Factory 223 Ammo For 1000 Yards

[lee1000]

My neighbor and me are going to shoot out to 1000 yards for the first time this month. I have a fclass 308 that I reload for so I should be good to go. He has a accurate 24" barreled AR but he doesn't reload so he's looking for some factory ammo for it.

Is there any 223 factory ammo out there that handles super to subsonic transition well? He'll likely need a 20 MOA base I would imagine.

 

[ronemus]

My neighbor and me are going to shoot out to 1000 yards for the first time this month. I have a fclass 308 that I reload for so I should be good to go. He has a accurate 24" barreled AR but he doesn't reload so he's looking for some factory ammo for it.

Is there any 223 factory ammo out there that handles super to subsonic transition well? He'll likely need a 20 MOA base I would imagine.

I don't know of any factory .223 that will perform at 1000 yards, but there are several custom reloaders that will work up a load for the purpose. Note that custom = $$$.

 

[Ned Ludd]

The vast majority of factory .223 Rem ammo is limited to 77 gr bullets. I would not recommend shooting those at 1000 yd for a variety of reasons. That is not to say they can't actually make it that far, but the results may not be satisfactory. I've shot 90 VLD handloads at 1000 yd on a number of occasions and even those require some pretty good windreading skills if the wind comes up. The only commercial ammo I've ever seen with a higher BC than the typical 77 gr is this:

https://www.cheaperthandirt.com/pro...ps-20-rounds-per-box-22380m20-091037282941.do

The 80 gr bullet might be an advantage at 1000 yd IF it shoots reasonably well out of the specific rifle being used. The only way to know would be to try it.

 

[Cuando]

I'd be all about this stuff if it shot good in his rifle.

https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/223-remington-73-gr-eld-match-superformance-match#!/

 

[Michael C]

If you are shooting with pit pullers please talk to the guy pulling for your friend. 1000 with a 223 is doable but only if you have wind reading skills, and a rifle that will make 80-90g bullets stay supersonic, and the skill to break solid shots. Having a zero helps too at least a 600. If your buddy can shoot reasonably well at 600 then yes maybe try 1000. But I have been on the end of a Guy with a 223 at 1000 and 77s, and I will not be so happy pulling for him. Plus if it good shooters are next to him he is going to end up screwing up their match if he cannot read the wind say to at least Sharpshooter level at 600.

 

[Mozella]

My neighbor and me are going to shoot out to 1000 yards for the first time this month. I have a fclass 308 that I reload for so I should be good to go. He has a accurate 24" barreled AR but he doesn't reload so he's looking for some factory ammo for it.

Is there any 223 factory ammo out there that handles super to subsonic transition well? He'll likely need a 20 MOA base I would imagine.

I hope you two are going out by yourselves and bringing a huge target. On the other hand, if you are attending a match, don't be surprised if some of your fellow shooters give you the ole stink-eye before the day is done. A short barreled gas gun untested at longer ranges with a new guy at the trigger shooting factory ammo is what every competitor dreads having to deal with. Asking on an internet forum about what factory ammo to bring makes it even more suspect. People will be polite at first and give you all the help they can. We see guys like your friend show up at matches from time to time and we strongly encourage them. But keep in mind that people have limits when the new guy is spraying bullets at all the other targets.

Once in a while I've had the pleasure to guide a well prepared new guy so he can get on target the first shot and stay on target all day. That's nice and everyone enjoys introducing our sport to a newcomer. Try to help your neighbor become that new guy who gets congratulations at the end of match..

Do your best to make arrangements to do some sighting in at longer ranges ahead of the match, preferably with a chronograph so you can develop some dope for your 1000 target. Even good data taken at 100 yards is better than nothing. And be mindful of what is going on and try not to disrupt the normal flow of the match. Perhaps the match director will put your friend on the end or position him with a vacant target on either side. You get the point. Good luck and have fun, but don't forget your manners please.

Finally, to answer your question, I've had good performance from Black Hills ammo and I find the reloaded blue box stuff to be as accurate as the new stuff. I like the 77gr Sierra Match King ammo although I'll have to say I haven't shot it at 1000 yards. It does exhibit good accuracy and good ES and SD figures too. But I rarely shoot factory ammo so I can't say which is the best; only that Black Hills is surprisingly good in my tests.

