Ive got a rock river coyote special that I've had for years. One in nine twist and it shoots black hills 60 grain v max under one inch reliably. On a good day with 53 grain v max and 335 I can best that. There's so much factory ammo in 223 it's hard to imagine something not working assuming it's a quality ar. The black hills 60 grain was about the 5th factory ammo I tried and it's around 3/4 inch at 100 yards. I went back and bought all they had of that lot number. The 53 grain load took a while to work up. I load it to magazine length. Haven't tried prairie dogs but they both work well on coyotes and ground hogs.
.223 Rem AR accuracy at 300-500 yards?
- Thread starter wahoowad
- Start date
rdremsek
Silver $$ Contributor
I have a rock river arms national match that will shoot i also have a rem 700 that was trued a brux barrel a good trigger and good scope that will shoot a nice 10 shot ragged hole at 100 and will shoot very good at 600 also
Well, I don’t know if I would go THAT far. One can certainly get sub-MOA groups with match factory ammunition at 100 yards. I’ve done it regularly with my .223 and 6.5 CM range rifles. My experience has been that the variability in lot to lot, and even round to round, in factory ammo really begins to show at longer ranges.
charlie b
Gold $$ Contributor
I'd suggest you try Fed GMM in 69 or 77gn. Or Black Hills. 69 for sure will work with the 1:8 twist. 77 might if you keep the vel up. Sierra even has loads for the 80SMK, but, their test rifle is a 21" 1:7. Hornady loads with the ELD bullets I'd try the 73gn. Their 75gn is not as stable as the 77SMK in my shooting with a bolt gun.
I love shooting my bolt .223 at 600 and beyond.
If you get hooked on the accurate stuff don't blame us
It leads to reloading, then more expensive bullets, then more expensive rifle/barrels. And the rabbit hole only gets deeper
I love shooting my bolt .223 at 600 and beyond.
If you get hooked on the accurate stuff don't blame us
It leads to reloading, then more expensive bullets, then more expensive rifle/barrels. And the rabbit hole only gets deeper 
CF Junkie
Gold $$ Contributor
On twist versus bullet weight:
I have a 1:9 rated barrel that shot 77 gr SMKs better than any other bullet.
Twist ratings should be read as not slower than. I measured my 1:9 bolt action barrel at 1:8.75 twist which apparently was enough to stabilize the 77 gr SMKs & TMKs, as well as Berger and Nosler 77 gr bullets.
I talked to a machinist and he said that it is difficult to precisely set the speed of a reamer to 1:9 or any other specified twist so he would adjust the speed setting to be sure was is not slower than the specification. It would not be unusual for the actual twist would probably be slightly faster than the spec.
As for accuracy at 100 yards with a .223:
It depends upon the shooter and the barrel (both twist and the particular barrel preferences).
ARs are also somewhat impacted by the short magazine that limits the seating depth for 69 and heavier bullets to 2.272 or so, depending on plastic or metal magazines.
My two .223 bolt actions have always shot heavier bullets best when they are seated out closer to the lands but each barrel exhibits particular bullet weight and shape preferences.
I have one AR with a 1:7 twist that can barely attain 1 MOA with even it's favorite bullets.
I also have a Les Baer Super Varmint .223 1:8 twist with an 18-inch 416R barrel that has averaged just under 0.4 MOA for 400 5-round groups.
The Les Baer did have powder and bullet preferences however.
It averaged better than 0.400 with three different 77 gr bullets (one averaged 0.358 and another 0.370), 4 different 69 gr bullets and one 60 gr bullet (average 0.348). All of those were with CCI400 primers.
But it didn't like Nosler Custom Competition 77 grs for some reason and averaged 0.428.
It also didn't shoot any 55 gr FMJ bullets well at all, but I didn't try 55 gr Berger FB #22410.
But it really liked 52 and 53 gr target bullets and averaged just under .275 with N133 and CCI-BR4 primers. It seemed to like the faster MV that I got with the light bullet loads.
