.223 for bolt action: affordable and accurate?

[gunguynj 0]

I am curious on the opinions of the board on the following matter:

 

I recently purchased a used .223 Tikka T3 TAC and it is my first rifle. It has a Buckmaster 6-18x40 scope and I primarily kill paper targets between 100-300 yards. I shoot from a bi-pod and a table in seated.

 

1) All I have shot is PMC bronze 55gr and Remington UMC. I cant tell if its me or does the shot miss the target most of the time? I didnt get many groupings

 

2) Is there any affordable and accurate ammunition that one could but factory loaded and be able to shoot say 100 rounds a week?

 

3) Does one have to hand load for this kind of accuracy

 

4) What ammo would you recommend if buying factory for tight, consistent, satisfying groups?

 

Thank you ahead of time and I apologize for not finding the relevant answer by searching.

[Old School 611]

Take baby steps. Forget the bipod for the moment and shoot off of sand bags, a rolled up coat ,towels or a blanket. Get that rifle rock steady. Start at 50yd adjust your paralex for 50. Go out to 100 adjust paralex for 100.

 

Shoot your groups. If that rifle doesn't shoot 1" at 100yds with factory ammo something is wrong.

 

Shoot 3-5 rounds rest 5 minutes.

 

Report back with results.

[Pizza Bob 1,488]

What Frank told you is good advice. In order to optimize your chances though, you have to make sure the ammunition is suitable for the gun. Rifles chamberd in .223 have various twist rates. Time was that 1:12 was the most common for a B/A .223 rifle, as they were primarily used to hunt varmints using light weight bullets. With the explosion of the "modern sporting rifle" market (read that: AR), the most common ammunition we see is 55 grains and up. A 1:12 twist rate may not suitably stabilize a 55 grain or heavier bullet. If the ammo you are using falls into that category, you are better off with a 1:7, 1:8 or 1:9 barrel. (And before somebody jumps on me, I know that it's bearing surface, not necessarily weight that determines what twist rate is best - as a rule of thumb, heavier bullets have longer bearing surfaces and require faster twist rates).

 

Next check your optics. Are all the mounts secure? All screws adequately and evenly torqued? Have you done a test at closer range to see if the scope is holding zero? Have you "shot the box"?

 

As for ammo, good target ammo doesn't come cheap. If you want accuracy and volume on a budget, then handloading is your only recourse. In order to sort your gun out though, you should go find some Federal Gold Medal Match - 69 gr BTHP (providing you have the proper twist rate (see paragraph 1). It can be found ranging in price from appx $17/20 up to $27/20. Gun shows are your best bet for finding it at the lower end of that price range.

 

Good luck.

 

Adios,

 

Pizza Bob

[Old School 611]

Bob - He should be able to stabilize 55gr w/ almost any twist. Commercial plinking ammo should shoot an 1"-1 1/2" out of that rifle.

 

http://www.6mmbr.com/223rem.html

 

What you think?

 

 

[Pizza Bob 1,488]

Bob - He should be able to stabilize 55gr w/ almost any twist. Commercial plinking ammo should shoot an 1"-1 1/2" out of that rifle.

 

http://www.6mmbr.com/223rem.html

 

What you think?

 

Depends on the gun, and the shooter. I was just trying to give him things to tweak to optimize his chances

[gunguynj 0]

The twist is 1/8 I believe. But Bob, your advice is not lost. I will do exactly that this Sunday or Monday at CR when i get there. I suppose I just dont enjoy the disappointing feeling of aiming for the bullseye and then seeing it hit 1" to the right when I KNOW I was dead on! I guess I never counted on the ammo being the wildcard!

[Urban Grunt 44]

Removed

[Old School 611]

PM sent. I should be at CR on Monday. I'll bring sand bags and a few different loads.

[gunguynj 0]

Hey Frank sounds good. I will be there in the morning. Look forward to zero'ing it in. Should be there around opening time-ish for a bit until i have to go to work.

[Old School 611]

See ya!

[alowerlevel 77]

If you want afordable and accurate ammo take a look at the Prvi Partizan match, they have it in both 69gr and 75gr. Its usually around $10-$11 a box online, and heres a accuracy test of the 75gr stuff out of an AR http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_16/491816_.html

[GRIZ 3,369]

I'm sure Old School will figure out if the problem is your equipment or you.

[gunguynj 0]

Well I was able to actually get some time in today and with the assistance of some ricebags I was able to pretty much zero in at 50 and 100 yards. Nice tight groupings and fairly accurate. It was really open on the range today so sunday afternoons are the time to go for sure. Its a good thing since I have to work tomorrow since my coverage called out.

 

I even used the bags on the pistol range to check the accuracy of my s&w model 60 357. That was certainly case of operator error as without it im low and left or high and right, and with it i got a sweet bullseye at 10 yards.

 

Very impressed with Cherry Ridge so far. Nice people. Just as long as I dont have to sit through another indoctrination meeting im good :-)