223 @ 1040

remingtonman_25_06 · Sunday at 9:59 PM

Wanted to find a spot to shoot 1K at the range just a couple miles from my house. Typically can only get out to 500. I played around with onx maps and line distance and came up with a spot that would allow 1040 or so. Time to load the 4Runner up with the gear and head down the road. I got to the point where I would be shooting from and got the Swaro 1500 RF out. The guys already had a 20" plate or so setup out there at 500 that they shoot from the benches. I hit it a couple times with the Swaro and got 1040 and 1042. Onx showed .59 miles which comes out to 1038 yards. Close enough. Looks like I'm not the only one shooting from this knob over there. There was a blanket already laid down, so I didn't have to get the shooting mat out. Got the R700 223 Wylde with 28" Bartlein and 80.5g Bergers at 2970fps on the harris bipod with an Armageddon rear bag. Rifle isn't even technically zeroed for these Bergers, it's zeroed for the 75g ELDMs. But since the 2 loads are very very similar with N540, they shoot close enough to the same POI out to 300, within an inch or two anyway. So I got my phone and entered the range and weather conditions into Strelok Pro. It said to come up 30 MOA from a 200y zero. The wind was at my back at around 2-3 mph so I didn't dial for wind. I got behind the S&B PMII 12-50x settled in and touched the 1st shot off. I could see the splatter on the plate, pretty much dead center. That'll do donkey, that'll do! It was pretty hard to hear the impact as it's 1/2" plate, but you could still hear it, and better yet, see it. The next 3 shots impacted about 6" low and right of center into about a 6" group from the looks of it. My 5th shot just missed the right edge, wind must've switched up and picked up a bit on me downrange. All in all, not a bad way to spend the last hour of the evening. The best thing is, I don't have to travel 20 minutes to my other shooting spot to shoot 1K anymore. Plus, it's usually shut down for the summer anyway because of the hit and dry summers. It's a fire hazard out there. Picture through the scope was on 25x taken from my phone. After about 40x the S&B gets to be pretty dark. I find myself between 25-35x most of the time. I was on 25x when I was shooting just to make sure I could spot my own impacts.

xphunter · 2025-07-28T05:04:49-0700

Fun, Fun, Fun with a cold bore shot to boot!
That makes for a great time.
Good shooting.

salmonchaser · 2025-07-28T05:09:57-0700

Clearly I’m not making full use of OnX. I’ve hunted pheasant over there on the refuge and seen some real nice whitetails, but it’s been awhile.

TackDriver284 · 2025-07-28T06:56:36-0700

Good shooting. May I ask what is the twist on your rifle? 80 grain heavyweight moving at a decent speed at a thousand.

remingtonman_25_06 · 2025-07-28T09:55:50-0700

It's an 8 twist. I only intended to shoot 75-80g bullets through it, and the occasional 53 vmax for splat factor. Since I'd be pushing the 75-80s around the 3K fps area with the 28" Bartlein, I figured an 8 twist would be more than adequate. Should've still probably went 7.5 but too late now. It's a fun little rifle and shoots well. Weighs around 16-17# last I checked. Just now getting all the brass fireformed, loads tweaked and verified to play at the range. It will also more than likely see some action this winter on coyotes.

Ralt71 · 2025-07-28T10:51:44-0700

Nice shooting, and it looks like you found a convenient and great spot to get some distance in!

I've been thinking about grabbing a .223 bolt action. Primarily to help my kids develop good shooting habits and trigger technique (maybe me too as I venture into longer ranges) and also to do some varmint hunting.

I've been looking at the Tikka Ace and the Tikka Varmint. Is this a good caliber for much distance or does the little bullet deviate too much?

remingtonman_25_06 · 2025-07-28T11:48:08-0700

A nice accurate bolt action 22 LR is also a great cheap training tool. I shoot a lot through my CZ457 out to 300, and occasionally 4-500. Keeps me sharp with bench manners and breathing/follow through technique.

Can't go wrong with a Tikka. I would opt for one in an 8 twist so you can shoot 75-80g bullets. As far as a good varmint caliber for distance, I guess that all depends what you're wanting to do with it. In my opinion, it's a great varmint/coyote rig out to a solid 600 with the 75-80s and will bang steel out to 1K all day. As long as the wind isn't horrible, you should be able to hold 1 MOA or better out to 1K with a tuned load. Not bad for something that only burns 25g powder. You just have to be a little better at reading the wind then the 6.5s/7s/30s with their higher BC bullets.

RL338 · 2025-07-28T18:09:37-0700

Very well indeed. Nice to have place close by to stretch it out.
My Golden Eagle does darken up past 35x too.

Ralt71 · 2025-07-29T05:33:36-0700

remingtonman_25_06 said:
A nice accurate bolt action 22 LR is also a great cheap training tool. I shoot a lot through my CZ457 out to 300, and occasionally 4-500. Keeps me sharp with bench manners and breathing/follow through technique.

Can't go wrong with a Tikka. I would opt for one in an 8 twist so you can shoot 75-80g bullets. As far as a good varmint caliber for distance, I guess that all depends what you're wanting to do with it. In my opinion, it's a great varmint/coyote rig out to a solid 600 with the 75-80s and will bang steel out to 1K all day. As long as the wind isn't horrible, you should be able to hold 1 MOA or better out to 1K with a tuned load. Not bad for something that only burns 25g powder. You just have to be a little better at reading the wind then the 6.5s/7s/30s with their higher BC bullets.

Thanks for the input! I own a handful of .223 but none are bolt action.