Shooting A 223 Rifle To A Mile Accurately
By Jerry Teo
223 To A Mile
This long range 223 rifle project began last year after some very heated debates on a couple of shooting forums. The general consensus was that it is impossible, a huge waste of time and I was a little bit off my rocker.
Sounded like a nice challenge to me.
The quest is simple, can I get a 223 rifle using new high BC bullets to reach out to a mile (1760yds) AND arrive accurately (initial goal was 2MOA or less). Felt that hitting a 55 gallon drum sized target would be doable.
Dumping 223 bullets all over a hillside doesn't constitute much of anything except a huge waste of time and components.
Since I was going to build an 223 F(TR) rifle anyway, I figured this would be a fun addition to my rifle project. To add more spice to my quest, I wanted to do this as inexpensively as possible so others could have fun too.
As I have done in the past, the rifle is based on a Stevens 200 in 223. About as inexpensive an action as you can get that still has great accuracy potential. Just about everything was stripped off it except the recoil lug. The trigger group was replaced with a Rifle Basix 2 set at a few ounces.
The rifle stock is a Choate Ultimate Varminter I got off an exchange forum. The action was properly bedded which required some building up under the barrel nut. Ballast was added to the rear of the stock to improve balance. The forend was widened to help ride my pedestal rest bags better.
The 223 rifle barrel was a prethreaded, prechambered Pac Nor. The first barrel was a CM base match model with polygonal rifling. Didn't shoot too good and was off to a new home.
The second is a 223 SS Super Match, 5R, 7 twist 1" no taper 28" finished that has shot superbly in my 223 rifle. I am sure that an 8 twist and more conventional rifling would have worked just as well. This 5R barrel was in the inventory which sped up delivery.
The machining and chambering were very well done. No fancy smithing was done to the Stevens. I simply screwed the new 223 barrel on the rifle while working at my reloading bench. I knew that for long range work, the best accuracy was demanded. 1/2 min at 200yds was a minimum but less is always better. Vertical dispersion was also critical to get rid of. I was hoping for a 1/4 min vertical and 1/2 min horizontal - groups would look like sideways footballs.
Working with 80gr 223 Amax and Berger VLD's, I found that Varget, lit by CCI 450 primers, in Lee collet sized Win brass got the job done. At 200yds, the 223 Amax was hovering at 1/4min and the Bergers would get the occasional group MUCH less.
The smallest test load with the Bergers in my 223 rifle is also the smallest group I have ever shot at 200yds. Three rounds into 0.056". Yep, the barrel is a shooter.
I also tested 75gr Amax as this is a 223 bullet that many factory rifle barrels with a true 9 twist can stabilize. Savage/Stevens being the most popular.
Here is a pic on my portable, and slightly wobbly, bench. Please note the uphill angle of the rifle needed to reach out and up into the target hillside.
Once short range testing was done, the real rifle test began. How would these 223 bullets behave at distances where they would approach the transonic speed range?
The root to much of the criticism on this project is a belief that rifle bullets are most accurate/only accurate ABOVE the speed of sound. Once a bullet enters the transonic/subsonic speed range, it can experience some turbulence which disrupts its stability and causes it to diverge from the intended path, ie, it starts to tumble!
This can be graphically demonstrated by such bullets as the 168gr MK out of a 308. Does wonderful things our side of 1000yds. A rifle bullet with a long history of tumbling once it goes subsonic.
I will not get into the college math required but feedback from rocket scientists (they really are) on sites like benchrestcentral.com, have analyzed this topic with some super high tech equipment and tell us there is no transonic shock wave.
The bullet hits no wall or turbulence when it goes below the speed of sound. However, the aerodynamics of the rifle bullet does change as the air acts differently on the rifle bullet at slower speeds.
As a bullet slows down, the aerodynamic balance point of the bullet changes and some do become unstable. Others however, continue on their merry way without missing a beat.
