Targets Past 300 yds W/ AR?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Targets Past 300 yds W/ AR?

Posted: 6/7/2001 9:32:52 AM EDT

The last hunt we sat on a ridge and shot at a 55 gal barrel (empty) from about 800 meters. I was using a Rem. 700 PSS in .223 w/ 69 gr. Sierra Match bullets.

My buddy was shooting an AR with 55 gr. bullets.

Off bipods, we could hit this thing. The ACOG on his gun has a range finder to 800 yds. My Rem. has a Springfield Govt. Tactical scope with a rangefinder to 700 yds.

Anybody shoot at stuff past 300 yds with a .223?

What sort of bullets/load/rifle???

Posted: 6/7/2001 9:36:50 AM EDT

[#1]

Heck yes.

Standard Highpower Match using Service Rifle has a 20 round, 600 yard string, from the prone position. I use Berger 80 grn VLDs on top of 26 or 27 grns of N 540 in Winchester brass ignited by a CCI 450 primer. For Gods don't try this load with out working up to it because I'm reciting it from memory and that is a pretty risky proposition for me.

I set it about .005" into the lands. MV is around 2725 to 2750 IIRC. This is out of a standard (well match Kreiger) 20" AR-15A2.

Posted: 6/7/2001 9:39:20 AM EDT

[#2]

Not with a .223

Posted: 6/7/2001 9:41:53 AM EDT

[#3]

Marines qualify at the 500 yard line with the M16 on a 20x60" target. Last time I qualified I hit it 10 out of 10 times.

You should be able to engage vehicle sized targets out to 800 meters with an M16 or AR, but the round wont have much energy left.

Posted: 6/7/2001 9:44:16 AM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:

What sort of bullets/load/rifle???

View Quote

M16A2 (or AR) - 1/7 twist(1/9 will work also) - and we fire the M855 62gr out to 500yds.

Oh yeah, all shooting is unsupported BTW. None of this sissy sand bag crap. [:)]

Posted: 6/7/2001 9:45:39 AM EDT

[#5]

Beat me to it, Death.

Best shooting I ever did was when my PMI had a paper plate put in the center of the bull and had me shoot it at 500m. 10 out of 10. And that was with a shot-out M16A1 with iron sights. June of 1985 at Edson Range, Camp Pendleton.

I've never shot that well since, but that showed me what you can do if you have a nice defined target.

Semper Fi!

Ken Little

Posted: 6/7/2001 9:46:48 AM EDT

[#6]

About 4-5 times a year I go off and use a 500M (547yards) range. Using a scope my M4/AK will consistently hit man sized (19"x40") targets at that distance using M193 (55gr). Much easier though with my buddies BM 24" V-Match. Using my Reflex (6.5moa dot) I have hit targets in the 400-450M range.

Realistically the US Army expects to be able that sized target to 460M with 55gr (M193) and 550M (M16A2 - 500M M4)with the 62gr M855. Anything over that is considered 'area affect' or suppressive fire. Match loads & ARs however can easily hit point targets out that far.

Posted: 6/7/2001 9:49:59 AM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Marines qualify at the 500 yard line with the M16 on a 20x60" target. Last time I qualified I hit it 10 out of 10 times.

View Quote

I went shooting with a marine once and he was nonchalantly nailing a target out a 400 yards with an AR15. He mentioned the 500 yard qualifying thing too. IIRC he was using a 20" barrel AR with 55gr fmjs.

Posted: 6/7/2001 9:51:29 AM EDT

[#8]

High Power Rifle matches do not permit the use of any supports other than the sling and you arms resting on the ground. A shooting mat is allowed.

Posted: 6/7/2001 10:44:29 AM EDT

[#9]

When I was in basic training long ago I would regularly hit man-size targets at 500 meters with an issued M-16 A1. Several others in the company did the same.

Posted: 6/7/2001 10:56:58 AM EDT

[#10]

past 300 is no problem,highpower has a 300 yd rapid fire stage and high x count cleans of the 6" 10 ring are not at all uncommon. I shot this morning at 600 yards in nice calm conditions off a portable bench with a nice rifle rest and rear bag,open sights with a CLE service rifle and put 5 rounds in 3". 80 grain Sierra MK 25.0 Varget with win cases BR-4 primers. Kevin

Posted: 6/7/2001 11:05:22 AM EDT

[#11]

500 meters with a Colt Sporter,iron sights using 55gr fmj at a 12" X 19" target mounted on a 4'X 4' screen.

Posted: 6/7/2001 2:17:45 PM EDT

[#12]

Shot 400yds. with my V-match, fed. gold med. 69's good groups. light wind that day. I got stoked when I seen my bullets did'nt drift any more than the 308's.

Posted: 6/7/2001 2:26:41 PM EDT

[#13]

Stupid question time, why is it that its okay to shoot the heavy .223s in a PSS (1 in 12 twist maybe?) but a 1/9 barrel on an AR is not fast enough?

I've shot ram silhouettes at 500, w/ 55gr fmjs, and even 43gr varmint bullets.

