What would you use to maximize .223 accuracy at 100 yds?

[eric n]

What bullet, twist, length, and freebore would you use to get maximum accuracy out of a .223 using top shelf component, flags and ability to load and tune at the range?

Strictly 100 yds.
6mm is out, I don’t compete and I’m looking to go cheaper.
Is there any other calibers I should look at? Peak accuracy barrel life is a huge bonus!
Any and all info is appreciated.
Thanks!

 

[1911nut]

A 222

52g
14 twist
24”
SAAMI chamber
Lapua brass

 

[jds holler]

A 222

52g
14 twist
24”
SAAMI chamber
Lapua brass

There's a lot to be said for what he says. jd

 

[swadiver]

14 twist custom barrel, custom or Berger 52 gr bullets. N133 or LT-32 powder. i don't load at the range, but here is a Shilen 14 twist results with the above components (LT-32)

 

[ebb]

I think 1911 nut is right. I may not be as versatile as a 223 but accuracy and barrel life have 223 beat.

 

[17VLD]

A 222

52g
14 twist
24”
SAAMI chamber
Lapua brass

I would check Bob Whites site (The List) on BR Central for a used 40x or Panda,he usually has reasonable rifles that shoot great with a little love.
Matt

 

[eric n]

Thanks for the reply’s.
I have thought hard on the .222. It has a solid pedigree and following, no doubt for good reason.
I was going down the .223 path because I have die and reamer, and a fair bit of experience with it but if the .222 can out agg it, I’ll go that route.
Sounds like a 14t and 52s are where it’s at with either one, Ill order up some barts and a new barrel.
I already have the gun, going to swap the bolt in a panda.
Thanks again...

 

[Rdlningcltchdmpr]

Thanks for the reply’s.
I have thought hard on the .222. It has a solid pedigree and following, no doubt for good reason.
I was going down the .223 path because I have die and reamer, and a fair bit of experience with it but if the .222 can out agg it, I’ll go that route.
Sounds like a 14t and 52s are where it’s at with either one, Ill order up some barts and a new barrel.
I already have the gun, going to swap the bolt in a panda.
Thanks again...

12 twist

 

[ebb]

Just to confuse the issue a little, I think the most accurate round going is a shortened 22PPC. The version I have experience with is the 22 Waldog. Same 12 or 14 twist same 52 grain bullet, same rifle. Maybe a little less barrel life. Does your panda have a PPC bolt face?

 

[eric n]

Just to confuse the issue a little, I think the most accurate round going is a shortened 22PPC. The version I have experience with is the 22 Waldog. Same 12 or 14 twist same 52 grain bullet, same rifle. Maybe a little less barrel life. Does your panda have a PPC bolt face?

It has a br boltface but I’m not opposed to modifying it.
That’s a neat round, thanks for sharing. I will look into it in the future.
Life changes may have me on a budget soon, if I want to keep up trigger time, I need cheap quality components and good barrel life. I don’t mind forming but that would be a little bit out of my budget. thanks!

 

[ebb]

I hear ya nobody wants to hire a 65 year old carpenter ever body I knew in the business is retired or dead. I one point when 22lr was impossible to find, I toyed with the idea of really cheap shooting. At the time 38special cases were dirt cheap and the thought was to neck them down to 22 and chamber something to shoot them. Have you seen the 22TCM? Way less powder than a 223 or 222. The brass would be the only drawback to a 22PPC or shortened version. I am working on a rifle to suppress. I have and old Turk Mauser action and didn't want to mess with bolt face so I barrowed a friends die and made 30 BR brass out of 308 Lake City. Got a 30 caliber Green Mountain 7 twist and am going to throat it for 220SMK.

 

[Lucky Shooter]

A plain vanilla 223 with N133, 50-53 gr bullets and a good barrel wouldn't be too shabby for a 100 yd gun.

Lots of other good choices but this combo is pretty simple for your stated use.

Keep it simple and fun.

A. Weldy

 

[K22]

A quote from Sierra's Rife Reloading Manual regarding the 223 Rem ..."Despite the critic's comments, any difference in accuracy, effective range, or powder compared to the 222 or 222 Rem Magnum is insignificant. In fact Sierra now uses the 223 for accuracy testing in several of our .22 caliber match kings."

