Long range precision rifle. 308 or 223?

MackForce

MackForce

Regular
Rating - 100%
151   0   0
Location
West Coast
So I've been getting ready to get a (my first) designated bench rest rifle set up. I want to start practising longer range shots, as I mainly keep it to 400 meter max up until now. I usually use designated hunting rifles when im toying around. I bought some books. I am ALMOST ready to start reloading.
I'm a 308 fan. Always will be. But I also enjoy the 223. I think the commonality and what I'm used to has just stuck with me. Love both rounds and how they shoot. I'm comfortable with both.
So I was almost going to pull the trigger on a 308 build from a site sponsor. But. I was shooting my 223 the other day and it got me thinking..
Is the 223 looked down upon in the long range world? Is it too light? Are the tiny holes just.. Not as cool as the 308, 300, 338, etc? Would it be wiser to start with a 223 build over a 308?
Any advice would help. I'm trying to get serious with the sport and am thinking about dropping some coin on some classes.
FYI Im talking short action, chassis, nice glass, nice barrel. No PGW or anything.. Just trying to take it seriously.

Thanks in advance
 
Thanks for that. I want to hear from more of you guys on the topic. I doubt I will be going much further than 800 at this stage in the game. I haven't committed to full precision rifle yet so it's a big step with dropping so much cash.
Is anyone competing with 223s? Or is 30 cal the king? Do you have to put more work in due to the lighter Bullets?
 
Not a ton of experience but my first long range is a Remington 5R in 223, mated to a Vortex Viper PST 6-24, no issues reaching out to 500 yds. Found the lighter, and cheaper load allowed me to shoot more accelerating the leaning curve.
 
I have a 223 in a vanguard but it is not a long range rifle,from what I have read you would need 1 -8 or faster twist rate to stabalize the 80 or 90 grain bullets and to get that rate you would have to get a barrel made as I think there is no factory rifles built with that rate of twist but I could be wrong.I looked at the 224 cal awhile back and thought it would be fun to mess with.There are some nice BC numbers with the heavy bullets .
I am no expert by any means but I really like the the 6.5 and 7mm cal for long range target and they might be a little more forgiving for someone starting out in the long range game,but hey its all great fun and go with what you interests you most.
Good luck and happy shooting.
 
Both are fine. I have both. 308 if you want to compete 223 if you just want to have fun. With that said I have seen the 223 hold its own out to 600 meters. Even seen it take its share of wins. But when it gets rough the 223 can take a beating. There are a few lessons to be learned from the sling shooters. Only a few shoot the 223 and usually on select days. They have a 308 ready to step in when they loose conference in the 223. I firmly belive the 223 is a great round and if you get good with it you will be a fantastic wind reader. Run the numbers through a ballistic calculator, see what it says. Make sure you input real numbers like 308 2700 fps for a 185 or 2900 for a 155gr non of this the guy at the range said 308 185 can go 2850, yes it can but he/she fails to say they get 3 reloads on lapua brass.
 
I have a Remmy 700 in .223 and I have competed with it to 600 meters. Like others have stated the .223 will hold its own. Im still very new to PR shooting so heres the philosophy I've gone with. I built myself a PR .22 trainer out of a CZ 455 gives me a whole lot of trigger time for little expense and even on days with a gentle breeze you get to play with the wind. I than built the 700, it cost half as much to reload a .223 than a .308 so more trigger time :) and yes you gotta pay attention to the wind, I would rather learn to shoot with wind and compisate for it than just rely on a heavy pill or one with good BC to get me through.

Saying that I have my next rifle in my mind, its a winshester Model .70 in .260. Have you seen the BC on this guy??

I say start small and work your way up. This should afford you more opportunity to master the PR skill.
 
I have missed the wind call more frequently with a .223. Yet I suppose one learns from that so maybe an advantage in the end.

I can shoot targets or hunt year round(coyote) with the .223 over the .308.

