What length barrel and twist rate for 600-1000 yards with a .223?

Since you will be shooting longer bullets go with a 1:8 twist and velocity will be important to keep wind drift to a minimum go with the longest heavy barrel you can handle.

If you were shooting at closer range I would suggest a shorter barrel but those small, light bullets get blown around by even light winds.

Paul

Rusty, get a Stag 6H upper. 1 in 8 twist, and 24" heavy match barrel, the combination is guaranteed to shoot half moa. The one I have is so accurate it is just boring...

To keep my guys at the highest level of proficiency I keep them shooting matches with our work rifles which are 20" .308Wins and 24" 300Win Mags.

That said, they are deployed right now and I am at home. I only own one "tactical" rifle and it is a Barnes Precision 16", 1-8", chambered for .223 Wylde. I have been shooting DMR matches where the long targets are 600m. That combo with 75-77gr bullets is just fine. I placed 15 out of 73 at the last match where most guys were shooting .308Win (and the rules allowed for up to .300WM).

On Sunday I took that rifle out to the 1000yds KD range on post and didn't get a single round on paper. I only get 2544fps (ES 10fps, SD 5fps) so I am dropping through trans-sonic around 800yds and am sub-sonic by 1000yds. I am going to try again on the 24th. I didn't have any issues with the .308Win prone rifle that day.

If you are going to do try to take it past 600yds with any regularity I would go 20" or longer and I would plan on single loading 80-90gr VLDs. When I talked to my buddy about building a .223 Rem Palma rifle for cheaper practice he said he tried that and it was an exercise in frustration. So, I stuck with .308 and based on my last .223 outing I would say he is right.

quote:

Originally posted by Doubless:
Rusty, get a Stag 6H upper. 1 in 8 twist, and 24" heavy match barrel, the combination is guaranteed to shoot half moa. The one I have is so accurate it is just boring...

I just purchased a lefty Super Varmiter which is the same upper, just left handed. Could you please pass along some loading details of your most accurate loads?

I don't know how it will shoot in every barrel but by two favorite loads will shoot .5MOA or better in the last four rifles I have shot them in. I always use either a 69gr Nosler Custom Competition or a 75gr Hornady BTHP over RL15.

The best one out of this barrel so far is the 69gr bullet:


The 75gr Hornady's shoot a less impressive .5-.6MOA with regularity but past 300m are my go to bullet.