223 advice

Waterfowler

Waterfowler

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Ok for starters, I have searched the first 5 pages here and reviewed all the posts re 223.

Here's my deal...
Hunting yotes in southern Ontario farmland. Thinking 200-300 yards is gonna be the longest range.

I do not reload, so it will be factory ammo.

Looking at the Stevens 200 or possibly a Weatherby that is coming out. Both are outfitted with average scopes already.

I am pretty sure this will do what I want, however I do have a 270 and maybe I should stay with that??? Not too worried about pelt damage.

Thoughts on 223 vs 270. And what factory ammo for the 223.

Any other thoughts or advice??

Thanks in advance.
 
Go with the 223 factory rounds are easy to find and reasonably priced. I don't think you can use a 270 in S. Ontario.
 
Waterfowler said:
Looking at the Stevens 200 or possibly a Weatherby that is coming out. Both are outfitted with average scopes already.

I am pretty sure this will do what I want, however I do have a 270 and maybe I should stay with that???
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You found a good reason to buy a new toy. Don`t talk youself out of it. ;););)

If you handload you have more choices. For factory ammo, the 55 gr Winchester white box would do the trick (assuming your rifle like them).
 
There is never a reason to not buy a new toy, but if you don't collect the pelts, your 270 will do very well as a flat shooting coyote rifle. The ammo will cost more, and the rifle will recoil more than a 223, but for the amount that you will be shooting that won't be an issue. I handload, and as a result I put a large number of rounds through both my 30-06's. When I go coyote hunting I'm not concerned about pelt damage either, and I hunt with my hunting rifle to keep me acquainted with it.
Mike
 
It sounds like you have just about bought the gun. I had good luck with winchester 45g white box from walmart( if they sell them anymore) . 40 rounds for $22 and keep the brass as someone will give you something for it.

Keith
 
.223 would certainly be easier on the ears than the .270 if noise is a concern (esp. with people in the area). Otherwise, not sure what else you hunt with your .270 - but you can never get too much practice. Shooting factory out of the .223 will certainly be cheaper - but the Winchester grey box at TSC and Igman .270 at Districorp both work out to be about $14/box.

I'll never talk someone out of buying a new rifle though :D
 
Either gun is more then capable of hitting/killing coyotes out to 300 yards holding dead on. However, there are a number of advantages of going with the 223 over the 270.
-Low recoil allows you to see bullet impact and make adjustment if necessary.
-It's my experience that the lower report and recoil of the 223 makes it a very pleasant centrefire round to shoot.
-The 223 also makes and excellent wood chuck round
-Since you're going with pre-rolled rounds the 223 will be cheaper to shoot (though fuel and cheeseburgers make the cost of ammo irrelavant).

As for which factory round, let your new rifle determine what it likes best. Pick up a variety of relevant coyote ammo in various weights/bullet designs and go with the ammo that the rifle shoots best. When you do find the ammo the gun likes best go back and buy a bunch of it paying attention to the lot number.
 
223 in a stevens 200 millet rings tasco 2.5x10/milldot buy 1 box of all brands of ammo. see which shoots best and stock up on it.test off a bench with sand bags.adjust trigger down to 3 lb.......my rig shoots 3/4 inch all day .cleanafter every30 rds[ bipod harris]. protect muzzle crown. barrel bolts tight to 10 lb torque.......these things work.
 
I don't know exactly where you are in S Ont but ricochet from a 270 in built up S Ont is something I would be concerned about! A 223 with proper bullets while still a concern is a much safer gun to use IMHO.
 
senior said:
I don't know exactly where you are in S Ont but ricochet from a 270 in built up S Ont is something I would be concerned about! A 223 with proper bullets while still a concern is a much safer gun to use IMHO.
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Was actually one of the things I am somewhat concerned about.

Thanks for all the great feedback. Gonna buy a 223!!!!!!!!
 
My dealer seemed to think most 223 rounds are moving fast enough that the bullet is more likely to explode and frag rather than ricochet. I am handloading mine (my second) and I expect the better loads will be faster yet. Top speed on these little rascals is kinda up there. Absolute hoot to shoot and my fave 22 hands down. Whoda thunk of a centre fire 22? Whizbang round, REAL cheap to reload and abundant range brass. I am recycling for a large rifle/pistol range and the 2 most common cases always are 9mm and 223 hands down and by a large margin. Awful lot of people like them. So many ways to load them too. Im gonna be workin up loads for a long time but such a nice cal to shoot who cares? Of course thats just IMHO:)
 
I own a Steven's 200, my advice is don't buy the combo with the scope. Get it plane Jane and get yourself a decent scope for long range use that has an adjustable objective to correct parallax. There are some good alternatives to expensive models that will serve well with a .223. I bought a Bushnell Legend 5X15X40 A/O for 250$, but you can find even less expesive ones with Tasco or the NcSTAR line that Marstar sells.
 
I just bought the Stevens 200 in 223 Rem. It shoots under an inch out of the box with factory stuff. I haven't had time to load for it yet to see how good it really is. Get a good scope for it. I put a Bushnell 3200 4-12 x 40mm A/O on it.
I would shoot whatever 55gr soft point shot well out of it. Have fun!!!
 
I put a decent scope on all of my CF rifles and with the potential range I went with a Nikon Monarch 6-18. Excellent glass as good or better than the Leupolds and 1/3 less in cost. I had a Bushnell 4200 VS on my Ruger no 1 223 before but the eye relief was too small. The Nikon actually had the same eye relief but also had a 1in longer tube. The No 1 is gone now replaced with the CZ527 which is way less fussy. Likely a lot more accurate in the long run which is what you want in a med-long range rifle. Great round to shoot just for the hell of it too. I am learning to load on the 223 cuz everything is so cheap you can shoot a lot. Happy shooting in the new year.
 
bogie said:
My dealer seemed to think most 223 rounds are moving fast enough that the bullet is more likely to explode and frag rather than ricochet.
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It's not so much about speed as it is about the actual bullet construction....big game bullets such as the 270 mentioned are built to stay together...Varmint bullets as commonly used in the 223 are meant to fragment thus eliminating much of the concerns for ricochet ;)
 
bogie said:
My dealer seemed to think most 223 rounds are moving fast enough that the bullet is more likely to explode and frag rather than ricochet./QUOTE]

Seems like your dealer is really not up on guns & ballistics, I'd take what he says from now on with a grain of salt!

BCWILL has it right, not your dealer.
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