Increasing the twist rate to increase spin stability is NOT a solution. They say that once a bullet leaves the muzzle with enough rotational stability to make it the first several hundred yards, it has more than enough to reach out beyond the speed of sound. In fact, the math suggests that spin stability actually increases as a bullet slows.
By Jerry Teo
223 To A Mile
This long range 223 rifle project began last year after some very heated debates on a couple of shooting forums. The general consensus was that it is impossible, a huge waste of time and I was a little bit off my rocker.
Sounded like a nice challenge to me.
The quest is simple, can I get a 223 rifle using new high BC bullets to reach out to a mile (1760yds) AND arrive accurately (initial goal was 2MOA or less). Felt that hitting a 55 gallon drum sized target would be doable.
Dumping 223 bullets all over a hillside doesn't constitute much of anything except a huge waste of time and components.
Since I was going to build an 223 F(TR) rifle anyway, I figured this would be a fun addition to my rifle project. To add more spice to my quest, I wanted to do this as inexpensively as possible so others could have fun too.
As I have done in the past, the rifle is based on a Stevens 200 in 223. About as inexpensive an action as you can get that still has great accuracy potential. Just about everything was stripped off it except the recoil lug. The trigger group was replaced with a Rifle Basix 2 set at a few ounces.
The rifle stock is a Choate Ultimate Varminter I got off an exchange forum. The action was properly bedded which required some building up under the barrel nut. Ballast was added to the rear of the stock to improve balance. The forend was widened to help ride my pedestal rest bags better.
The 223 rifle barrel was a prethreaded, prechambered Pac Nor. The first barrel was a CM base match model with polygonal rifling. Didn't shoot too good and was off to a new home.
The second is a 223 SS Super Match, 5R, 7 twist 1" no taper 28" finished that has shot superbly in my 223 rifle. I am sure that an 8 twist and more conventional rifling would have worked just as well. This 5R barrel was in the inventory which sped up delivery.
The machining and chambering were very well done. No fancy smithing was done to the Stevens. I simply screwed the new 223 barrel on the rifle while working at my reloading bench. I knew that for long range work, the best accuracy was demanded. 1/2 min at 200yds was a minimum but less is always better. Vertical dispersion was also critical to get rid of. I was hoping for a 1/4 min vertical and 1/2 min horizontal - groups would look like sideways footballs.
Working with 80gr 223 Amax and Berger VLD's, I found that Varget, lit by CCI 450 primers, in Lee collet sized Win brass got the job done. At 200yds, the 223 Amax was hovering at 1/4min and the Bergers would get the occasional group MUCH less.
The smallest test load with the Bergers in my 223 rifle is also the smallest group I have ever shot at 200yds. Three rounds into 0.056". Yep, the barrel is a shooter.
I also tested 75gr Amax as this is a 223 bullet that many factory rifle barrels with a true 9 twist can stabilize. Savage/Stevens being the most popular.
Here is a pic on my portable, and slightly wobbly, bench. Please note the uphill angle of the rifle needed to reach out and up into the target hillside.
Once short range testing was done, the real rifle test began. How would these 223 bullets behave at distances where they would approach the transonic speed range?
The root to much of the criticism on this project is a belief that rifle bullets are most accurate/only accurate ABOVE the speed of sound. Once a bullet enters the transonic/subsonic speed range, it can experience some turbulence which disrupts its stability and causes it to diverge from the intended path, ie, it starts to tumble!
This can be graphically demonstrated by such bullets as the 168gr MK out of a 308. Does wonderful things our side of 1000yds. A rifle bullet with a long history of tumbling once it goes subsonic.
I will not get into the college math required but feedback from rocket scientists (they really are) on sites like benchrestcentral.com, have analyzed this topic with some super high tech equipment and tell us there is no transonic shock wave.
The bullet hits no wall or turbulence when it goes below the speed of sound. However, the aerodynamics of the rifle bullet does change as the air acts differently on the rifle bullet at slower speeds.
As a bullet slows down, the aerodynamic balance point of the bullet changes and some do become unstable. Others however, continue on their merry way without missing a beat.
