New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

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New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by crusher060 » 13 Mar 2019, 4:11 pm

Hi all am new to the forum and just seeking some opinions. I have just received my PTA to acquire another centrefire rifle. I already have a 243w, 12g straight pull and a 22lr. The 243 can adequately handle what I shoot ie pigs, goats and deer so I don't really need to go a bigger calibre but I want another rifle because I can :D.I was originally thinking a 308 or 270 but am now considering dropping back and getting a 223 because of cheaper ammo. Has anyone been in a similar position and what did you decide to do, appreciate everyone's thoughts
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by SCJ429 » 13 Mar 2019, 6:18 pm

A 223 costs me under 40c a shot to reload. It is the most fired caliber I have besides the 22 LR.
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by Baronvonrort » 13 Mar 2019, 6:34 pm

I would consider the .204 Ruger if you want to start reloading.

a .204 and .243 will give a nice pair of flat shooting centrefires.

You don't need to spend an outrageous amount to start reloading you get some satisfaction producing your own ammo.
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by Oldbloke » 13 Mar 2019, 7:14 pm

223, 243 & 30-06 would cover every possibility in this country. Buy a, 223 then 30-06 later
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by SCJ429 » 13 Mar 2019, 7:50 pm

Baronvonrort wrote:I would consider the .204 Ruger if you want to start reloading.

a .204 and .243 will give a nice pair of flat shooting centrefires.

You don't need to spend an outrageous amount to start reloading you get some satisfaction producing your own ammo.


I'm with you regarding the 204, what a brilliant little case. Shoots 40 grain pills as flat as just about anything else you can mention.
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by TassieTiger » 13 Mar 2019, 9:00 pm

Oldbloke wrote:223, 243 & 30-06 would cover every possibility in this country. Buy a, 223 then 30-06 later


This^ except I’d reverse the order cause you already have a .22 and 12g so I’d hold on the 223.

Get a good 30/06 and embrace the history, the grunt and the bruised shoulder lol. Will load down to 100gn and up to 220gn.
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by Flyer » 13 Mar 2019, 10:11 pm

What do you want to do with it?
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by Kumaabear » 14 Mar 2019, 8:28 am

I kind of feel like between the 22LR and the .243w you probably already have the tools to cover what you would typically use a .223 to shoot at.

Other than as you say, cheaper ammo.

If ammo cost is the main motivation for the.223 and if you think you will still want something bigger later then my thinking would be, you could get a lot of .243w ammo or reloading equipment and a bunch of components for the cost of a .223 rifle.

Then use that PTA for the bigger rifle now :P

30-06 is cool, hurts you just enough that you still like it *wink*, and its easy to spot your brass at the range in the sea of dropped 22LR/.223/.308 shells.
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by crusher060 » 14 Mar 2019, 9:12 am

Flyer wrote:What do you want to do with it?


Some target shooting at the range and hunting at my mates property. I am also thinking of going for a heavy barrel as the 243 barrel gets really hot after only 12 rounds at the range and have to let it cool down
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by crusher060 » 14 Mar 2019, 9:24 am

TassieTiger wrote:
Oldbloke wrote:223, 243 & 30-06 would cover every possibility in this country. Buy a, 223 then 30-06 later


This^ except I’d reverse the order cause you already have a .22 and 12g so I’d hold on the 223.

Get a good 30/06 and embrace the history, the grunt and the bruised shoulder lol. Will load down to 100gn and up to 220gn.


Federal ammo in 30-06 is only $32.00 which is cheaper than my 243 at $34.00 so ammo cost isn't an issue. However I think 30-06 is way overkill for what I am shooting and my shoulder would probably hate me for it :lol:
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by TassieTiger » 14 Mar 2019, 11:56 am

crusher060 wrote:
TassieTiger wrote:
Oldbloke wrote:223, 243 & 30-06 would cover every possibility in this country. Buy a, 223 then 30-06 later


This^ except I’d reverse the order cause you already have a .22 and 12g so I’d hold on the 223.

Get a good 30/06 and embrace the history, the grunt and the bruised shoulder lol. Will load down to 100gn and up to 220gn.

