Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Long Range .223 recommendations

I recently acquired a brand new Remington 700 Classic in .223. Already had the 2001 Classic in 7mm-08 which has been very accurate and my favorite deer caliber. Yesterday I mounted a Zeiss Conquest MC 3-9x40mm scope and hit my range for initial sighting in with Hornady 55g soft points. For a new barrel I'm not disappointed in the groups right out of the box. Especially on a windy day. But hoping to get this rifle to sub MOA groups. I've read Remington made the 700's in varmint calibers with 1:12 twist. Can anyone confirm? And if so, do rifles with that slower twist rate compared to most MSR's with 1:8 or 1:9 twist prefer heavier bullets? I have several boxes of Federal Fusion in 62 grain and a couple boxes of Hornady Match bullets with 75 gr BTHP to play with.

I don't think a 1:12 twist and the general idea of long range (over 600 yards) go together. You are going to be limited to lighter/shorter bullets that won't maintain velocity for long range accuracy. If your idea of long range is 300 yards you are probably going to be ok. You may get by with the 62 gr. bullets but the 75 gr. will be a no-go.

Here is an informative article Craig Boddington wrote with a table illustrating various bullet weights and twist rates.

Barrel twist vs. bullet weight

NWAdrew: First off welcome to the CampFire and watch out for the immature simpleton named "boob brown" who so often posts his idiocy on here.
My Remington 700 Classic in 223 Remington just loves the wonderful 50 grain Nosler Ballistic-Tips!
Be sure and try that bullet if you ever "change your intentions" with your 223 Classic.
The last time I checked the "zero" on this Rifle with the Noslers I fired a 3 shot group at 100 yards measuring .257"!
Checking my loading log the normal 5 shot groups at 100 yards measure in the .650" range (with a Leupold 4x12 scope).
I also am dubious that the Remington Classic in 223 Remington would be, what I regard, as a long range Rifle.
But my Rifle sure shines with the 50 grainers and moderate ranges (350 yards or so) while Varmint and predator Hunting.
My 2,012 Remington product catalog shows the 223's in similar configuration to yours as having a 1 in 12" right hand twist.
Best of luck to you and again welcome to the CampFire.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy
P.S.: Those 62 grain Federal Fusion bullets just may shoot well in your Rifle - let us know how they do.

I have a Remington Varmint 22-250 and tried everything to get the bullets from 50-62 grains to shoot and never could get it below around MOA at 100 yards. Since it was to be my rock chuck and PD rifle that just wasn't going to do so I kept experimenting. About the only load I could get to shoot I stumbled on by accident. A buddy gave me some 40 grain ballistic tips and I bought some Varget for a different rifle to try that didn't work out, so I put them together using the load right on the label. It shot so well I've loaded several hundred rounds for it to take along on every trip. The 1-12 twist just isn't friendly to "heavy" bullets...

I did find my rifle likes a bit of fore end pressure. Test it by building up business cards under the fore end until you notice your groups start to tighten up. It made a bit of difference in my 22-250, but didn't do much for a couple other rifles I tried it on....

Bob

Your rifle is twisted all wrong to play with heavies. A 1 in 12 223 rem is only good for about 62gr max. I wouldn't try heavier bullets in it, because you will just be wasting expensive hard to find components. You may want to try to find a different rifle with a 1 in 8 twist barrel, or re-barrel your remington, that way you'll be good for just about any bullet weight you can put in your 223 rem.

You're rifle is fine if you like shooting 40gr - 50gr & 52-53 match bullets, it should put these into tight little groups but maybe not at 600yds.
If it's windy it'll get them there but they loose speed faster than a heavier bullet, but for prairie doggin they usually work great.
A 1-12 twist will also shoot the Sierra Blitz & Hornady XS, Speer TNT 50gr, these are very destructive little bullets that won't shoot in most fast twist barrels. Look for something other than 75gr bullets, it might shoot the 62 gr but I doubt it. Think 52 and under. I bet the Hornady 40gr v-max would sing in this rifle.

If you had a 9Twist barrel and wanted to shoot Coyotes with minimum pelt damage, would a 62 - 65gr. Sierra SBT bullet work? Let's say at ranges from 100yds. to 400yds.

Twist has to do with the length of the bullet, not weight.

"Long range" is subjective and you might be surprised by the efficiency of a 50gr. V-Max that is stood on.

Hard.

