Went from thinking about bolt action to...

[smittty]

IMO your rifle needs the TC stock with the higher comb.

Unless you hunt big game the 223 is just fine for precision shooting.

For a very accurate high value bolt gun look at the Mossberg Predator.

[Wrangler John]

Wrangler John: thank you very much for that recipes. I have a few dozen .223's necked for my 7mm and even primed but we're talking like at least 5 years ago if not longer. I've been thinking lately of resurrecting it but starting all over again with new brass - it's all mixed brass... I guess I can just fire off all of the primers in a dry fire and get all the brass de-primed and start looking at culling good brass with weights close to each other.

I read an article in the last couple of years published by one of the slick magazines, where the author did a test of various brands of .223 Remington brass on accuracy. He fired a mix including Lapua, Norma, Lake City, Remington and Winchester. First he fired 5 groups of 5 shots loaded in each brand. Then the editor asked him to fire 5 groups of 5 shots each of a mix of all the brands combined. The groups fired from a mixed lot of brass actually were smaller, .41" or so (IIRC), beating out the single brand groups. He was left scratching his head.

So sometimes what we expect is dashed upon the rocks of reality, or it was just a fluke.

If you want good quality brass at a reasonable price, keep your eye on this link, as this brand is a good deal. It should be back in stock soon.

http://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/12628

Otherwise I use Winchester brass when available for about everything .223 Remington.

Good luck on your projects, like my wife says; at least tinkering with guns keeps me out of saloons.

[sigstroker]

In my .223 Contender I never once had ignition troubles, and I used only AR ammo that was full length resized. So apparently they do not all have that problem.

[HermanH]

So back from the range over the weekend and a few observations.

1) Cheek riser needed to be lowered a 1/4". I didn't have my allen wrench with me (5mm). Difficult to get a good view through the scope. Had to lower my check weld point and tilt my head.. keep in mind, it's my first time shooting RIGHT HANDED.

2) Without a sandbag at the rear, it seemed very twitchy for me to keep the crosshairs on dead center... well, just steady in general. At 6x minimum magnification, the closest I could put the target was 50 yards to start zeroing the scope. Wondering if I should have started with a regular 3-9x scope or if this is just shooting RH for the first time.

3) Grouping, if you want to call it that, was essentially 4-5" due to how much the crosshairs were jumping. I started out using H322 powder behind a Sierra 52gr. BTHP and from my Colt, I know this powder is only good for plinking. It loves H335 better. By the end of my session, it became more like 3" using Accurate No. 7 behind the same bullet and on a couple of occasions, I got two next to each other.

Funny, with my LE6920, I can maintain a 2"-3" group with just my Aimpoint PRO using H322 behind a 55gr. It actually felt steadier and that was also RH. (it still like H355 better on the same bullet which allows me a 2" at 100 yards.)

When I got home, I adjusted the cheek weld so now it's good but I'm going to try the same loads again, but have them put in the left-hand bench and try with the LH this time around. I just feels more natural on my LH. Still, I'm glad I tried this RH because I now know it doesn't feel weird or awkward.

On that note, I have a Remington 700 VSF in jail. Picking it up this Saturday.

[Masterdebater]

the real question is, how much u want for it? jk im still looking for someone looking to get rid of a pistol for a decent price

[russ69]

3) Grouping, if you want to call it that, was essentially 4-5"...

I wont post pictures of my pistol groups because people will call me a liar but you have a long way to go yet. I've never seen a Contender that wouldn't shoot good groups.

[Capt.Dunsel]

Check your throat , Contenders have been known for having a more generous throat than most.

You can seat out a bit farther and you might find better groups.

All my Contenders shoot MOA groups , rifles and pistol lengths.

My 357 Maximum will shoot 1/2 inch groups at 100 yards , if I seat the bullets out a little farther ( longer OAL ) than for the revolvers . This is with peep sights.

Same with the 218 bee , 30/30 , 45/70. A little longer and groups tighten up.

And the extender you mounted on the hammer adds weight , might cause a light strike if hammer spring is on the weak side.

[HermanH]

Funny side note, on the last 10 shots out of the Contender w/AA#7, I NEVER missed the gong out at the 100 yard targets. Granted, it's a silhouetted piece of steel about 24" wide and 24" tall.

[MongooseV8]

Sandbag next time