Increasing the twist rate to increase spin stability is NOT a solution. They say that once a bullet leaves the muzzle with enough rotational stability to make it the first several hundred yards, it has more than enough to reach out beyond the speed of sound. In fact, the math suggests that spin stability actually increases as a bullet slows.
Shooting a 223 To A Mile Accurately
My choice for a 7 twist was driven by the curiousity to shoot 90gr Bergers NOT to overstabilize the 80gr bullets.
This spring I started shooting at ranges from 1000yds to 1200yds. To my pleasure, both the 80gr Amax and Berger were superbly accurate hitting inside my 'moa' boulders. I would have no hesitation to recommend these bullets to F(TR) shooters wanting to campaign a .223.
Wind drift was also quite similar to my regular 308's (some are shooting super sized 308 loads so your mileage and safety may vary).
At these distances, ballistic data generated by JBM showed these bullets are indeed going transonic. To confirm that the bullets were well and truly subsonic, I dialed up the scope and launched them to 1400yds. Again, absolutely no issue in driving them onto my targets. The best part was I was holding MOA or better at this distance. Much better accuracy then I ever imagined.
One thing that was very noticeable though was the increased wind drift when the bullets went subsonic. If the winds were consistent, you could adjust but gusty conditions would push you some very humourous amounts.
So the first part of my quest had been reached. I had put together an inexpensive test bed that would shoot accurately. The bullets desired would go subsonic no problem, at least out to 1400yds. Wind drift/doping conditions would become super critical if I had any chance of hitting my accuracy goal at a mile.
Wind pushes the 80gr Amax/Berger about 1 min for every mph at a mile. Miss a wind call of 2mph and be off your target almost 3ft!
Reviewing the ballistics chart, I noticed that the drop from 1400yds to a mile IS ENORMOUS. The only way to make the journey was to have a super high 100yd zero/or be zeroed for 1450yds then dial up/use my mildots to get the rest of the way.
I was using an Elite 4200 tactical with 45mins of up. Rings were Burris Sig w/inserts. A scope with much more elevation would need less shimming of course.
The next task was shimming my EGW MOA base and rings to get a ridiculously high 100yds zero. I would need to be at least 36" high to have a chance at dialing in. I ended up shimming to 46" at 100yds which equates to approx 1450yds zero.
Yep, aim at the bottom of a piece of sideways plywood to hit at the top. With that task out of the way, I was off to see about making it that last 360yds.
Hard to see in the pic but there is quite a stack of shims under the scope base and the scope is angled with the front very low.
Well, weather and winds kept me pulling my hair out for a number of weeks. Strong gusty conditions, rain and even snow made things pretty miserable for about a month.
I finally got some clear but gusty winds and sent some out to a mile. My range is actually shooting into a top of a hillside clearing and ranges, using my Swarovski, at 1730/1745yds (close enough for me). The drop I am experiencing is less then a prairie mile but the flight time and distance are correct.
Initially, couldn't make out any bullet impacts due to the soft, wet ground. Going back to 1400 and 1500yds which were drier/dustier showed everything was working well but heading up the hill was like shooting into a black hole.
Frustrated, I made the hike in and flagged several distances. Lo and behold, I could see why bullets were not arriving where they were expected. That hilltop had some severe wind shifts and gusts rolling over the top which were much different from lower down the hill.
The 1400/1500yd targets were outside this whirlwind so hitting there was quite straightforward. Going to the mile would need calmer weather.
That weather finally came and bullets arrived on target as expected. The 80gr AMax flew superbly and was much more accurate at these distances then the Berger. In fact, the Berger did start to show some occasional HUGE vertical flyers.
Every now and then, a Berger would land as much as 30yds short. Given the lack of availability in my area and costs vs the Amax, I decided to stop shooting the Bergers and focus on the Amax which were working without any issue. Now the Bergers do shoot A LOT better at close distances so would be worth testing in any rifle.
I also tested some 75gr Amax which made the trip no problem as well. However, it was pretty obvious that these were being bounced around more then the 80gr Amax despite the higher muzzle velocity.
