A .223 range question

[rdsii64]

Assuming I have the necessary marksmanship skill, if I launch a 55 grain hollow point out of a 24 inch 12 twist barrel at 3200 FPS, can I reach 500 yards with enough stability to hit what I aim at?

 

[lovdasnow]

assuming that the gun is a shooter i don't see why not. i would think that you would be alright. although the any wind will make things very interesting.

i have a 1/9 twist 223 that i shoot 50gr NBT's out of, and was shooting at 550 the other day. i was hitting very very close to the squirrels that i was aiming at, but the wind was a little tricky.

 

[petenz]

450 yards, 55gr Vmax at 3227fps muzzle velocity. 1:12 twist, 22" barrel with suppressor.

 

[jmason]

450 yards, 55gr Vmax at 3227fps muzzle velocity. 1:12 twist, 22" barrel with suppressor.

I can't read your tape!!

 

[MachV]

25 mils is a redneck inch. 65 mills would make that a good group @ 450 yards, seams funny a guy would measure in yards and Mill??
To answer the original ? the answer is yes. Even the old Ruger VT with me steering it would roll prairie dogs off the mounds to 500 and even farther if it wasn't windy. The key being the wind and your ability to read it!

 

[petenz]

25 mils is a redneck inch. 65 mills would make that a good group @ 450 yards, seams funny a guy would measure in yards and Mill??

I measure in yards for shooting because I have MOA scopes.

I measure in metric for everything else because it's better

 

[jmason]

MachV- I just looked closely at your signature and realized I'm using to small of a cartridge for varmints if the cartridge is supposed to be the same size as the game.

 

[killahog]

Yep it can be done I have made kills on prairy dogs at 650 with my 223.

 

[MachV]

Petnz
MOA and Yards works better for shootin for me too but like you my tapes measures are in mills and inches. Kinda confusing till ya get used to it.

MachV- I just looked closely at your signature and realized I'm using to small of a cartridge for varmints if the cartridge is supposed to be the same size as the game.
Those where April pups shot in South Dakota a few years ago,they where small!! The dogs had already seen some shooting and were very spookie...A close shot was 400 yards. The one round is a 223 and the big one is a 6-284 but I've been known to use the 7mag,308Baer and BMGs onem. Can you really have too much gun??

 

[jerrschmitt]

At 600 yards I need 14 min of come up with my rifle. That's about my limit with that gun and I change to the 6BR for longer stuff.

 

[Chopaka81]

What will mess with you the most is cross wind. The light weight bullets can be pushed by the wind quit easily.
The key in the wind is to bare down on the rifle and spot your shot. If you miss you will be able to correct for windage and make a quick second shot should one be needed.

 

[ukvarmint]

HI,

I am using a Styer Scout in .223 with a 1-9 twist and a 19inch barrell. I have given up using VLD type bullets as it can be very hard to see splash at range even with a 5.5-22 x Nightforce scope. My rounnd of choice is 27.6gn of BLC2 and a 55gr v-max bullett with Lapua match brass,. CCI bench rest primers and the bullet seated 30 thou of the lands giving 3250fps. Thsis set up has grouped 2.5 inches at 6oo yrds on a nill wind day. With enough concentration neck / head shots can regularly be taken on Rabbits out to 500 yrds. Beyond this range I normaly go for a chest shot to be sure. The wind in key and if it is gusty then this will open the groups out beyong 450 yrds or so making the round inaffective. The furthest clean Ranbbitt gun)kill so far with this rig was 689yrds.

 

[rdsii64]

Since I have posted this thread I have taken my rife to the 600 yards with a 50 grain vmax bullet. I must say that out to 600 yards is no problem when I can stay on top of the wind. For those interested the combination that carries the mail is:

50 grain Vmax
26 grains of N133
Wolf .223 primer
winchester brass trimed to 1.74
COAL 2.234

I don't have a chronny yet but the mannual books this load at 3500 out of a 12 twist 24 inch barrel.

 

[dk17hmr]

If you can figure out the wind and you are up to it that 223 will shoot as far as you want to try. 223's are used at service rifle matches with iron sights after all.

My dad and I use AR15s for p-dog and have made kills out to 720yards with them...harassed them out to 900 be never got a clean kill.