I'd not be surprised if those Fusions shoot decent and if they do, compare the length of those 62's to this chart. It will give you a rough idea of what to play with and what not to waste your time with:

http://www.jbmballistics.com/ballistics/lengths/lengths.shtml

https://www.federalpremium.com/rifle/fusion/fusion-rifle/11-F223FS1.html

What 'Flave said.

Do you handload?

What are you calling long range?

A 40 or 50 grain poly tipped bullet pushed hard is a surprisingly flat shooting booger.

The biggest fallacy of long range ballistics is thinking a 223 is a long range cartridge with heavy bullets.

You can do plenty with 40-50 grain bullets in the 223 with velocity that will be more than satisfactory to 500 yards.

500 yards really isn’t long range.

Item #1: Bed and float your Classic, that'll put you into MOA right away.

Item #2: As someone has said, the .223 is really not a long range gun...yes you can hit stuff way out there, but you are looking for enough retained energy to kill stuff.

Item #3: also as someone said many good varmint bullets will get you to 500 yards in a 12 twist. 500 yards is farther than you think......handload 55 grain NBTs and rock on.

How/when/where do you DELUSIONAL Fhuqktards contrive this schit...you "lucky" kchunts? Hint. Congratulations?!?

The 1-12" Classic in 223 is simply a BUST,due mechanics. It can be made to go "Bang!",but bullets ALWAYS matter more than headstamps,if only to the chagrin of Crying Karens the World over. Hint. Laughing!

50 V-Max at 3500fps. Fhuqking HINT.



75 ELD-M at 2950fps. Fhuqking HINT.



Wind drift at the 300yd line is nearly double for the zippy 50. The trajectory "difference" is (1) fhuqking inch at 300yds. The 75 has greater impact velocity at the 300yd line,having more than chewed up the 550fps headstart. The vaunted 300yd 50gr "energy" is 610 ft lbs,with the 75 making 952 ft lbs. In fact, the 75's energy at 600yds is only a "whopping" 15 fhuqking foot pounds shy,of what the 50 does at the 300yd line. Hint.

Live a little and rebarrel 1-7". It's THE Little BIG Gun(21" Hawk',223 SALAMI). 88's ain't even "fair" to you Fhuqktards. Hint. LAUGHING!




In "fairness" to The Google Gals and Crying Karens,I only shoot 223/223AI in 7,7.5,8,9,10,12 and 14" twist rates in bolt guns. Hint.

You've been led to water.

Thank me later.

Hint.

LAUGHING!...............

A YouTube video of Big Stink...

KchuntRun,

Gals who "know" and "do" as "much" as you,will ALWAYS be best served by asking questions,rather than giving "answers"...you "lucky" kchunt. Hint. Congratulations?!?

Was gunning an 8" RPM this morning,shaking out new glass. Hint.






Fortunately for you,Imagination and Pretend are free,so you can "afford" to "contribute". Hint.

Bless your poor poor(literally) heart for Crying,Whining and Trying though.

Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!......................

Got any targets Stinky, or are we to believe you actually hit something twice?

Lying Karen,

Your Brokedick High Pitched Nasal Whine,sure is fhuqking soothing...you "lucky" kchunt. Hint. Congratulations?!?



'Nother 7" RPM here. Hint.



MUCH better after The Chop. Hint.






Bless your heart,for being FORCED to "live" vicariously,as you get to read my EVERY word and gawk EVERY Splendid Pixel.

Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!..............

Another butchered barrel.

Lying Karen,

You mean to say,that despite a Heralded Decree,that you can see my pics you MAGNIFICENT Lying Piece Of Fhuqking Clueless Schit...you "lucky" kchunt? Hint. Congratulations?!?



7.5" RPM here. Hint.




Bless your heart.

As an aside,just how many times a day do you think about me?

Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!......................

55 grain NBT has been my favorite coyote bullet out of a 22-250 for a long time.

Should be pretty good from the 223, only kilt 1 with said bullet in 223 so far and it was the usual DRT that I get from the 22-250.

The NBT 50 isn't far behind it though. Killed quite a few with that out of my last 250.

A Retard Twist Rate 22-250,pales to a real one...just as in 223 Rem chambering. Hint.

I shoot High RPM 22-250's,22-250 AI's and 224 Speedmires in 7,8 and 9" RPM's,obviously with multiple rifles in each chambering. Hint.



Though in fairness,I realize you Crying Karens gotta read about it and Google it,rather than actual trigger time. PLEASE do not slight the humor associated,because you gals are doing "GREAT!". Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!

