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range of a .223 (5.56)

7323 Views 14 Replies 10 Participants Last post by  DrDeath
does anyone know the range of a .223.
The m16 has a range of a 500m and that is the 5.56 which is pretty much the same as the .223
if i was using say a bushmaster varminter or another ar-15 with free floating barrel would it able to hit out to 500m

need you opinion please

thanks
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Bonk, I dont have a AR type rifle, but i have spent a good deal of time researching them and you can hit targets out to 500yds. Its possible. Right ammo and practice and it can be done. What specs of the AR is it??
Most production AR's are actually chambered in the 5.56 or even the Wylde chamber (which is a compromise between the 5.56 chamber and a standard .223 chamber.) Chambering in the 5.56 or the Wylde, allows you to shoot both standard .223 and 5.56 military ammo without safety issues as the 5.56 is higher pressure.

I recently bought a Rock River upper for my AR-15 and I was very impressed with the quality!

Also, get on youtube as there are several videos of people shooting AR-15's at 5 and 6 hundred yards! Kinda fun to watch.
Quick said:
Bonk, I dont have a AR type rifle, but i have spent a good deal of time researching them and you can hit targets out to 500yds. Its possible. Right ammo and practice and it can be done. What specs of the AR is it??
i have not got the rifle yet but i was thinking of get a bushmaster varminter and put a sweet leupold vx-3
the thing is i like the idea of the new military m110 sass where is a semi auto sniper rifle with the accuracy of a bolt action sniper rifle and im only get a low calibre rifle so semi auto vs bolt action it will really help get more lead down range faster so i kill the animal more faster and so it does not run away

thanks for you commment
bonk said:
http://www.armyproperty.com/Equipment-I ... M110-2.jpg
that is a picture of the m110 sass (semi auto sniper system)
I had the same idea as you. I loved the SPR rifle and always wanted to "sorta" make one. All I would need to do at this point for mine is swap out the standard A2 hand guard with a more tactical style one.

Yes, it will be very accurate. If you feed it the right ammo, it will be very tight groups.
You can hit a man sized target at 500 yds with open sights and the little 55gr bullet all day long with the M16. You just need to be able to adjust for wind because a slight breeze throws you way off at that range. I hit ten out of ten from the five hundred yard line many moons ago!
jinxed247 said:
You can hit a man sized target at 500 yds with open sights and the little 55gr bullet all day long with the M16. You just need to be able to adjust for wind because a slight breeze throws you way off at that range. I hit ten out of ten from the five hundred yard line many moons ago!
Heck, I can't see a man sized target at 500 yards with open sights, but I have killed a large number of prairie dogs at 500 + yards using my leupold 6.5 - 20 scope.
bonk said:
http://www.armyproperty.com/Equipment-I … M110-2.jpg
that is a picture of the m110 sass (semi auto sniper system)
But that's a .308.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M110_Semi-Automatic_Sniper_System
jerrschmitt said:
jinxed247 said:
You can hit a man sized target at 500 yds with open sights and the little 55gr bullet all day long with the M16. You just need to be able to adjust for wind because a slight breeze throws you way off at that range. I hit ten out of ten from the five hundred yard line many moons ago!
Heck, I can't see a man sized target at 500 yards with open sights, but I have killed a large number of prairie dogs at 500 + yards using my leupold 6.5 - 20 scope.
The front sight post of an M16 pretty much takes up the whole target at that range. That was with an A2. The A4's are worse because the front sight post is slightly fatter.
I'd think the range of the the 223 would be dependant on how accurate your rifle is, if you had a scope with elevation & windage turrets on it you could have hits out to 700-800 yards, if your rifle has the accuracy. All you'd need is the trajectory info of the ammo you're using, a good scope, & a good rest.

You'd also have to consider the weight of the bullet you're using (heavier bullets retaining velocity & energy better than lighter bullets)

*If you're thinking about hunting anything deer sized with a .223, 300 yards should be the limit for how far you should shoot. Any farther than that should be varmints only
bonk said:
does anyone know the range of a .223.
The m16 has a range of a 500m and that is the 5.56 which is pretty much the same as the .223
if i was using say a bushmaster varminter or another ar-15 with free floating barrel would it able to hit out to 500m

need you opinion please

thanks
The M16A4 USMC Service Rifle is capable of firing the .223 cal./ 5.56 mm projectile at 550m on a point target, 800m on an area target and capable of a maximum range of 3600 m.
bonk said:
does anyone know the range of a .223.
The m16 has a range of a 500m and that is the 5.56 which is pretty much the same as the .223
if i was using say a bushmaster varminter or another ar-15 with free floating barrel would it able to hit out to 500m

need you opinion please

thanks
You can hit a target easily at 500m with the mentioned projectile. I see it done very easily as it is part of the USMC rifle qual course. Not to mention I have hit point targets at 500 m with an M4 carbine and those are rated to fire 450 m on a point target. The projectile can do it, the shooter can do it better.
I haven't reached out to the 500 yard mark just yet but have made a few kills on small varmints at 450 yards with my new DPMS Panther Bull 20 .223 Remington AR-15.

I have mine outfitted with a JP Enterprises Adjustable Trigger, Speed Hammer and Springs for super crisp 3 1/4 pound trigger. I have it equipped with a 4x12x40mm AO Bushnell Elite 3200 Riflescope. I am using 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips loaded with H-4895 Powder in Military LC Brass with Remington 7 1/2 Primers. The smallest groups I have shot at 100 yards have been .544" a few times. However most of the time my 5 shot 100 yard groups are .625" or slightly less.

Larry
I've hit and killed prarie dogs out to 600 yards with my Rem700 custom shop 223. This is the limit for this caliber in my opinion. I ve hit dogs at 600 yards and if you don't get a good hit they will run off and die. If you get a solid hit with a HP then it's death and giggles!!! 223..5.56- my favorite caliber. :cool:
I love the Red Midst!!!!!
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