Not yet. Let's see how this works out. I know the .338 and .204 can do some distance if I do my part. The 7 and .308 are still unproven-- but they have the potential.
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
I am bumping this up for Jeffsgk since he is interested in a .223 varmint/target type rifle and this is much easier than texting and maybe someone else can offer advice and/or learn something...
First, all joking aside, Savage, Ruger, Remington, Browning, CZ, Winchester, and Howa all make a decent varmint/target style rifles. I would expect any one of those to do 1/2" to 3/4" groups straight out of the box with at least one type of factory ammo. Personally, I would suggest one with a 24" or 26" barrel to get the most velocity. After that, I would consider stocks. Most synthetic factory stocks suck. If you plan on swapping out with something else, fine. If not, I would go with laminate because it is heavy, stable, and stiff. Another thing to consider is barrel twist. Typically, .223's use 1:12 or 1:9 twists for their bolt Varmint/target style rifles. 1:12 will be just fine out to 4-500 yards before the lighter, lower BC bullets start to peter out but those same light bullets wreak havoc on a dog town. The 1:9 twist will let you use heavier high BC bullets and let you get some better distance. Those are also very effective on a dog town.
I will add some more later. Anyone want to jump in? Jeff-- Any questions?
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
The very basics on Ballistic coefficient (BC):
Long, skinny, streamlined bullets have a higher BC and resist the wind and lose velocity slower-- over short, fat, light, low BC bullets. The disadvantage is that they weigh more and you can't get them going as fast as those lighter bullets so for the short term, the lighter, low BC bullets outrun them. Then later on, when they start to lose their momentum, the heavier, higher BC bullets will outperform them.
For higher BC bullets to stabilize, they need to be spinning at a higher RPM to fly straight. That is why your twist matters. A 1:12 twist will not stabilize a 72gr bullet very well in a .223 so they move to the faster 1:9 twist.
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
Not yet. Let's see how this works out. I know the .338 and .204 can do some distance if I do my part. The 7 and .308 are still unproven-- but they have the potential.
I was shooting 1,200 yards with the .308 Winchester today. You can doooooo'it!
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
For example, Hornady's 50gr Vmax has a G1 BC of .242. Hodgdon says that I can get that weight of bullet moving about 3500 feet per second.
Watch what happens when we go with a 75gr A-max (BC of .435) that is traveling only 2800fps at around 400 yards. The higher BC bullet will be going faster than the lower BC bullet at that point and at 800 yards, the higher BC bullet dropped only 202" vs. the lower BC bullet at almost 207". At that point the retained energy is 128ft/lbs for the lower BC and 327 for the high BC-- and they both started out close to equal.
Anyway, either a 1:12 or a 1:9 twist will work fine for you. It is just something to consider when you are looking over rifles and you understand which twist will affect which bullets and ammo that you will be shooting with it.
Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.
Replies
First, all joking aside, Savage, Ruger, Remington, Browning, CZ, Winchester, and Howa all make a decent varmint/target style rifles. I would expect any one of those to do 1/2" to 3/4" groups straight out of the box with at least one type of factory ammo. Personally, I would suggest one with a 24" or 26" barrel to get the most velocity. After that, I would consider stocks. Most synthetic factory stocks suck. If you plan on swapping out with something else, fine. If not, I would go with laminate because it is heavy, stable, and stiff. Another thing to consider is barrel twist. Typically, .223's use 1:12 or 1:9 twists for their bolt Varmint/target style rifles. 1:12 will be just fine out to 4-500 yards before the lighter, lower BC bullets start to peter out but those same light bullets wreak havoc on a dog town. The 1:9 twist will let you use heavier high BC bullets and let you get some better distance. Those are also very effective on a dog town.
I will add some more later. Anyone want to jump in? Jeff-- Any questions?
Long, skinny, streamlined bullets have a higher BC and resist the wind and lose velocity slower-- over short, fat, light, low BC bullets. The disadvantage is that they weigh more and you can't get them going as fast as those lighter bullets so for the short term, the lighter, low BC bullets outrun them. Then later on, when they start to lose their momentum, the heavier, higher BC bullets will outperform them.
For higher BC bullets to stabilize, they need to be spinning at a higher RPM to fly straight. That is why your twist matters. A 1:12 twist will not stabilize a 72gr bullet very well in a .223 so they move to the faster 1:9 twist.
I was shooting 1,200 yards with the .308 Winchester today. You can doooooo'it!
Pick a light .224" bullet and a heavy .224" bullet here...
http://www.hornady.com/store/searchammo.php?mode=search&main_cat=250&categoryid[]=259&categoryid[]=386&categoryid[]=375&x=24&y=8
Find a load at Hodgdon for each one...
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
...And plug them into this...
http://www.hornady.com/ballistics-resource/ballistics-calculator
For example, Hornady's 50gr Vmax has a G1 BC of .242. Hodgdon says that I can get that weight of bullet moving about 3500 feet per second.
Watch what happens when we go with a 75gr A-max (BC of .435) that is traveling only 2800fps at around 400 yards. The higher BC bullet will be going faster than the lower BC bullet at that point and at 800 yards, the higher BC bullet dropped only 202" vs. the lower BC bullet at almost 207". At that point the retained energy is 128ft/lbs for the lower BC and 327 for the high BC-- and they both started out close to equal.
Anyway, either a 1:12 or a 1:9 twist will work fine for you. It is just something to consider when you are looking over rifles and you understand which twist will affect which bullets and ammo that you will be shooting with it.