How accurate is your 223?

[velocette]

Savage target action, Shilen SM .223 barrel, XLR Industries Element chassis, SEB Joy-Pod.

all 5 @ 100yds

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Several years ago, I helped this gentleman to a start in rifleshooting. Now the so and so outshoots me!
I have seen his targets and he does NOT exaggerate.

 

[Snuggie]

Shooting that one 9 must have been a real kick to the junk lol

Still hurts! Lol!

 

[Dgd6mm]

Shooting that one 9 must have been a real kick to the junk lol

Been there done that, it happens.

 

[Nature Boy]

Achieved my personal goal this year. FTR Mid Range High Master with a .223 and 90VLD’s.
Yes it is a challenge but it can be achieved.

My 15 year old boy made midrange master with his

 

[Deleted old_dood]

Savage LRPV with Shilen select match, 7 twist, custom throated for SMK 80s, 200 yds, 26.1g CFE.

 

[velocette]

Still hurts! Lol!

Naw, Snuggie, it actually feels good to have done something good for our sport.
I've won my share of rifle and pistol matches, its now time for some younger folks to start grabbing the gold.
(As if a recently retired gentleman is "younger")

 

[Highpower-FClass]

I have a very accurate 223 FTR rifle. In the last two 300 yard matches i shot with this rifle my scores were 600-55X and 600-48X (shot one year apart).

In my most recent 600 yard match with this rifle I shot 399-26X (third match rained out). This included a 200-15X in the second match.

The rifle is a Savage Target action in a Bell & Carlson Medalist stock and a 8 twist 28 inch Shilen Select Match prefit. I shoot the Berger 80 VLDs, using Varget. It is a fantastic barrel, not sure if I'll ever have another one like it.

Shooting the 80s at 300 is great. At 600 it becomes a real challenge when the winds start switching, I have shot some real stinker 3rd matches with this same rifle at 600

 

[Cade]

Morning,

Yep, I'm still reading. I don't have anything to add to the discussion - I'm just listening.

My question has been answered though. Looks to me like if I have a 223 built with quality components - say Bighorn Origin, 24 or 26" heavy varmint cut rifled barrel, calvin elite (I have already), bedded to a good stock - I should see with quality handloads and if I am up to the task 1/4" to 3/8" 5 shot groups at 100 on a consistent basis.

That answers my question, and is what I am looking for.

If I go the Bighorn Origin route that allows me to just buy a new bolt head and barrel = 6br when funds allow.

If I go this route the unanswered question would be 1/7" twist or 1/8" twist for the 223? I will probably live life around a 69 smk, but would like to experiment with the 75 and up crowd.

I am trying hard to NOT take the easy route - resist buying a Tikka T3X varmint in 223 (1/8 twist) or Remington 700 5R stainless with 24" tube in 223 (1/9 twist). Both can be had for under $800 which is very tempting.

I went with the 26" Bartlein 7.7 Varmint on my Remmi & working on the Hornady 75 BTHP and ELDM with Varget and Lapua brass with Fed 205M.

 

[Jdne5b]

..snip.. Shilen .. snip...

It is a fantastic barrel, not sure if I'll ever have another one like it.

I had a Shilen like that. I need to try another one just to see.

 

[Baer45]

should have my Shilen Select match 14 twist .222 barrel here by mid july. gonna be a shoot off between it and my current fantastic .223 Shilen Select match 14 twister. big fun, fer sure

should have my Shilen Select match 14 twist .222 barrel here by mid july. gonna be a shoot off between it and my current fantastic .223 Shilen Select match 14 twister. big fun, fer sure

Let us know what happens! Has it come in yet?

 

[urbanrifleman]

I went with the 26" Bartlein 7.7 Varmint on my Remmi & working on the Hornady 75 BTHP and ELDM with Varget and Lapua brass with Fed 205M.

That is my new barrel the Bartlein 7.7. What do you think?

 

[searcher]

A well-tuned .223 in the hands of an expert has the capability of beating a 6ppc or 6br in the hands of a novice. Both have the capability of shooting a sub .1" group. I have shot a lot of little tiny groups with my 6 ppc, 6 BR and Dasher (sub .1"), though the smallest group I have ever fired in my life came from a factory Remington 700 Varmint .223 shooting Berger 73's with Surplus powder I bought from Lester Bruno. Maybe the wind erratically blew them into that tiny hole - but it happened. I don't own a .223 target rifle but there is no question the difference between the quality .223 target rifle and a well tuned 6br at 100 yards is quite small - surely less than .1" or .2". After all, I have three Ar-15 rifles in .223 that all shoot less than .3" in windless conditions with consistency. My .223 that fired that tiny group will not go head-to-head with any of my target rifles on a consistent basis - but then again - it is not a quality target rifle - but will consistently shoot .250"