What is your longest shot with a 5.56 rifle?

[YankeeFlyr]

300m, in the Army.

 

[Robtattoo]

600yds with an open sighted L98A1, the single shot, cadet version of the SA80. This was about 20 years ago when I was in the Army Cadets in England. I used to be able to keep 10 shots in a 20" ring at that range, but I highly doubt I could do it now. Hell, I can barely see 600yds anymore!

 

[mnhntr]

600m on man size targets at several US Army ranges.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

some of my fellow war dogs 40 years ago made 400 plus yard shot on some NVA, no optics, just iron sights. also had a designated rifleman but these guys made them with standard M16s.

 

[ritepath]

253 +/-10 yard spring gobbler 1989? I don't think I've ever shot one past 150 yards at a target.

 

[Patriotme]

500 yds.
That's part of the qualification for the Marine Corps (at least in the late 80's).
That is with a 20" barrel.

 

[Float Pilot]

Against paper, plastic, car metal or rocks,,, 700 meters with a M-249B (saw) some were tumbling.
Against a more mobile target, 400 meters with a lucky (probably an accident) shot, M-4 carbine.

 

[CmdrSlander]

You're going to hear some amazing stories on this post. Might even hear how someone had to use a spotter because of the curvature of the earth they couldn't see the target. At best the 5.56 is a 300 yard cartridge, beyond that it's a crap shoot.

I once eliminated a ground squirrel from 2000 yards away. Due to the curvature of the earth and weather conditions I could not see the squirrel but my personal PD-2 Global Hawk drone with high definition imaging suite piped a live surveillance feed of the squirrel to my scope mounted heads up display and satellite confirmed targeting data to the integral ballistic computer. I would have missed but the onboard guidance system of my .177 Caliber Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot round adjusted the flight path of the ordinance accordingly. This long range interdiction was accomplished with my custom built piston driven M6A2 DMR with radially fluted barrel and IR-defeating ceramic coating...

Just kidding, obviously. I could this all day though.

 

[meanmrmustard]

On a deer...Interarms Mini Mk X at 180 yards with 64gr Win Power Point. DOA.
On a hog...same rifle, 55gr. Barnes TSX. 220 yards. 50 yard run and pile up.
On paper...I think last time I shot the M&P Sport I was banging steel at the farm at 500 yards with Black Hills 69gr.

The 223/556 round albeit small is a capable round. While not a 762 in terms of downrange punch, less recoil, muzzle blast, and ability to recover quicker for follow up shots make it very potent indeed.

 

[egg250]

M-16 A2 Service Rifle (well used and maintained)
Military Iron Sights
M885 5.56 NATO (green tip)
500 yards

This is my rifle. There are many like it but this one is mine.......

 

[gvalachi]

You're going to hear some amazing stories on this post. Might even hear how someone had to use a spotter because of the curvature of the earth they couldn't see the target. At best the 5.56 is a 300 yard cartridge, beyond that it's a crap shoot.

Have to agree he was right. I can see 600 yards at a man sized target but a lot of you are stretching it to unbelievable distances. This is one cartridge that never impressed me either.

Another good topic would be what is the biggest game animal you have shot with a .223? Some of you would be claiming elephants.

 

[proven]

gvalachi, you just joined today to claim that people here tell tall tales? welcome to thr.

check this out...

http://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/shooting-223-mile-1.php

"300 yard cartidge, beyond that it's a crapshoot". really??

you need more ragne time.

 

[Robert]

gvalachi,
Welcome to THR. I am not sure what your location is but I invite you to come out to Colorado and attend the monthly tactical rifle match held the 4th Sunday of the month till October or so. We have a new range that allows us to place our 8", they might be 10", steel plates all the way out to 600m. Even if you are not shooting come on out and see what an AR in the hands of even an average shooter, like me, can do. We will not be having a match this month due to scheduling issues but we will back on for July. Heck I'll even let you use my AR and some ammo.

Here is the match thread complete with pics.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=581003

Another good topic would be what is the biggest game animal you have shot with a .223?

Prairie Dogs. The .223 is too small to be legal for big game in Colorado.

 

[WYcoyote]

Head shot a coyote at 525 yards off the hood of my pick-up from a freeway in Wyoming in a snowstorm. I stopped the truck in a hurry and it was "dieseling" when I shot. Just aimed about 3 feet high and let it fly. A friend that witnessed the shot was so wigged out he paced it out himself, this was long before laser RFs maybe about 1979.
SS Mini-14 with a 2-7 Leupold Vari X-II. This Mini was the worst shooting rifle that I ever had and this shot was entirely s___house luck.

 

[Kachok]

300 yards is as far as we shot in the Army, I have never shot 5.56 in the civilian world, I have bigger better rifles for hunting and shooting long range. I have no need for a 5.56.

 

[joed]

300 yards is as far as we shot in the Army, I have never shot 5.56 in the civilian world, I have bigger better rifles for hunting and shooting long range. I have no need for a 5.56.

I have to say pretty much the same thing although I owned a Savage 10fp in .223 for a few years. It could shoot the 69 gr bullets with fantastic accuracy, anything lighter was mediocre. I bought the gun for varmint hunting and wanted to shoot light bullets. Sold it and moved on. Because it wouldn't shoot varmint bullets well the rifle was useless to me.

Also own an M4 Colt but that is not a gun that I hunt with. This one is for self defense and doesn't get used much. Here's another one that won't shoot the lighter bullets well. Anything less then 69 gr and groups aren't to great.

Like Kachok I don't have much use for the .223 as I have other cartridges that do a lot more then a .223 ever will.