Maybe we need to shorten the neck on a 6br and see if it shoots better.
223 rem accuracy expectations
- Thread starter Kevin1990
- Start date
NZ_Fclass
Silver $$ Contributor
69g --often disappointing, compared to 75g and above. I like the 75 Hornady match, 77g SMK's, the Bergers and 80g ers for a windy day. N140 is a good choice with most, Varget is better with the heavies. I use 24g-24.4g according to brass. I use Lake City mostly or Lapua.
That's what I've been seeing in my readings on the web about the 69s often being a disappointment. That's....disappointing to hear. I contemplated Varget and still might, but I cant get an 8 pounder of the N140 for near $60-$90 cheaper depending on where.
Out of all of the bullets youve shot what one did you think was the least sensitive to seating depth? Ill check out the Hornady 75 match though!
NZ_Fclass
Silver $$ Contributor
Probably the now defunct A-max. It really was a good bullet. The 75 Match looks promising. Lately, I have been moving bullets further back from the lands and getting good results in the 25-30 thou range - but that's my rifle, not yours. Tuning the load isn't so hard, just time consuming - so I usually do it at club 500-600 matches. I take long seated loads and a small press to the range and wind them down until the group shows promise during practice, then shoot a match with the most promising depth. Did that today at 700 with the 6BR and ended with 2 58's, 5x and a 3 x. Wind was a little switchy and I got blown about a couple of times, but the 30 thou off the lands on the second detail looks good for elevation.
If N150 and N140 was cheaper than Varget/H4895,in NZ, I would be using it too! Unfortunately, it's quite a lot dearer and often unavailable.
Remington 700 trued up with a bartlein 7.7 twist in a KRG bravo with a standard Wylde reamer gives me true sub moa groups with almost every load I've tried. And when it goes over an inch, a slight powder charge adjustment gets it right back under.
I tend to shoot for lowest SD rather than do accuracy checks just due to how accurate it is overall. With it's preferred load of 75gr eld's and MR2000, i am the error if I'm over half an inch at 100 yards. I honestly don't shoot them as much because it's boring at 100 now. I'd rather test other combinations and fall back on the 75s if I have 300+ to shoot.
I tend to shoot for lowest SD rather than do accuracy checks just due to how accurate it is overall. With it's preferred load of 75gr eld's and MR2000, i am the error if I'm over half an inch at 100 yards. I honestly don't shoot them as much because it's boring at 100 now. I'd rather test other combinations and fall back on the 75s if I have 300+ to shoot.
If it was the case, the .223 will win Benchrest matches. Cartridge are not equal in repeatable accuracy. This is proven by the design of the 6PPC - .30BR - 6 Dasher and some very few other that show accuracy that cannot be achieved by most other caliber.
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mike mccormick
Silver $$ Contributor
A 223 is not my choice when I am looking for something to shoot in the 1s, but there are plenty of folks shooting it in F t/R that are reliably shooting .5moa at 600yds. That's over 20 rounds.
STS
Silver $$ Contributor
I'm gonna step out on a limb and guess that you weren't shooting 100/200 yard BR matches back in the 70's. The .223, and a couple of minor variants, won their fair share of matches. I would say that given the improvements in barrels, bullets, scopes, rests, bags and everything else, an equally well gunsmithed .223 would win today with the right guy shooting it. Would I choose to move away from the PPC platform? Probably not, but that doesn't mean that a .18xx agg shot by a .223 today won't beat a .19xx agg shot by a PPC. It's a mistake to assume that the .222 and .223 aren't capable of winning today. It's just a bit more of a challenge to drive it well enough to do so.
MTSLW
Silver $$ Contributor
My last 223 bolt gun was extremely accurate. 75gr eld’s .020” (2.470” OAL) off and 23.5gr of 8208 was 2925fps and shot sub 1/2MOA pretty consistently. Shot several 3 round groups testing loads that were in the .1’s. This was mainly with ADI/HSM brass and Lapua, no neck turning.
If you don’t need to shoot a straight 223 for a competition reason I’d highly recommend going with a 223AI, much less brass trimming.
If you don’t need to shoot a straight 223 for a competition reason I’d highly recommend going with a 223AI, much less brass trimming.
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Many of the NRA Mid-Range F-Class National Records were set with the 223.
I've thought about this a lot, but I keep seeing threads about feeding issues. I don't know if it's because they are using controlled round feeds or wrong mags, or if it's just the cartridge itself. I keep flip flopping back and fourth and keep coming back to the .223 rem because a fear of feeding issues.
Probably going to use a mack bros or Kelbly action, but if I did go 223 AI and had feeding issues I'd be pissed haha.
Yup,.. THIS ^^^ My experience with, a 6 XC, Criterion Barrel , also !
I'm using, a Medium Heavy Sporter, 24", .707 Dia. Muzzle ( fairly, Stiff Barrel ) 10.5 Pounds, W/ Brake in a Pillar / Glass Bedded, H-S Precision stock, Home made Toe, "Bag Rider" on, a SS Rem 700 New, CNC Machined, "Pre- Closing", Remington, short action from, Bruno's. ( It was Beautifully Square and Well, Machined ! ).
5 shot Group's, down into, the Low 2's to, high 3's are fairly common with, 107 SMK's and 95 to 108 grain Bergers. And Up to, a 1/2 MOA with, my 103 gr. ELD-X, Coyote Load's ( NO tuning, Done ).
6 x 24 Scope / Mts, Stock, Action, Crit. Barrel and Jewell, Target Trigger set at 1 lb. cost was, just under, $3,000.
As an old Retired, Fixed income guy,.. Covid / Trump,. Paid $2,000 of, it, tho !
Gotta LOVE those Accurate,.. 6 MM's !
If, building, a .22 cal Today, personally, I'd look Hard at, the .22 GT or .22 XC
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With GOOD Neck turned, MATCHED Brass,.. this ^^ would be a Better Choice than, straight .223 rem,... IMO, also.
For,.. "Pure Accuracy" and getting down into, the 1's and 2's reliably with, a Stiff, "Good" Barrel !
I'm worried about feeding issues. This is going to be for a mag fed bolt gun. I'm still up in the air on it though.
mjl650
Gold $$ Contributor
Shooting prone with a bipod, I keep a spreadsheet that I’ve tracked my groups with since January 2022. 223 Remington 700, 24” 1-7 Hawke Hill barrel in a Boyds Pro Varmint stock. With 2 10 shot groups a session my average to date is 0.64MOA. Have tried numerous bullets from 69gr SMKs to 80.5 Berger. Most accurate for me have been the 77TMKs with TS 15.5 powder. All shot at 300 yards.
Ask the Guys that, shoot Varmints, IF their having any Feeding "issues" with, the .223 Rem. Ai
I Don't Own one, But, have Not heard of any, issues feeding,. with, Most,.. Ai Cart's.
I'm looking at doing, a .22-250 Ai myself,.. Next year.
My 35 Degree shouldered, .270 WSM,.. never gave me any trouble, feeding.
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