I've owned and reloaded both the 222 and 223 and never observed any difference in accuracy in equal quality rifles. Both are great cartridges. You can't go wrong with either one. My 223 Rem 700 with a Douglass match barrel is a sub 1/4 moa rifle. So is my out of the box Weatherby Mark V Super Varmint master. Both my out of the box Brownings, one A bolt and one X bolt are 1/2 moa rifles as well as my Tikka T3.

I've transitioned exclusively now to the 223 since brass is easier to come by and there is a wide choice of rifles to choose from. I own a bunch of them and shoot them a lot. I enjoy shooting them - very accurate - virtually no recoil. Since I shoot a lot, the long barrel life and relatively economical reloading costs are a big bonus for me.

The maximum range at the two clubs I belong to is 200 yards which is well within the capabilities of the 223. I also hunt a lot of varmints and predators with the 223. Since 95% of my shots are within 275 yards the 223 serves me very well. Besides, my shooting style while hunting of shooting off shooting sticks limits my effective range to about that distance anyway.

I like the Nosler 50 and 55 grain bullets in my 12" and 9" twist rifles. For my 8" twist rifles the Hornady 60 Vmax is terrific. I've used a bunch of powders successfully, namely Varget, H335, Benchmark but I've settled on H4895 for all my 223's. By consolidating to one powder I can buy in bulk. All my 223's shoot this powder quite well.

Bottom line - I wouldn't shy away from a 223 especially since almost every rifle makers offers them in a wide variety of options.

 

[Sieg]

14 twist custom barrel, custom or Berger 52 gr bullets. N133 or LT-32 powder. i don't load at the range, but here is a Shilen 14 twist results with the above components (LT-32)

View attachment 1146451

Is that the best you can do?

Nice target

 

[Evan]

Given you have br bolt face, why not go 22BR and load it down to extend barrel life. Still go 14twist, 52/53gn flat base, and zero freebore. Off the shelf dies, one step sizing and no real fireforming required.

My 22BR is very very accurate, and shoots 90s under a half inch at 300 yards.

Edit: 221 Fireball is frugal and super accurate. On a 378 bolt face, that's what I would choose, or a 20 Vartarg

 

[Zero333]

Flat base Berger bullet no matter the cartridge guarantees one hole groups at 100.

 

[Brians356]

Flat base Berger bullet no matter the cartridge guarantees one hole groups at 100.

I like flat-base bullets in my 223, although the 14 twist does very well with 40 BTs. I just think it's ridiculous to put a boat-tail on a 40. Currently I am being unconventional and using mostly "best buy" Speer TNTs in 223 (50-gr), 6mm Rem (70-gr), and 250 AI (87-gr) for varmints.

The first handload I ever assembled (on advice of our "County rangemaster) was for my R700 VS in 223: H335, 7-1/2 primer, and Sierra 53-gr MatchKing. That's a recipe for success, and a good incentive when the new handloader craves groups too small to discern with a decent 12-power scope. The payoff required a 100-yard stroll to the target. I was a lot younger then, and I admit I shot some groups in those early days that I find difficult to equal now with better gear and a lot more experience.
-

 

[eric n]

Given you have br bolt face, why not go 22BR and load it down to extend barrel life. Still go 14twist, 52/53gn flat base, and zero freebore. Off the shelf dies, one step sizing and no real fireforming required.

My 22BR is very very accurate, and shoots 90s under a half inch at 300 yards.

Edit: 221 Fireball is frugal and super accurate. On a 378 bolt face, that's what I would choose, or a 20 Vartarg

Thanks Evan. I have a .223 for the heavies, 6 dasher and 6bra. I’m pretty well covered at 300.
I’m trying to be a cheapskate with powder and barrel life. I’ll definitely take a look at the vartarg and fireball.
There are quite a few guys shooting 22br at the range I go to. I will pick their brains on it.

 

[Dgd6mm]

A plain vanilla 223 with N133, 50-53 gr bullets and a good barrel wouldn't be too shabby for a 100 yd gun.

Lots of other good choices but this combo is pretty simple for your stated use.

Keep it simple and fun.

A. Weldy

If life changes puts you on a budget, it doesn't get much cheaper than this, especially owing a reamer and dies. So it may not agg quite as good as some others.... you did say you would go this way to keep up on trigger time. Cheaper to shoot, decent barrel life, good accuracy, and components and powder are everywhere.

 

[eric n]

Appreciate the input guys.
Going to go .222.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!