Effective range of .223? - Page 2

MisterPX · August 23, 2007, 01:46 PM

The 200M combat range is a nuymber for reliable fragmentation. Sure you can hit someone at 400M., but the bullet won't fragment at that range. 200M and closer gives you a high percentage of frag, which is what does the damage.

Dtmoss14 · August 23, 2007, 03:10 PM

This will be for target shooting.

MisterPX · August 24, 2007, 12:35 AM

For that kind of shooting, higher grains will work better. IIRC, Camp PErry has 100o yard shooters running 77 to 80 grain bullets.

Silentarmy · August 24, 2007, 04:08 AM

" The Maximum effective range of the M-16A2 rifle is 550 Meters Sergeant"
I am a little dissapointed in you guys! Your Drill Instructor must've pounded just a little too hard! As for the M-16A1 460 meters Was the correct answer! A rifle with longer barrel may give you a little more reach and you can probably make a hole in paper at over a mile if you fire it like an Artillery piece!

davlandrum · August 24, 2007, 10:06 AM

SilentArmy - That was the number I remembered as well. Maybe the Marines have a longer effective range because they are "By-God-Marines".

Don't flame me, marines! I have tremendous respect for the Corps. Having worn a uniform for over 20 years, I know it is a tough, thankless job that must be done.

I know I will say a word as I am sneaking around the woods this year for all our folks still stuck in the sand in harm's way.

Scorch · August 24, 2007, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Maybe the Marines have a longer effective range because they are "By-God-Marines".

You know, I think he's got it!

lordmorgul · July 5, 2018, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dtmoss14

When does it start to falter?

Depends almost entirely on the bullet chosen and not the rifle type (semi vs bolt etc, a good quality barrel in either is assumed). Ballistic coefficient must be high for longer range, but long bullets have to be spun faster in rifling so the barrel effects whether you can use this approach.

75 grain Hornady ELD Match bullets at 2650 FPS out of 1:8 rifling 20” barrel in an AR15 can stay supersonic out to 800 yards, remain transonic (maybe stable, maybe not) out to 1000 yards. Stability directly relates to accuracy. Once unstable, it is inaccurate.

90 gr ELD bullets may stay supersonic passed 1000 yards. These require at least 1:7 rifling so I haven’t used them.

Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / CRPA / FPC / USCCA member

lordmorgul · July 5, 2018, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mountainclmbr

l

There are High-Power match rifles used out to 500-600 yards in the AR-15 configuration. Never fired one of these, but it seems that it is more the limitations of the individual rifle than the round.

Yes but these are shot single-fed at 600 yards prone so longer than magazine length cartridges are commonly used with high BC overweight bullets. That is why there are limits discussed for standard military loads that can be beaten with single-fed hand load ammo.

Andrew - Lancaster, CA
NRA Life Member, Calguns.net contributor, CGF / SAF / CRPA / FPC / USCCA member

Sevens · July 5, 2018, 09:50 AM

ELEVEN year old question.

Closer to 12 actually.

hagar · July 5, 2018, 01:19 PM

About 800 yards for the 75-77 grain bullets that are fed through the magazine, much further for single loading. The new Hornady 88 grain ELD should reach out to 1400 yards. But a 50 grain will not make it to 600 yards effectively, we had to disqualify a shooter that was bouncing his light weight bullets off the target frame and back into the pitts at 600 yards.

Picher · July 5, 2018, 01:27 PM

If it's an inanimate object and you can shoot more than one shot to find the hold-over, can tell how much you missed by, and don't care whether you wound or kill, perhaps 600 yards. However, seeing misses is very difficult with such a small round, depending on the terrain.

I limit my shots on critters with the .223 to those that are close enough for me to make a relatively good guess or laser distance...and with reasonably-decent wind conditions that may not cause .223 bullets to deviate considerably, say more than 1/3 the width of the intended quarry.

Personally, I'd tend to limit my field shots on varmint critters to about 200 yards with the .223, thus minimizing aiming, wind, mirage or distance estimating errors and variations in rests, if any.

