M14 Forum

pine snake · November 2nd, 2011, 12:14 PM

i recently acquired a remington 700 tactical, .223 wit the 20" barrel. the barrel twist is 1-9", based on what i have read is meant for ~ 70 grain bullets.

just about everything in stores around here is 55 grain, occasionally i can find 5.56 nato in 62 grain or higher. i have shot .223 55 grain with this rifle, with so-so accuracy.

my question- the barrel is labelled for .223; it is a bolt action rifle; does anyone know if the receiver is built to take the pressures of the 5.56 rounds or should i start looking to order some heavier .223 online?

thank you very much

KYShooter · November 2nd, 2011, 12:35 PM

Pressure issues with this rifle and factory ammo will be almost non-existent. A 1:9 twist will shoot 60-69 grain bullets very well and should do okay with 55 grain stuff. The main question has to do with what 55 grain ammo are you shooting? If it is FMJ stuff, no rifle is going to make it shoot with any degree of accuracy. If you don't reload, get yourself a box of Federal 69 grain match (yeah, I know it's expensive) and try it out. If your rifle won't give excellent results with that ammo, then you can worry about your rifle/scope combination.

TexIndian · November 2nd, 2011, 01:49 PM

Pretty much what KYShooter said. Some of the faster twist rifles don't like the lighter bullets, but you won't know for sure until you try something besides FMJ. That gun ought to be a tack driver with the right ammo.

ffabian0331 · November 2nd, 2011, 04:16 PM

I also have the SPS Tactical chambered in .223, I shoot mostly reloads in 55 FMJ/Ballistics tip and 69 SMK's, which all shoot subMOA groups. I recently picked up a couple of boxes of Hornady's 75gr HPBT Superformace Match ammo and my SPS loves it, under .5 MOA out to 600 yards. I included a picture of the first 5 rounds I shot, the first 4 measured at .39 inches and unfortunately I pulled the last round which opened the group to about .71 inches. To get the group size I measured the overall group and subtracted the bullet diameter.

neiltus · November 2nd, 2011, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ffabian0331

I also have the SPS Tactical chambered in .223, I shoot mostly reloads in 55 FMJ/Ballistics tip and 69 SMK's, which all shoot subMOA groups. I recently picked up a couple of boxes of Hornady's 75gr HPBT Superformace Match ammo and my SPS loves it, under .5 MOA out to 600 yards. I included a picture of the first 5 rounds I shot, the first 4 measured at .39 inches and unfortunately I pulled the last round which opened the group to about .71 inches. To get the group size I measured the overall group and subtracted the bullet diameter.

I second this ammo...buy in bulk and you can find it for about 16 a box.

bd111 · November 2nd, 2011, 04:32 PM

Black Hills is still loading 75 gr. Hornady BTHPs and just came out with factory-loaded 77 gr. Sierra MKs.

pine snake · November 2nd, 2011, 06:14 PM

thanks all for the responses. this my 1st .223 (not interested in ar's right now) and i found it is fun to shoot. i "knew" that the 55 gr fmj wouldn't be great but all i can find in stores is 55 gr...

i will go online line and get some 69 and 75 gr, and see which works best. then i will squirrel away a bunch of it.

thanks again.

drshame · November 2nd, 2011, 07:11 PM

Rem 700's in .223 can be real nail-drivers. I have a VS SF with a 1-12 barrel that prints sub-moa all day with the right ammo. My handloaded 52 SMK's cloverleaf easily at 100 yards rested. I did add a Jewell HVR Trigger and a different stock...and it's boringly accurate!

Mattitude · December 19th, 2011, 01:52 PM

I would stay away from the 62gr. surplus stuff as it will more than likely shoot worse than the 55gr. stuff you have been shooting. You have a nice rifle that was meant to shoot match quality ammo. Any surplus is typically crap in any precision rifle and to even practice with it will give you little, it at all, any benefit.

pine snake · December 19th, 2011, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattitude

I would stay away from the 62gr. surplus stuff as it will more than likely shoot worse than the 55gr. stuff you have been shooting. You have a nice rifle that was meant to shoot match quality ammo. Any surplus is typically crap in any precision rifle and to even practice with it will give you little, it at all, any benefit.

that is correct, there is no joy in shooting 55gr fmj. since i posted i have moved onto hornady 75 gr with much more "joy" involved.

thank you for your input.

M21guy · December 19th, 2011, 03:10 PM

FYI: It probably won't shoot longer bullets like the 75gr Amax though. 1-9 will not stabilize them.

M1A's r BEST · December 19th, 2011, 03:34 PM

My M700 is an old varmint special in .223. I found out way back then - if I missed it was my fault. That rifle didn't miss unless I screwed up.

pine snake · December 19th, 2011, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M21guy

FYI: It probably won't shoot longer bullets like the 75gr Amax though. 1-9 will not stabilize them.

right now i have used the hornaday 75 gr bthp and they have performed well @ 100 yds.
granted i am no tackdriver by any means and i am not married to one particular ammo yet so i am all ears on any suggestions.

thanks

Silvertip 44 · February 8th, 2012, 08:08 PM

pine snake, I have the M700 Milspec 5R .223 with the 1 in 9 twist. I handload for it and am getting excellent accuracy with 68 gr. Hornady hpbt match and 69 gr. SMKs.
I have made up some test loads with 55 gr. and 60 gr. Hornady VMax and will see what they do next week if I have a day with light wind.

dprice3844444 · February 8th, 2012, 08:23 PM

try cheaperthandiert.com