What's the perfect 223 prairie dog specs?

[Hydenseek]

Thinking on building a 223 to shoot prairie dogs to 4-500 yards if possible.....
Not really knowledgable in this caliber.

What would be the ideal specs?
Twist rate?
Bullet weight?
Barrel length? (Would rather keep the barrel 24" or less if possible)

 

[2dogs]

Mine is a Remington 700 blue printed and trued. Glass bedded into a B&C A-3. Hart 1:14 24" Remington varmint special contour spiral fluted barrel with a tuneable Tubb Muzzle brake. I run a CDI bottom metal and Accuracy International 10 shot magazines for an 11 shot total capacity. Chamber is cut for 223 AI and I slaughter prairie dogs while fireforming. I prefer the 40 grain Nosler BT. I have 3 rifles set up thus. Velocity runs from 3850 and up depending. I can clean a mound in short order. Accuracy is better than I can hold. Fast, flat, very accurate, and plenty powerful for PDs even way out there.

 

[SmokinJoe]

My recommendation would be a little different. I also like the 223AI, but would set it up for reliable stabilization of the 53 V-Max, which should be 1-11 twist ideally. You can get over 3700 fps with that combo, so it is pretty flat with lots of staying power due to the high BC, plus those bullets have great terminal performance. As far as the rest of the rifle, you have to decide first on what your style of shooting will be. Are you wanting to carry this thing around & shoot off a bipod maybe, or shoot strictly from a bench? Make that decision & we can be way more help.

 

[2dogs]

My friend Joe is correct. My 1:8 223 AI does 3725 with the 53 grain V Max. Very accurate.

 

[varmintshooter]

+ 1 JOE and 2DOGS
I too would go with a faster twist 1-8 or 1-9. I am shooting groundhogs with mine ( 223 AI). A 9 twist will shoot the 53 vmax and an 8 twist will shoot the 75 amax and both will be better in the wind than lighter bullets. For shots less than 300 yds I shoot reg 223 loads and Ack imp loads for longer shots. Saves powder and forms brass at the same time.

 

[Hydenseek]

I'm thinking an 11-13 lb rifle, not gonna be doing much walking around

 

[Phil]

My recommendation would be a little different. I also like the 223AI, but would set it up for reliable stabilization of the 53 V-Max, which should be 1-11 twist ideally. You can get over 3700 fps with that combo, so it is pretty flat with lots of staying power due to the high BC, plus those bullets have great terminal performance. As far as the rest of the rifle, you have to decide first on what your style of shooting will be. Are you wanting to carry this thing around & shoot off a bipod maybe, or shoot strictly from a bench? Make that decision & we can be way more help.

This.........^ 8)

I`d make the barrel as long as i could.........


Or step it up and do a 22BR with the 53 Vmax...

 

[charlesasmith]

I would recommend a 1 1/4" straight taper barrel to get the weight up. I have a 20 Practical Rem 700 McMillan Hunter BR stock shooting 39 gr bullets and it had muzzle jump. Wound up threading the barrel for a muzzle brake on the 27" heavy varmint Lilja which took care of the problem. Of course this is not a carry gun.

Chuck

 

[Toolbreaker]

Add me to the list for the 53 gn. V-Max's, also. My 1-9 twist, 24" Savage loves them. My velocity's not up to SmokinJoe's or 2dogs (3400 f.p.s. with a straight .223), but the accuracy is better than I can hold most days .

 

[DogBuster]

Mine is nothing really special.....but takes out p/dogs @ 6-700 yds

Older Salvage s/shot 'M' series (large shank action)
P-N 28" 9 twist 3 groove full cylinder/no taper w/11* crown
Choate Varminter stock
Vortex PST SFP 6-24x50 in Burris Signature rings
223 AI.....main diet is Benchmark...8208 or H4895
Boolits are 53 V max or 55 NBT's
Brass...IMI..Lapua....Win.....WCC or LC
primed with Rem 7.5's
weighs 17.5#

 

[pacificman]

Wow..all good gopher getters here! I'm shootin a nothing special Savage 1-9 twist 26 inch barrel but 24 would work great also I'm sure. I have been shooting 50 grain z-max and have nailed a few past the 500 yard mark. I lob them in there at only 3150 fps.... ;D The accuracy with bullet and speed was so good I did not try to increase the speed. .223 is a great caliber for shooting varmints as you have way more access to brass, bullet and powder combo's. You will have to let us know what ya come up with.

