223 rem accuracy expectations

[Kevin1990]

I know there are so many factors at play here with this question.

Assuming you've got a 223rem or the like, a competent gunsmith, nice custom action, barrel, chassis, trigger scope, etc what would be your accuracy expectations for any given caliber if you are shooting at say yardages of 1-300?

Im just curious, because I see the wallet pictures of these incredible groups, but never anybody giving a number of what it will do consistently.

I've also seen folks on here asking about certain bullets and wanting .25moa or smaller accuracy and to me that seems like very high expectations for a gun that isn't dedicated to a bench.

Any input? What type of accuracy are you happy with?


Edit: with good hand loads.

 

[White Eagle]

I shoot mainly at 100 yards, that is all my range has at the moment, so that being said I would expect a good rifle to shoot .75 consistently with any ammo I feed it ( this is the 6.5 Creedmoor and above ) now a smaller caliber I should get that as well but would expect smaller groups, not just one here and there but all the time.

 

[mike mccormick]

No reason, given good parts and processes, that a custom in 223 won't shoot just as small as any other cartridge.

 

[Jeff Porter]

I get some of the WOW 0.25" wallet groups but over a larger sample size 0.4-.8 MOA for 10 shots is a good range for a .223 bolt action. My best gas guns are more in the 0.6-1.0 range for larger groups. These are not Benchrest type guns, just benched and bagged. My F-class 223 rig and bipods and bag will be 0.5 moa or better for 10 shots.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Varmint rifles should average .750" and below.

Hunting rifles would be best 1.5" and below

Competition I would venture to say would be best agging under .250" to .275"

 

[Mark M.]

I know there are so many factors at play here with this question.

Assuming you've got a 223rem or the like, a competent gunsmith, nice custom action, barrel, chassis, trigger scope, etc what would be your accuracy expectations for any given caliber if you are shooting at say yardages of 1-300?

Im just curious, because I see the wallet pictures of these incredible groups, but never anybody giving a number of what it will do consistently.

I've also seen folks on here asking about certain bullets and wanting .25moa or smaller accuracy and to me that seems like very high expectations for a gun that isn't dedicated to a bench.

Any input? What type of accuracy are you happy with?

Well, Kevin, you're right, there are many factors involved here, if somebody was expecting .25moa or smaller, I would think that they would pick a cartridge with the inherent accuracy, capable of that type of consistency, perhaps one of the ppc's or 6br... if the 223 is what you're after, the cartridge capability in a rifle as you described above, under the right circumstances, .25 -.50moa would be realistic at that yardage, if you do your part.

 

[Keith Glasscock]

I was doing some testing with my rig the other day (Rem 700 untouched, prefit Criterion barrel, MDT XRS chassis. 5 shot group was .380" and 10 shot groups were .613" and .630" all at 100 yards with bipod and squeeze bag in modified prone (standing, shooting from the bench). I found I was well out of the node, but the rifle shot fine. The bullet is the 77 TMK for this load.

I firmly believe that a good barrel with the right load can shoot .3" for 5 shot groups at 100 yards on average with a good shooter pressing the trigger. Better is possible, but well beyond my will to chase.

 

[DGP4]

I have a bone stock Savage 110 Varmint in .223 that will consistently shoot 5 shot groups at 1/2 MOA or better on a bi-pod and rear bag. Can it shoot 1/4 MOA groups? Yes, but not consistently in my shaky hands. This with my hand loads, not factory ammo. I always laugh at the guy that shows one amazing group but doesn't show a complete multi target sheet shot on the same day. I can do that too, but it proves nothing. Even with a stock rifle, I think the ability to shoot good groups is there only limited by the shooter and his ammo.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

With or without flags?

 

[Kevin1990]

With or without flags?

Let's say with them.

 

[K22]

I have several 223 Rem bolt rifles ranging from out of the box to some with custom match Douglas barrels in barrel lengths ranging from 20" to 26", sporter to heavy contour, twist rates, 8" to 12".

Since I am primarily a varmint and predator hunter, I strive for 1/2 to 5/8 moa but can live with up to 3/4 moa. Almost all my shot opportunities are 300 yards and under, mostly well under.

Two brands of rifle that shot extraordinarily well out of the box are my Weatherby Super Varmint Master and my Tikka Varmint. The only changes I made to these was adjusting the triggers to 2 1/2 lbs.

If I were in the market for a 223 Bolt Rifle, I would strongly consider a Tikka if you can live with an 8" twist. I have two sporter weight Tikka's and one Varmint. They all are in the 1/2 to 5/8 moa with tuned reloads using 60 Vmax bullets.

 

[William Vogel]

I’ve got a 700P with a xcaliber 7 twist barrel chambered in 223AI that shoots 3/4 moa 10 shot groups at 700 yards with 88eldm bullets. It’ll pull 1/2 moa 10 shots also but realistically it’s 3/4. At 100 yards it’s better. 2900 fps muzzle velocity. 2.645 coal.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Custom barrel, stock,trigger, custom br bullets, great rest and flags. Expectations are high, disappointment prospects may increase. Greater than .5, even occasionally, would be a disappointment unless you know your limitations.

 

[nettle]

Back in the day when the .223 first came out the .222 Remington was the 800 pound gorilla in the forest as far as bench rest records. The .222 Remington shooters said that the .223 will never shoot as well as the .222 Remington. They were wrong.

 

[Clancy]

The answer to this lies as much with the shooter as anything else. If the shooter can shoot well, expect groups in the .2s.

A well thought out Reamer, premium barrel, bedding, bullet, chamber etc, and it’s as accurate as almost anything- but at the same time, not a silver bullet that’ll make a mediocre shooter shine.

I pulled a barrel a couple of years ago with thousands (like 5,000) rounds that still shot .4. When it was new, it shot some groups in the .1s and a wallet full of .2s.

 

[S Miller]

This reminds me of a short range group competitor breaking into the sport on a budget. He took a savage with a laminated stock, put a hart 14 twist on it in 223,shot 4895 and a Euber 52 and thumped many PPC’s myself included. Pretty sure that barrel will still shoot in the .3’s with thousands of rounds on it.

 

[Fire Dog]

Custom barrel, stock,trigger, custom br bullets, great rest and flags. Expectations are high, disappointment prospects may increase. Greater than .5, even occasionally, would be a disappointment unless you know your limitations.

Ah Yes,
A Man's got ta know his limitations..."
Dirty Harry - Magnum Force

 

[Kevin1990]

This sounds about what I was expecting. Groups averaging between .25 and .5 some higher, some lower.

I've got my 30BR hammering, as well as my 6br. I just really want something cheaper to shoot, and if I can get the above mentioned group sizes that'd make me happy.

Thinking about a Mac Bros action. Krieger 1-8 twist barrel, AG composite stock or XLR element, with a TT diamond trigger.

Thinking 69 or 77smk with some N140

 

[Fire Dog]

This sounds about what I was expecting. Groups averaging between .25 and .5 some higher, some lower.

I've got my 30BR hammering, as well as my 6br. I just really want something cheaper to shoot, and if I can get the above mentioned group sizes that'd make me happy.

Thinking about a Mac Bros action. Krieger 1-8 twist barrel, AG composite stock or XLR element, with a TT diamond trigger.

Thinking 69 or 77smk with some N140

Should be doing that with that build...
"If you do your Part...!!"

 

[DShortt]

Should be doing that with that build...
"If you do your Part...!!"

Wallet groups are often anomalies.

Shoot regularly and you'll know what you are capable of regularly.