lapua reduced case volume enough to matter), CCI 450, IMR4007SSC... this powder is discontinued.

Varget is the fastest.. H4350 is the slowest. With a long throat, something right in the middle would be ideal. I would lean on Varget is there were no other alternatives.

Turn necks to 10 thou.

With the Berger 80gr VLD, 5 thou off the lands... same thing with the 90gr VLD's but needed a much longer throat. 80.5gr BT is another gem.

A quality digital milligram scale is really important. The AND FX120i really upped my results. I held my charges to under 0.1gr consistency.

I think you will find the Sightron SIII 8-32X56 LRMOA a much more useful scope for FTR. Similar costs to the Vortex.

Do consider a more stable bipod unless you have a lot of experience with the harris and can be ubber consistent. My design is the MPOD but many other popular types work great.

Protektor rear bag.. or other quality bag.. it matters.

With the 7 twist, don't be shy to try the 90's

Good luck and enjoy.

Jerry

 

[kzin]

I have heard great things about the Rock's. Hence, I have 2 for 2 builds.

Any other tips y'all can give for a first time FT/R shooter?

Be prepared for conditions you might not consider normal,

surface - grass vs gravel vs rough asphalt vs slick concrete

have enough legal sized boards or whatever to adjust for slope and (not)level

shooting uphill or downhill

sun angle

etc

 

[urbanrifleman]

Rock Creek barrels are excellent.

I have two of the Rock 1-8 four grooves and they are both insane shooters. And if you ever get a chance look inside with a bore scope, those barrels are like jewelry on the inside.

Where are you buying Rock Creek blanks? I lost my source.

 

[memilanuk]

Where are you buying Rock Creek blanks?

Last ones I bought were direct from Rock Creek...

The ones I've used were both .30 cal... one 11.25 tw, in .308, that was just stupidly accurate, and one where I had traded for a barrel certificate, and ended up getting a 17 tw for my .30 BR. That one continues to amaze as well.

And if you ever get a chance look inside with a bore scope, those barrels are like jewelry on the inside.

Never looked thru the first one... recently looked thru the second... and it is pretty awesome.

I never have understood why they haven't enjoyed more popularity?

 

[DirtySteve]

I have two of the Rock 1-8 four grooves and they are both insane shooters. And if you ever get a chance look inside with a bore scope, those barrels are like jewelry on the inside.

Where are you buying Rock Creek blanks? I lost my source.

Matt Pederson he used to work for Rock Creek. I have had him male me two of my Savage Pre-fits. pederson precision llc he has a FB Page. I have a Rock Creek on my GAP rifle with 7,000 plus rounds through it and still is very accurate (308).

 

[urbanrifleman]

Matt Pederson he used to work for Rock Creek. I have had him male me two of my Savage Pre-fits. pederson precision llc he has a FB Page. I have a Rock Creek on my GAP rifle with 7,000 plus rounds through it and still is very accurate (308).

I just contacted him this morning!!!

 

[DirtySteve]

I just contacted him this morning!!!

Great, he does great work. Turn around time depends partly on how fast he can get the barrel of course. I would like to think that since he used to work for them he has a little edge.