However I think 30-06 is way overkill for what I am shooting and my shoulder would probably hate me for it :lol:


And ?? lol...it's not a need...Go on, you know you want the "cannon". lol.
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by bigfellascott » 14 Mar 2019, 12:11 pm

crusher060 wrote:
Flyer wrote:What do you want to do with it?


Some target shooting at the range and hunting at my mates property. I am also thinking of going for a heavy barrel as the 243 barrel gets really hot after only 12 rounds at the range and have to let it cool down


Even a heavy barrel will heat up if ya putting 12 down it one after the other, most just shoot 5 shots then let em cool and repeat repeat so to speak.

Me I don't bother with ranges anymore too many ****** know it alls for my liking and I find it flat out boring shooting shot after shot at paper, much rather burn less powder and barrels and be out in the bush hunting something myself - each to their own of course. :thumbsup:

Personally if you haven't got a 22 get one and shoot that at the range if you want to take shot after shot type thing, cheaper, can shoot shot after shot without having to worry about barrel heat etc and of course take ya CF with you and shoot a few groups or whatever with that but do the majority of the shooting with the RF I reckon, just a thought, have fun whichever way you go :drinks:
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by Flyer » 15 Mar 2019, 2:29 am

crusher060 wrote:
Flyer wrote:What do you want to do with it?


Some target shooting at the range and hunting at my mates property. I am also thinking of going for a heavy barrel as the 243 barrel gets really hot after only 12 rounds at the range and have to let it cool down

Well, as you said earlier, the .243 covers the hunting side of things, so if you mainly just want to send rounds downrange, then it's hard to beat a .223 - it's really the .22LR of the centrefire world.

They're cheap to run, you have loads of choice of good factory ammo and reload stuff, and you can shoot them all day long without feeling it when you get home. The fact they're cheap and don't kick will improve your shooting technique. And you won't shoot the barrel out of it, either.

I've been known to put a few shots downrange, and I've got a heavy-barrel .223. I thought it might be overkill at first, but the best thing about it it is you can put 10-12 shots through it in succession and the point of impact doesn't change, and nor does the barrel get too hot.

I had a nice .243 which I sold and bought a 6.5 Creedmoor (because it really covers everything from .243-.308 and there's a good range of reloading gear for it now), but I'd be hard-pressed to sell my .223 Sako. It's just a fun round to punch paper and plink, and it keeps up with other cartridges on competition day.
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by Cal-ApeR » 15 Mar 2019, 12:54 pm

Good question. 243 is personally my favourite round as it offers such versatility. I would really look into reloading if you haven't already to get cost down.

For cost though, 223 is hard to beat when it comes to centrefires. My local sells some good HORNADY VMAX stuff for less than $14 /20. I find it easier to just buy this stuff than reload at the moment. It shoots really well.

Funny everyone recommends a 30/06. I just bought one on sale because I can. It will be around forever and can share my 30cal projectiles from my 308. Hopefully it likes the ones my 308 hates.

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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by JSS » 15 Mar 2019, 1:09 pm

TassieTiger wrote:
Oldbloke wrote:223, 243 & 30-06 would cover every possibility in this country. Buy a, 223 then 30-06 later


This^ except I’d reverse the order cause you already have a .22 and 12g so I’d hold on the 223.

Get a good 30/06 and embrace the history, the grunt and the bruised shoulder lol. Will load down to 100gn and up to 220gn.



Yep^^ That's what i'd do too, 30-06 for sure. You've got the 243 so that covers you for a decent sized "2" calibre, i'd personally give the 308 a miss and go to a 30-06, they're one of the most versatile/practical large calibre hunting round in Oz.