Ladies who "know" and "do" as "much" as you gals,will ALWAYS be best served by asking questions,rather than giving "answers". Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!................

What everyone has already said is right, taken within their context. The problem is some just can’t see the world outside of their little part of it. You need to figure out what you want to do and decide if your current setup will do it well, or if you need to change something. If that’s the case, might as well go with a really fast twist that’ll do all the round can do. No downside to it at .223 speeds, unlike a faster round that might cause some thin-jacketed bullets to do squirrley stuff.

Handloading or factory ammo?

The 50-55 grain poly tipped bullets will work good for said application.

50/55 Ballistic Tips, V-Max or Blitzkings.

The heavier bullets will be okay but I prefer a little more zip.

🥕 🥕!

Reading this thread, I keep wondering what the heck you guys are trying to kill at long range that you need a ton of energy from your .223? I'm pretty sure we aren't talking elephants here, or deer, elk, bears, or anything you may take home for dinner. Even the lowly .223, .17 Remington, 222, and others of that type are going to have plenty of energy way past 500 yards to kill small critters like P-dogs, sage rats, and coyotes regardless of what pill you're pushing from my experience.... you just have to figure out how to hit it....

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This Rio7

Physics isn't subjective and it is reliably fhuqking HILARIOUS,how many are perpetually stumped with such simplistic matters. Read that again. Now one more time. Hint.

Starting velocity "zip",certainly the fhuqk is NOT impact velocity. Nor does it correlate in lineal fashion,or close. Hint.

In a true 9" RPM 223 SALAMI spout and talking Utility,I want the 75gr Hornie HPBT without the can-o-lure. The A-Max and ELD-M of like mass,are too long for my fickle atmosphere...though THE opening move at 8". Hint.

It might even be a wee bit "handy",to shoot a single projectile that will do it all and easily. Big Game Tags,Fur,Vermin,Steel,Paper,etc. That comes full circle back to the 75 ELD-M in Today's World,who's BC is better than the discontinued 75 A-Max,if/when talking 8" RPM. Hint.

A 1-12" 223 boltgun,is a DIRTY fhuqking Trick,as it slams wayyyyy more windows of opportunity shut,than it opens. Hint.

14" RPM 223AI here(Hart),forming cases. 'Course 7,7.5 and 8's follow suit,regarding Accuracy/Precision,even with the same bullet(50gr V-Max). Had just swapped the scope on/off,to R&D another and there was a slight windage shift on the return. Hint.





While the fhuqking outright HILARITY of a gaggle of Crying Karens,guessing wildly with their GoogleFu,never ain't not entertaininger than fhuqk,simply pardon my shooting all and then some. Hint.

Bless your hearts.

Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!.................

It will kill whitetails farther than it should with a 55 grain Sierra Gameking.

The various 60 grain bullets should be dandy too.

The .224" Sugar GK is a fhuqking POS Joke! Hint.

7" RPM Mike Rock 223AI 75 A-Max. Hint.



I've shot the fhuqk outta .224" 60-70 grainers too and there's nothing "dandy" there,excepting the 62 X's(all versions shine) and their ability to hang with 3500fps+ impacts,in cases of enough capacity to arrange same. No 12" RPM will come close,as they are longer than a 69gr Sugar BTHP. Hint.



I'm groovin' on the Dumbfhuqktitude though! Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!...............

Recap to the tune of 1000 words. hint.



A 1-12" 223 will only shoot (1) of these,in my atmosphere and it's "likely" the one of least length and schittiest fhuqking BC,the POS Nuzzler 60gr NPT. Hint.

Left to right,simply listed in ascending mass: 53grTSX,55gr TTSX,aforentioned Nuzzler 60gr NPT,60 V-Max,62gr TSX,69gr SMK,70gr GMX,75gr Hornie HPBT w/can-o-lure,75gr Hornie HPBT,75gr ELD-M,75gr A-Max,77 SMK,77gr Nuzzler Comp,80gr ELD-M,80gr Berger,88 ELD-M,90gr A-Tip. Hint.

OEM 9" spout here in 223AI and 75gr Hornie HPBT and no can-o-lure. Hint.



It's never been tough to savvy,who shoots and who don't. Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!..................

What about a 50 grain V-Max?

