Rossi .223

Big Faulky · 11-29-2007, 05:45 PM

I just purchased a Rossi .223 single shot, youth model, regular barrel with 1 in 12 twist. I sighted in with 55 gr. ammo at 25 yds, havent got to take any 100 yd shots yet. The group was in the 1" bulleye but i thought i would be stacking lead. I want to shoot coyotes mainly, and i was wondering if the 45 gr. would be better or if that has anything to do with the accuracy. Any ammo help is welcome.

damage855 · 11-30-2007, 07:23 AM

try several brands and weights of ammo till you find one that you rifle realy likes then stock up on it.

nathangdad · 11-30-2007, 07:54 AM

Try a wide variety of bullet weights with rounds from different manufacturers. It is common to search for a cartridge your gun "likes". I would definitely prefer the heavier bullet
for a coyote. If you handload the search may often include minute adjustments to power weight as you work your way through this situation. Take heart - there is always the one round that consistently hits the sweet spot.

samuel · 11-30-2007, 08:06 AM

Give it a chance.Most barrels dont shoot to good until after 100rds. sam.

gunney_m · 11-30-2007, 09:49 AM

Welcome to G&G.

johnnydangerous · 11-30-2007, 09:58 PM

I have a very similar problem with the .223, but I have had mine for ove 2 years- very frustrating! here is the problem My remington 700 never shoots well. The groups are never tighter than 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and thats consistant at 100 yards. I used a variety of ammunition, as a matter of fact everything I could get my hands on, from premier handloads- 50gr and 55gr-soft point, HP, FMJ, and all of those in BT. I have tried rounds with several different gr's of powder, and have tried store bought american rounds from American Eagle, to Winchester and everyone in between. I have even purchased PMC rounds. I have tried everything shy of Wolf because I would never put that garbage laquer in my rifle. The scope is fine, the hairs are not loose and it doesn't vibrate. There is no damage to the gun, I even had 2 different gunsmiths and several friends check it out.
What could be causing this problem? The lack of tight groups at 100 yds is heartbreaking. I have heard possibly trying 65 gr bullets, which I did and didn't help, and I have heard the twist rate in the 700 .223 may be too fast. I am open to all ideas, friends assure me it is the ammunition, but no matter what I try no ammunition seems to work. I really appreciate your help, Thanks

samuel · 12-01-2007, 07:04 AM

Johnnydangerous: you state you had others check your rifle out>Did you have them shoot it?If it is still inaccurate with a different shooter have the bore scoped.I had a Ruger that after about 5 shots would throw bullets all over.Clean it and it was fine.When we borescoped it we found a spot near the muzzle that would start building copper up.this couldnt be seen by the naked eye but with 25x magnification it was easy to see. You dont state whether it is bolt or what.Up until recently you could only get .223 in 1in12" in bolt guns.But they are wrong in saying the twist is too fast.With 1in12" you should be able to stabilise 50grs great. sam.

johnnydangerous · 12-01-2007, 03:36 PM

Thanks for the quick response, the point you brought up seems very good some shots are quite accurate and others are thrown, destroying the group. And yes I have had several different people shoot the gun, all of which had a lot of problems with it forming a group. Thaks again for the suggestion, I will have the bore checked with magnification, and let you know if that is the problem.

Theodore · 12-23-2007, 02:54 PM

Try the Federal 55 gr. premium in the nosler ballistic tip..I get 1/2 inch 100 yard groups in an old rem. mdl 78

jerry · 12-23-2007, 03:17 PM

in laymans terms, the 1:12 twist will typically work with the lighter projectiles 55 & under, with some exceptions.

lefty o · 12-23-2007, 03:20 PM

shooting at 25yds and not getting tight groups. could be one of several issues. #1 would be the shooter. #2 could be the rifle. could also be scope, or scope mounting issues. # if your not using an AO scope, you could be having some pretty good parralax error. last but not least, your rifle just might not loke the ammo your using

rfc357 · 12-23-2007, 03:23 PM

Most break-action single-shots will not produce tack-driving accuracy. (Note I said most will not. There are exceptions.) Marginal trigger, inconsistent lockup, two-piece stock, and long lock time are working against you. This is why benchrest shooters shoot bolt guns..................

Handloading may improve the situation. Trim cases. For the break SS, you will probably have to full-length resize. Rossi advertises a 1-12 twist, so bullets heavier than 62 grains are probably out.

johnnydangerous, 1.5" groups are not that bad. Certainly not worth despairing over. Try neck-sizing and trimming your brass. That really helped a 700 in .222 for me. Remington used to use 1-12 twist exclusively. That's too slow for heavy bullets, but should shoot 62s and lighter just fine.

11-30-2007, 07:54 AM	#3
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,469	A good first rule with a new gun Try a wide variety of bullet weights with rounds from different manufacturers. It is common to search for a cartridge your gun "likes". I would definitely prefer the heavier bullet for a coyote. If you handload the search may often include minute adjustments to power weight as you work your way through this situation. Take heart - there is always the one round that consistently hits the sweet spot.