I have a 1:9 rated barrel that shot 77 gr SMKs better than any other bullet.
Twist ratings should be read as not slower than. I measured my 1:9 bolt action barrel at 1:8.75 twist which apparently was enough to stabilize the 77 gr SMKs & TMKs, as well as Berger and Nosler 77 gr bullets.
I talked to a machinist and he said that it is difficult to precisely set the speed of a reamer to 1:9 or any other specified twist so he would adjust the speed setting to be sure was is not slower than the specification. It would not be unusual for the actual twist would probably be slightly faster than the spec.
As for accuracy at 100 yards with a .223:
It depends upon the shooter and the barrel (both twist and the particular barrel preferences).
ARs are also somewhat impacted by the short magazine that limits the seating depth for 69 and heavier bullets to 2.272 or so, depending on plastic or metal magazines.
My two .223 bolt actions have always shot heavier bullets best when they are seated out closer to the lands but each barrel exhibits particular bullet weight and shape preferences.
I have one AR with a 1:7 twist that can barely attain 1 MOA with even it's favorite bullets.
I also have a Les Baer Super Varmint .223 1:8 twist with an 18-inch 416R barrel that has averaged just under 0.4 MOA for 400 5-round groups.
The Les Baer did have powder and bullet preferences however.
It averaged better than 0.400 with three different 77 gr bullets (one averaged 0.358 and another 0.370), 4 different 69 gr bullets and one 60 gr bullet (average 0.348). All of those were with CCI400 primers.
But it didn't like Nosler Custom Competition 77 grs for some reason and averaged 0.428.
It also didn't shoot any 55 gr FMJ bullets well at all, but I didn't try 55 gr Berger FB #22410.
But it really liked 52 and 53 gr target bullets and averaged just under .275 with N133 and CCI-BR4 primers. It seemed to like the faster MV that I got with the light bullet loads.
I sold my Arc and went back to 223.
GetReal
Silver $$ Contributor
Why?
My SBR Arc n my 20 inch Arc outperformed my 223 counterparts in every single possible way.
Jeff Porter
Gold $$ Contributor
1:7.7 twist 20” AR, 69 gr BTHP shot from prone with sling, unsupported. Just a hair over 1 moa. This rifle would shoot these about 0.6 moa 10 shot at 100 yards from a rest. With the right barrel and a good bullet, sub MOA is achievable.
I have 2 Colt 6724 AR's. Only thing i did was put in a different trigger, both shoot 1/2 moa at 100. Its a 9 twist, I run 55gr Vmax for coyotes. I shot one coyote at 612 yards, 3 or 4 in the 560 to 580 range, a couple around 400 and numerous from 300 to 325.
I'd say nothing wrong with the round itself.
I'd say nothing wrong with the round itself.
I tell you, I really like my Tikka Super Varmint in 6.5 Creedmoor, but my favorite range rifle has become a .223 Savage 110 action in an MDT Field Stock with a Shilen 26” select match 7 twist bull barrel and an Arken EP-5 scope shooting factory 69 and 77 grain SMKs at 3 and 4” gongs at 500 yards. It’s a challenge, but so much fun! Very low recoil, RELATIVELY inexpensive ammo. Has really taught me the value of a quality barrel!I'd suggest you try Fed GMM in 69 or 77gn. Or Black Hills. 69 for sure will work with the 1:8 twist. 77 might if you keep the vel up. Sierra even has loads for the 80SMK, but, their test rifle is a 21" 1:7. Hornady loads with the ELD bullets I'd try the 73gn. Their 75gn is not as stable as the 77SMK in my shooting with a bolt gun.
I love shooting my bolt .223 at 600 and beyond.
If you get hooked on the accurate stuff don't blame us
H4895 plus Berger 73 grain bullets. I was about to type that you would have to make them yourself, but decided to look first. Guess what, Berger sells loaded ammo with 73 grain bullets in Lapau cases with Vitavori powder. Part number 23020. The Berger add says something that is a direct quote from me "If it won't shoot with 73 grain Berger's it won't shoot period." They don't load H4895 that I use but the VV powder is most likely better anyway. Try these then if it won't shoot do like Butch said.