Posted: 6/8/2001 8:36:51 AM EDT

[#14]

Quoted:
Stupid question time, why is it that its okay to shoot the heavy .223s in a PSS (1 in 12 twist maybe?) but a 1/9 barrel on an AR is not fast enough?

I've shot ram silhouettes at 500, w/ 55gr fmjs, and even 43gr varmint bullets.

View Quote

You can't shoot heavy bullets in the 1:12. I see the 62 gr M855 keyhole and go wild out of 1:12 barrels; 1:9 will handle up to 72gr bullets IIRC.

Posted: 6/8/2001 8:43:24 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
You can't shoot heavy bullets in the 1:12. I see the 62 gr M855 keyhole and go wild out of 1:12 barrels; 1:9 will handle up to 72gr bullets IIRC.

View Quote

1:9 can and will do 75gr, I have seen a 1:9 do some 77gr Seirra MK's.

I have shot my M4 (14.5) with Acog at tgts to 600m.

A R22eR Sgt Maj got a tgt at 872m in FYR with a C7 [sniper]

And there was enough energy left to carry the day

Posted: 6/8/2001 8:46:39 AM EDT

[#16]

If you are downrange past 300 yards and someone else is shooting it is wise to wear eye protection as you could put your eye out. It stings like hell if you get hit elsewhere too. Long sleeves are recommended, as in paintball. Very pesky to get hit.
Just kidding, before everyone gets their undies in a wad. [}:D]

Posted: 6/8/2001 9:02:07 AM EDT

[#17]

300 yds is close with an AR. I've shot my 16" Colt, Jet Comp and all out to 450 yds at 14" steel plates and M193 ball.

I've shot an 18" gong at 300 yds with a .38 super pistol.

For fun we used to shoot 12 gauge shells at 75 yds with 5" .22 pistols.

The highpower guys at the range I belong to meet at 7 AM every morning on the 600 yd line. The AR platform is typically more accurate than the shooter and very capable if you take the time to learn technique and Practice, Practice ...

Ryan

Posted: 6/8/2001 9:07:57 AM EDT

[#18]

We had an IPSC 3 gun match the other day that included three IPSC targets at 300 yards requiring 2 hits each on the rifle stage. I shot a Colt HBAR 6600 sighted at 100 yards and held the scope at the neck, which is 6 inches high, and got all A hits and no misses, with 55 grain UMC. Good groups I might add.

Bill

Happiness is a warm gun...
Bang bang, shoot shoot...

Posted: 6/8/2001 9:09:44 AM EDT

[#19]

I informally shoot at 500M (about 550yds) all the time with a stock Colt Match Competition Hbar 20" using PMC 55gr FMJ's and Black Hills 62gr BTFMJs. Using prone, bipod, or sitting, I usually hit about 18/20 and a bit less when standing. The target is an 18-22 inch steel plate and you KNOW when you hit it. POP...............BONNNGGGGG!
When I swap to my shorty AK upper I can't hit crap out that far. I quit trying about 3 months ago.
This is with the standard iron sight BTW.
You should hear the sound when my 300 winmag smacks that plate. heheh
CS

Posted: 6/8/2001 9:26:56 AM EDT

[#20]

I took out some terrorists holding the mayors son hostage at 1300 yards in the mall the other day. Does anybody want to send money to my mall security guard fund?

Mall Ninja out

Posted: 6/8/2001 9:27:02 AM EDT

[#21]

I'll weigh in on this topic after I get back from South Dakota. I'll be pointing a 24" Compass Lake barrel at some prairie dogs and sending Sierra 69 gr. HPBT their way. We'll see...just wish I had a range finder!

Posted: 6/8/2001 10:17:23 AM EDT

[#22]

With the proper training just about any person can accurately shoot out to 500 meters with an open sighted AR15 using commercial ammo. And they can be expected to hit a 20" wide by 40" high target at least 7 times out of ten shots. This is the size of the 'B Modified' target's bullseye on the USMC known distance course. The target is mounted on a 6'x6' frame and is of a man's silhouette from the waist up. Using basic marksmanship principles, it is not as difficult as it may seem to make these shots at 500+Meters. The weapon is certainly up to the task.

Posted: 6/8/2001 10:42:09 AM EDT

[#23]

The weapon is certainly up to the task.

View Quote

This is especially true if your using a center-hold on a target. For a person like me, though, who uses NRA/CMP 6'oclock hold on the aiming black at each distance, you have to recalibrate your sights, to hit the center of a, say, 15" x 15" square at 500 yards. It's not difficult, as long as you know the difference (in MOA) between the bottom and the center of the black at each distance in competition.

Shooting GROUNDHOG at 500 yards, with your rifle zeroed using 6'oclock, is another thing all-together. Aim center-mass, and you'll end up flying about a foot over the critter's head. Unfortunately for people like me, you can shoot targets at long range, or you can shoot critters at long range, but not reasonably both. Unless you're comfortable with going back and forth between clicks, it's better just to use a scope for one and irons for another.

Or if you have the money, get another AR [:)].

Jewbroni~

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Targets Past 300 yds W/ AR?

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