 

[Baddog0302]

You say you reload for YOUR 308, why not get set up to reload some 223 for your friend ?? You state he has an accurate 24" AR, that usually means a 1-8 twist.That should handle 80 gn bullets. Also your friend can single shot his AR which means you are not limited to an OAL to function through a magazine.

 

[hawkeyeshoooer]

Most ppl shooting 223 @ 800 - 1000 (NRA long range / Palma) are using 80 VLD (Berger / JLK), 80.5 / 82 berger or 90 grain bullets. They are also using pretty stiff loads of Vit N140 and Varget. Most of these rifles are running 30-32" barrels in order to get 3000 fps in order to remain supersonic @ 1000. Charge variance vs capacity ratio makes the 223 a bit difficult @ 1000 for controlling vertical dispersion. Wind drift with the 80/90 class bullets is about the same as 155 Palma bullets from a 308.

My 223 Palma rifle with a 26" barrel makes 2850 with an 80 VLD and 23.4 grains of 8208 in Lapua brass and a BR4. Single digit ES/SD. Hammers @ 600. Not quite up to the 1000 yard task if I want to be a serious competitor. Probably going to rebarrel it to a 6 or 6.5 something eventually.

 

[CharlieNC]

You don't mention what course of fire you plan to shoot, but I'm guessing it doesn't sound like competition. If "plinking" then try a variety of 75+ grain loads by several mfg to find what shoots best. It will not be 1moa paper target accurate, but for steel should work fine. I shoot 75 A max in a 22in bolt, with good results on steel when I handle the wind properly. You won't be competitive, but go have fun.

 

[Cuando]

I hope you two are going out by yourselves and bringing a huge target. On the other hand, if you are attending a match, don't be surprised if some of your fellow shooters give you the ole stink-eye before the day is done. A short barreled gas gun untested at longer ranges with a new guy at the trigger shooting factory ammo is what every competitor dreads having to deal with. Asking on an internet forum about what factory ammo to bring makes it even more suspect. People will be polite at first and give you all the help they can. We see guys like your friend show up at matches from time to time and we strongly encourage them. But keep in mind that people have limits when the new guy is spraying bullets at all the other targets.

Once in a while I've had the pleasure to guide a well prepared new guy so he can get on target the first shot and stay on target all day. That's nice and everyone enjoys introducing our sport to a newcomer. Try to help your neighbor become that new guy who gets congratulations at the end of match..

Do your best to make arrangements to do some sighting in at longer ranges ahead of the match, preferably with a chronograph so you can develop some dope for your 1000 target. Even good data taken at 100 yards is better than nothing. And be mindful of what is going on and try not to disrupt the normal flow of the match. Perhaps the match director will put your friend on the end or position him with a vacant target on either side. You get the point. Good luck and have fun, but don't forget your manners please.

Finally, to answer your question, I've had good performance from Black Hills ammo and I find the reloaded blue box stuff to be as accurate as the new stuff. I like the 77gr Sierra Match King ammo although I'll have to say I haven't shot it at 1000 yards. It does exhibit good accuracy and good ES and SD figures too. But I rarely shoot factory ammo so I can't say which is the best; only that Black Hills is surprisingly good in my tests.

Who in the.....?

What in the....?

Oh hell, nevermind.

 

[mtncwru]

Assuming you're going to shoot a match with multiple relays, why not load up extra .308 and just share that rifle? I'd expect that your friend would have a much more enjoyable time with that setup than trying to push factory .223 out to 1k.

 

[270WinDude]

If I had a friend that was going to a match with me I'd help him get set up with reloading and non-match range time. Especially given the circumstance. I've been drooling overbuilding a 1000yd ftr gun but it don't look easy. Have you seen his gun shoot or did he tell you it's accurate? You might need to discuss 1000 yard shooting vs 100 yard shooting with him.

 

[Dgd6mm]

The op hasn't been on here since posting this opener to his thread.