700 SPS Tactical .223 or .308 help

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RPinVan

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Hi everyone,
I have been looking around and trying to read as much as possible and have asked a few questions with great replies. I originally had planned to pick up a 700 5R in 308, but as the wallet has tightened up I have had to revisit my options. I have decided on a 700 sps tactical and as 95% of my shooting will be on a 200m range I have been considering the .223 as a less expensive option for plinking and paper punching. Is there any major disadvantages that I will be running in to with a .223 as opposed to the .308? I plan to upgrade this firearm in the future when funds allow with either an AICS or MDT chassis which will then lead to a new barrel and other toys I'm sure. If I decide to move to a 308 caliber in the future would I be able to use the bolt from the .223? Thank you for everyone's help I have learned a lot. Also a big thank you goes out to Tomochan for showing me the ropes up at the Poco range.

Cheers,
Ryan
 
Bolt face is different but..............

You will be able to make that .223 shoot a LONG ways if you go to a fast twist barrel.I'd stick with the .223 , what you save in bullets and powder you can upgrade your barrel later on.

Jerry at Mystic has more than enough info on making a .223 perform at distance.

He takes it out to a mile accurately.
 
RPinVan said:
Hi everyone,
I have been looking around and trying to read as much as possible and have asked a few questions with great replies. I originally had planned to pick up a 700 5R in 308, but as the wallet has tightened up I have had to revisit my options. I have decided on a 700 sps tactical and as 95% of my shooting will be on a 200m range I have been considering the .223 as a less expensive option for plinking and paper punching. Is there any major disadvantages that I will be running in to with a .223 as opposed to the .308? I plan to upgrade this firearm in the future when funds allow with either an AICS or MDT chassis which will then lead to a new barrel and other toys I'm sure. If I decide to move to a 308 caliber in the future would I be able to use the bolt from the .223? Thank you for everyone's help I have learned a lot. Also a big thank you goes out to Tomochan for showing me the ropes up at the Poco range.

Cheers,
Ryan
Click to expand...

You will not be able to use the bolt from your .223 for a .308. Advantages of the .223 are cost and recoil. Disadvantage is that if you want to build off the rifle later the .308 gives you more options (you could make a .260 if you wanted for example).

As for ballistics they are pretty much the same. The .223 shooting a lighter bullet, but each will push a bullet with a similar BC at a similar velocity. So you don't gain much, if anything, ballisticly with the .308 especially at 200 yards. 200 would be a pot shot for either rifle.
 
on a budget eh !

223 cheaper to shoot

223 just do the stock later as you say,

if you decide to build a 308 start from scratch again and sell the 223 no matter what stage the build is,

remember cash (or the budget ) is king

HOW MANY GUNS DO YOU OWN AND DO YOU RELOAD FOR YEARS

why is that I asked, because if you are starting out just do the 223 on a budget and move to a 308 later when comfortable to do so, less recoil and (sorry to have to say this) you seem new to the game, (223 v 308) and should attend when there is both rifles at the line and listen to the costs and shoot one each then decide,


but 223 is OK for a long time, and then you will have more facts to support your decision, you seem younger so lots of time

Jefferson
 
Jefferson said:
223 cheaper to shoot

223 just do the stock later as you say,

if you decide to build a 308 start from scratch again and sell the 223 no matter what stage the build is,

remember cash (or the budget ) is king

HOW MANY GUNS DO YOU OWN AND DO YOU RELOAD FOR YEARS

why is that I asked, because if you are starting out just do the 223 on a budget and move to a 308 later when comfortable to do so, less recoil and (sorry to have to say this) you seem new to the game, (223 v 308) and should attend when there is both rifles at the line and listen to the costs and shoot one each then decide,


but 223 is OK for a long time, and then you will have more facts to support your decision, you seem younger so lots of time

Jefferson
Click to expand...

At this time I own a number of firearms, none of the same caliber. I plan to start reloading in the next several months. I am fairly new to the game as i've just started obtaining my own firearms, although i've been shooting with friends and family for a long time. The cost of the .223 factory ammo is very attractive for the weekly trips to the range right now, but if the difference is negligible when reloading .308 may be the way to go. I am not planning to compete or hunt, shooting is simply for my own enjoyment.

I appreciate everyone's input and feedback, this is exactly what I was hoping for when I started this thread.

Cheers,
Ryan
 
Some people like to make fun of me for it but I like to shoot smaller calibers. I love to show up guys with their 300 ultra mag with my 204 ruger.

With a smaller caliber you can shoot way more and do it more comfortably. Guys with big guns normally stop after a box of bullets. But with a 223 you will be wanting more after a few boxes.

With the softer kicking gun you will shoot better too.

You will be surprised at what a .223 can do compared to a .308 even on those long shots.

Cost of reloading is also a lot cheaper with the .223. Your going to use about 1/2 the powder and bullets are almost 1/2 as much money. Brass is also 1/2 the price.

I believe you can change the bolt head from the 223 family to the 308 family down the line if you decide to change calibers when you get a new barrel. But if your only shooting out to 200 yards then you will be fine with the 223.
 
and the good news is

there are some real nifty stocks coming into canada now to dress up your gun and keep the old stock to resell with the rifle and sell the new stock separately for more money than keeping it with the gun, (sometimes)

you will enjoy, and remember before you spent a grand on a new stock and a 700 on a new barrel installed, think about doing a new gun

glad you made a choice, reloading is fun once you start

Jeff
 
Start reloading.... you will get far better accuracy and the costs are the lower then generic factory that shoot poorly.

Bed the action, lighten the trigger, put on some decent optics and go have lots of fun.

69gr Sierra MK's or Hrn 68gr BTHP have a huge track record of shooting superbly in the Rems. You can also try the various varmint bullets as some will go on sale in the spring.

There are very few inaccurate 22 cal bullets as the demands from the varminting and hunting world dictate they work well.

win brass or even once fired range pick up will do you to start. Varget or Benchmark or Re15. CCI 400 or 450 primers or any other major brand small rifle primer. There is lots of info on my website to help you tune up your load. A good scale is really important with small cases.

If you need a list of reloading gear that will get you going for low $$$, send me your email address and I will get you the list.

there is little reason to think you can't be shooting sub MOA - maybe even 1/2 MOA with some load tuning and some practise. That is huge fun putting them into one big hole.

enjoy the journey and the next steps will work themselves out. first thing is get a rig you like, get it making noise. Experience is a wonderful teacher.

Don't talk to F class shooters or Tactical match shooters or all those guys wanting to show you more fun and excitement with your rifle :)

It's way too addictive.

Jerry
 
I would think the only reason to go with .308 is if you planned on doing any long-range hunting with it (200-300m).

If you're just punching paper, rock the .223 ...

:yingyang:
 
as for stock mods in the future, a aics they are what they are just a stock, the tac21 by mdt is fully adaptable to ar goodies, I bought 1 of the tac21s, got it thismorning, stuffed the wifes mothers day gift a remmy 700 tactical aac-sd 308 into it, added a magpul prs stock and grip in od green to it and threw my mueller tac 2 on it along with a harris br bipod.......Ill post up some pics later on but so far, I couldnt be happier this thing looks sick, feels awsome and fits 100% perfect and easy to instal, only thing left to do is test it out tonight!

thanks Jerry for the kit
 
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