 

[roadkill61]

I have lots of places to shoot p-d's so I'm not trying to find places to shoot. BUT I would sure like to come sit along side some of you folks and see how you can shoot p-d's at 4-500 yds with a 223.

 

[pdog2062]

4-500 yards is very doable with a good rifle and loads.I use a Savage 12 with 26 inch varmint barrel and 55 grain Nosler ballistic tip or the Midsouth 55 grain hp.Never had a need to go heavier but I have used 50 grain v-max with good results.I only count the hits and count my brass when I get home.

 

[Hydenseek]

What would be a minimum barrel length... I don't like them any longer than they need be

 

[SmokinJoe]

My preference would be 26, but everybody has their favorite. You'll get a little more velocity with a longer barrel, but the blank will cost a bit more & they get kinda cumbersome when really long.

For roadkill: I got into the 500 yard club shooting a 223 w/50 V-Max; actual kill was 573 yards, so they will get the job done.

 

[varmintshooter]

Mine is a 24" heavy sporter contour ( cbi barrel ) on a savage action. I would guess it is about a 7.5-8 lb gun.
I do a lot of walking so kept the weight down. I have shot targets at 600 yds and killed groundhogs at up to 650 yds. If you look at the charts you will see that the heavy bullets ( high bc ) are where its at when shooting long range especially in the wind. Although I am fairly new to the ack imp version I don't think you can go wrong with it. Again I would go with a 8 or 9 twist. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[DogBuster]

This is actually my 2nd tube on this action...first was also 223 AI but a 12 twist...26" & one inch @ that muzzle....after nearly 10 years of use...I retired the 'high mileage' barrel after an estimated 9K rds..assembled new 9 twist barrel 7/13...with around 800 rds out now...I do not carry it....... ;D

 

[searcher]

I have a dedicated .223 rifle for out to 500 yards and use a 6br for beyond that. Since you also indicate your use to be 500 and under, I'd go contrary to what most folks use. I'd go with a 1-12 twist and shoot 40 to 52 grain bullets so I can get max velocity from these smaller bullets for a flatter trajectory. I'd also go with a barrel no longer than 24" as the extra length is not needed when burning faster propellants which typically work best with the smaller bullets. I'd also go a minimum of 12 pounds if not carrying and have a muzzle brake so all shots can be seen and adjusted for quickly. If you wanted it for "general use" with lots of shots way beyond 500 yards, I'd go with the 1-8 twist and a 26" tube. You really need to decide which bullet you want to use - as the length and weight will dictate which barrel twist and leade length you want.

 

[Rtheurer]

My choice for this exact Set up to kill dogs at 400 and 500 yards in 223 was a Reminton 700 that I had layin around. Wanted to keep it cheap so I put a Choate stock like in Dogbusters photo. Ordered a 25" Basic 1.25" Diameter Shilen barrel from Midway in Chrome Moly for $120 in 1:7 twist. Chambered it up in 223 Match. Put a Tasco I had on it in the begining have since put on a 8-32 Sightron becuase it was out shooting the glass I had on it. Since installed a Timney trigger as well.
My go to load is 75gr Hornady Amax with A 2520 Powder in either Lake city cases winchester. Most shots are 300 and in but have stretched it out to 400 and 500 real easy as the day wears on.
Kinda makes me mad as it has turned out to be very accuarate and I have hardly any real money into it with not the top of line parts.... yet it shoot really really well. GO figure.
It has pulled Double duty as a FTR rifle at many local Matches do to its mild recoil for kids and small statured adults. It shoots 80's real well too.
Its Fun fun fun. Its a Tank ... But fun.

 

[DogBuster]

Sold this high mileage barrel to...............?

100 yd target.....missed the dime though.......

Still shot purty good after 9 years & approx. 9K rds.........