223 at 1000 yards

[Travelor]

I need a load that will remain supersonic at 1000 yards.

Just purchased the wife a Savage 12 LRPV with a 1:7 twist barrel for some 1000 yard fun. So far the Hornady 75 gr. A-Max with 26 grains of Varget and a 7 1/2 Remington primer in the new Lapua Match brass seems to have the best accuracy and a BC advertised as .435. QuickLoad says this should be going 2980 fps, but according to tables will not remain SS at 1000 yards.

I sure do not want to risk getting her on the line and finding out the bullets are going subsonic and tumbling. That would defeat about 23 years of prodding her to come play with us boys.

Seems most bullets lack the BC to remain supersonic at 1000 yards and the 90 grain bullets are too heavy to push fast enough.

Thanks,
George

 

[gaintwist]

George,
I shoot 223 in the TR Class B fullbore games. Was the only 223 shooting against 308's this year at the Spirit of America match. My load is Lapua/Dakota cases, Rem 7.5, 25.7g of R15 pushing 80g Amax. Posted the 3rd highest score at 1K on the last day. I estimate my drift to be 1-2min less than the 155SMK. My rifle is a Nesika J with 1-7" 30" Krieger. I shot 26g loads in WW cases the year before but they started to get loose primer pockets after 3x reloads. Haven't tried to push the limit with the new Lapua cases. The 26g load clocked over 3100fps...more than enough to make 1K with good accuracy.
cheers,
-lige

 

[memilanuk]

Lige,

I may have to give that a try in one of my .223 Rems... IIRC there was only one brave soul using a .223,that I know of) @ FCNC... Lapua 77gr Scenars did pretty well @ 600yds, got beat up a bit @ 1k.

That is a lot of RE-15... I presume the barrel is throated long to allow seating out? What kind of OAL are we talking here?

What do you estimate the actual B.C. to be w/ that bullet? Listed B.C. is pretty much the same as a 155gr SMK, so you'd have to run things a bit hotter than 3100fps to see much difference. At least according to the 'puter,JBM), which is not always consistent w/ observed results.

Very interested!

Thanks,

Monte

 

[mysticplayer]

I shoot the 75gr Amax at 2850fps out of a 22" stevens. No issue at 1000yds.

A shooting buddy uses a 26" HB Savage to go 2950fps and has shot accurately out to 1400+yds - Rock plinking.

He was using Varget. I am using Benchmark. No problem with compressed loads with Benchmark.

I have new pac nor 7 twist and I seat the 75gr Amax to mag length. Still early days but it has shot some nice 1/4 MOA groups.

I will be trying the 80gr Amax as I really like how they look.

Jerry

 

[Ahhnother8]

You might try the Berger or JLK 80's for 1000 yard shooting. They both fly very well, and shoot great groups. Load them into the lands and push them very fast. Neither will let you down.

Lane

 

[Travelor]

Thanks guys, I have both 75 and 80 gr A-Max and have some Berger 75 gr. VLD's on the way.

This weekend a friend with the same gun was shooting the Bergers and BenchMark very well. I will work with what you have provided me.

I really appreciate the time you took to help.

George

 

[gaintwist]

Monte,
My Kiff reamer reads .080 FB. That is more than enough to fit 26g of R15. I shot a 600y any/any practice match in Byers yesterday in very strong switching tailwinds. Fired 90 rounds in all conditions. Talking with a 6.5x284 shooter on my relay my holdoffs were no more than he was using. I was shooting 80g Noslers over 25.6gR15. I have no idea what the bc is for the amax. I may be an IT person but I don't mess with computer simulations. Living 30 miles from a 1K range helps...ha! This little round is soooo much fun to shoot.
cheers,
-lige