Budget .223 bolt rig for youths? (PRS)
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http://pacifictoolandgauge.com/cfs-...eceiver-w-ptg-bolt-and-remington-trigger.html
This could be a great place to start.
This could be a great place to start.
Finally got him out to shoot this thing! I still think the LOP is a tad long for him. He had fun though.
Question: I've little to no experience with the .223/5.56 cartridge outside using it in an M16A2 while in the Corps. We had a helluva time connecting on a 12" plate at 473-yds Saturday with PMC 55-gr ammo.
Is that to be expected? I am just starting to investigate reloading for .223...what's a good load/bullet to start for his gun? Thanks in advance!
Question: I've little to no experience with the .223/5.56 cartridge outside using it in an M16A2 while in the Corps. We had a helluva time connecting on a 12" plate at 473-yds Saturday with PMC 55-gr ammo.
Is that to be expected? I am just starting to investigate reloading for .223...what's a good load/bullet to start for his gun? Thanks in advance!
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473 yards is getting out there a good ways, especially for bulk fmj ammo coming out of a 16" barrel. Reloading will make it way better but its still a good distance chip shot.Reloading should tighten up your groups and loading a superior bullet will help it preform better at range.
That rifle has a 1:8 twist so even the 75-77 bulk would be better at distance over the 55 grain.
Run some different simulations on here and see what looks best to you. Here are a couple samples, bullet and velocities being the one thing that changes
http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin...j_simp-5.1.cgi
Hornady 50 vmax
Hornady 75 match
Nosler 77 custom comp
Nosler 60 balistic tip
That rifle has a 1:8 twist so even the 75-77 bulk would be better at distance over the 55 grain.
Run some different simulations on here and see what looks best to you. Here are a couple samples, bullet and velocities being the one thing that changes
http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin...j_simp-5.1.cgi
Hornady 50 vmax
Hornady 75 match
Nosler 77 custom comp
Nosler 60 balistic tip
Thanks Spife! I loaded a batch of 77-gr Nosler for my .223 trainer too, just from a reloading manual, and they didn't group well either...had a little bit better luck on the 473 plate, but not what I was expecting.
Will have to play with load dev in both guns.
Will have to play with load dev in both guns.
With a 1 in 8" twist I'd look at the 73/75/77 bullet offerings available from Hornady, Sierra, and Berger. Varget is a good go to powder for .223 heavy bullets as well as IMR 8208 XBR. Here is reference link:
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-education/reloading-beginners/reloading-223
Here is a recent thread detailing some load development with the new Hornady 73gr ELD-M's:
https://www.snipershide.com/shootin...2888-hornady-224-73-eld-m-testing#post6399580
I've had excellent success with the 73gr ELD-M's in my Savage 12BVSS @2925fps. Granted the 26" barrel affords me some velocity gains you may not be able to achieve safely with the 16" barrel. However, even above 2800fps the 73gr performs very well and at $19 per 100 they are quite affordable.
If my experience at 600yd this Spring taught me anything, its that the Hornady 75gr HPBT-Match load is not at the edge of stability in my Savage 11VT's 1:9" 24' barrel. I may be at the edge of my own endurance, but the load is not. 9's and 10's, and the 9's my mistake, not the load's. I chose the load (24.4gr Varget) because it had to work in two rifles, one my 1:9" and the other, my Granddaughter's 1:8". It worked so well in both that I have zero plans for redeveloping any loads for those rifles.
This rifle will fit the youth and be upgradeable with this stock when the time comes for it to fit a full-sized young shooter. In the meantime, I hope your youth shoots the heck out of it, so the barrel can be reasonably replaced with one of these.
I can't say for certain that the 75gr HPBT-M will do OK in the 20" barrel, but I'm pretty sure that 69gr match loads would. At 600yd, the 69gr doesn't need to make excuses to anyone. I don't expect to be using my 75gr load at 1000yd. I have a .260 for that distance.
