Factory .223 Ammo - Accuracy spread at 100yds

[HK&1911]

Hi:

I'm trying to develop my bench skills and unfortunately, cannot afford to purchase expensive match ammo at this time. Reloading is not an option at this time either.

If I use standard .223 55gr FMJ (PMC or Remington) in a Remington 700 w/1-9 twist (20" heavy barrel), what accuracy should I expect? 1-2" spreads; 2-3" or 3-4" spreads.

I figure, once I am consistently hitting at the limit of the ammo, I can buy better "match"-- BH or Federal and fine tune from there to the "three-shot groups touching".

Thanks,

HK&1911

 

[TehK1w1]

At 100 yards? I don't know all that much about twist rates for the .223 but under an inch should not be a problem. i've shot the rem 700 in the setup you describe and it had no problem making .75 MOA or better with normal hunting softpoints. Someone who was a better shot than me could probably tighten that down a bit too.

 

[C-grunt]

Different rifle and caliber but the same story with me. I had a Savage .308 10FP (the "police" model) that would shoot awesome with the expensive stuff. Definitely better than I could hold it. It would average about .75 inches at 100 with it dipping into the .5 range on a few occasions.

I shot a good amount of the cheap stuff too. Cheap 147grn fmj would average about 1 to 1.2 inches at 100 yards.

The cheap stuff has the accuracy to do sub 1 inch groups, but probably doesnt have the consistency between shots to really pull it off.

Why isnt reloading an option? I used to say that to when my wife and I lived with my in laws in a tiny house. Then I was introduced to a Lee Handloader. You can fit everything you need to reload .223 into two shoe boxes. Plus its fairly cheap.

 

[Canuck-IL]

The cheap stuff has the accuracy to do sub 1 inch groups, but probably doesnt have the consistency between shots to really pull it off.

That doesn't compute - if it doesn't have the consistency then it is not accurate enough to shoot a 5 shot tight group. You can't call it a 1" group except for 2 flyers that are blamed on the ammo...how would you ever assess your own shooting skills with that sort of calculation.

FMJs are probably the least accurate fodder you can find, except perhaps for pulled and reloaded FMJs...I'd expect 2+" at 100 yds. Get some Black Hills or Federal Match and you're at an inch or better.
/Bryan

 

[C-grunt]

Im saying consistency as in amount of powder and things like that. I would bet that 5 cheap fmj rounds that were all very uniform would shoot pretty darn well. But bulk budget ammo loading doesnt produce this level of consistency.

For 100 yard shooting I would think that FMJ is fine. If your shooting out to several hundred yards, yeah a good long range specific BTHP will help, but I dont think they are necessary for 100 yards.

From my experience with my old rifle, cheap FMJ ammo would stay right at or a little over an inch at 100. Good ammo would cut that almost in half.

 

[rcmodel]

FMJ is the least accurate bullet design there is.
The problem is, the hole in the jacket cup is the base of the bullet. So any slight flaw in the base will send the bullet off course.

Bullets with the jacket hole in the nose (HP, SP, BT) will always provide superior accuracy because the base is the bottom of the jacket cup and will be perfectly flat.

I would suggest you spend the money to buy at least one box of Ballistic-Tip varmint ammo, or match ammo.

That will give you a basis of comparison as to what you and the rifle are capable off.

Then, if your sub-MOA rifle & you is getting 3 MOA with FMJ, you have a pretty good idea it's the ammo causing it.

rc

 

[glockman19]

I get 1-3" groups with standard ammo through an AR15 or mini14. Maybe a flyer or two out of 50 or 100 rounds in the 4". I shoot only American eagle, and Federal 5.56 and .223 from Lake City. I find their ammo has good consistancy and tight groups if yuou do your part.

 

[rcmodel]

Heres the differance in bullets.

Colt AR-15 SP-1 carbine.
EoTech 512.
100 yards benchrest.
Same cases, same primer, same powder charge.

Nosler 55 grain Ballistic-Tip on the left.
Winchester 55 grain FMJ on the right.


rc

 

[NCsmitty]

FMJ is the least accurate bullet design there is.

rcmodel says it all. Regular FMJ bullets will rarely ever be a testament to your rifle's accuracy potential. Along the same lines, IMO, 3 shot groups are not a true test of a group. A minimum of a 5 shot group is more telling of the rifle's capability.
If you want to get good groups using factory loads, you need some serious ammo like Black Hills or Federal Match, if you do not reload.
All the cheaper ammo is just plinking fodder.


NCsmitty

 

[HK&1911]

Thanks for all the help! Yep, I'm aware that FMJ is not that great, but that's what I have currently.

The general consensus is that that FMJ should do 5 shot groups somewhere between 1.5-3" (maybe 1-2 flyers)

If I can get that consistency out several times to the range, then I'll invest in some better ammo.

Thank you rcmodel for your suggestion--- will try that when I can get some match ammo.

Thanks for the help and suggestions!!

 

[browningguy]

I think if you can consistantly shoot PMC into 3" then it's definately time to try better ammo. I seem to recall that Milspec ammo has to shoot inside 4", someone can correct me with the right number if that's not it.

 

[wally]

I shoot cheap ammo. A 1" group vs. 3" group is not worth 3X+ the cost per shot. I'll just shoot targets that are a bit larger to compensate for the larger ammo dispersion and shoot more rounds for the same money.

I ignore all group size claims that have less than 10 shots in them.

--wally.