tripletwo wrote:Obviously they make .223 "target" rifles, but question is...
Most serious target shooters in proper competitions where I read on the net are shooting 30 cal stuff.
Even if it's not huge distances. I don't think a .223 can do 1,000+ metre shooting right? But it's fine for 500-700 metres?
Are there any target shooting comps where you can shoot .223 competitively? Or not so much?
A couple of years ago I sold an Omark reworked to .223 in F standard 1:8 twist 28" barrel 80 grain Amaxs, recoil was the main factor for the change as my son was starting to have a go and at 13 was still very small. My son turned out to be a pistol shooter and I don't shoot competitively much so sold it for use as a club gun and just kept the .308's. I did enjoy the lack of recoil and it was VERY accurate when I did my part.
The bigger .223 projectiles allow the .223 to compete with the .308 up to 1000, there is very little practical difference in wind bucking ability in my humble experience. Usually when wind is a bigger factor than normal, wind reading experience has a bigger effect on placings than the difference between .223 and .308 although internet experts will often say otherwise.
If one were very keen on distance shooting then F class is a good place to start and an old Omark with a .223 conversion kit all for under $1000 a very good rifle to start with.