I feel strongly both ways, lol
 
I used to be big into 223 before going 260Rem 7 years ago, the 6.5mm bullets are fantastic.
But I recently accurized a buddies Savage 25 and loaded some 52gr flat based bergers and shot a 5 shot group just over 6" at 675y with it.
This made me want a 223 again.

223 is a great starter cartridge.
 
No one likes missing a shot! But if you allow yourself the time and humility to learn....... Do I sound like a teacher yet hahahaha good luck
 
I started with a vanguard in 223 1-9 ,then stepped up to a T3 varmint 223 1-8 twist. I have a PST 6-24×50 on it and find it almost too easy at 3 to 400 yds. I need a longer range. Clays and full pops don't stand a chance. The gong is way to easy.I find I need very little extra on my turrets to go from 3-400. As others have said I'm sure 500,600 no problem with the 223. I'm not a fan of recoil and find the 223 not much more than my 22lr. Only added a limbsaver to the T3 otherwise bone stock.
 
I agree on the 6.5 caliber. I really enjoy shooting my 6.5X47. 3000 fps with a 130 Berger and only 42.2 gr of H4350 is impressive. Run some numbers on the 308 the 223 and a 260,6.5x47 or 6.5 creedmore.
 
The 223 can be a great choice if you get 1 1/7 twist for F class and even benchrest, was at a Benchrest shoot yesterday at Beachburg ON the 223 won the 5 target hunterclass at 100 y two 223 shot 250 of 250 possible points beating, 6mmppc, 4 30 brs and 6 mm br.
And at 200 yards shot a 248 of possible 250. winning shoot with one more X than a 30 br pretty close
The smallest group I have ever seen shot at 100 y last week in perfect conditions 5 shots with 80.5 Bergers and varget .081"
And they do quite well in F class even at 900 m
manitou
 
If your going to 'build' up a rifle I'd skip the .223. It is tedious to load for 'assuming you require single digit ES' is good to about 600 yards using heavy bullets 70+ grains. I have a Tikka Varmint in 1:8 and is easy to hit moa sized targets to 550 yards if there is not too much wind using a 75gr A-Max and 23.9gr of H4895 loaded long.

Alternatively, I also have a 6mm Dasher (and another on the way) I use 105-108gr class bullets it does what the 223 does at 1000+ yards requires ~31 grs of powder to do it, so not much more expensive to load for and a way less tedious to get single digit ES. Same can be said for the 6mm BR although it runs ~100fps less. Hornaday 105gr HPBT are reasonably priced and a good bullet but if ranges are to 1000 yards I'll use the Berger 105gr Hybrid, twist rates are 1:7.7 and 1:8. 1:8 is fine if you are a few thousand feet above sea level.

Unless the discipline requires a 223 or a 308 I would tend to stay away from them. Reason being you will need expert wind reading ability, 223 tedious to load well, the 308 has the worst ballistics of the '08 sized cases and bullets are more expensive.....better choice would be a 7mm-08 or 260 Rem standard or improved.

I do shoot a 308 caliber bullet but it is in a 300 Win Mag for targets, burns about 2X the powder but same expense for bullets.

If you shoot a lot price of components and ease of handloading become a factor. I think the 6mm Dasher or BR is the best compromise between the two.

Also, in a sporter weight rifle a 105 class bullet at 2900-3000 fps is no slouch on deer sized game.
 
Either a .308 or 6.5 CM is a good distance caliber. The .308 has a ton of free load data available online to get you going.

The 6.5CM is doing well in the wind and at distance.

The main thing to remember is get a solid platform(a known model/action) and shoot it all the time paying attention to the trajectories, meaning record the data on all the existing environmentals. That will alow you to become profecient at any distance on your come ups.

Do the same for wind. Wind reading is more important than nano/micro/molecular accuracy anyway if you shoot any distance over about 400 yds.
More so on .223 and beyond about 300 yds

There really is truth to the "beware of a man with only one gun." He likely knows it well and how it shoots at any distance he attempts.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom