Another 223 or 308?

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Another 223 or 308?

Post by Jon79 » 10 Apr 2019, 12:44 am

Ok here’s my problem lol....

I have a PTA for a centrefire sitting here that will expire in a couple of weeks so I’m thinking of getting something I already have but in a varmint barrel

I was thinking 223 or 308, I use my 223 a hell of a lot more than the 308 although since we finally got some rain out here the pigs are about again and there’s a ton of deer here so I could be using the 308 more

What do you guys reckon I should go with? Is there any great benefit in going with a caliber I already have but with the heavier barrel?

I already have a 223, 243 & 308 in centrefire and have thought about going for something in between those but the ammo cost are a lot higher for not a lot more gain in anything...... or do I just let the PTA expire?
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by duncan61 » 10 Apr 2019, 1:39 am

7/08 best of both worlds
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by bladeracer » 10 Apr 2019, 3:18 am

Jon79 wrote:Ok here’s my problem lol....

I have a PTA for a centrefire sitting here that will expire in a couple of weeks so I’m thinking of getting something I already have but in a varmint barrel

I was thinking 223 or 308, I use my 223 a hell of a lot more than the 308 although since we finally got some rain out here the pigs are about again and there’s a ton of deer here so I could be using the 308 more

What do you guys reckon I should go with? Is there any great benefit in going with a caliber I already have but with the heavier barrel?

I already have a 223, 243 & 308 in centrefire and have thought about going for something in between those but the ammo cost are a lot higher for not a lot more gain in anything...... or do I just let the PTA expire?


If you are building two rifles for two different purposes perhaps.
But I would go with a 7mm-08 myself.
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by bigfellascott » 10 Apr 2019, 3:41 am

Get a 300WM and smack the pigs and deer in style at long ranges. :D
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by tom604 » 10 Apr 2019, 5:39 am

30-30 or a 270??
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by Urbanbushman » 10 Apr 2019, 6:48 am

John79, tom604 has the right idea, 30-30 for 50-150mt and the king of all hunting calibre the magnificent.270(IMHO!!) for just about everything else. Certainly here in the U.K. both rounds are relatively easy to source although the .270 runs about £1 a round. It’s great you have a gap to fill in your cabinets!!
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by solarpak » 10 Apr 2019, 7:09 am

.25-06!!!!
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by straightshooter » 10 Apr 2019, 7:19 am

Jon79
Your original thinking is quite sound.
I would suggest something along the lines of a heavy varmint configured 223. If possible with a target quality barrel and chamber to ensure reliably repeatable and consistent accuracy.
It will relieve an itch that nothing else will scratch.
Forget all the suggestions of this or that wonder calibre. As you have correctly observed there is not a lot to differentiate between them at even longishly acceptable hunting and varminting distances.
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by TassieTiger » 10 Apr 2019, 7:29 am

Watched the beginning of a series on Netflix last night - a take off of the shooter movie with Mark Wahlberg in it.

It was meant to be technically accurate but 10 mins in “the guy who sold you this .223 should have told you it’s not good enough to kill anything larger than a squirrel...”....righto...technically accurate my ass!
Heavier barrel = better consistency...equates to more fun.
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by bigfellascott » 10 Apr 2019, 9:08 am

straightshooter wrote:Jon79
Your original thinking is quite sound.
I would suggest something along the lines of a heavy varmint configured 223. If possible with a target quality barrel and chamber to ensure reliably repeatable and consistent accuracy.
It will relieve an itch that nothing else will scratch.
Forget all the suggestions of this or that wonder calibre. As you have correctly observed there is not a lot to differentiate between them at even longishly acceptable hunting and varminting distances.


Isn't the rifle for hunting? I can't see any reason to cart around any extra weight for no real-world tangible results, this does not make any sense to me. :unknown:
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by JimTom » 10 Apr 2019, 10:01 am

Me neither. I’d go and get something else that tickled your fancy. Plenty to choose from.
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by TassieTiger » 10 Apr 2019, 11:17 am

338 LAPUA - go big or go home !
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by Jon79 » 10 Apr 2019, 12:39 pm

The original thinking was for something to use shooting from the vehicle, my other rifles have the lighter sporter barrels so they’d still be fine to carry around the scrub.

