Thread: 223 Scope

So I'm progressing my lightweight 223 "hunting rifle" project with two potential rifle candidates.

But I'm stuck on how to scope the final choice.

The rifle will be used mainly for the likes of wallabies and goats, with the occasional hare/bunny etc. But with the number of deer about there's always the chance one will pop up when you don't have the ideal caliber in hand.

This leaves me pondering how to scope such a rifle. With the maximum range on game with a 223 being about 300M (and maybe 250 max for deer) for me I'm sorta thinking the 2-7 that one candidate already carries might be pretty good - I can still just smack rabbits at 250 with 7x on other rifles.

But a 3-12 or 4-16 has a certain appeal too.

And then there's dialing . . . With the self imposed limit being under 300 I don't see the need to dial, but I'm interested to hear if people are dialing on game with 223's??

mine wears a 3x9x50mm loopy....and has worn 2 other 3x9s...had a fixed 4 on for short time but the 3x9 is just about perfect for me...and my zero doesnt change from decade to decade,none of this twiddle n fiddle bit for me LOL.

meopta optika 5 3-15

Whats the two finalists? I find I need more than 9 power for targets no that my eyes are old.
Dial the 223's without any problem when its over 275 yds

I have the Sightron S11 4-16 AO out on the bench after pinching it back from another rifle .
. and it will dial OK but no zero stop an 1/8th clicks.

A Howa 1500 (not a mini) and a Rem Model 7. Both are wood blued and 1:9 ish twist. The Remmy has the flash CDL stock.

2-10 Leupold

Dialling on Rabbits out to 850 yrds with 60g Nosler Ballistic Tips at 3100 fps

The 223 is great for wind call practise and evaluating wind over varied geography, angled shots up faces, shooting over saddles, steep angles etc as that little projectile accentuates every external influence

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

2-10 Leupold

Dialling on Rabbits out to 850 yrds with 60g Nosler Ballistic Tips at 3100 fps

The 223 is great for wind call practise and evaluating wind over varied geography, angled shots up faces, shooting over saddles, steep angles etc as that little projectile accentuates every external influence


Attachment 188835

Very interesting comments, just what I was hoping for. I do run a "heavier" 223 that has the capability to shoot/dial to the cartridges limit.

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

2-10 Leupold

Dialling on Rabbits out to 850 yrds with 60g Nosler Ballistic Tips at 3100 fps

The 223 is great for wind call practise and evaluating wind over varied geography, angled shots up faces, shooting over saddles, steep angles etc as that little projectile accentuates every external influence


Attachment 188835

You can shoot a rabbit at 850 yards with a 2-10 x scope?

How about a 4-12 z3 or 2.4-12 z5 swaro for the new rifle.

[QUOTE=7mmsaum;1273852]2-10 Leupold

Dialling on Rabbits out to 850 yrds with 60g Nosler Ballistic Tips at 3100 fps

Legand mate . . . i've spotted rabbits out passed 800yrds with 10X binos and shot at them . . . but lookin thru a 8-32 Nightforce.
next time I'm up the hill with my Quad with a 3.5-10 mk4 on top i will check it out

[QUOTE=rossi.45;1273884]

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

2-10 Leupold

Dialling on Rabbits out to 850 yrds with 60g Nosler Ballistic Tips at 3100 fps

Legand mate . . . i've spotted rabbits out passed 800yrds with 10X binos and shot at them . . . but lookin thru a 8-32 Nightforce.
next time I'm up the hill with my Quad with a 3.5-10 mk4 on top i will check it out

He didnt say he hit any tho

Sent from my SM-A530F using Tapatalk

[QUOTE=Mathias;1274072]

Originally Posted by rossi.45

He didnt say he hit any tho

Sent from my SM-A530F using Tapatalk

yeah i hear ya @Mathias thought the same thing . . but i still take my hat off to him even if he didnt connect because he tried.

i dont know what kind of ground he shoots over, if its dry like where i shoot you see the bullets kick up dust, not sure what he would see thru a 10X and 60 grain bullets.
when i was chasing distance i was shooting out past 900 yards, you'd see the bullet land ( 25X ) just over its back, just beside them . . so close, enough to keep coming back and having a few shots during every walk on the hill.
Never did make 900 but i gave it a good go untill my .243 barrel gave out . . 800 was my longest rabbit hit, 1000 on steel.

[QUOTE=rossi.45;1274089]

Originally Posted by Mathias

yeah i hear ya @Mathias thought the same thing . . but i still take my hat off to him even if he didnt connect because he tried.

i dont know what kind of ground he shoots over, if its dry like where i shoot you see the bullets kick up dust, not sure what he would see thru a 10X and 60 grain bullets.
when i was chasing distance i was shooting out past 900 yards, you'd see the bullet land ( 25X ) just over its back, just beside them . . so close, enough to keep coming back and having a few shots during every walk on the hill.
Never did make 900 but i gave it a good go untill my .243 barrel gave out . . 800 was my longest rabbit hit, 1000 on steel.

I repeat my offer for you to borrow the 2506 AI ...

I got some washers in the sightron to make a zero stop. Not perfect but near enough to stop getting a full turn out.
Been using a sako 223 with a 3-16 tract. Better light gathering than the sightron.
Made a stock for it out of palonwina. Half the weight of the walnut one.

Originally Posted by Brian

Made a stock for it out of palonwina. Half the weight of the walnut one.

Hi Brian,

Did you laminate up the stock or just go with a solid piece. I have used Paulownia for building surfboards, out-rigger canoes and kite boards. Great light weight timber but pretty soft so assume its getting dinged up? I have always encased my projects in fiberglass and epoxy

Cheers Shane