300yard testing.

[IALoder]

Just measured it with an app and its 2.22'' for the 69smk. I'll take your guys word for it. I guess watching the other guy with a savage 223 touch holes at 300 got me thinking.

I know a few guys that can shoot like that as well, I haven't been able to shoot a .223 past 200yds for groups for some reason, but can hammer 1moa plates out to 500 with the same rifle/load no problem. I bet with a little repetition you'll be doing sub 1/2 moa!

 

[ms6852]

It’s a 22” 1-9. Any suggestion on getting the 69 to shoot tighter?

Experience has shown me that certain bullet weights that shoot well at a certain distance will perform horribly at another distance. It is difficult to duplicate the same shot group at 100 yards, 200 yards, and further distances because of variable factors that are uncontrollable like wind and temperature. A slight increase in wind can affect impact considerably more at further distances than it does at 100 or 200 yards. A 10º change in temperature can effect impact as well from high to low. Ballistics data apps are ok but it only helps the novice shooter to get him or her in the general vicinity.

There is also the human factor. You may shoot great at 100 yards but at 300 yards it is a different ball park and only experience by spending time at the range can possibly tighten your group. For now. You may want to try different loads and see how they perform at each distance you would like to shoot.

As far as getting your 69 grain bullet to shoot tighter, again I differ to try different loads, different powders, different velocities. If all fails try a different design of bullet as your rifle does not like it due to harmonics. Also consider a faster twist like a 1/7 or 1/8 to where that round is better stabilized than your 1/9 twist can not do.

 

[barnfrog]

Experience has shown me that certain bullet weights that shoot well at a certain distance will perform horribly at another distance. It is difficult to duplicate the same shot group at 100 yards, 200 yards, and further distances because of variable factors that are uncontrollable like wind and temperature. A slight increase in wind can affect impact considerably more at further distances than it does at 100 or 200 yards. A 10º change in temperature can effect impact as well from high to low. Ballistics data apps are ok but it only helps the novice shooter to get him or her in the general vicinity.

There is also the human factor. You may shoot great at 100 yards but at 300 yards it is a different ball park and only experience by spending time at the range can possibly tighten your group. For now. You may want to try different loads and see how they perform at each distance you would like to shoot.

As far as getting your 69 grain bullet to shoot tighter, again I differ to try different loads, different powders, different velocities. If all fails try a different design of bullet as your rifle does not like it due to harmonics. Also consider a faster twist like a 1/7 or 1/8 to where that round is better stabilized than your 1/9 twist can not do.

Your post lit a bulb inside my head (40 watt incandescent, not an LED). Many of us new reloaders start developing a load at 100 yards and then are disappointed when we try to stretch it out to a longer range. Is it actually easier in reverse? In other words, a load that shoots well at 100 yards may not perform as well at 300 yards, but will a load that performs well at 300 yards generally shoot well at 100?

 

[ms6852]

Your post lit a bulb inside my head (40 watt incandescent, not an LED). Many of us new reloaders start developing a load at 100 yards and then are disappointed when we try to stretch it out to a longer range. Is it actually easier in reverse? In other words, a load that shoots well at 100 yards may not perform as well at 300 yards, but will a load that performs well at 300 yards generally shoot well at 100?

Again it is a yes and no answer or it depends. This is the reason that when shooters are trying to find a node in which their rifle will like at long distances, that ladder tests are performed at those distances. You can have two exact rifles of same weight, caliber, twist and barrel length and you feed them the exact same load and they will shoot differently, barrel harmonics are not the same so the bullet may exit the barrel at a different level of the vibration pattern where one is low and the other is high.

I zero my hunting rifles at 200 yards just incase I have to take a shot over 200 yards the adjustment required for my rifle is minimal and I know that if I have to shoot something closer point of aim will produce a kill shot on deer or elk because the target zone is several inches.

You can literally pull your hair trying to get the most exact repeatable shot every time but like I said just to many variables. For example do you really want to weigh and measure each piece of brass to get you the most consistent pressures, do you want to weigh each bullet, do you want to chase the lands by starting short and than adding about .003 inches in length until that provides you a decent group, once you have achieved all those parameters, there is the powder that can be affected by temperatures, and lastly wind.

My rifle a Savage 110 purchased 32 years ago with a Bushnell banner scope produce sub-moa groups at 200 yards, my tikka also produces that at 200 yards and my longest kill for deer was 400 yards and over 300 with elk both shots done with a Remington core-lokt 165 grain bullet, does not have the best BC, but for my purpose it gets the job done.

The journey can be a hair puller or a joy trying to get together all the possible combinations that ultimately your rifle will shoot. Listen to your rifle.

 

[JFrank]

Here’s some things to consider before jumping to conclusions or getting to wrapped around the axle. I’m not a 223 guy but they get blown around quite a bit.
https://www.sierrabullets.com/223-remington-69-grain-matchking-trajectory-chart/