setting my .223 up for "benchrest"

[GSRswapandslow]

right now I have a rem 700 sps tactical, chambered in .223. the gun has been cut/threaded for my suppressor...and sits in a hart LRT stock (accublock) and has a timney 517 trigger. I run a 6-24x50 Viper PST with a 0moa EGW HD rail and put it in Seekins low rings. I shoot from a 6-9" harris sbrm bipod and a protector rear bunny ear bag (heavy bottom/leather)..

The gun shoots decently for what it is....but it could do a LOT better with a better trigger, stock, and front support. My plans are dropping the rifled action into a Shehane ST1000 stock, fiberglass, and swapping over to a Jewell Varmint trigger. The scope will be moved to my "precision" ar15 and will be replaced with a 36x sightron or weaver. I'm on the list for a Cowan rest in the spring, so that along with my protector rear bag will be how it's shot.

I have a 200yd, private range, and this will be used there 99.9% of the time. I have mountain land to shoot on, out to 500-600yds...but that will mainly be on steel and shot with my ar15's and some other rifles more indicative of being shot from a bipod.

So....my question is....am I wasting my time? The barreled action has under 2000 rounds through it...so I think it'd be good to rechamber still, as I was thinking about doing a .223ai chamber for it, since I don't want to rebarrel it yet.

I'm just looking for some advice as to what I should do....


Thanks

 

[CJ6]

Your putting an AWFUL lot of money into a FACTORY 223 barreled action,. It's your money, But I don't think you'll get your BR accurate for all the monies you've spent/spend. Look around for a used rig ( $1700- $2000) gets a good (used) setup.

 

[GSRswapandslow]

Well the money's not really an issue, nor is dead on accuracy, this is gonna be a range toy/practice/buddy beating gun.....I have other setups in mind for more serious situations. My main concern is if 223aiI is worth rechambering too and getting setup

 

[Stormbringer]

What twist is your factory barrel? If anything slower than 1-9 I would not rechamber. Just shoot it as is. The 223 AI while a neat caliber is not much faster/better than the standard 223. Also could be a problem when mixing ammo with your AR.

I also would not spend another dime for a new scope, stock or trigger for the rifle. Your gains will be minsicule if anything at all. Your factory action and barrel will not simply get any more accurate with those upgrades. The only way I would replace those components is if you have that factory action accurized and screw on a quality barrel.

JMHO.

Mike.

 

[Johnboy]

From what I have read it sounds to me,that more testing needs to be done.You have already put a great amount of money into a factory rifel.( great choices I may say ) It is what it is or not,this will be your call.If not then I say build.

 

[lpreddick]

re the .223 ai...this is my favorite ackley imp cartridge. 2-2.5 more grains of powder than the .223 but unbelievable improvement in speed! this ackley imp cartridge seems to extract more energy from the additional grains of powder. i have seen it referred to as "a magic cartridge". with the right bullet (based on twist) and powder, you can equal a 22-250's velocity with about 7-10 gr LESS powder. my 14 twist kreiger can push a 53 fowler to 3500+ fps using 8208XBR . i'm now shooting 63 cheeks over n140 using a russian mag primer at 3400 fps and the hole is one. you could have your factory barrel chambered for the ackley and try it...if accuracy is inadequate...buy a ss kreiger, bartlein, etc and it will shoot...have 800+ thru mine and the lands are sharp with almost no firecracking.

 

[Bradley Walker]

I am converting all my bolt guns to the 223 Ackley... I love mine. Great cartridge.... So much fun to shoot... Easy to get tiny groups too...

 

[GSRswapandslow]

the scope is a must, my pst IS going onto my ar15 as that will be my groud hog/prone shooting rifle now
the stock is a must because I just don't like my Hart stock...ok, not a MUST, but a personal preference lol
the trigger.....i assumed it was a must, as I don't know many people that DON'T use a jewell on a 700...


the barrel is 1:9...and finished right around 19-19.5"....

i haven't shot over a 75gr BTHP, but I know the 77gr SMK's will work....but I might try the 75gr Amax's though...and maybe some heavier bergers. I will say that my best groups have come from 50gr Zmax's...but the 53gr smk's and 69gr smk's grouped awfully damn good for very very little development. So...there will def be more testing, I might just hold off until i can get the rifle rechambered to AI....

i've been reading since I posted this... and for the price of everything, it's kind of looking like I could just build another rifle all together for not much more money, though.........I had planned on doing a 6br based off a savage target action earlier this year...but was thrust into NFA items and haven't looked back, but with the current environment....my AR purchases will be stopped and I might just do the br instead of messing with the 223 for now...and just add parts to it over time instead of over one weekend

 

[Johnboy]

If it will help out I have been loading the 70gn Berger VLD in my 1:9.I must add that they really fly with little work done to the load or cases.I will even go to say that I just took my 69gn load charge weight for a first run.It worked for the 70gner.My loads ( both are in the lands ) and max for my rifel with IMR 8208xbr

 

[GSRswapandslow]

i'm thinking about a 6tcu now....

 

[amamnn]

Since the word "benchrest" was in quotes, we might safely assume that the OP means he's going to put his rig on a bench of some kind and have at it...................and since "money?.....is not an issue.......nor is dead on accuracy..." It is hard to understand why the OP worries he might be wasting his money on a factory rifle. Why worry? Just practice more.

For others who do not put benchrest in quotation marks- we'll assume they mean the real thing as sanctioned by NBRSA or IBS or etc. in which case CJ6 had the answer..........

 

[GSRswapandslow]

by the inclusion of quotations i was meaning that this is an informal rig. Its main purpose is to shoot better than my buddies that are still stuck on shooting their 260s, 308's, and 300wm's for 100-200yds....and not beat my shouldering to death doing so. But, all is well...the barrel is going off to be rechambered to .223ai and it'll be getting a steady diet of varget and 69gr smk's from now on It's also going to get an ST1000 in the next few weeks....ordering 2, one for the 6br i'm picking up off here next week and they'll even match haha.


thanks for all the help fellas