Long Range .223

[milotrain]

Come out to Angeles Ranges with us one day and we'll show you. Again, people underestimate 223 way too much.

Those of you haven't tried, 600 yards with bipod and bags it isnt' hard at all. You just need a good rifle, ammo, ballistic chart, good technique and a spotter. Those of you haven't tried really should.

I shoot the national matches, I know an AR can do the work and I know a .223 is just fine at 600, my skepticism comes specifically with my experience shooting the .223 at 600 yards. I consistently shoot expert scores, occasionally master scores and out of 20 shots at 600 yards I'm a happy camper if I hold the 9 ring. Thats 18" with 80gr VLD or A-max bullets. You got ideal conditions or the plate is bigger than you think.

What steel plate at the 600 yard line were you shooting at? I ask because the red plate that everyone shoots at is not 9", it's 23" which is ~6MOA, and I completely believe that new shooters on scoped rifles can ring it all day long.

[huckberry668]

I shoot the national matches, I know an AR can do the work and I know a .223 is just fine at 600, my skepticism comes specifically with my experience shooting the .223 at 600 yards. I consistently shoot expert scores, occasionally master scores and out of 20 shots at 600 yards I'm a happy camper if I hold the 9 ring. Thats 18" with 80gr VLD or A-max bullets. You got ideal conditions or the plate is bigger than you think.

What steel plate at the 600 yard line were you shooting at? I ask because the red plate that everyone shoots at is not 9", it's 23" which is ~6MOA, and I completely believe that new shooters on scoped rifles can ring it all day long.

At the far left of 600 yard line there were a set of 3 hanging targets (originally 4 but 3 when we were there). 2nd target from the right was a diamond on chains. It measured just under .5 mil so i figured about 9" wide. We used the big red gong to sight in the initial shots.

We were shooting a 26" Savage 10FP (yes 26", and fluted, custom from factory) 18x Nikon on top, bipod and rear bag. Not an AR off hand with irons. He shot my 16" AR out to 400 yards with a red dot on bipod prior.

OP asked for his 26" bolt gun so I answered with my 26" bolt gun as example. BTW, my favorite load is 69gr SMK atop 25grs Varget and Rem 7.5 mag length in prep'ed brass sorted by headstamps. Way under MOA grouper in most of my rifles.

[Germz]

M193 can reach out and touch (or tickle rather) 800 yards. load is dependent on materials first off. so what are you planning on using?

heres a start. don't know how old this load data is though.

Sierra 223 Load Data PDF Download

[BrianRodela]

My load listed above with the 70VLD shot today at the range in Lake Havasu at 300 yards. Yeah,....it'll do.

[jetman624]

Range in Lake Havasu???? Whhhaaaaa?

I can ride my jetskis and shoot in the same day?

Please do share the name of this establishment.

[BrianRodela]

Here ya go! Not only can you jetski and shoot but you can go across the lake and gamble!! Wohooooo!

http://www.havasusportsman.com/

Wednesdays open to public and rifle range goes to 300.

[LRShooter]

69SMK over 26.0 of Varget out of Savage Model 12 1/9 26" barrel is a real accurate load for me. That's Sierra's max load and their bolt gun accuracy load.

I've shot the 75gr AMAX and my rifle doesn't like them as much.

Also shot the 75gr HPBT with good luck over 24.0 of Varget. I can get sub 2" groups at 200yds with these and the 69SMK. Clay pigeons at 400yds aren't a problem with either load.

[highpower790]

we all know that twist rate dictates the max bullet weight a firearm can shoot.alot of this thread mentions the smk69and what a book says you can shoot.a reloading book will not list the actual max load for the sake of being a liability.just as an example a 1/7.7 20" krieger serv barrel will shoot 24.5gr varget with a hornady 75gr bthp at 2800fps.i guarantee this load is not in any book,but it is popular with highpower shooters.
if it is possible to shoot a heavier bullet ,to retain down range energy,a shooter will be better off in any wind condition.for 600yd ,i shoot the 80gr amax with 24.5 of varget,velocity is over 2700fps.