800 yard AR15 223

[DynamicAccuracy]

I want to rebarrel my 16" AR15 upper that i built a few years ago to a better 223 barrel and handgaurd. Looking ast the fortis rev 2 rail for the handgaurd. I cant decide on the best barrel and whether to go with a rifle length or longer than rifle length gas system. Im wanting to shoot it regularly at 800. Only reason im Building it is because we hace a varmint class and a gas gun class and i can compete in both at the same time

 

[natdscott]

Does it have to function from magazine for these matches, or will you be loading off a BobSled?

I tell ya. If you can do 800 yards regularly, you MIGHT be able to do 1,000 if you wanted.

If you go with a 7.0 or 7.7 Twist Krieger, with a regular Wylde chamber, you can do 800 fairly easily in single-load. Load one of the pointy 75's or an 80/82 with full charges of RE-15, and you're cookin.

But you need a 20" barrel. The difference between 16 and 18 is more than that between 18 and 20, but trust me when I tell you that 24"-26" would not be too much. The powders we use out there are slow, and can make good use of all the space you can give them.

Rifle gas should be fine, but IF you really intend this to be a dedicated LR rig (and it sounds like you do), go ahead and extended it 1.5 or 2 inches. It will reduce battering of casings and components, and with slow powders, should still function just fine.

Now then. About that 1,000 yard business. IF you want to try that (and I'm not saying you should, despite that fact that I do), you need to use 90s unless it's a bolt gun with a looong barrel. 90's in a 20-24" barrel require a lot faster twist. 6.5" is the going standard, but if you have the coin and can wait, call Bartlein and get them started on a progressive. Something along the lines of 9-6.5" or 8-6.5" should help with the charges you are able to run, thus speed, and still fully stabilize. Just make sure your smith cuts off the CHAMBER end, not the muzzle.

90's also require different chambers to run well.

Hope that helps,
-Nate

 

[MarkCO]

I built a 24" Krieger 1:7.5 twist with a Wylde chamber and an extended length gas system several years ago. Mostly shot 77 SMKs and 75 Sciroccos over Accurate 2495. I was using LC brass and 5.56 load data at 2.26" which takes you to 62Kpsi and around 2850 fps. I reworked some magazines I bought at an auction with upgraded springs, followers and had Teflon coated. It did great to 1K.

Sold the rifle, kept the mags.

 

[natdscott]

...kept the mags.

Right?!

 

[DynamicAccuracy]

My plan after some thinking is a 7 twist white oak 20-22" barrel varmint profile with a 5/8x24 threaded muzzle so i can use the area 419 brake i already have. Rifle length gas system with an slr adjustable block. Looking at shooting the mainly 77gr smk might try the 80.5gr bergers though. And will have a load for some heavier flatbase varmint bullets like a 70gr. Im gonna try to get it to shoot varget pretty good cause i have a ton of varget. If i have too ill try some rl15

 

[DynamicAccuracy]

Anyone have a recommendation for a handgaurd that will cover the gas block, can have rail sections mounted on the bottom sides and top, and has a barrel nut that the gas tube doesnt run through the nut.

 

[MATADOR]

WOA 1:7 18" rifle length will shoot 800 yds all day long.

 

[padom]

20" WOA SDM 1:7 Fluted Rifle Gas....One of the most accurate AR barrels Ive ever owned. I had zero issues banging 6" round steel at 800yds consistently with this load and could make hits at 1000yds. Ive tested almost all the popular bullet/powder combos out there. I have 10.5", 16", 18", 20" WOA 1:7 barrels. They ALL LOVE 77smk and 8208xbr. Nothing shoots better in my WOA's. After about 150-200rds it sped up and is at 2800fps with this load and single digit SD's.

 

[natdscott]

WOA 1:7 18" rifle length will shoot 800 yds all day long.

Of course it will. It just won't do it as well as a 20+.

 

[mdmp5]

I’ve banged an ipsc silhouette rapid fire from 700 with an 18” barrel and 69 SMKs no problem

 

[FishDr]

Anyone have a recommendation for a handgaurd that will cover the gas block, can have rail sections mounted on the bottom sides and top, and has a barrel nut that the gas tube doesnt run through the nut.

I use a Midwest Industries Gen 3 for this very purpose.
Also, Padom put me on to his load in my WOA Barrel. Try it - you’ll be happy.

 

[DynamicAccuracy]

I havent found a barrel i like yet. Im wanting a 20-22" 7.5 twist bull/varmint contour with 5/8x24 threaded muzzle,

 

[padom]

You haven't found one yet? Did you call any of the various companies suggested to you in this thread? 5/8-24 on a .223 AR barrel will 99% of the time not be an off the shelf option.. they are typically 1/2-28... call over to John @ WOA and tell him you want their 1/7 20" Varmint barrel threaded 5/8-24. You can do the same with Frank at Compass Lake or John at Keystone Accuracy...they will all spin you up exactly what you want...

 

[Greg Langelius *]

A high price is not necessarily indicative of a great barrel, and likewise Vice-Versa. My shooting buddy took a liking to my Stag Model 6 Super Varminter 24" 1:8" AR (recent searches suggest the barrel may come from McGowan). But he was not about to shell out for the entire rifle, so he bought a bargain barrel on a whim, and used it to complete a gun he was building on an 80% Lower.

This one. At this price, I'd say get one and still buy your nicer barrel besides.

Once he had it up and ready to run, I gave him a bunch of my 600yd F T/R loads (CCI BR-4, HDY 75gr HPBT-Match at max mag length, 24.4gr Varget), and he's really pleased with the combination.

I don't know what your altitude is but we shoot at 4200ft ASL, and the Hornady standard calculator shows the load doing a conservative 1300fps-ish at 1000yd. This assumes a 2900fps MV, which may be a conservative estimate in the 24" barrel.

I am reworking my load downward (to around 23.5gr-23.7gr Varget, since I don't really need to be going that fast for my local shooting environment), and giving him the rest of my older loads, made with unfired Winchester brass.

I just bought 700pc of Starline 223 brass at Midway for about $.22 per case for this year's shooting season, as an experiment. Reviews on Midway are mixed, but the positive ones are absolutely glowing. Also picked up 500 bulk packed HDY 75gr HPBT-Match W/C from the same source, a good start for the year.

Greg

PS, some nice targets, Padom. You've probably convinced me to take some extra time and test for seating depths after all.

 

[WyoWindCall]

IVe been playing with some 70g RDF loads out of a 20" barrel (5.56 chamber) with a 7 twist and getting around 3035 average fps. Ill admit its a hot load but does it shoot great! Taken it out to 1k and other than bucking the wind poorly it does great!