223 at 300yrds- ammo.

[ancientmariner]

I know it sounds ridiculous but I will give myself a try to compete at 300yrds distance using a rig in 223. Just to push the caliber to its limits. It won't be easy to compete with 260rem or 6.5creedmor but why not give it a try.

Bearing this in mind and having a 1/9 twist, 20" barrel I am leaning to Hornady 75 gr BTHP Superformance. Good choice?

 

[JSTARSZ]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

The 223 is well within its element at 300 yards and will stand with those other calibers at that short distance. In my 223 that is only 3.75 MOA running a 77 SMK at 2800 FPS. Now if you are shooting on a very windy day you will have to be mindful of that. Try the 75's out of the 1:9 and if that doesn't work go to the 69 sierra's and those will work fine. My 223's starts to fade at around the 600 yard mark to the other calibers and that is where they start to shine.

 

[remau308]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

Hahah we compete at 1000 yards with .223rem. I would suggest 69 or 75gr., but 300 yards doesn't test it's limits at all.

 

[pistolpacknpete]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

I shoot hornady 75's out of my savage 10fp 1-9 twist out to 600 no problem. Iv does very good. 300 is nothin for that gun. My 1-8 twist ar also does really good to 600

 

[wrhunter]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

With my handloads I found that the 69smk beats the 77smk out to about 500 yards or so then the 69 really starts to fall off. Factory loads may be a different story.

 

[Three Guns]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

My go to 300 yard load is a 55 grain HPFB bullet running close to 3000fps. It is a varmint bullet and I have been getting pretty good accuracy out of it. I am also running them through a 20 inch 1-9 twist barrel. It shoots flat and cuts the wind pretty well, not as well as some of the longer bullets with a better BC but it answers the mail when I keep it inside of it's performance envelope.

Good luck.

Tom

 

[USMC mustang]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

300 yards isn't even close to pushing the .223's limits. Try the 69 SMKs or 75 Hornadys in your 1/9 and you will more than likely be pleased with the results.

 

[ancientmariner]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

Well, I was maybe not 100% precise when saying that 300yrds can push 223 to its limit. What I meant was rather that at 300yrds it's more difficult to get similar tight groups as from 6.5s and thus harder to compete with those.
To get to the top 10 in the local competition I'd have to shoot 0.8-0.9moa groups. The best result I saw in the last year competition with 223 was 1.8moa at 300yrds (IMHO, the guy was shooting with wrong ammo, namely FMJ55grs). So, the question is, can you stand against 6.5s at that distance.

 

[jagged77]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

I shoot the 69 SMK's with mine and its very accurate out to 800 yards. However competing against the 6.5's your wind call's will have to be spot on, it'll be a good learning curve so go for it.

 

[SGT TickleFight]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ancient Mariner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Well, I was maybe not 100% precise when saying that 300yrds can push 223 to its limit. What I meant was rather that at 300yrds it's more difficult to get similar tight groups as from 6.5s and thus harder to compete with those.
To get to the top 10 in the local competition I'd have to shoot 0.8-0.9moa groups. The best result I saw in the last year competition with 223 was 1.8moa at 300yrds (IMHO, the guy was shooting with wrong ammo, namely FMJ55grs). So, the question is, can you stand against 6.5s at that distance. </div></div>

I was plinking at 275 today with my Bushmaster Varminter. With the exception of 2 shots out of 14 which I pulled, I was printing a group on the steel well under 3 inches from prone bipod without a rear bag.

I was using Berger 70gr VLDs on top of 24.6gr of RL-15 jumping from mag length. Minimal wind was approx. 3mph for which I compensated 1/2 minute.

I will be the first to tell you I am not the most consistent shot and have much to improve upon but I was happy with only 2 poor shots which did not miss by a whole lot - one of which came on my first shot when I was not properly dialed in.

If being competitive is hovering just below 1 MOA I could be definitely be competitive.

 

[ancientmariner]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Jagged77</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shoot the 69 SMK's with mine and its very accurate out to 800 yards. However competing against the 6.5's your wind call's will have to be spot on, it'll be a good learning curve so go for it. </div></div>

It is meant to be an exercise. Nothing more.

 

[terrygood]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

Get remanufactured 75 grain from Black hills. Outdoor outfitters I think has it for a little over 50cents a round. It will shoot outstanding for you. I shoot 600 yds with 1-8 18" JP Enterprise.

 

[BIPMaster]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: terryg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Get remanufactured 75 grain from Black hills. Outdoor outfitters I think has it for a little over 50cents a round. It will shoot outstanding for you. I shoot 600 yds with 1-8 18" JP Enterprise. </div></div>

Triad Tactical is another good place to get the BH Blue Box.

 

[F224]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: xmark</div><div class="ubbcode-body">With my handloads I found that the 69smk beats the 77smk out to about 500 yards or so then the 69 really starts to fall off. Factory loads may be a different story. </div></div>

What xmark said...

 

[SporterII]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

I have been shooting 50gr. ballistic tips to 300 with great success to 300, and somewhat well a bit past with a 26" 12 twist.
I have a new 700 w/ 9 twist 24" now and have tried the usual suspects I used to use, 52's , 50's and an occasional 45. Not so good. I did try Hornady 75 bthp and not too good either. Best so far, 55gr. ball. Believe it or not.
I have 68 and 69 gr loads on order and if one shoots, I will load some with that bullet. If they shine, I keep with that load.

 

[9H_Cracka]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Ancient Mariner</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I know it sounds ridiculous but I will give myself a try to compete at 300yrds distance using a rig in 223. Just to push the caliber to its limits. It won't be easy to compete with 260rem or 6.5creedmor but why not give it a try.

Bearing this in mind and having a 1/9 twist, 20" barrel I am leaning to Hornady 75 gr BTHP Superformance. Good choice? </div></div>

Hornady redesigned the 2279 in 2003 to work with the 9 twist 20" AR in 223. Yes it will work.

As far as shooting them at 300, those misinformed hard headed poor shooting Service Rifle guys run that bullet or the 77 SMK (needs an 8 twist or faster though) at 300 as "the best" bullet they can get their hands on and still mag feed, so yea they perform predictably at 300 yards.

Regarding their use (or the 69s) at 600 yards, in the 2008 Wyoming State Service Rifle Championship in a nasty wind I got beat in one of the two 600 yard matches by a guy shooting 69s. He carded a 195/200 in pretty nasty conditions versus my 75 VLDs running at 2900 FPS... I still won the 2 day agg, but he got me on that 600 match with 69s.

If you like dealing with Hornady customer service, be sure and stock up on everything Superformance you can get your hands on.

 

[RugerSlinger]

Re: 223 at 300yrds- ammo.

I shoot 40gn v-max @ 300 yds as that is what my gun loves. I get consistant 1 to 1.5" groups. I wouldnt shoot them any further but I dont think you really need a 75 gn bullet to go to 300 yds.