Looks like my son ended up shooting 0.86 MOA at 600 over 8 rounds at 600 yards! All with off the shelf 223 ammo; Creedmoor sports 77 grain Sierra TMK's! We had full value winds gusting from 10 t0 20 MPH. I did the initial zeroing and then let the boy have it. He was slaying it and I asked if he was holding left for wind and he said "NOPE!" Just holding the X-ring!

We ended up throwing a Bradley cheek rest on it to get the proper cheek weld with the Vortex scope. I was using Warne low rings and the scope was still a bit high. The cheek riser brought it to a workable height. I think I just need to bring it down one notch to be perfect.

The rain started moving and and we packed it up. He's really enjoying the rifle!

I took the GA precision along just to show the guys at the range and they were pretty impressed at the quality and the glass on top of it. I just got paid for a couple of jobs, so I'll be purchasing new rings for that scope this week.

200 yards...




600 yards...


Looks like the digital scoring is a bit off. On actual paper he cleaned the target while the digital scoring says he dropped one in the 9-ring. On paper he scored six 10's and two X's. Digitally, he scored two 9's, three 10's and three X's.

Digital score...


Paper score... (the three in the 9-ring were my sighters, then we reset the scoring.


Got some nice fireformed cases now!


Tony.

Tony,

You're going to have to watch that young'n of yours. He'll be outshootin' dad soon!

Wes

Nice father and son story.

Thanks! In a couple of years, he'll be in service rifle, for sure. I might just have to build another vintage sniper rifle and we can shoot as a team at the CMP matches.

I do have a web sling and I should probably start teaching him shooting positions. From there he can shoot FTR matches with that 700. Of course I'd have to have a 700 in 308 to shoot alongside him.

Tony.

Very nice shooter.
What can you say about the Ackley vs just 223?

I don't have enough exposure or data to form an opinion. I'd have to have an identical rifle with a 223 chamber with identical loadings to make a determination. Or at least another bolt action 223 with a 26" barrel.

Tony.

benny6 and all,

I have limited .223 A.I. experience. Expect about 100 FPS more than you get with the standard .223 Rem. I DO have more experience with the .250 Savage A.I. and love the cartridge. IMHO, BOTH cartridges are worthy of use and give stellar accuracy in a good rifle. Here's my .250 Savage A.I.:





The rifle properly and it will shoot. This one is a fluted Pac-Nor Super Match barrel mated to a Montana 1999 action (no longer made) bedded in a Richard's micro-fit stock and finished by Steve Nelson(Nelson's Custom, Corvallis, OR). The rifle and 100 grain Sierra Match Kings easily holds 1/2 MOA at 600 yards. Velocities are in the 3,200 FPS range. A great rifle!

There is no reason the .223 Rem A.I. can't do as well. Oh, brass life is better with the AI, once fire formed.

Wes