what would a used Zastava 223, bare rifle, good bore go for these days?
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I picked mine up cheap because it was shooting 3-4" groups at 100m at best. I figured that it would do for the odd pig walking out in front of me at 30m, a common occurrence while bunny busting with the 22lr. Without firing it I dropped it in to Gunworks for a suppressor because I didn't want to spook the rabbits. Went to sight it in when I got it back and everything was 11-13mm three shot groups at 100m. I did lodge a complaint with Amanda on my next visit to Gunworks. Completely ruined my need for something better.
Wouldn't want it buried with me, mind. Be far more useful in someone else's hands.
Cheap enough toys there Phil.:thumbsup:
Mate just took my new-to-me Howa model 1500 223 (pictured in post above) out to range to shoot it in. A very fine shooter - shot 0.32 and 0.35" three shot groups at 100m with his handloads, and 0.7" five shot groups with Fiocchi SP 55gr softnose bulk ammo currently available - which I'll be using.
Will be a very precise worker... Just proves old adage - you do not need to spend up on big names for a deadly effective hunter rifle
Well done Mdgz,.7" youll be doing head shots after a few dozen bunnys.Thats FIOCCHI ammo ok in the 308 too.
Quite impressed with Howa model 1500 tests on range few days back, and also with support from manufacturers Howa USA - owned by Legacy Sports.
Was trying to figure out year of manufacture of this model 223 from serial number but no joy. So last night left a question on the Howa USA site - it promises they will answer shortly. They did...within 6 hours! Howa's parent company (Legacy Sports) came back to me:
"Mike ~ Good morning, I hope all is well. Based off of your Howa’s Serial number (B167911), you have a Howa 223 made in August 2008 with a 22” standard barrel, and a ROT of 1:12.
Thank You, Chad J. Peters"
Now that's good customer service, Super quick response from across the world - and great to learn twist rate too. Well done Howa. :thumbsup:
@mudgripz They know how to do customer service in the States... :)
Quite happy with 1:12 for my particular uses, as for me its backup rifle for longer range varminting - for bunnies, wallabies and occasional fallow. For that a 55-62gr softnose is perfect.
Last sunday it shot four test groups between 0.7 and 0.9" with the Fiocchi SP 55gr softs at 100m. That's sharp for factory ammo.
For bigger game there's a Winchester model 670 .243 in the closet..
Yes ..very impressed that a US manufacturer would answer a query on a secondhand product from across the world in just a few hours. I like that!!
Ive contributed a lot about the benefits of "smart" bullets in the .223, but the reality is that the good old ordinary Hornady and Sierra 55 grn are very effective on up to deer. The smart ones give an extra margin of range and effectiveness but its a nice to have, not a necessity, to get a lot of fun from a .223.
A 55 grn "ordinary" into the lungs of a deer out to 200-250 yards will still be very effective.
Yes I’ve always run a 55 grain of some form.
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and within 200yards a 50grn ttsx is VERY effective.
Love the 55 grain bt canalure Hornady sp at 38cents a pill. Don't over push them at 3100 from a Savage model 10 lightweight , 1 in 9 twist. 200 Metres is child's play. 223 is just so nice to carry and use.
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Here s my Recipe if any is interested
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Shot this hind with Rem M7 .223 and 69 grn Targex last evening. 251 yds slightly facing me. Aimed for point of shoulder. She went straight down and rolled into a damn swamp.
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These things don't muck around. Shoulder peeled back showing entry through rib cage.
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Hey Tahr i like the look on Tillys face in that last post , to me she looks like shes just been asked to stand there for another bloody photo :thumbsup:
I've tried 69gr targex projectiles, shoot really well and they seem to do the job on animals but my supply is somewhat limited, has anyone tried the sierra 69gr SMK as a substitute?
:o not suprised she went straight down looking at that carnage
@Tahr I’m thinking I need a .223. Definitely a need not a want :)
The 223 is seriously useful and even more so when suppressed
The 60g nbt at 3100 great on rabbits a long way out there and fun on targets to 850 yrds
The solid copper boat tail ensures penetration on deer and you often find the projectile under the far side skin or exited.
The 55/65g gameking are hammers on deer as well. Often the most fun afternoons are to be had with a Mercator, a few rounds in your pocket and a 223 for company.
Both of these are 1 in 8 twist
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Is that a carbonlite?
Well, thanks @Tahr and everyone else who has contributed to this thread. What a great amount of info in these 8 pages that I have only just discovered.
Really excited as I currently have a 223 in transit that I purchased from @Backsteaks.
Hmmmm Xmas is coming
https://choose.sako.fi/global/sako_85/85-carbonlight
Howa mini bro:cool:
Geez @Dusty Fog, between you and @Micky Duck people will start thinking I can hit what I'm aiming at. :D
With the current shortage of everything, 'efficient AND effective' pretty well sums up the 'ol 223.
Yes. And they can consume a big cross section of powders and projectiles which all work pretty well on most things. You can carefully pop a deer with a 50 grn vmax
or destroy a bunny with an 80 grn ELDM without too much fuss.
And put 2206, BM, 2208, CFE223, H335, 748 etc behind most of them.
bump to top..just because
Im currently building mine. Wont be long now, been saving up for ages.
Elude chassis
howa mini 223 16 inch barrel and dpt
Zeiss scope. Nightforce rings.
Hopefully its a tack driver
Mines a 1:9 CZ Kevlar Varmint, long since discontinued. Despite its faster twist I've had best accuracy with lighter projectiles.
Currently playing with 40gr V-Max which actually belong to my Hornet. (Although my Hornet is better with 35 gr V-Max.) Using a stiffish load of BM2 (love that powder). Have to use a tall drop tube to get powder in. Rem 7 1/2 BR or RWS primers.
Mag length is my restriction.
Have played with 2206 (not H), 2208, WW748, IMR 8808 XBR. 2206 was good but virtually none left now. BM2 is my favourite. Really nice to measure out.
Favourite projectile would probabaly be the Sierra 52gr HPBT. Target type projectile but still a good killer.
I used to use the 52 Sierra target bullet you mention through a .222 meat hunting in the 70's. They have a good solid base that gave them decent penetration but the front still expanded ok. I see that over 50 years later they are still making them. Nowadays the 52 Targex is not to be sneezed at.
I love the calibre, I just can't find a rifle I love in .223
I better keep buying more until find it...
A lot of great information on this thread guys thanks so much. Awesome.