There is no escaping a higher BC for extreme range shooting. It does make a difference.
So I had proven to myself and my shooting partner that reaching out to a mile with a fast twist 223 is not only possible, it is quite straightforward to do.
Over the next weeks, I kept shooting and learning how to read the wind ribbons. I was starting to see that MOA, even sub MOA accuracy was indeed possible IF you could dope the conditions.
This spring I started shooting at ranges from 1000yds to 1200yds. To my pleasure, both the 80gr Amax and Berger were superbly accurate hitting inside my 'moa' boulders. I would have no hesitation to recommend these bullets to F(TR) shooters wanting to campaign a .223.
Wind drift was also quite similar to my regular 308's (some are shooting super sized 308 loads so your mileage and safety may vary).
At these distances, ballistic data generated by JBM showed these bullets are indeed going transonic. To confirm that the bullets were well and truly subsonic, I dialed up the scope and launched them to 1400yds. Again, absolutely no issue in driving them onto my targets. The best part was I was holding MOA or better at this distance. Much better accuracy then I ever imagined.
One thing that was very noticeable though was the increased wind drift when the bullets went subsonic. If the winds were consistent, you could adjust but gusty conditions would push you some very humourous amounts.
So the first part of my quest had been reached. I had put together an inexpensive test bed that would shoot accurately. The bullets desired would go subsonic no problem, at least out to 1400yds. Wind drift/doping conditions would become super critical if I had any chance of hitting my accuracy goal at a mile.
Wind pushes the 80gr Amax/Berger about 1 min for every mph at a mile. Miss a wind call of 2mph and be off your target almost 3ft!
Reviewing the ballistics chart, I noticed that the drop from 1400yds to a mile IS ENORMOUS. The only way to make the journey was to have a super high 100yd zero/or be zeroed for 1450yds then dial up/use my mildots to get the rest of the way.
I was using an Elite 4200 tactical with 45mins of up. Rings were Burris Sig w/inserts. A scope with much more elevation would need less shimming of course.
The next task was shimming my EGW MOA base and rings to get a ridiculously high 100yds zero. I would need to be at least 36" high to have a chance at dialing in. I ended up shimming to 46" at 100yds which equates to approx 1450yds zero.
Yep, aim at the bottom of a piece of sideways plywood to hit at the top. With that task out of the way, I was off to see about making it that last 360yds.
Hard to see in the pic but there is quite a stack of shims under the scope base and the scope is angled with the front very low.
Well, weather and winds kept me pulling my hair out for a number of weeks. Strong gusty conditions, rain and even snow made things pretty miserable for about a month.
I finally got some clear but gusty winds and sent some out to a mile. My range is actually shooting into a top of a hillside clearing and ranges, using my Swarovski, at 1730/1745yds (close enough for me). The drop I am experiencing is less then a prairie mile but the flight time and distance are correct.
Initially, couldn't make out any bullet impacts due to the soft, wet ground. Going back to 1400 and 1500yds which were drier/dustier showed everything was working well but heading up the hill was like shooting into a black hole.
Frustrated, I made the hike in and flagged several distances. Lo and behold, I could see why bullets were not arriving where they were expected. That hilltop had some severe wind shifts and gusts rolling over the top which were much different from lower down the hill.
The 1400/1500yd targets were outside this whirlwind so hitting there was quite straightforward. Going to the mile would need calmer weather.
That weather finally came and bullets arrived on target as expected. The 80gr AMax flew superbly and was much more accurate at these distances then the Berger. In fact, the Berger did start to show some occasional HUGE vertical flyers.
Every now and then, a Berger would land as much as 30yds short. Given the lack of availability in my area and costs vs the Amax, I decided to stop shooting the Bergers and focus on the Amax which were working without any issue. Now the Bergers do shoot A LOT better at close distances so would be worth testing in any rifle.
I also tested some 75gr Amax which made the trip no problem as well. However, it was pretty obvious that these were being bounced around more then the 80gr Amax despite the higher muzzle velocity.