If people, livestock, or pets were being threatened by the critter(s), that's a whole different situation. In that case, I say shoot, as long as bystanders wouldn't be in danger of being struck.

pete2 · July 5, 2018, 04:00 PM

For combat the objective is to kill or disable the enemy. It doesn't have to be a kill shot. Prolly 500 yards on a man if the shooter knows what hes doing. Seem to remember we shot out to 500 meters in the army.
.223 isn't ideal for deer hunting, some states don't allow it.
\

Art Eatman · July 5, 2018, 07:21 PM

The OP prob'ly died of old age...

August 24, 2007, 04:08 AM	#29
Silentarmy Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2007 Location: Bountiful, Utah Posts: 355	" The Maximum effective range of the M-16A2 rifle is 550 Meters Sergeant" I am a little dissapointed in you guys! Your Drill Instructor must've pounded just a little too hard! As for the M-16A1 460 meters Was the correct answer! A rifle with longer barrel may give you a little more reach and you can probably make a hole in paper at over a mile if you fire it like an Artillery piece! __________________ "No one will Ever buy that PLASTIC gun!" Steve Gallenson, Early 1980's "Those Who live by the sword get Shot by those of us who don't" "What we learn from History is that we do not learn from History!"

July 5, 2018, 09:50 AM	#34
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	ELEVEN year old question. Closer to 12 actually. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

July 5, 2018, 01:19 PM	#35
hagar Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2000 Location: Colombia, SC Posts: 745	About 800 yards for the 75-77 grain bullets that are fed through the magazine, much further for single loading. The new Hornady 88 grain ELD should reach out to 1400 yards. But a 50 grain will not make it to 600 yards effectively, we had to disqualify a shooter that was bouncing his light weight bullets off the target frame and back into the pitts at 600 yards. __________________ I don't have time for busy people

August 23, 2007, 01:46 PM	#26
MisterPX Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2006 Location: Amerika's Doyleland Posts: 809	The 200M combat range is a nuymber for reliable fragmentation. Sure you can hit someone at 400M., but the bullet won't fragment at that range. 200M and closer gives you a high percentage of frag, which is what does the damage.

August 23, 2007, 03:10 PM	#27
Dtmoss14 Member Join Date: August 17, 2007 Posts: 47	This will be for target shooting.

August 24, 2007, 12:35 AM	#28
MisterPX Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2006 Location: Amerika's Doyleland Posts: 809	For that kind of shooting, higher grains will work better. IIRC, Camp PErry has 100o yard shooters running 77 to 80 grain bullets.

August 24, 2007, 10:06 AM	#30
davlandrum Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2006 Location: Lane County Oregon Posts: 2,547	SilentArmy - That was the number I remembered as well. Maybe the Marines have a longer effective range because they are "By-God-Marines". Don't flame me, marines! I have tremendous respect for the Corps. Having worn a uniform for over 20 years, I know it is a tough, thankless job that must be done. I know I will say a word as I am sneaking around the woods this year for all our folks still stuck in the sand in harm's way.

July 5, 2018, 01:27 PM	#36
Picher Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Maine Posts: 3,694	If it's an inanimate object and you can shoot more than one shot to find the hold-over, can tell how much you missed by, and don't care whether you wound or kill, perhaps 600 yards. However, seeing misses is very difficult with such a small round, depending on the terrain. I limit my shots on critters with the .223 to those that are close enough for me to make a relatively good guess or laser distance...and with reasonably-decent wind conditions that may not cause .223 bullets to deviate considerably, say more than 1/3 the width of the intended quarry. Personally, I'd tend to limit my field shots on varmint critters to about 200 yards with the .223, thus minimizing aiming, wind, mirage or distance estimating errors and variations in rests, if any. If people, livestock, or pets were being threatened by the critter(s), that's a whole different situation. In that case, I say shoot, as long as bystanders wouldn't be in danger of being struck.

July 5, 2018, 04:00 PM	#37
pete2 Senior Member Join Date: May 15, 2012 Location: Texas Posts: 2,566	For combat the objective is to kill or disable the enemy. It doesn't have to be a kill shot. Prolly 500 yards on a man if the shooter knows what hes doing. Seem to remember we shot out to 500 meters in the army. .223 isn't ideal for deer hunting, some states don't allow it. \

July 5, 2018, 07:21 PM	#38
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	The OP prob'ly died of old age...