I did consider the 270 I used to really like the caliber but I can cover it pretty well with the 243 & 308 and the ammo is a lot cheaper (I’m not reloading yet), I have thought about a 22-250 but is there really much it can cover that the 223 can’t and again the ammo is a lot dearer
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by duncan61 » 10 Apr 2019, 3:53 pm

I have a .222,.243 amd 7mm Rem Mag which I will be using Saturday morning at 500 Yards.This collection covers all shooting needs.so your choices are 6mm 6.5mm or 7mm.Perhaps make a target rifle in 6.5x284
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by Sergeant Hartman » 10 Apr 2019, 6:53 pm

TassieTiger wrote:338 LAPUA - go big or go home !


Lol I was gonna say 50bmg.... but yeah 338, why not

Apart from the why not another gun logic, maybe let it lapse or get something completely different like a lever (btw I see you don't have a 22lr, but that's cat A)
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by Jon79 » 10 Apr 2019, 7:10 pm

Ziad wrote:
TassieTiger wrote:338 LAPUA - go big or go home !


Lol I was gonna say 50bmg.... but yeah 338, why not

Apart from the why not another gun logic, maybe let it lapse or get something completely different like a lever (btw I see you don't have a 22lr, but that's cat A)


yeah mate got a 22lr I have

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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by snag » 10 Apr 2019, 7:20 pm

Another vote for .25-06. Once you own one, you'll wonder why you didn't get one years ago.
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by duncan61 » 10 Apr 2019, 7:26 pm

Do you reload????
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by Jon79 » 10 Apr 2019, 8:01 pm

duncan61 wrote:Do you reload????


I will eventually I think.... I bought one of those Lee anniversary kits but haven't got round to buying the dies etc needed, been saving my brass just in case
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by bigfellascott » 10 Apr 2019, 8:06 pm

In all honesty mate I can't see any reason to buy the same/similar cals that you already have, what about a 45/70? :D
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by TassieTiger » 10 Apr 2019, 8:13 pm

Jon79 wrote:
duncan61 wrote:Do you reload????


I will eventually I think.... I bought one of those Lee anniversary kits but haven't got round to buying the dies etc needed, been saving my brass just in case



Perfect then. .338 lapua it is!!! Your going to love it!!!
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by SCJ429 » 10 Apr 2019, 8:31 pm

bigfellascott wrote:In all honesty mate I can't see any reason to buy the same/similar cals that you already have, what about a 45/70? :D


I love the way you think, 45/70 is a great little big bore and you would have lots of fun with it. Do yourself a favour and live a little.
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by Faedy » 10 Apr 2019, 10:04 pm

I love my 300 wm for a bit of a change from the 308
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by duncan61 » 10 Apr 2019, 10:46 pm

I just looked up the ADI load data for 7mm Rem v Win Mag and your load is 10 gn more of 2213sc with a 168gn pill.How is the recoil on that bad boy
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by duncan61 » 10 Apr 2019, 10:48 pm

I would love to build a 6.5/284 for field rifle but the 7mm does the job if I am good enough
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by duncan61 » 10 Apr 2019, 11:15 pm

I love topics like this as I study all the load data and learn so much about different cases.The 284 Win is so similar to the .270 Win in performance and the 7/08 is in there as well.The reason my first post suggested 7/08 is you all ready have the 308 cases for reloading and I am sure they will just neck down .62 in a die.Correct me if I am wrong.
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by bladeracer » 10 Apr 2019, 11:48 pm

duncan61 wrote:I love topics like this as I study all the load data and learn so much about different cases.The 284 Win is so similar to the .270 Win in performance and the 7/08 is in there as well.The reason my first post suggested 7/08 is you all ready have the 308 cases for reloading and I am sure they will just neck down .62 in a die.Correct me if I am wrong.


Yep, just run them through the FLS die as you would with 7mm-08 brass, then trim to length.
Last edited by bladeracer on 11 Apr 2019, 11:41 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by duncan61 » 11 Apr 2019, 12:05 am

The 6mm-284 looks very interesting with 95gn Matchkings going at 3200-3300 it would be very competitive in a good barrel
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by Bruiser64 » 11 Apr 2019, 12:39 am

I suppose it all depends what you are shooting. I think a heavy barrel .223 for foxes, rabbits and Roos from a vehicle is a good call. It will sit steadier on a rest than a lighter barrel. You already have the lighter rifles for stalking, so why the hell not?
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Re: Another 223 or 308?

Post by Kumaabear » 11 Apr 2019, 8:05 am

I have no idea where people are getting the idea that 308 or even .243 ammo is cheaper than either .270 or 30-06

It just is largely not true, not in Australia anyway it seems like one of those things that makes sense on the surface and everyone believes it but nobody bothers to check the prices.

Cheap stuff for all of them is $30-$35 mid range is $40-$50 and high end stuff is $60-90 for all of them pretty much
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