Most accurate long range .223 projectile?

Utah Shooter

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 11, 2010
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SL UT
I have a 1:8 twist 20" barrel. I am curious what some have shot out to 500 yards and what was their most accurate? I do have some Hornady 75 gr BTHP's that I loaded with Varget and 8208 XBR.

Any groups, targets or loads you could share?
 
Re: Most accurate long range .223 projectile?

Shot to insure stability from my 1-9t Remington Tactical at 1000y with 75gr berger VLD's
001-5.jpg

More can be found here:
http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthre...886#Post3031886
 
Re: Most accurate long range .223 projectile?

Call me frugal, call me a cheap bastard, call me what you will...

BC per dollar (BC/$) is an important ratio to me.

I'm pretty sure the 80amax wins this.

I use them at 600 yards in my 20" Krieger-barreled 1:7.7 twist service rifle over a thrown 24gr (which means 24.0 +/- .3) of Varget, and the bullet simply goes where it's aimed.

They're great little bullets if you're rifle will shoot them. They even look like a nice, sleek little missile.
 
Re: Most accurate long range .223 projectile?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Call me frugal, call me a cheap bastard, call me what you will...

BC per dollar (BC/$) is an important ratio to me.

I'm pretty sure the 80amax wins this.

</div></div>

Truer words were never spoken, especially if you shoot a lot!
 
Re: Most accurate long range .223 projectile?

I'm shooting 77 SMK's out to 600, 24 grains Varget for 2700 fps. Nothing wrong with 80's, I just shoot 77 across the course.

Berger 80.5's are good for a 1000 (25 grains Varget for somewhere around 2800 haven't rechronographed this load), so are Sierra 80's.

I've heard good things about Nosler and Hornady also, just haven't shoot them. It's not hard to get a good load for a 20" AR.
 
Re: Most accurate long range .223 projectile?

Nosler Custom Competition 77gr over 24.6gr Varget has been a killer load for me so far. This is a pretty hot load, so be careful. The barrel is a 16" 1:8 Wylde, and it seems the faster I can push it, the better the groups are. I believe velocity is somewhere around 2600fps. I've only shot this out to 400yds, but it shot well out to that range.
 
Re: Most accurate long range .223 projectile?

75gr Hornady BTHP with 24.0-24.2gr Varget, loaded anywhere between AR mag length (2.25") and the lands of your rifle. I've had great luck with this bullet, 24.0gr Varget @ 2.30" OAL at 650yd.

That said, with the 8 twist I'd be stocking up on the 75gr A-Max (24.5gr Varget @ lands +/- 0.010") and trying the 80gr A-Max.
 
Re: Most accurate long range .223 projectile?

The 77 SMK flies nice and straight for me (haven't tried much specifically past ~500) in my 9-twist bolt gun. The 75 AMAX appears stable, too, but I have some more work to do with it in my new locale. Maybe it's not stable at lower elevation.

I run ~24.8 grains of 748 under the AMAX. Nice and stable velocities even up to 140F (tested last week; load was developed in the high 60s).