223 debacle

[Q_Sertorius]

By the way, if you need something to satisfy She Who Must Be Placated, I will be happy to provide you with a certificate signed by a [self-proclaimed] RokSlide Expert that says you “need a new rifle”, while also maintaining that you need to keep the old rifle too.

 

[nm.otter]

Does it shoot 73gr ELD-Ms?

 

[KHntr]

The question in my mind is since I know this set up, in my AO, will not shoot the heavies as is, is it worth making changes.

Full stop, yes. 110% worth it.

 

[FredH]

My model Seven has a 22 inch 1-9 twist barrel. It shoots 75 gr. Fusion/Gold dot bullets very accurately. Where I hunt it shoots plenty flat enough and holds enough velocity past the point where I would shoot it. There are a lot of good bullets out there that will do just fine in a 1-9 twist 223. In the good ole days I used the 60 gr. Hornady SP and HP flat bases, the 64 gr. Barnes and the 70 gr. Speer. in 1-12 twist barrels. All did just fine.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Give it to me and I’ll deal with it for you.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Does it shoot 73gr ELD-Ms?

Interesting question. I actually shot them yesterday for the first time and got roughly a 2+ inch group but here’s the weird part. I shot 5 and the group was sub MOA. Then I had to take a break due to range rules for people to post targets. Went back and shot another 5 and the first two were way high. After the first high shot I said maybe that was me so on the second one I was very strict on fundamentals and it was still high just not as bad. Then 3,4,5 went right back into the first group. I have not written them off but wasn’t thrilled with that.

 

[omicron1792]

My model Seven has a 22 inch 1-9 twist barrel. It shoots 75 gr. Fusion/Gold dot bullets very accurately. Where I hunt it shoots plenty flat enough and holds enough velocity past the point where I would shoot it. There are a lot of good bullets out there that will do just fine in a 1-9 twist 223. In the good ole days I used the 60 gr. Hornady SP and HP flat bases, the 64 gr. Barnes and the 70 gr. Speer. in 1-12 twist barrels. All did just fine.

Man I love gold dot and fusion bullets.

 

[sierracharlie338]

73 eldm target for reference

 

[Rockpicker]

73 eldm target for reference
View attachment 967939

Load some up at home and give it a whirl. I had good luck with Hornady ammo 20+ years ago but lately I haven’t when I bought some for the hell of it. Reminds me why I reload even though it’s a time waster.

 

[FredH]

73 eldm target for reference
View attachment 967939

Did it get windy? Did you maybe get rested differently and not shoot as well?

 

[Schmo]

I’ll be that guy. Sell it and buy a Tikka. If you must needs do so, go get a Tikka prefit from PVA and she’ll hammer.

 

[pathnz]

Keep it and use 69s, remingtons are fine & good

 

[UnckleBob]

Ok let’s hear it from the 223 faithful…

Currently have a 223 that is a factory REM 700 (you read that right FACTORY) barreled action sitting in a Bravo chassis with a 1:9 twist. I’m at sea level and no chance this barrel will shoot the 75g+ in an acceptable manner, I’ve tried.

Here’s my dilemma, this barrel shoots the 69g stuff very well at about 2850. So well in fact I’m torn on where to go from here. Pic for reference. My daughters Tikka 223 can’t print groups like this but these are handloads and I’ve only shot factory ammo out of the tikka.

View attachment 967397

What’s a guy to do? I have good stock of both 69 and 77tmks. Planning to load up on 80eldms for another project but wouldn’t mind trying them in the 223 also.

The way I see it, I have 1 of 3 options:

Sell the whole set up and start from scratch with a Tikka?

Rebarrel with a proper twist rate for the heavies?

Keep shooting the 69s and quit overthinking the situation?

Let me know what y’all think.

Sc

Use the 77's and 80s on the other projects.

Do you really "need" to shoot the heavier bullets with that rifle?

 

[FLS]

Hornady 75 grain boat tail hollow point will usually shoot out of 1-9 barrels. I had a 20” 1-9 AR that would stack them. Worth a try.

 

[Schmo]

Hornady 75 grain boat tail hollow point will usually shoot out of 1-9 barrels. I had a 20” 1-9 AR that would stack them. Worth a try.

Not a good option of using on game tho. Just fyi

 

[FLS]

Not a good option of using on game tho. Just fyi

I’m not so sure about that.
My BIL kills 3-4 deer a year with em out of his 1-9 .223 Savage. Has for as long as I’ve known him. Long before TMKs and Rockslide specials were a thing. His 4 boys all killed their first several deer with that combo.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Did it get windy? Did you maybe get rested differently and not shoot as well?

Ya know I don’t have a good answer for that. When I broke the shot on the highest one I felt like it was decent but then after seeing the impact my first thought was “damn a flyer” so then I buckled down and executed a fundamentally sound shot which produced the second highest impact so I was kinda dumbfounded. I plan to shoot another 10 shot group uninterrupted to see what it does a second time.

Use the 77's and 80s on the other projects.

Do you really "need" to shoot the heavier bullets with that rifle?

“Need”? Not at all currently as I have plenty of other calibers to shoot heavies with. I just like to tinker to be honest.