223 PRS rifle?
- Thread starter Ghillieman37
- Start date
A friend and I run .223 Rem for the club matches too, but you drop lots of points out West where they run stages out to 850-1200. I usually run mid pack with everyone else running 6c'moor, 6.5c'moor, 6.5x47L, 6BR, etc. It's cheap fun, but if I was going to shoot a real match with all the time off work, food/accommodations, travel and match fees, I would not shoot .223 Rem unless there was a dedicated class.
I did run a 223AI in some 1 day matches with very good success. However, if you are "in it to win it" you won't be happy dropping 1 point...much less 12+ points on long range stages in the wind. They are great if you are not looking for 1st place....or if the match is 800 yards and in.
800 Yards and in with minor wind the 223 is very competitive even with factory ammo (black hills for me). If I don't finish first its not because of the gun and that is against all the fancy cartridges too.
If you were to compete in tactical class at 2 day matches, the 308 is still favored especially at longer ranges.
If you were to compete in tactical class at 2 day matches, the 308 is still favored especially at longer ranges.
I shot a match squadded with Shawn Wiseman shooting a 223 and he did pretty damn well with it. Even on the further stages I was surprised to see that it didn't seem to be much of a disadvantage.
I agree that for west coast matches it may not be the best choice but there's a lot of people running little pipsqueak rounds like 6BR and 6 Dasher and most are running a 105 Hybrid in the 2850fps range which only has a G1 BC of .536. If you can push the 95gr SMK to 2700+ which I think is doable in a 223 bolt gun, certainly in a 223AI then it actually beats the 6BR... On paper... I wouldn't worry about getting your hits spotted or not, everybody is going to flashers now.
In addition to the 95gr SMK and 90gr SMK, Hornady just rolled out a 88gr ELD-M which may be promising as well.
Link to Hornady 88gr ELD-M thread.
I agree that for west coast matches it may not be the best choice but there's a lot of people running little pipsqueak rounds like 6BR and 6 Dasher and most are running a 105 Hybrid in the 2850fps range which only has a G1 BC of .536. If you can push the 95gr SMK to 2700+ which I think is doable in a 223 bolt gun, certainly in a 223AI then it actually beats the 6BR... On paper... I wouldn't worry about getting your hits spotted or not, everybody is going to flashers now.
In addition to the 95gr SMK and 90gr SMK, Hornady just rolled out a 88gr ELD-M which may be promising as well.
Link to Hornady 88gr ELD-M thread.
At the Karstetter RTC team match in WA this spring Ckye Thomas and Seth Berglee took 5th place overall despite shooting Tactical division with 223's. This was a big terrain field match with targets well out past 1000 yards, in high wind and rainy conditions. Sure, they gave up about 15% impacts to the match winners who are national level shooters running open class guns, but they also beat out over 50 other team who were mostly running open class.
For most of my local Precision Rifle matches the targets typically hover between 300-600 yards with a sprinkling of targets out to 800 yards. I'd think a 223 would be plenty capable for those ranges.
RE Reneckbmxer24, I too am looking to run the .224 90VLD or 95SMK (preferred) to pick up points at longer ranges for 'serious' matches. In the wind, the 95SMK at 3000fps is about the same as a 162gr at 2900 in a 7mm I also run. The only real difference is recoil and rifle OAL favoring the .22 caliber. For the club run-and-gun stuff I'll stick to the .223 Rem just because it's cheap, fun and there's no prize table or purse to 'win.'
My 223 can hang with the 6.5s up to 600 yards if the wind is mild. Just remember to let the stage RO/Spotter that you're shooting a 223. They don't move the steel much. More clubs using electronic flashers on the further targets - that'll help.
The 223 is so danged much fun it's hard NOT to shoot one, but they are a distinct disadvantage past 600 yards unless the wind is steady and predictable. The 6BR is a great option, and most of us with 28" barrels are getting 2900 FPS or better with just over 30 grains of Varget with 105's. I call it the "Mini Dasher". For competition, I'd recommend that vice buying a 223.
I shoot 223 for club matches and F-Class. For F-Class I shoot 90g VLDs and for PRS I shoot 80g SMKs (different rifles). I place very competitively in Mid-Range F-Class even against the F-Open guns.
There's no way your going to mag feed 90g VLDs with reliability if at all, and pushing the 95g SMK to 3000 in a straight 223 is never going to happen.
Hitting much above 2850 with the 90s and you'll start losing primer pockets in one firing.
There's no way your going to mag feed 90g VLDs with reliability if at all, and pushing the 95g SMK to 3000 in a straight 223 is never going to happen.
Hitting much above 2850 with the 90s and you'll start losing primer pockets in one firing.
