Long Range .223

[jetman624]

I have a Remington 700P in with a 26, 1:9 twist barel. Can someone give me a starting point for a load that will get me out to 3-400 yards?

[BLR81]

I have a Remington 700P in with a 26, 1:9 twist barel. Can someone give me a starting point for a load that will get me out to 3-400 yards?

Any load will get you out to 400 yds. People shoot 22lr out to 300+ yds. the question is what do you want the bullet to do when it gets there. Punch a hole in paper or take down a Elk.

[damndave]

What bullet and powder?

Just about any 223 round will gets hits at 300-400 yrds.

[CobraRed]

I've shot alongside my buddies' 16" AR15's at the 500 yard line many many times w/ handloaded longer bullets.

Much past that it gets a little hairy, but with your set-up you should be sitting pretty.

[GeoffLinder]

My advice if you want good performance in the wind is to use a match grade 69gr bullet like the Sierra SMK 69. Load it hot with Varget powder. Do good case prep and find a charge weight that performs best in your rifle.

Yes, you can get good performance with a 55gr at 300-400 yards, but they will be shedding velocity faster than a 69gr (lower BC) so you will get better performance in the wind with the 69gr. Not shooting in much wind and 55gr's will perform very well at up to 400. Much past 450-500 yards and they will be starting to go subsonic from the extra drag though.

The 1:9 barrel won't work well with anything heavier than a 69-70gr bullet.

[milotrain]

I'd get a sample of some heavy bullets. There have been reports of 1:9 barrels being able to stabilize them. This is by far the exception rather than the rule. The VLD bullets (A-max as well) will have a smaller bearing surface than a traditional HPBT profile, which may assist you in shooting them through a gun with a faster twist, but be warned that they are fairly jump sensitive.

69gr Nosler Custom Competition
70gr Berger VLD
73gr Berger Target Boat Tail
75gr Berger VLD
75gr Hornady A-Max
75gr Hornady HPBT match
77gr Nosler Custom Competition
77gr Sierra Match King

[707electrician]

I shoot my 20" AR15 service rifle out to 800 yards with 80gr SMKs no problem.

[milotrain]

But we don't shoot 1:9s in highpower and the 80gr SMK won't shoot in a 1:9.

[GeoffLinder]

I shoot my 20" AR15 service rifle out to 800 yards with 80gr SMKs no problem.

With a 1;7 twist barrel I bet

OP has 1:9 twist FYI

[BrianRodela]

69 SMK or 70 VLD
23.5 gn AR-Comp or 24.5 gn Reloader 15
Primer, take your pick
2.250 COAL
Should be around 2930 fps.

[707electrician]

But we don't shoot 1:9s in highpower and the 80gr SMK won't shoot in a 1:9.

I must have missed that part

With a 1;7 twist barrel I bet

OP has 1:9 twist FYI

Mines a 1:8 wylde.

Regardless, 3-400 yards should be no problem with the 69SMKs

[milotrain]

Regardless, 3-400 yards should be no problem with the 69SMKs

Agreed

[Stockton]

26" 1:9 bolt gun in 223 to get to 400?

55 or 62 will do just fine

[huckberry668]

Most people under estimate 223/556 capabilities... or their ownrifle skills. We shot out to 600+ yards at 9" targets and accomplished nearly 100% hits after sight-inyou by a couple of first time shooters off bipods last week.

The load was 55gr Hornady fmj atop 26 gr Varget.

[707electrician]

Most people under estimate 223/556 capabilities...

This is absolutely true. Many people don't realize that .223 and .308 have very similar trajectories