What is the max rang a .223 is good at for Varmint hunting

[zingdingo]

Remington, Savage, and Tikka all make at least some .223's with either 1-8 or 1-9 twists.

 

[Inukshuk]

The rifle I'm looking at has 1-12 twist, and I'm suspecios about that. Will have to call them to reconfirm, especially since the Tikka T3 has a 1-8 twist.

 

[detrio]

I recenly went ground squirrel hunting and the squirrels were out in the 350-500 yard range. I had tough time hitting squirrels out in the 400+ range with my Rem 700 LTR, 1-9 twist 223 using 55 grain Vmax bullets. My buddy who had a 223 Ackley Improve rifle with a 24" barrel and shooting 50 grain Vmax's was making a lot of hits in the 400 yard range.

I wished I would have taken my Remy 22-250 or my 243 to make hits in those ranges. The 223 is excellent caliber when shots are under 300 yards especially for small critters. Next year I will take rifles for all ranges.

 

[Ridge Runner]

the 9 twist should do ok with up to 69 gr smk's, personaly I like an 8 twist, I've taken 2 groundhogs at 550 yds with an 8 twist and 55 gr sp ammo. I think the record distance kill with a 223 was on a pd with a fast twist barrel shooting 75 gr a-max's, the shot was 1115 yds. its on the ssk industries web page.
An 8 or faster twist makes the lil mouse gun a viable 1k small varmint rifle. I've taken hundreds of chucks with a 223, my farthest was at 387 yds till I got a fast twist, the last good year I had chuck hunting I had 93% first shot kills on them from 375-500 yds. terminal performance is also much better with the fast twist barrels.
JS

 

[killahog]

I shoot a 223AI and it really works well I have killed prairy dogs at 650 yards but I would say it is most effective at ranges of 400 yards or less.