Anybody shoot surpluss ammo out of a custom?

[Brewer]

hey guys, I just bought a stripped short action remingron 700 reciever and plan to chamber in a 5.56 or 223 to take advantage of cheap brass. Ill get it trued up and get a nice barrel chambered for it.. i got to thinking about why I'd chamber it 5.56 or 223 and then wondered how the surplus lake city stuff would perform for target shooting and practice. Anybody have experience shooting millitary surpluses ammo out of a custom? How does ot perform?

 

[comfisherman]

I've shot everything from wolf to whatever big box store bulk pack from my semi custom 223 (only thing factory is bolt and action). Not so much for the target as practice. My main goal with the 223 was to twin my hunting rifle with the goal of practicing the other aspects of shooting. A hunt last year highlighted my need for better offhand practice, and after many years and thousands of rounds on a different platform my fingers went the wrong way for ergonomic manipulation of the rifle.

It works great for that, while it's probably not going to shoot the tightest groups it out does my offhand groups. It's also helped build new muscle memory with a bang, hopefully building familiarity with the platform so I have no screw ups in a hunt.

 

[Brewer]

I've shot everything from wolf to whatever big box store bulk pack from my semi custom 223 (only thing factory is bolt and action). Not so much for the target as practice. My main goal with the 223 was to twin my hunting rifle with the goal of practicing the other aspects of shooting. A hunt last year highlighted my need for better offhand practice, and after many years and thousands of rounds on a different platform my fingers went the wrong way for ergonomic manipulation of the rifle.

It works great for that, while it's probably not going to shoot the tightest groups it out does my offhand groups. It's also helped build new muscle memory with a bang, hopefully building familiarity with the platform so I have no screw ups in a hunt.

Thanks for 5he comments comfisherman. I hope its working for you look you. Do you have any comments on chambering in 5.56 as opposed to 223? Seems like it would not make much difference from a ballistics point of view but didn't know if others had some experience that would steer me one way or the other. Thanks again.

 

[comfisherman]

Mine was cut with the wilde reamer, was reccomended to step up to a heavier firing spring for some of the 5.56 surplus. Had light strikes with a cz setup the same way, so far so good on this one. There is probably more accurate reamer prints, but I'm not the best shot so likely to not to notice.

 

[med358-boise]

You may want to consider the US Army M193 accuracy requirement was either 2 or 3 MOA, I have read both numbers over the years. While the US Navy requirement was its long range sniping round Special Ball, Long Range, Mk 262 MOD 0/1 was .64 MOA.

Point being, I suspect most surplus is going to more similar to M193 accuracy requirements so you may be starting in a "hole" so to speak with surplus ammo.

 

[nksmfamjp]

The problem with bargain ammo is it is 2-3 MOA ammo, even from a custom barrel, but barrels have limits like pitchers. How much of that do you want to eat up to save on ammo? Rebarreling is like $700-$900.

 

[Dirtrax]

In theory y'all are correct. In practice y'all are still correct with the exception that not only are the ammo requirements poor but so are the armament requirements of many military small arms.
It is "possible" that you could find surplus ammo that will shoot well enough for practice. I wouldn't bet the farm on it though. Try it and let us know how it works out!