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/19401/re-223-load-info#Post19401

10gaugewhine,

No need to reiterate that you are a CLUELESS Drooling Dumbfhuqk,nor the simplistic Fact,that I shoot it all and then some...you "lucky" kchunt. Hint. Congratulations?!?

Now if only in "fairness" to your Magnificent Fhuqking STUPIDITY,I had not cited the .224" 50gr 'Max until my 1st fhuqking reply to this very Thread. Read that again. Now one more time. Hint.

In the last (3) replies of mine to this very Thread and betwixt your Whining Dumbfhuqktitude,I'd only cited the projectile by name and/or hung Splendid Pixels of same,in (2) of them. Read that again. Now one more time. Hint.

There's no slighting how exceptionally WELL founded,your countless Insecurities are. What might you Whine about next,ala your Rampant Retardation? I'm rather at ease in dangling slack on the rope and enjoying you doing your CLUELESS Best. Read that again. Now one more time. Hint.

1-12" PN 223AI here,running straight receiver diameter "contour" at 24". S/S 2-ounce Shilen,MacaMillion A2 and 12x MQ. Obviously 50gr V-Max as mainstays. Google as you must,Whine as you do and nod your pencil neck like you "understand". Read that again. Now one more time. Hint.



It's never been tough to savvy,who shoots and who don't. Read that again. Now one more time. Hint.

Luckily for you,Imagination and Pretend are free,so you can "afford" to "contribute". PLEASE "tell" me "more". Hint.

Bless your heart.

Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!..................

Who let that idiot back on the forum? Bad mistake that I hope can be corrected.

If the OP rebarrels, a 9 twist will shoot those Sierra 65 gr GKs just fine, if you can get some.

well said, finally some one with smarts

Big Stink

are you here in the USA Legally.... I mean you speak English like you're a Mexican Illegal Alien....

its just hard to make sense of it...even had a Mexican friend read this and he said you no speak English, not very good but at all..
it make no sense to me He told me...

plus dis guy is either drunk or high on somethin'.....

yeah ya can tell.... all really smart guys put a pirate decal on their rlfles...just like they did with their BB Guns when they were 7.

This from a guy who likes to say.. " you've been lead to water" when he hasn't had a bath since 1998.....

yeah ya can tell.... all really smart guys put a pirate decal on their rlfles...just like they did with their BB Guns when they were 7.

This from a guy who likes to say.. " you've been lead to water" when he hasn't had a bath since 1998.....
[/quote]

LOL:)

If I were you I'd be leaving the rifles alone and concentrating on diet, exercise, some speech/language/writing lessons, a little plastic surgery and looking for some pussy.

That wasn't very nice .

I’ve had good luck out to 400 yards with the Berger 52 grain vld

my idea of a LR 223 shown here

223 AI chamber...Savage target action....28" Pac Nor barrel 9 twist

Just short of 18# as shown...goes from truck bed to portable table

Watch for it in the ads soon....2600 rds out...p/dog killin sob

That would be awesome if Berger made that bullet..............but they don't

I have the Remington in .223 and the 1:12 twist. I certainly hope when Remington gets back into production they twist their 700's in 1:8. The 1:12 just doesn't cut it in the 21st century.

kwg

I had no issues killing things with 22-250 and 223 rifles variously twisted 1-12 or 1-14. Got great accuracy and things inside of 350 yards seemed to die with a reasonable amount of suddenness. These rifles also handled the cheap soft point bullets without slinging them apart like a 1-7 twist 223 will sometimes. Here in Texas I so seldom have to shoot past 200 yards a 1-14 twist would work OK but in my current inventory of .224 barrels the slowest twist I have is 1-9 and it does a lot very well.

This thread is a bit old, but I'll chime in for people looking for info and posterity:

OP asked about Long Range .223 recomendations. Here's what worked for me in my Rem 700 classic with Nikon 3x9 scope. The rifle is glass bedded and has a Timney trigger. Otherwise it's bone stock.

50 gr Sierra Blitzking
27.3 gr H335
WSR primer
Winchester Case
1.935 inch cartridge base to ogive.

Just about any 50 grainer has worked in this rifle. The load above gets .4 to .6 inch groups at 100. With more work I could probably get it even better, but this has worked for me at the ranges I normally shoot. I've picked off critters at 400 yards. Also took a kid shooting to an F-Class match with this rifle / load combo and he did quite well off a bipod. That's a 600 yard distance. He didn't win of course but he got plenty of X's and 10 ringers. Not bad since he doesn't know how to shoot in the wind.