Yeah, it's pink. I recall the Johnnie Cash song about a boy named Sue. Pink is just another color. If it means anything, I use pink as an identifier color for my own property because, well, who else would use it? When I see that pink, it's a pretty safe bet I'm looking at my own property. Besides there's the little Sister to consider. Really, the rifle will serve them both, and when the time comes, the boy's either gonna be done with.guns, or worth buying another one, full size. If he faces adversity for it, well, character gets built in many ways.
Greg
This rifle will fit the youth and be upgradeable with this stock when the time comes for it to fit a full-sized young shooter. In the meantime, I hope your youth shoots the heck out of it, so the barrel can be reasonably replaced with one of these.
I can't say for certain that the 75gr HPBT-M will do OK in the 20" barrel, but I'm pretty sure that 69gr match loads would. At 600yd, the 69gr doesn't need to make excuses to anyone. I don't expect to be using my 75gr load at 1000yd. I have a .260 for that distance.
Yeah, it's pink. I recall the Johnnie Cash song about a boy named Sue. Pink is just another color. If it means anything, I use pink as an identifier color for my own property because, well, who else would use it? When I see that pink, it's a pretty safe bet I'm looking at my own property. Besides there's the little Sister to consider. Really, the rifle will serve them both, and when the time comes, the boy's either gonna be done with.guns, or worth buying another one, full size. If he faces adversity for it, well, character gets built in many ways.
Greg
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Personally, i would suggest the Howa in 6.5 Grendel.
http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part..._1=BBH_6xzzx5+Grendel&avs|Manufacturer_1=HOWA
Vastly superior in long rang ballistics to the .223 with minimal increase in recoil.
Coupled with this, you should be able to meet your price tag:
http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...a-1500-lss-chassis-mini-action-prod95995.aspx
http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part..._1=BBH_6xzzx5+Grendel&avs|Manufacturer_1=HOWA
Vastly superior in long rang ballistics to the .223 with minimal increase in recoil.
Coupled with this, you should be able to meet your price tag:
http://www.brownells.com/rifle-part...a-1500-lss-chassis-mini-action-prod95995.aspx
I like the Grendel but I have to disagree that it's vastly superior to 223 downrange, unless energy is your only consideration. My 73 ELD load out of a 20" tube shoots quite a bit flatter, slightly less drift but way less energy than the 123 Amax out of an 18" barrel. That plus the cost of .264 bullets being 50% more makes the 223 the superior training/practice/plinking and kid teaching round in my opinion.
The 73 ELD seems like an awesome bullet, and I'm no grendel fanboy.
There are plenty of fairly cheap 6.5 bullets out there and I think when you compare apples to apples (same barrel length, same action), I think the grendel has some advantages.
Of course, the OP could AI a .223 and gain a bit of velocity, I've been frustrated with the tiny pills from the .223 being blown all over the place.
Don't get me wrong, I like the Grendel but if we do compare apples to apples it's not head and shoulders above 223 in anything but energy. I did a quick bullet search just now, the cheapest .264 target bullet that I found in the Grendel's weight range is the 120gr SMK at $29-31 vs $19-21 for the 73 ELD's, so I stand by my cost statement. The loss of the 123gr Amax's at around $25 has changed my outlook on the Grendel a little.
Sierra 77smk and Varget (roughly 24.0-24.5g) has a long track record of being an easy load to develop that shoots well in most guns. It might not be the ultimate combination anymore, but the bullet is tolerant of long jumps to the lands if need be.
I have one of those little ruger ranch rifles. Loves the 70gr Nosler Rdf with 25.3 grains of varget. 2832fps
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Marlin X-7 = $249.00 + Boyds Coffee Laminated Thumbhole =$99.99 + Nikon P-223 Scope = $199.99, Warne 2 Piece Steel Bases = $24.99, Burris Signature Zee Rings = $34.50.... Total = $608.50 Grand Total. Groups under an inch all day with M-193 Ball. Close to 1/2" with 62 Grain Sierra's seated out to max O.A.L.
