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?
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Anybody shoot surpluss ammo out of a custom?
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comfisherman
Well-Known Member
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.
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
Well-Known Member
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
Well-Known Member
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.
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.
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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!
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!
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I have shot lots of cheap ammo through my AR (Wylde chamber). Some shoots extremely well and others, not so much. Most surplus ammo using Lake City brass has shot well enough for my needs (MOA ish) and once sorted by date and weight, Reloads hold around .65 MOA.
It all depends on your goals. If you want practice, go for it, if you want pure precision, buy top tier brass.
It all depends on your goals. If you want practice, go for it, if you want pure precision, buy top tier brass.
My AR is also a Wylde, and I did the same thing with cheap ammo. However, I got them for plinking and was not expecting any accuracy (pie plate rapid fire at <200Y)).
In my opinion, a custom rifle deserves handloads if accuracy is the goal.
ntsqd
Well-Known Member
The now ancient yellow box Norinco 5.56 stuff shoots lights out in my 788. As-in I once shot it in a bench-rest Light Varmint match and scored middle of the pack.
I see it mentioned above, but as I was reading this I was thinking if a custom build that I'd want the Wylde chamber too. Unless only going to shoot 55's and lighter anyway.
I see it mentioned above, but as I was reading this I was thinking if a custom build that I'd want the Wylde chamber too. Unless only going to shoot 55's and lighter anyway.
Josh06
Well-Known Member
I would go with the 223 wylde chamber. I have a bolt gun that has a 223 wylde chamber and it's very accurate. I don't shoot surplus ammo out of it but use a ton of LC brass as well as other nato brass and with my 53 nosler varmegeddon load I can't tell a difference. It shoots sub moa no matter what brass I use.
GSRetrievers
Well-Known Member
I'm one who says, without the pure accuracy of hand loads for that gun, what are you actually gaining/learning from shooting 2-3 moa rounds? I'm the same person that doesn't know what a plinking round is; I practice with exactly what I will shoot hunting. The bulk of that practice may be a smaller caliber that has longer barrel life, but I don't sacrifice accuracy in the name of pinching a few pennies to buy less than optimal ammunition to chase my tail in learning wind calls.
Justice1327
Well-Known Member
^^^This^^^
I shoot 6 to 8000 rounds a year. I handload 95% of it excluding my 22 rimfire.
However, I just got a new M24 built as my last one went south on me at 6000 rounds. For this I do shoot LC118 ammo. I Have about 5000 rounds of this left after I stopped shooting matches. It shoots sub MOA and I keep it to 800 yards and less. so to me if you can get a rifle that shoots MOA and it's cheaper ammo than handloading ,and you have to include your time in that, then yeah I would definitely look for surplus ammo.
I shoot 6 to 8000 rounds a year. I handload 95% of it excluding my 22 rimfire.
However, I just got a new M24 built as my last one went south on me at 6000 rounds. For this I do shoot LC118 ammo. I Have about 5000 rounds of this left after I stopped shooting matches. It shoots sub MOA and I keep it to 800 yards and less. so to me if you can get a rifle that shoots MOA and it's cheaper ammo than handloading ,and you have to include your time in that, then yeah I would definitely look for surplus ammo.
Revolting Peasant
Well-Known Member
Bartlein barrel in .223 Wylde on bolt gun.
If you set the headspace and chamber to be able to shoot surplus, you will prob not get as much accuracy out of the rifle as it is capable of. Just being realistic.
Surplus ammo these days varies widely in quality and not as much variety as a few years ago vs today with world conflicts eating up ammo inventories.
Works great once/if you find ammo that meets your accuracy expectation.
Barrels are an expendable commodity, just like boots and tires.
Surplus ammo can work great for hogs, positional practice, tripod training. The more you shoot, without picking up bad habits along the way, the better.
Life is good. Shoot more.
If you set the headspace and chamber to be able to shoot surplus, you will prob not get as much accuracy out of the rifle as it is capable of. Just being realistic.
Surplus ammo these days varies widely in quality and not as much variety as a few years ago vs today with world conflicts eating up ammo inventories.
Works great once/if you find ammo that meets your accuracy expectation.
Barrels are an expendable commodity, just like boots and tires.
Surplus ammo can work great for hogs, positional practice, tripod training. The more you shoot, without picking up bad habits along the way, the better.
Life is good. Shoot more.
