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Range Report .223 80 AMAX Report

spot69221

Full Member
Full Member
Minuteman
Jul 12, 2008
1,082
16
Missouri
Quick report on what I shot tonight. What velocity do you think?

Load
.223 w/21" Rock 8 twist
80 AMAX
Win brass
24.0 gr RE15
CCI 400

Conditions
88F
28.89inHg (station) (1050asl)
59%

yds mils
100 - 0
200 - .4
300 - 1.1
400 - 2.0
500 - 2.9
600 - 3.9
688 - 5.1
800 - 6.7
900 - 8.5
1000 - 10.3
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Single load only?</div></div>

Help me out a bit more, ?
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bronco</div><div class="ubbcode-body">2600 fps. </div></div>

I agree, since it's a 21".
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

I agree with MM. Litz lists the average g1 bc at 0.452. Those numbers should represent a velocity around 2800.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

Knowing my velocity is 2940 with 75's out of a 22" tube I would think 2800 is well within reach on a 21" tube with 80's.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

I didn't have the Amax BC so used 80 SMK @ .420, 2650 was to high to match close to his stated come ups, 2600 is a bit low, would guess between somewhere. Powder charge looked a bit low, although I,ll have to look and see where mine are.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: spot69221</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Single load only?</div></div>

Help me out a bit more, ?

</div></div>

boltaction I assume now, I reread your first post, "rock" got me thinkin rock river arms, sorry my bad.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

Finally played with JBM.

Input Data
Manufacturer: Hornady Description: Amax (Litz)
Caliber: 0.224 Weight: 80.0 gr
Muzzle Velocity: 2735.0 ft/s Distance to Chrono: 0.0 ft
Sight Height: 1.90 Wind Speed: 10.0 mph Wind Angle: 90.0 deg
Temperature: 85.0 °F Pressure: 29.95 in Hg
Humidity: 50.0 % Altitude: 1050.0 ft
Mark Sound Barrier Crossing: Yes Include Extra Rows: Yes
Atmospheric Density: 0.07234 lb/ft³ Speed of Sound: 1144.2 ft/s

Calculated Table
Range Drop Windage Velocity

(yd) (mil) (mil) (ft/s)
100 -0.0 0.2 2545.5
200 -0.5 0.4 2363.5
300 -1.2 0.6 2189.4
400 -2.1 0.9 2022.9
500 -3.1 1.1 1863.1
600 -3.9 1.4 1709.4
688 -5.1 1.7 1561.2
800 -6.7 2.1 1419.0
900 -8.6 2.5 1283.9
1000 -10.6 2.9 1158.5


 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: spot69221</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 427Cobra</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Single load only?</div></div>

Help me out a bit more, ?

</div></div>

boltaction I assume now, I reread your first post, "rock" got me thinkin rock river arms, sorry my bad.</div></div>

Yes, just a trued up Remmy 700.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

Finally got to play a bit, shot tonight and got the RE15 temperature sensitive results.

The load for this rifle shoots the tightest groups I have ever fired and tonight it would only best 3/4 MOA, most were larger.

Dope went from 6.7mil 800yds 90 degrees, to 7.3mil 800yds 50 degrees.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report


Things didn't go as planned but did launch a few at 1000yds.

Load
Rem 700 trued
.223 w/21" Rock 8 twist
80 AMAX
Win brass
24.4 gr Varget
CCI 450

Conditions
63F
28.09inHg (station) (1050asl)
75%

yds mils
100 - 0
200 - .4
300 - 1.1
400 - 1.9
500 - 2.8
600 -
700 -
800 -
900 -
1000 - 9.8

JBM was pretty dead on. I was .1 mil off on the 1000. The brass out of the box never sized, so this gives an irregular neck tension on the loads. I only uniformed the primer pockets and inside flash hole. Should tighten up on the next firing. Managed a rough 1.5 MOA group of 7 shot at 1000. Had pefect round holes on the target as well.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

Did a quick check on my dope for the Varget load above at 100, 500, and 1200.

Conditions
38F
28.81inHg (station) (1050asl)
84%

1200 yds 15.1 mils

Varget load above, Very low light condition and heavy mist. It was a quick setup shooting of the top of the camper shell. Bipod and bath towel rear support
smile.gif


Shot 10 rounds. A couple friends helped me review the target. Was shooting at a piece of notebook paper (8.5x11) stapled on some OSB. Wind call was excellent at 1.0 mil R. 8 shots accounted for and dispersion was mostly vertical. 2 shots in the mud (splatter on the board). I would say all shots were on about 2 1/2' vertical with 1' horizontal spread. Ballistic program said 14.6 mil, I instead put 14.7 and all shots were low (hence the 15.1).

I was rather pleased since conditions were tough and had to set the NF to a measly 14 power to barely be able to see.

