RAR .223 fun

WyMark · August 23, 2017, 07:58 PM

I finally got tired of waiting for a Henry Long Ranger in .223, so for less than the price of that rifle I got an RAR with a Sig 4-12x40 scope instead.

First range trip I tried some 62g Hornady Black and had trouble getting it to group well at 35 and 100 yards.

So I got some 75g of the same make and got a pretty decent group at 100, then I adjusted the scope up four clicks and hit a piece of clay pigeon at 200 yards on the first try holding dead on.

This past weekend I went out with some 55g and was ringing a steel plate at 400 and hit the 600 yard gong a few times as well. I'm extremely pleased and wish I had done this sooner. I also kind of wish I'd have spent the extra 50 bucks for the Predator model. This is a great rifle for the price.

SARuger · August 24, 2017, 04:45 AM

My RAR .223 is a tack driver! In fact, all 5 of my RAR's are sub moa shooters if I do my part and with my handloads.

That 1-8 twist seems to be happy with 75g and BLC2 powder

jmr40 · August 24, 2017, 05:11 AM

I have a Compact in 223 and Predators in 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. They are the 3 most accurate rifles in my safe and I have a couple of rifles that I have more money invested in than all 3 of these combined.

I have a good supply of GA-Arms reloads with 60 gr V-Max bullets that mine really likes. On the advice of a friend I bought a box of Fiocchi 50 gr ammo with the same bullet. Either of them shoot well under 1 MOA, usually closer to 1/2 MOA. The only place I've seen the Fiocchi is at Cabelas. They sell for $25/ 100 rounds. They also carry a 55gr FMJ load selling at $20/100 rounds. It isn't quite as accurate, but close.

jpx2rk · August 24, 2017, 05:46 AM

I've got a RAR 223 with the "pencil" barrel, it does not like any factory ammo what so ever, but does like hand loads. With factory ammo, 1st shot with cold clean bore would be dead on at 100 yds, then go south and scatter 'em everywhere. 1st shot was always dead on. Hand loads will print a nice .75" group or better depending on if I do my part.

WyMark · September 2, 2017, 09:47 PM

So far I've found that mine did not at all like factory 62 gr or 55 gr, but shot a nice tight group with factory 75 gr. The box of 55 I tried patterned like a load of buckshot at 100 yards.

I bought some reman ammo from Freedom, 77 and 55 gr, figuring I'd shoot the 77 for precision and plink with the 55. But I can't get any kind of group with the 77, while it really seems to like the 55.

Guess I'll have to keep shooting to figure out what it likes best. Dang it

August 23, 2017, 07:58 PM	#1
WyMark Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 647	RAR .223 fun I finally got tired of waiting for a Henry Long Ranger in .223, so for less than the price of that rifle I got an RAR with a Sig 4-12x40 scope instead. First range trip I tried some 62g Hornady Black and had trouble getting it to group well at 35 and 100 yards. So I got some 75g of the same make and got a pretty decent group at 100, then I adjusted the scope up four clicks and hit a piece of clay pigeon at 200 yards on the first try holding dead on. This past weekend I went out with some 55g and was ringing a steel plate at 400 and hit the 600 yard gong a few times as well. I'm extremely pleased and wish I had done this sooner. I also kind of wish I'd have spent the extra 50 bucks for the Predator model. This is a great rifle for the price.

August 24, 2017, 05:11 AM	#3
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,808	I have a Compact in 223 and Predators in 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. They are the 3 most accurate rifles in my safe and I have a couple of rifles that I have more money invested in than all 3 of these combined. I have a good supply of GA-Arms reloads with 60 gr V-Max bullets that mine really likes. On the advice of a friend I bought a box of Fiocchi 50 gr ammo with the same bullet. Either of them shoot well under 1 MOA, usually closer to 1/2 MOA. The only place I've seen the Fiocchi is at Cabelas. They sell for $25/ 100 rounds. They also carry a 55gr FMJ load selling at $20/100 rounds. It isn't quite as accurate, but close. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

August 24, 2017, 04:45 AM	#2
SARuger Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2014 Location: Blue Ridge Mountains of VA Posts: 954	My RAR .223 is a tack driver! In fact, all 5 of my RAR's are sub moa shooters if I do my part and with my handloads. That 1-8 twist seems to be happy with 75g and BLC2 powder

August 24, 2017, 05:46 AM	#4
jpx2rk Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2015 Posts: 387	I've got a RAR 223 with the "pencil" barrel, it does not like any factory ammo what so ever, but does like hand loads. With factory ammo, 1st shot with cold clean bore would be dead on at 100 yds, then go south and scatter 'em everywhere. 1st shot was always dead on. Hand loads will print a nice .75" group or better depending on if I do my part.

September 2, 2017, 09:47 PM	#5
WyMark Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 647	So far I've found that mine did not at all like factory 62 gr or 55 gr, but shot a nice tight group with factory 75 gr. The box of 55 I tried patterned like a load of buckshot at 100 yards. I bought some reman ammo from Freedom, 77 and 55 gr, figuring I'd shoot the 77 for precision and plink with the 55. But I can't get any kind of group with the 77, while it really seems to like the 55. Guess I'll have to keep shooting to figure out what it likes best. Dang it