Come inform me on the .223 Rem

[jayph]

Well the old lady came out shooting again the other day and while she enjoys shooting her .22 Win Mag she was watching me shoot out farther than that rifle is capable of and showed considerable interest in trying. So I let her shoot a couple rounds but the LOP is way to long and the gun just doesn't fit her very well that I had out there but she had fun anyway trying to hit clay pigeons at 350. So I gave her a budget and some books to read and told her she was gonna pick everything and let her know that this will put her hunting rifle on hold for now,she always liked the range better anyway). Well after her research she decided on the .223 for her cartridge. Heres the questions.

What bullet weight is ideal for targets to 500 yards?,I was thinking of trying the 70gr Berger vld to start)
Is the heavier bullets necessary for shooting to a 500 yard max?
What powder generally provides good results for working up the first few loads with heavier bullets?
If going with lighter bullets I have some benchmark sitting around would that be a good starting point?
What stock makers are inletting for the Detachable mag savage barreled actions?
Thanks in advance.

 

[Rtheurer]

Whoo wee

this could be a war starter on this thread.
How about some more detail about what her plans are for the rifle. other than the distance you already gave us.

1. Paper or Varmints or bigger game?
2. Length of barrel and twist if you have it already?
3. Repeater or single shot,repeater since you said DB Mag)
4. Type of chamber you plan on or already have., factory Savage chamber, or a custom Wylde chamber for the long bullets)

I come from a prarie dog shooting and NRA highpower back ground so most of my answers and opinions will stem from that experience and back ground. I shot ALOT of 223 at distances from 25 yards to 1000 yards with the 223.

300 - 500 yards with the 223 can be done with even 40grain bullets. but if it was me I would opt for something like the hornady 75Grain AMAX. This may or maynot work in your rifle if it is a 1:9 twist or slower. Also the long bullet may be seated into the case a bit in a short throated rifle witchwill cut back on powder voulume and there for the needed speed. Bergers are great bullets but need a little faster twist like the rest of the heavy bullets above 70gr. A 1:8 twist will shoot them all including the 52 grain stuff. I have done it with great success. My son has inhearited,claimed) my 223 Prarie rat gun in 223 for shooting F class at 600 yards. Varget R15, N140, N135,2520,N540 are all good proven powders for the 70+ grain bullets. I used Benchmark with 55 grain Balistic tips with great results.
Right now im thinking your barrel/ twist rate, if you have one already) will decide witch bullet you will shoot.

You should get some good advice on this forum, there are alot of Knowledgable folks here and very few just trying to get there name on the board for the sake of it.

Glad you have the mrs. out shooting. : )

RT

 

[kansas45]

I'm new to this game, but I'll tell you what I have learned so far. My .223 bolt gun is a Tikka Varmit. Stainless Steel with a heavy 24" 1-8 twist barrel. So far, I've tried 55, 68, 69 & 75gr bullets from Hornady & Nossler. I have had the best luck with Hornady's HPBT Match 68gr bullets & Varget powder.
On the other hand, my 20" heavy barrel 1-7 twist AR15 likes the 55gr HPBT with BL-C2.
Any information you experienced shooters have will be appreciated!
Thanks, Sam

 

[jayph]

1. Paper or Varmints or bigger game?
2. Length of barrel and twist if you have it already?
3. Repeater or single shot,repeater since you said DB Mag)
4. Type of chamber you plan on or already have., factory Savage chamber, or a custom Wylde chamber for the long bullets)

1.Paper and stuff like shotgun shells, eggs ect.
2.Right now it's a 20" with a 1-9 twist
3.DM has the HS Precision mag kit
4.Stock Remington for now,she's gonna shoot alot to learn and practice and if she likes it a re barrel with a 24" match tube is most likely gonna occur)do you have more info on the wylde chamber?

 

[Rtheurer]

Hey Jay

Looks like that 1:9 twist barrel is going to dictate the bullet weight to around the 70grain or less give or take based on bullet design and speed.

Your not trying to make a critter gitter so I would be looking at Match bullets with a higher BC. Might as well take advantage of the little bit less wind drift if you can.

There are a TON of good bullets out there so this is just a small sample. Im sure someone will pipe in with a Favorite Recipe I have not listed and that is to be expected do to the amazing versitility of this lil case and rifle.

Some bullets I, just my thoughts) would consider if I was in your shoe's

Berger
52grain FB
62gr FB
70gr VLD

Hornady
52gr A Max
60gr V Max
, Maybee the 75gr Amax, But it may not stabalize in your specific gun, This would be My #1 bullet choice)

Nosler
60gr Balistic tip
69 gr Custom Comp

Sierra
52gr HPBT
55gr blitz King
69gr HPBT Match King.


Lots of good powders. My favorite for the 60+ in this case has been Varget and R15. 60gr and below I really liked N130 and N135. But again there is a alot of good powders in that general burn rate, you wont know till you try them.

Again thanks for getting the Mrs. out shooting. Next time take the Neibor kid with.

RussT

 

[kansas45]

I shoot Berger and JLK 75 grain VLD's in a 1 in 9" Savage with VV N-540, Lapua Match brass, Russian SRM primers. Works great.

Kansas45: Shoot Berger, shoot better.

Thanks gunamonth.
I'll give it a...............shot?

 

[SooStan]

My 1x9 remmy shot the 75 Gr. A-Max and 75 bthp very well. It sports a 1x8 barrel now and the 80 gr. bergers are very hard to beat out to 600 yds. The Wylde chamber is used a lot with ARs but I think it is a compromise for reliable feeding, extraction and accuracy in an auto. There may be better chambers for a bolt gun.

 

[fordwrench]

try rl 15 with 75 hrn bthp 24.1-24.7 or 77 gr matchkings or 52 gr sierra bthp with the benchmark powder. i would shoot the heavy bullets at any range over the light ones. a ton less drift at anything past 100yds. goodluck <win brass and cci br4 primers>

 

[mysticplayer]

75gr Amax, Varget, CCI 450, Collet sized Win brass.

Should work well for you.

Jerry

 

[blackblue]

If you are looking at a rebarrel you maidas well go AI, that is a project Ive had on my mind for a while.