Precision in the AR platform is primarily in the quality of the barrel and a decent chambering job.
The 223 will shoot. I fired this 20 shot group, prone from a sling @ 600 yards in 2017 from a 700 with a 7 twist 26” criterion RemAge in an eliseo chassis. These were 80.5 bergers loaded not all too hot.
The 223 will shoot. I fired this 20 shot group, prone from a sling @ 600 yards in 2017 from a 700 with a 7 twist 26” criterion RemAge in an eliseo chassis. These were 80.5 bergers loaded not all too hot.
charlie b
Gold $$ Contributor
The last loads I shot from my old 9 twist .223 barrel were 73gn Bergers and N540. Wonderful little bullets.
One morning I put up my 3" gong at 600yds just for fun. The other two guys commented on hitting it. My reply was, if it was easy then why shoot at it? I got it 3 out of 5 shots (the 4th nicked it but I couldn't tell 6through the spotting scope. .22 bullet holes are REALLY small at 600yd
Soda cans were fun too.I took a guy from work 6 or 8 years ago wanted to go to Manatee to shoot at the 1000 yd target with his Winchester 30-06. We started at 600 because the 06 didn't have a canted base and I was sure that he wasn't going to be successful at 1000. The old scope was locked up and we never could get his scope to adjust. I had him hold the transition from heavy to light cross hairs on his duplex and I could see low hits. Held a little high and he made a few hits with the 06. I set him up with my 223 and he maybe missed 2 or 3 out of 10 shoots. Mine is also a 9 twist and it loves the 73 grain Berger's. And you are right they are wonderful little bullets!
jlshaw
Gold $$ Contributor
Don't let the cool kids - those who demand you throw out a factory rifle - blow smoke up your skirt. Good factory ARs are capable of much better accuracy than the cool kids think.
Since your rifle has an 8 twist barrel, you should be able to run 75-77 grain bullets with no major problem.
Try Frontier (Hornady) 75 grain bthps. They use a very good bullet along with good brass and powder. At one time that was the ammo issued at Camp Perry for the Small Arms Firing School. It worked great. I had really good results with that ammo with everything from mediocre barrels to Kriegers.
Don't be afraid to shoot that thang.
Since your rifle has an 8 twist barrel, you should be able to run 75-77 grain bullets with no major problem.
Try Frontier (Hornady) 75 grain bthps. They use a very good bullet along with good brass and powder. At one time that was the ammo issued at Camp Perry for the Small Arms Firing School. It worked great. I had really good results with that ammo with everything from mediocre barrels to Kriegers.
Don't be afraid to shoot that thang.
ummm yes
a heavier bullet will shoot better at long distance
not so much because its heavier,,, as much as the higher BC you'll get
---
Try some Sierra 69 TMK's
Ive shot them with very accurate results out to 700 yds
Very consistent waterline
I have tested them back to back with the 77 TMK thinking its higher BC would be better for this yardage
But heavier also means slower so there is a trade off
and 223 aint the fastest thing in the world
(IE: The 77 TMK had more drop at 700 than the 69 TMK)
----
In the end the 69 TMK seems to be the better balance between the two
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kevinbritvec
Silver $$ Contributor
I get my best groups at 100/200 yards using match grade 52/53 grain bullets, even when using 1:7 or 1:8 twist barrels. Bergers are wonderful, but pricey. Sierra Match Kings, on sale in 500 bullet boxes have always been great for me. Hornady a little less so.
I believe Hornady's Super performance line of ammo isn't intended for gas guns, port pressures being too high.
My competition load has been 24.5 grains of Varget under 69 grain SMK's seated at 2.250" for several decades now. It's only traveling around 2700 to 2750 fps, depending on what barrel I'm using, but it is accurate to the 300 yard line, reliable and easy on brass.
Every barrel likes what it likes. Without trying a variety of projectiles and loads, you will never discover what works best for you.
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