Sure was fun, can't wait to try in optimum conditions. I'll try to get some pics next time.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

Pleased, he was pleased. That's nice... He's shooting a .223 1200 yards, misses a piece of NOTEBOOK paper by less than a foot and he's pleased. I'm pleased and it's not even my rifle. Not to mention it was done in less than perfect conditions.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

First post here, but I shoot alot of the sierra 80's out of an AR service rifle. My favorite load for them is 25.5 of N150. Lots of people told me it was too slow for the 223, and wouldnt work. Cycles the action to the BHO, is very smooth and would give me 2820 fps out of a 20 in. barrel. No pressure signs at all. 24.0 RL15 would flatten primers in my rifle. 24.5 blew primers. I suspect the N150 load can be safely increased and might be great for your bolt guns.

Here is the load and particulars..
20" wylde Chamber 1/8 Wilson barrel (AR15)
Lapua case
wolf SRM Primer
25.5 N150
80 Sierra HPBT .015 off the lands

2820 FPS
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

For interest, I shoot 80gr A-Max through a barnard actioned Krieger 8" twist, 30" tube f-tr rifle. Chamber is tight at .253" neck with lapua loaded brass mic'ing out at .250"

Load is 25.5gr Varget in summer and 26.0gr in winter
Muzzle velocity ~ 2980fps
Lapua brass
CCI 450 small mag primer

80 A-max is G1 0.453 and G7 0.231 (According to Bryan Litz' data in his excellent book)

FYI Firing pin is considerably smaller in OD on the barnard (and various other actions including Rem700s with bushed firing pin hole) as opposed to a standard Rem700 or AR15 platform. This factor plus the hard 450 primer and lapua brass means we can run hotter loads. <span style="font-weight: bold">DO NOT</span> try 26gr varget in a std Rem700 action if you don't want pierced primers or other unpleasant surprises.

Anyway, there it is, for what it's worth...
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

I had no clue that a .223 could even make it out to 1,200 yards with accuacy, crap the way that was shooting at 1,200, thats for sure "Minute of Bad Guy".

Learn something new everyday.....

I think my interest in the .223/5.56x45mm in growing day by day.....
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Walsh</div><div class="ubbcode-body">.....
I think my interest in the .223/5.56x45mm in growing day by day.....</div></div>

Build one around the heavy bullets! So cheap to shoot and no recoil.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

It is an excellent caliber for LR target shooting but it does start to become marginal after 900yds. Shooting a 223 heavy in anything other than low/no wind, reasonably warm conditions at 1000 is an experience that could best be described as 'rubbery', if you're looking for ~1moa accuracy. 10inches (1moa at 1000) is a shade less than the average person's width of chest/center mass portion when viewed front-on.

I've shot a lot of 223 at those ranges and for anything other than target shooting, get something with better ballistics and hitting power.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

It would be great if I could shoot 1 moa at 1000 yds consistently.

Priest,
Would you say that a .308 with a 175 SMK traveling at 2675fps would be adequate ballistics? Do you think it would have sufficient hitting power for 180 pound game say at 600yds?
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

Spot

Well, I weigh 187lbs and I can tell you that if you hit me with a 175gr SMK in a vital area when I was 600yds away, I'd probably go down like a bag of shit.

In short, yes - there's plenty enough energy in that projectile at that velocity and range to do the job you're describing, so long as you put the bullet in the right place. Plenty of two-legged game has been bowled over in recent times by the M118LR Match round, which shoots a 175gr HPBT at about 2600fps from a 22" to 24" barrel (temp/load/barrel dependent) and has about 1030-1040 ft-lbs of energy left over at 600yds.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

I wasn't sure where you were coming from on your statement a few posts up about the .223. The 80 AMAX at 2950fps has about the same energy at 600 yds as the 175 class bullet has at 800 yds.
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

Sure - all I was saying is that out at the far edge of the 223 envelope (900-1000yds) a 223, 80gr A-Max wouldn't be my choice for anything other than paper punching, due to wobbly ballistics (projectile starts going trans-sonic at about these ranges - load/weather dependent)and lack of hitting power.

At 600yds, it may well be a different story. FYI, I've used 75gr A-Max for hunting previously, out to 500yds and stopped using them after getting a lot of shoot-throughs with no expansion. Not the same explosive effect as the V-max, which in .224" only goes up to 60gr. If you want to try the 223 for longer range hunting, using the heavier projectiles, I'd probably go for a HPBT design - better chance of deformation/tumbling on impact.

Probably a few varmint hunters around here who shoot high-speed 22s (swift, 22-250, etc) out to the 600 range. Would be interesting to know what projectiles they use
 
Re: .223 80 AMAX Report

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Priest</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Sure - all I was saying is that out at the far edge of the 223 envelope (900-1000yds)</div></div>

Yea, I would agree. I have been awaiting a shot or 2 on game 'without hitting bone'. The few animals I have shot bullets always totally disintegrate.