There is no escaping a higher BC for extreme range shooting. It does make a difference.
So I had proven to myself and my shooting partner that reaching out to a mile with a fast twist 223 is not only possible, it is quite straightforward to do.
Over the next weeks, I kept shooting and learning how to read the wind ribbons. I was starting to see that MOA, even sub MOA accuracy was indeed possible IF you could dope the conditions.
Shooting A 223 To A Mile Accurately
I posted my findings and of course was met by disbelief. PROOF, PROOF was the common theme. Well, it so happened that in mid April, I was going to put on a extreme range fun shoot and one of the shooters is a professional photographer.
We decided to see if we could get my shooting on video using digiscoping. This means mounting a camcorder or camera onto a spotting scope eyepiece and taking pics/video. An easy way of getting a mondo telephoto lens.
On the Sat, the winds weren't very nice with gust all over the mountain. However, we were able to get a short three shot string at a mile which show up at 1:13, 1:45, and 2:03 of the attached YouTube video. I was shooting between the target rock and flag to try and kick up dust.
The first and third shot are very close to each other with the second blown off just by the wind flag about 1 foot away. Not a bad start and certainly proof that the bullets are making the journey.
On Sunday, the morning was nice and calm from the base to the 1500yd flags. Only the last few hundred yards showed some turbulence.
We quickly set up and sent rds downrange. In the next set, you can hear me call the first hit just as the title fades. Hard to see on the video. I hit off the top center of the rock.
You can easily see me land short next. Windage was good but caught a bit of headwind.
Some have said at that distance, you could catch the bullet with your hands. Given the dust kicked up and marks left on the target rocks, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that bullet. Estimated impact velocity is 800 to 900fps so the impact energy is similar to a 22 magnum. Quite lethal if you got in the way.
Then I got my doping dialed in and placed 5 consecutive hits on that rock. Time 2:32, 2:47, 3:02, 3:18 and 3:32. All shots are mid rock to right of center.
The rock is 12" wide and 8" high as we see it! (I did measure the rock beforehand)
6 out of 7 rds well inside a sub MOA rock at "1 mile". I'll take that....
Here is a pic of me getting the bullets on target.
Lionel is to my right manning the camera.
The icing on the cake was having the camera guy (Lionel) and another shooter (Claude) who was helping me with spotting also put bullets on that mile rock.
They were shooting the 75gr Amax load and actually had a better hit ratio then I did - figures.
Then Claude got out his Savage with 75gr Amax and sent shots downrange. His loads and scope weren't as dialed in as mine but he still put bullets in and around that mile rock. I bet with a better zero (had to holdover the rock) and more load tuning, that Savage would do very well.
This little project has proven to me, and others (30 shooters at the fun Shoot), that extreme range shooting is not just for the super big oomers. Small cals can make the trip and do so with a high degree of accuracy.
The unknown is whether the bullet will make the trip. Only one way to find out.....
Of course, bigger, faster, higher BC bullets make condition doping SO MUCH EASIER, but they also cost a mint to shoot and wear barrels quickly.
If you have the desire to really reach out and have a fast twist 223, consider loading up some 75 or 80gr Amax and send them way out there. It might surprise you at just how well you do.
My powder is Varget(loads within SAAMI specs as listed on the Hodgdon site/reloading manuals), lit by CCI 450 in Lee collet neck sized Winchester brass. Tried Lapua and was quite surprised that it wasn't all that great. Redding body die handles the shoulder bumping
and seating is handled by a RCBS 221 Fireball die. Runout is very low as measured on a Sinclair runout guage and import dial indicator.
The 80gr Amax are running 2825ish fps. The 75gr Amax 2950ish fps. You don't need high speeds. It's all going subsonic no matter how fast you leave the pipe.
Under calm conditions, hitting a PD at a mile with this setup would be possible and lethal.
Interesting......
Jerry
PS, that weekend, I also sent some 139gr Lapua Scenars out of my 6.5 Mystic (260improved variant) to 2400yds. But that is another story....
