.223 vs .308

Nigma

Nigma

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Hey fellas,

I have a low-post count but I've been stalking the place for a while! I'm new to the business of Precision shooting and you all probably had to go through with this often but even after searching the forum I couldn't find anything helpful. You see, I'm about to purchase a Remington 700 SPS Tactical rifle for my beginner long-range shooting hobby and can't find anything worth reading regarding both calibers. Some people swear by larger caliber and others seem to have it done for the .223s.

So what can I expect from the two? I'm one step away from making the deal and was going for the .308's stopping power but I'm more into tactics than shear power so if the .223 has something speed/precision/tactical related more to offer I will be considering it with a lot of heart.

Thanks so much for any help you pros can provide. ;D
 
this question comes up quite often. Use the search function search string 223, in the presicion rifles forum. this is important the default is one week or sooner you have to put 36 month and sooner. Good luck you should be able to find everything you ever wanted to know and then some about using a 223.
 
I shoot my 223 to 1400+yds.

Ballistically, they are twins. 1/2 the cost, 1/3 the recoil, double the number of shots before barrel gets too hot, can spot my own hits at silly distances, sub MOA accurate WAY out there.

Works for me.

If you decide on a Rem, just confirm that the twist WILL stabilize the 75gr Amx or Berger VLD. These are so much fun when you want to reach out. I have heard some reports that the "9" twist isn't so much.

I only shoot Savages now so can't say for sure. However, all Savage and Stevens 223 9 twist barrels stabilize the Amax and Berger just fine. This bullet is capable of reaching a mile.

Jerry
 
mysticplayer said:
I shoot my 223 to 1400+yds.

Ballistically, they are twins. 1/2 the cost, 1/3 the recoil, double the number of shots before barrel gets too hot, can spot my own hits at silly distances, sub MOA accurate WAY out there.

Works for me.

If you decide on a Rem, just confirm that the twist WILL stabilize the 75gr Amx or Berger VLD. These are so much fun when you want to reach out. I have heard some reports that the "9" twist isn't so much.

I only shoot Savages now so can't say for sure. However, all Savage and Stevens 223 9 twist barrels stabilize the Amax and Berger just fine. This bullet is capable of reaching a mile.

Jerry
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Sub moa accurate way out there, I heard the military are ditching their timberwolves for 223 Savages, 1400 +?
 
EC said:
Sub moa accurate way out there, I heard the military are ditching their timberwolves for 223 Savages, 1400 +?
Click to expand...

Don't knock it till you have tried it. Jerry knows what he is talking about. He doesn't believe what he hears, he tries it, and he got his .223 to a mile accurately.
 
There's a lot to recommend a 223 but I'd still prefer the 308 because I might press the rifle into service to shoot deer and such. You could use the 223 for that but the limitations (and legalities in some areas) can be severe. The 308 can be used for gophers btu it's pretty heavy for that task.

Jerry makes good points for the 223 and if it's purely for paper it'd be hard to argue with the 223, provided it's got the twist to handle heavy bullets.
 
If you're location is in Southern Ontario, you can pop groundhogs with the .223, but not with the 308.

The 308 boltface give you more options for switching to higher performance calibers when its time to re-barrel.

More detachable magazine options for 308, mags are made of metal and are less expensive.
 
EC said:
Sub moa accurate way out there, I heard the military are ditching their timberwolves for 223 Savages, 1400 +?
Click to expand...

Big difference between hitting something and breaking it to bits.

had a lot of fun chasing a 338 LM out to 1435yds last summer. We hit the same rocks even with a bit of wind.

Little doubt the 338 LM hit a whole lot harder.

If you are plinking, punching paper or gongs, there are plenty of options.

If you want to hunt LR, bigger is better.

But bigger is not always more accurate.

Jerry
 
223 is the theoretical twin to the 308 in reality I would say from my own experiences that the 308 was easier to make work very well. Don't get me wrong: I still suggest a 223 as a better starting caliber. Jerry's point about recoil and accuracy are extremely important because learning precision from a rifle that kicks as hard as a 308 can be a big mistake.

There are so many excellent match bullets for the 308 and it is extremely forgiving with load recipes. Its bigger case capacity means the effects of being off by 1/10th of a grain are much less than with the smaller 223 case.

Go 223 to begin with, and trust me, this will not be your last gun! try a 308 later, or get totally addicted and join the 6BR crowd. Putting five bullets in the same hole is fun!
 
Have both. The 223 is easier on the pocket book unless you shoot more. Thank goodness for mysticprecision . The 308 reminds me of the days using the FNC1A1 OR C2.

I still love the 3006. Slightly more recoil in a Winchester 70. With 180 grain bullets.

Looking at the 223 75 grain AMAX ...This should go maybe into reloading but what COL for the Savage 10 series is best ? Lyman has one Hornady another.
 
I remember when the DCRA TR crowd had both calibers to play with and they took a hard look at both. The .308 is still what works in the TR crowd. F-Class is a different animal and paper punching at long distances can be very much fun with the .223. I've always loved the .223 and have an Ackley version of it that rings gongs any day @1,000yds. :)

Make sure your barrel has 1-8" twist and your good to go in the 80gr weights. I tried a 1-9" with 80gr Sierras and they were not grouping well in a .223.
 
kombayotch said:
If you're location is in Southern Ontario, you can pop groundhogs with the .223, but not with the 308.

The 308 boltface give you more options for switching to higher performance calibers when its time to re-barrel.

More detachable magazine options for 308, mags are made of metal and are less expensive.
Click to expand...

A groundhog met the same fate here just last night. A 75gr. 5.56mm TAP round from about 45yards away makes a mess.

I have shot gophers in MB with my .308, out to about 350 yards. My last outing I was 37 for 38. .308 is way too much for gophers, but you definately know when they are hit. My friend who is a non shooter asked me just prior to me pulling the trigger "How do you know when you hit......"

The red mist that hung in the air for about two minutes was all the answer he needed.

Both cartridges can be great in a precision rig. I have one of each, different applications for them. .223 offers more shooting and less blast and recoil, can shoot it all day long. After about 50-60 rounds in my .308 I start getting a bit sore and my concentration falls off.
 
I have a nice picture of what a 125 TNT out of a 308 does to them at ~120 yards from back in Indiana. Needless to say, but Singer himself couldn't have sewn that guy back together.
 
223 versus 308

I am far from the 1400 yd club
for my part which caliber, would depend on how many rounds I want to shoot at range.
I dont shoot a 308 but a 6.5 x 55. But my point would be the same.
50 rounds or less the 6.5 is great. 50 rounds or more and I love my 223.
In prctice I bring three guns
I start with a 22 rimfire, helps get me settled down
Next I shoot my 223, maybe 50 to 100
and when I am into my shooting I will shoot my 6.5 x 55 for maybe 20 or 30 rounds. I also have a 7 mm Rem Mag (sporter weight) and if finishing with it
20 rounds is more than enough to see my groups begin to open.

308 or 223. Pick one or other, ideally both. You cant go wrong

But I am just a recreational shooter.
.
 
Great thing about both cartridges is the availability of good bullets, from match grade to almost every hunting application. Can't beat these two for the bullets that are on the market.

If you are going to be doing more long range work, chose the .308, better retained energy, less wind drift at distance and good for Palma matches if you want to get into that later on and push your limits. .308 is enough rifle for hunting anything in North America which is another plus. With a .223 you are a bit limited in the hunting, but it is a superior small game/varmint round.

Heck, this thread is even confusing me. I am glad I own one of each, it is really hard to chose which one is better!
 
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