The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Thinking of a FN TSR 223 cal for long range varmint hunting

Art Eatman · July 5, 2012, 08:55 PM

"Long range" sorta varies with the shooter. Generally, a "good, stiff breeze" will move a .223 bullet about six inches at 300 yards.

My Ruger light sporter in .223 is a half-MOA critter. I've had no trouble with prairie dogs to 300. (Ample enough numbers that there was no need to look further.) It's not too heavy to use as a walking-around rifle. And I'll admit I look with favor on weights below eight pounds.

Heavy barrels make sense for long and fairly rapid strings of shots. They are no more precise than a light barrel for the first two or three shots, so the usefulness varies with what's intended.

July 5, 2012, 08:55 PM	#6
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	"Long range" sorta varies with the shooter. Generally, a "good, stiff breeze" will move a .223 bullet about six inches at 300 yards. My Ruger light sporter in .223 is a half-MOA critter. I've had no trouble with prairie dogs to 300. (Ample enough numbers that there was no need to look further.) It's not too heavy to use as a walking-around rifle. And I'll admit I look with favor on weights below eight pounds. Heavy barrels make sense for long and fairly rapid strings of shots. They are no more precise than a light barrel for the first two or three shots, so the usefulness varies with what's intended.