.223, fox and range ?

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Malxwal

Malxwal

Well-Known Member
Simple question(s), would the .223 be the ideal rifle/caliber for foxing and for use on the range?
I currently don't home load, so factory ammo availability and relative cost.
Would a varmint type barrel be better for range work, and what would be an ideal twist rate from your experiences ?
 
I am in the same boat at the moment. Plan to get a 223 Rem 700 tactical wich has a 1-9" twist. They should be fine up to 70 grain, as I have been told. For field use I would get a sporter barrel ( weight !!) but on the range a heavier barrel is just better. I use a browning A bolt UK stalker ( 223) , from a friend, at the moment but the barrel heats up very quickly. In sunny weather it gets warm after 5/7 shots. If you only have one rifle at the range, it's practical if you can fire a good number of shots before the barrel gets to warm.
As most of my foxing will be from the high seat, weight won't be an issue. If I ever get into reloading, a 1-9" should be O.K to fire 69/70 grain Sierra Match King or Lapua Scenar. The A bolt firing military Barnaul ammo is not very accurate. I can immagine that you need to get into reloading quickly if you want some accuracy on the range. It's very embarrassing if the man next to you shoots tighter groups with his 6mm BR at 400 metres than you do at 100 metres. Reloading is the next step.
 
triggersqueezer said:
i would get a 1 in 8 twist min for range work so you can shoot the heavy 75s and 80s with good bc.i would also think about loading .
Click to expand...
+1, I have a 1 in 8 inch twist barrel, 77g reloads for range shooting out to 600y (national civilian service rifle comps), 60g vmax for the foxes with a moderator, shots out to 300y, hardly any recoil and observing the strike and reaction are superb. If you don't home load match and good quality army surp are available, Hornady vmax available through your dealer too. "Foxing with lamp and rifle" by Robert Bucknell a welth of information on the subject.
 
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This is encouraging. I'd initially been looking at .222, but I'm kind of reading from what folk say that the .223 is a better option these days. After todays discussion with my FEO, a very sensible and reasonable chap, a .223 is no problem as I already have .243 for fox and roe.
One reason I don't just use my .243 is as already mentioned, it's a hunting rifle and the barrel heats up very quick, so I'd prefer to keep it setup just for stalking.
Thanks for the info on barrel twist as well, I thought I'd best check with people who are using this caliber on the range.
I will eventually get into reloading, but for the moment it has to be factory ammo.
 
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Interesting reading, as I'm adding a .223 for range work and this all backs up what I'd hoped was clear thinking on my part!

I'm looking for a Sako 75 with 1/8" twist in Laminate Stainless, but they are like rocking horse p** at the moment. The twist will manage 75gr A-Max, so I can settle on the one round for both range and Charlie - at least that's the plan!
 
Malxwal said:
Simple question(s), would the .223 be the ideal rifle/caliber for foxing and for use on the range?
I currently don't home load, so factory ammo availability and relative cost.
Click to expand...

you don't say what kind of range work?
Competition range work or just you and some mates perforating paper?

I think the only advantages the .223 has over the .222 are:
1) ability to throw heavier bullets (whether you need that is up to you, and a fast twist barrel with see the .222 use heavier bullets anyway)
2) plentiful milsurp or cheap factory ammo (however PPU do a FMJ 50gr .222 load that is very reasonable)
3) there are shed loads of them out there for sale due to a bigger market

however, the .222 out there are often cheaper, they just aren't as "cool"....so thats a plus in my book!
one is no more accurate than the other
.222 uses less powder
is idiot proof to reload for

the big one for me is the long, high BC .223 loads in the 75-90gr range
they do look interesting....but then I have a 243.....
 
Bewsher, to be honest I am unsure of just what my involvement will be in range shooting just yet. My intentions were to join the local full bore club and go along and see how it and I progress, but I wanted to use the range to improve my shooting technique and check the performance of my rifles in a more controlled and hopefully less windy environment, taking advantage of others experience at the same time.

I do like a .222, lovely, but just from reading threads got the impression that .223 would be a better option. The rifle will also be used for foxes and vermin, and perhaps in conjunction with NV, so a variable mag scope will be fitted (I have fixed on the .243.My .243 is not as well suited to target work as perhaps a heavy barreled rifle would be in terms of heating up quickly, so I'd prefer to keep that solely for stalking.

JCS, unfortunately the internet Nazis deny me access to that link, I'll have to come back to that once I'm back in the real world !
 
Malxwal said:
Simple question(s), would the .223 be the ideal rifle/caliber for foxing and for use on the range?
I currently don't home load, so factory ammo availability and relative cost.
Would a varmint type barrel be better for range work, and what would be an ideal twist rate from your experiences ?
Click to expand...

.22-250 is in my opinion a good calibre to have as it has a flat tradjectory. But barrel eroshion has to be take into account. Although, having said that, I do have a .223 and you won't go wrong with it. Remember while target barrels are more consistently accurate they are also heavier. And not something you might want to lug around a field!
 
Aye, my Sako .243 is heavy enough, and it's an injection molded stock with normal barrel. However, my "verminating" is mostly done from or close to the truck. I pondered a 22.250, but having used a .222 which I liked, the .223 seemed a decent option.
 
Hi I have a Sako 85 varmint 1 / 12 heavy barrel with a ase utra jet z and it fires 55g sako gameheads very accurately, It drops Charlie cwd & muntjac on the spot it's a great calibre, I don't shoot at a club but I do have a good range setup on one of my permissions and it performs good on targets also, I think the extra weight makes it easier to be more accurate with.
 
I'd definitly go with a fast twist 223, I've used one off and on for quite a while on coyotes and just recreational shooting. The heavier bullets do perform a lot better at long range, and though I've never shot Muntjac, I think it would be a good choice for them.
I've always been a fan of the 222, it was my first real varmint rifle,but the 223 has it beat when it comes to factory ammo.There are so many options ( wieght and bullet type ) it's just a lot more versatile, with a faster twist it gives you even more.

Good Luck AB
 
If your shooting targets at ranges beyond 500 yards - I would consider a 223 with a 1 in 8 twist barrel.
I have had a couple of Tikka Super Varmints in 223 flavour. Both rifle fitted with an 8 twist tube and I found these to be superb and very versitile.

I had a long range load that launched a 75 grn Amax at 2900 fps - and a more general foxing round that fired a 55 grn Blitzking at 3360 fps. Interestingly these rifles would also shoot a 40 grn Vmax very accurately. Now thats versitile.

If your target shooting will be done a little closer to home - The slippery little 53 grn Vmax is an excellent bullet with a the best BC in its class. My current 223 will zap this little rockets at 3420 fps with deadly accuracy.


ATB
Alan
 
The guys I talked to when I was living in Alberta used 223 for coyote shooting they liked the 69 grain sierras I think , if they drop coyotes they will dedeal with Charlie no probs
 
i am new to ftr but was very supprised how my 223 performed at 800 yds doing the 900 at the end of the month and 1000 after that. at 800 my 223 dropped 23.4 moa 196.3" out of a 20" barrel.my wind calls let me down (like i say not experienced) but still managed 86 out of 100 score so i was happy.
 
I was living in north star just outside of manning :) beautiful place and nicer people you could not hope to meet !
 
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