Jerry shoots regularly out to one mile and also competes in F class. His current cartridges are 223, 6.5 Mystic, 7 Mystic, 308, 300RUM and 338 Mystic. He enjoys experimenting with gear and wildcatting in order to increase accuracy performance and to debunk accuracy myths.
We decided to see if we could get my shooting on video using digiscoping. This means mounting a camcorder or camera onto a spotting scope eyepiece and taking pics/video. An easy way of getting a mondo telephoto lens.
On the Sat, the winds weren't very nice with gust all over the mountain. However, we were able to get a short three shot string at a mile which show up at 1:13, 1:45, and 2:03 of the attached YouTube video. I was shooting between the target rock and flag to try and kick up dust.
The first and third shot are very close to each other with the second blown off just by the wind flag about 1 foot away. Not a bad start and certainly proof that the bullets are making the journey.
On Sunday, the morning was nice and calm from the base to the 1500yd flags. Only the last few hundred yards showed some turbulence.
We quickly set up and sent rds downrange. In the next set, you can hear me call the first hit just as the title fades. Hard to see on the video. I hit off the top center of the rock.
You can easily see me land short next. Windage was good but caught a bit of headwind.
Some have said at that distance, you could catch the bullet with your hands. Given the dust kicked up and marks left on the target rocks, I wouldn't want to be anywhere near that bullet. Estimated impact velocity is 800 to 900fps so the impact energy is similar to a 22 magnum. Quite lethal if you got in the way.
Then I got my doping dialed in and placed 5 consecutive hits on that rock. Time 2:32, 2:47, 3:02, 3:18 and 3:32. All shots are mid rock to right of center.
The rock is 12" wide and 8" high as we see it! (I did measure the rock beforehand)
6 out of 7 rds well inside a sub MOA rock at "1 mile". I'll take that....
Here is a pic of me getting the bullets on target.
Lionel is to my right manning the camera.
The icing on the cake was having the camera guy (Lionel) and another shooter (Claude) who was helping me with spotting also put bullets on that mile rock.
They were shooting the 75gr Amax load and actually had a better hit ratio then I did - figures.
Then Claude got out his Savage with 75gr Amax and sent shots downrange. His loads and scope weren't as dialed in as mine but he still put bullets in and around that mile rock. I bet with a better zero (had to holdover the rock) and more load tuning, that Savage would do very well.
This little project has proven to me, and others (30 shooters at the fun Shoot), that extreme range shooting is not just for the super big oomers. Small cals can make the trip and do so with a high degree of accuracy.
The unknown is whether the bullet will make the trip. Only one way to find out.....
Of course, bigger, faster, higher BC bullets make condition doping SO MUCH EASIER, but they also cost a mint to shoot and wear barrels quickly.
If you have the desire to really reach out and have a fast twist 223, consider loading up some 75 or 80gr Amax and send them way out there. It might surprise you at just how well you do.
My powder is Varget(loads within SAAMI specs as listed on the Hodgdon site/reloading manuals), lit by CCI 450 in Lee collet neck sized Winchester brass. Tried Lapua and was quite surprised that it wasn't all that great. Redding body die handles the shoulder bumping
and seating is handled by a RCBS 221 Fireball die. Runout is very low as measured on a Sinclair runout guage and import dial indicator.
The 80gr Amax are running 2825ish fps. The 75gr Amax 2950ish fps. You don't need high speeds. It's all going subsonic no matter how fast you leave the pipe.
Under calm conditions, hitting a PD at a mile with this setup would be possible and lethal.
Interesting......
Jerry
PS, that weekend, I also sent some 139gr Lapua Scenars out of my 6.5 Mystic (260improved variant) to 2400yds. But that is another story....
Jerry shoots regularly out to one mile and also competes in F class. His current cartridges are 223, 6.5 Mystic, 7 Mystic, 308, 300RUM and 338 Mystic. He enjoys experimenting with gear and wildcatting in order to increase accuracy performance and to debunk accuracy myths.
