Wanting a "tactical" 223.....

[jbpmidas]

I'm wanting to build a repeater 223 for shooting steel and possibly F-Class. I plan to shoot 80.5/82 Bergers and may try the 90VLD. My question has to do with bottom metal. I'm looking at HS Precision or an AI mag system. What OAL do these two magazines allow?

 

[Phil]

Short or long action???

Factory or aftermarket????

 

[jbpmidas]

It will be a Remington 700 SA custom build.

 

[CatShooter]

I'm wanting to build a repeater 223 for shooting steel and possibly F-Class. I plan to shoot 80.5/82 Bergers and may try the 90VLD. My question has to do with bottom metal. I'm looking at HS Precision or an AI mag system. What OAL do these two magazines allow?

If you are using a Rem SA-700, then you can load rounds to an OAL of ~2.80 (plus a few thou)... that is 0.55" longer than standard.

For the diminutive 223, that is a lot of space for long bullets.

Remove the filler from the magazine box - if you have problems with the follower, then get the 308 magazine follower and follower spring.

 

[Terry_M]

I just did a quick measure of the opening in a standard plastic AI 223 mag and it measured 2.565 unaltered. I believe you could safely take a bit of plastic off, fore and aft, if needed.

 

[jbpmidas]

I would be mag feeding the 80.5 and single feeding the 90's. Thanks for the info! Keep it coming!!

 

[XTR]

I would be mag feeding the 80.5 and single feeding the 90's. Thanks for the info! Keep it coming!!

The 90 VLD is basically an "all in or walk away" proposition. If you want to shoot them you need to throat for them and single feed. The throat is going to be a hella lot longer than the 80s will want. You should get a 1:6.5 if you really want 90 to work, they may work in a 1:7, and don't bother from a 1:8.

If you are set up for the 90s and you can get the 80s to shoot, then good, but I seriously doubt that you can do it the other way AND get the 90s up to the velocities that you will need to make them pay dividends.

If you want to shoot a mag fed rifle I suggest that you forget that the 90VLD exists and concentrate on the 80gr class.

 

[Quinc]

Stick with the 80's. I was having no problems getting them to 1k with my 26" AR15. If you want to shoot 90's get a 22-250.

 

[XTR]

...I was having no problems getting them to 1k with my 26" AR15. ...

Define "no problem" please.

Getting it to punch a hole somewhere on the target frame at 1000 yards, sure.

Shooting scores that are Master or better with a sling or Expert in F class on a weekly basis, not so much.

I've known one guy who shot a 223 at the HM level with a sling, and he was running 90VLDs out of a match rifle with 30" barrels at velocities and pressures that trashed the brass pretty fast. I've never seen anyone shoot the 223 from 1000 in F-TR and do it consistently well. About the only masochist I know who keeps trying is Bruce from Canada.

At 600 yards, have a blast with it, heck, come out and shoot it at 1000 and have a good time, but recognize that beyond 600 you are handicapping yourself.

 

[searcher]

I think I'd be shooting all these single-shot. Concentricity issues have always plagued me shooting (accurately) off the mag.

 

[eric n]

I use 308 5 round AI mags on my 223 Ackley, I don't see why it wouldn't work for the parent case.
If you are into tinkering all you need to do is add a shim in each side of the mag and bend the feed lips in. It feeds almost perfect (95%) which is much better then the polymer mags for me. The composite construction shims from home depot or lowes have the perfect taper and are a couple bucks for a dozen.

 

[amlevin]

I think I'd be shooting all these single-shot. Concentricity issues have always plagued me shooting (accurately) off the mag.

This will always be an issue with a mag feed when using a long bullet that isn't seated in the neck as far as you can. The feed ramp will always have a tendency to 'tweak' things.

This can be minimized with a nice tight freebore, neck sized only cases, and seating bullets long enough so they engage the lands when chambered. Both ends of the bullet are held more straightly when there is less room to move. Closing the bolt on a snug round could correct any "tweek" providing the meplat isn't damaged.

 

[Quinc]

...I was having no problems getting them to 1k with my 26" AR15. ...

Define "no problem" please.

Getting it to punch a hole somewhere on the target frame at 1000 yards, sure.

Shooting scores that are Master or better with a sling or Expert in F class on a weekly basis, not so much.

I've known one guy who shot a 223 at the HM level with a sling, and he was running 90VLDs out of a match rifle with 30" barrels at velocities and pressures that trashed the brass pretty fast. I've never seen anyone shoot the 223 from 1000 in F-TR and do it consistently well. About the only masochist I know who keeps trying is Bruce from Canada.

At 600 yards, have a blast with it, heck, come out and shoot it at 1000 and have a good time, but recognize that beyond 600 you are handicapping yourself.

I held my own against the 308 shooters. Have since sold that gun and upgraded to .284.