Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Sporter class Bench rest caliber

My local gun club has ground hog shoots that are really a hillbilly version of Bench rest competitions. I am toying with giving the sporter /hunting rifle class a try. Weight limit is 10.5 lbs . Ranges of 100,200.300 yards Fives shots each. I am looking at a Ruger American Varmint, 223 or 6mm Creedmoor. Factory ammo abounds for both and hand loading is doable. Any advice advice/thoughts?

Have fun. Edk

The 300 yd line will determine the top competitors, wind and mirage (you didn't specify how many sighters are allowed) will win or lose matches...so I would select a cartridge with that as a primary consideration. Study those ballistic charts. Don't worry about recoil and fatigue, you got 10.5 pound rifle, 15 money shots, and a few sighters. I would also consider nixing a single shot...when the flags are consistent you want to get your money shots off NOW.

^

I have not ever shot in a rifle competition but I have shot varmints (prairie dogs) with both of those cartridges and also steel to 700 (both) and 800 with the 6mm.

The 6mm will out do the .223 in the wind. My .223 is around 10.5 lbs and the 6mm is 12 ish. I can spot my own shots with the .223 easily. The 6mm I have been able to spot them at 6-800 yards but not as easy. I’m assuming you would be allowed a spotter so maybe not a huge factor for you.

The .223 is much cheaper to shoot. Looks like an 8 twist in that rifle so I would look at 77 Sierra or 77/80 Hornady match. Those bullets put it closer to the 6mm but a typical 55 SP will drift significantly more. If it’s for fun then don’t worry about any of that and go have fun.

Get the best optics possible. At 300 yards those critters look pretty small. Sounds like a great time!

How about a Howa Mini in 6mm ARC?

At 300 yards and under them thar long sleek 77 grainers have absolutely no advantage over a 52 match.

I've got a 6mm Creedmoor and it's a fine cartridge.

Last year I started doing some precision loading for the 223, and wow! Using 77 grain OTM Berger bullets several of us had no problems shooting tight groups with it. Great bullet! Requires a 1:8 twist barrel.

For what you're describing, I'd opt for the 223 as it's less expensive to shoot and capable of fine accuracy. To me the 6's shine as the distance increases, even then I've seen 223's doing great at 600 yards.

Regards, Guy

Not sure how much you want to spend, or whether or not you reload but for what you’re describing, I’d be looking at one of the Cooper single shots in 6BR or 6PPC.

John

How about a .308 Win with something in the 165-175 grain range?

Or even a 6.5 Creedmoor?

Sighters are permitted at each yard line. I have been told that they have set weight limits for each class but do not weight rifles prior to matches. Many have said the matches are a lot of fun but there are a few shooters who think they are in a world class comp. The 223 has a following at the matches but, the 300 yard line can be problematic on windy days. But, the 223 is by far the cheapest way to get in the game but not necessarily in the winners circle. I did not consider the Howa 6mm ARC. The 6mm ARC would dictate less powder usage then the 6mm Creedmoor. The current demand for 6 mm bullets in the 100gr range is a problem. When you find them you had better buy them!

Yep, the 223 with 52 match really sucks ass at the 300 mark.



If you don’t have 3-4 wind flags out the wind is going to screw you no matter what.

…sorry, unless you’re shooting in no-wind tunnel, that is an absolutely wrong statement.

Before doing anything:

What are the sizes of the targets at all 3 yardages?

Are wind flags allowed? -Al

Wind flags are present, target is a ground hog shape with a 1 inch square in the center of a ringed target.

300 yards is not that difficult buy a AR-1O bolt rifle in a 6.5 Creedmoor that is ported ,put a good bench scope with target knobs / turrets like a Nightforce or another good brand . buy a good swivel bench bi-pod too.

Is the target scaled up at each yardage or the same 1" square at 100, 200, 300? -Al

Run the ballistics, do believe you will find that a 773000 and a 523400 are dead nuts together out to 260 yards. At 300 the 77 has 2.68 inches more drop but 2.1 inches less drift than the 52 so it’s pretty much a wash as you can deal with more drop or with more drift on the 52. Personally with flags out it’s just as easy to deal with windage as it is elevation. So where’s the definite advantage?

Well, drop is gravity and wind isn't. I'll take 2/3 MOA wind advantage on my side all day every day over any amount of "drop".

I'd happily give away 2 to 3 MOA of drop to gain 2/3MOA of drift in my favor.

I'm a little mixed up...you implied in the op you were shooting hillbilly bench rest, is that measuring groups? Or scoring rings on the totally immaterial ground hog, which to me means shooting for score...which is an different game. Counter to everyone else's opinion here (as usual) if you are shooting for score, on a range with flukey winds, I'd be thinking going old skool, heavy bullet in the Creedmoors or maybe even a 200 gr Matchking in the horrible old .308.Give up a point or 2 at 100 and maybe 200 to the wonder .22's...clean the 300 and take home the bacon. I assume best aggregate wins.