Unless of course you want the pure fun of a 300wm :D :drinks:
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by SCJ429 » 15 Mar 2019, 6:51 pm

JSS wrote:
TassieTiger wrote:
Oldbloke wrote:223, 243 & 30-06 would cover every possibility in this country. Buy a, 223 then 30-06 later



Unless of course you want the pure fun of a 300wm :D :drinks:


300 Weatherby Magnum?? Or 300/ 378 Weatherby Magnum.
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by crusher060 » 17 Mar 2019, 1:45 pm

Thanks for all the responses guys, much appreciated
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by duncan61 » 17 Mar 2019, 4:51 pm

I have just shuffled my rifles around as circumstances have changed.My way back in to pro roo culling has changed and I no longer have any where to deliver carcasses so I have cleaned up my .243 HOWA which was my spare rifle and taken the scope of the .222 and put it on the .243 and pretty much retired the .222 Ruger which was my roo culling under spotlight rifle for the last 10 years.I now have 7mm Rem Mag for target work from 100-1000 in Remington Sendero and the .243 HOWA is my walkaround hunter and fox under spotlight rifle.You have shotgun .22LR and .243 which is perfect for most situations,Consider getting a dedicated target rifle for the range in a 6.5 chamber 6mmBR will not do a lot more than a well tuned .243 but the 6.5s are potential world comp winners in the right hands.just my 2 cents
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by snag » 17 Mar 2019, 6:22 pm

Everyone needs a .223 to play with. Just because they're fun.
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by tom604 » 17 Mar 2019, 6:56 pm

Oldbloke wrote:223, 243 & 30-06 would cover every possibility in this country. Buy a, 223 then 30-06 later



243 to 30-06 bit of a jump :lol: im going to go against the grain here and say 270,,bit bigger than a 243 but still flat shooting ,,308 has about the same rainbow arc the 223 has but more kick and to my ears a lovely sound,,deeper than the sharp crack of a 243 or the high pitched snap of the 223. the 270 has a mid range bang and as a bonus will take any deer in Australia,,yes even the bullet proof sambar :lol: :thumbsup:
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by JSS » 17 Mar 2019, 8:09 pm

SCJ429 wrote:
JSS wrote:
TassieTiger wrote:
Oldbloke wrote:223, 243 & 30-06 would cover every possibility in this country. Buy a, 223 then 30-06 later



Unless of course you want the pure fun of a 300wm :D :drinks:


300 Weatherby Magnum?? Or 300/ 378 Weatherby Magnum.


Nah i was just thinking of the peashooter of the 300s, the good old win mag. :D
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by TassieTiger » 18 Mar 2019, 7:14 pm

tom604 wrote:
Oldbloke wrote:223, 243 & 30-06 would cover every possibility in this country. Buy a, 223 then 30-06 later



243 to 30-06 bit of a jump :lol: im going to go against the grain here and say 270,,bit bigger than a 243 but still flat shooting ,,308 has about the same rainbow arc the 223 has but more kick and to my ears a lovely sound,,deeper than the sharp crack of a 243 or the high pitched snap of the 223. the 270 has a mid range bang and as a bonus will take any deer in Australia,,yes even the bullet proof sambar :lol: :thumbsup:


Noooooo...
Most 243’s will happily shoot 120gns all day.
The 270 is hardly a large jump forward - 130gn / 140gn being main size projectiles - maybe 150’s?
At least with the 06 or 300 you know you can send 200gns down range accurately and every part of you knows you’ve pulled the trigger - your shoulder, you ears, your now cut eyebrow and every person and animal inside 5klms lol - admit it(big bangs make you giggle). Yeah yeah sexual innuendos aplenty...
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by SCJ429 » 18 Mar 2019, 7:29 pm

243 shooting 120 grain projectiles??? What sort of twist rate would you need?
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by TassieTiger » 18 Mar 2019, 9:04 pm

When I had my old Winchester, it was either a 1:9 or a 1:8 and it would happily shoot the top end weighted pills. From memory (distant, as it might be) I think we were shooting 115gn Berger’s 20 odd years ago at roo...Was my first introduction to centrefire - i imagine things have developed since then.
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Re: New Centre fire Rifle - 270/308 or .223 for cheaper ammo

Post by Diamond Jim » 19 Mar 2019, 2:30 am

If you've got the .22LR and a .243W and are not inclined toward a .223R (my choice) then you have most bases covered up to 30-06? Maybe a .300 WinMag or larger is the next logical step up instead.
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