12-01-2007, 07:04 AM	#7
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	Johnnydangerous: you state you had others check your rifle out>Did you have them shoot it?If it is still inaccurate with a different shooter have the bore scoped.I had a Ruger that after about 5 shots would throw bullets all over.Clean it and it was fine.When we borescoped it we found a spot near the muzzle that would start building copper up.this couldnt be seen by the naked eye but with 25x magnification it was easy to see. You dont state whether it is bolt or what.Up until recently you could only get .223 in 1in12" in bolt guns.But they are wrong in saying the twist is too fast.With 1in12" you should be able to stabilise 50grs great. sam. Last edited by samuel; 12-01-2007 at 07:06 AM.

12-01-2007, 03:36 PM	#8
johnnydangerous Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2	700 is a bolt action Thanks for the quick response, the point you brought up seems very good some shots are quite accurate and others are thrown, destroying the group. And yes I have had several different people shoot the gun, all of which had a lot of problems with it forming a group. Thaks again for the suggestion, I will have the bore checked with magnification, and let you know if that is the problem.

12-23-2007, 03:17 PM	#10
jerry Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 10,881 Images: 9 Blog Entries: 1	in laymans terms, the 1:12 twist will typically work with the lighter projectiles 55 & under, with some exceptions. __________________ I'm a down home back woods redneck

11-29-2007, 05:45 PM	#1
Big Faulky Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Carhtage, TX Posts: 32	Rossi .223 I just purchased a Rossi .223 single shot, youth model, regular barrel with 1 in 12 twist. I sighted in with 55 gr. ammo at 25 yds, havent got to take any 100 yd shots yet. The group was in the 1" bulleye but i thought i would be stacking lead. I want to shoot coyotes mainly, and i was wondering if the 45 gr. would be better or if that has anything to do with the accuracy. Any ammo help is welcome.

11-30-2007, 07:23 AM	#2
damage855 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: North Carolina / Lake Norman Posts: 931 Blog Entries: 1	try several brands and weights of ammo till you find one that you rifle realy likes then stock up on it. __________________ If total goverment control will make us all safer, then why are prisons so dangerous?

11-30-2007, 08:06 AM	#4
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	Give it a chance.Most barrels dont shoot to good until after 100rds. sam.

11-30-2007, 09:49 AM	#5
gunney_m Banned Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Muskogee,Ok Posts: 1,931	Welcome to G&G.

11-30-2007, 09:58 PM	#6
johnnydangerous Registered User Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2	I have a very similar problem with the .223, but I have had mine for ove 2 years- very frustrating! here is the problem My remington 700 never shoots well. The groups are never tighter than 1 1/2 inches in diameter, and thats consistant at 100 yards. I used a variety of ammunition, as a matter of fact everything I could get my hands on, from premier handloads- 50gr and 55gr-soft point, HP, FMJ, and all of those in BT. I have tried rounds with several different gr's of powder, and have tried store bought american rounds from American Eagle, to Winchester and everyone in between. I have even purchased PMC rounds. I have tried everything shy of Wolf because I would never put that garbage laquer in my rifle. The scope is fine, the hairs are not loose and it doesn't vibrate. There is no damage to the gun, I even had 2 different gunsmiths and several friends check it out. What could be causing this problem? The lack of tight groups at 100 yds is heartbreaking. I have heard possibly trying 65 gr bullets, which I did and didn't help, and I have heard the twist rate in the 700 .223 may be too fast. I am open to all ideas, friends assure me it is the ammunition, but no matter what I try no ammunition seems to work. I really appreciate your help, Thanks

12-23-2007, 02:54 PM	#9
Theodore Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Alabama Posts: 23	Try the Federal 55 gr. premium in the nosler ballistic tip..I get 1/2 inch 100 yard groups in an old rem. mdl 78

12-23-2007, 03:20 PM	#11
lefty o Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: mn Posts: 4,804	shooting at 25yds and not getting tight groups. could be one of several issues. #1 would be the shooter. #2 could be the rifle. could also be scope, or scope mounting issues. # if your not using an AO scope, you could be having some pretty good parralax error. last but not least, your rifle just might not loke the ammo your using

12-23-2007, 03:23 PM	#12
rfc357 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 741	Most break-action single-shots will not produce tack-driving accuracy. (Note I said most will not. There are exceptions.) Marginal trigger, inconsistent lockup, two-piece stock, and long lock time are working against you. This is why benchrest shooters shoot bolt guns.................. Handloading may improve the situation. Trim cases. For the break SS, you will probably have to full-length resize. Rossi advertises a 1-12 twist, so bullets heavier than 62 grains are probably out. johnnydangerous, 1.5" groups are not that bad. Certainly not worth despairing over. Try neck-sizing and trimming your brass. That really helped a 700 in .222 for me. Remington used to use 1-12 twist exclusively. That's too slow for heavy bullets, but should shoot 62s and lighter just fine.