Which is more accurate at 350 yards (all else being equal, real world conditions)

Which is more accurate at 350 yards?

  • .223 Remington

    Votes: 29 18.7%

  • .308 Winchester

    Votes: 126 81.3%
  • Total voters
    155
Nothing fancy is the key - 308 is the better option.

Given a bit of 'fancy' in bullet choices, I'd take a 223 over 308 in the none-to-medium wind conditions, just for the reduced recoil. In a low-wind condition at 350yds, the ballistic advantage of a heavier 308 bullet is minimal (much less than an inch is my gut feel - have to do some calcs tomorrow).
 
Accuracy is not a measure of the Cartridge its self its a measure of all the components that make a rifle shoot. The cartridge doesn't matter nearly as much as the shooter or the ammo.

This question has no cut and dry answer.
 
If you're talking about target shooting (holes in paper) then .223, if you're tallking aobut killing stuff give me a .308, just my comfort level.

Cheers.
 
All things being equal. These 2 calibers are not comparable on an equal playing field. If you want to compare 223 with 222 or even 22-250 and 308 to 30-06 or 30br then there is a discussion about accuracy.
They are to completely different types of guns here. Accuracy would go to 308 until the recoil catches up with you then the 223 wins. On a day with no wind 223 wins again. In the hand of a shooter who is good at reading the wind 223 may win still.


bla bla bla troll thread is trolliin
 
The question is irrelevent. When loads are tuned, they are both capable of precision and thus accuracy.

What determines long range accuracy is the shooter. What determines long range precision is the sum of shooter, load and rifle.

Run the bullets through a ballistic program and see for yourself. A 308 with a BC of .460 is going to have less wind-bucking than a 90 grain 223 Berger bullet doing same speed.
 
The original poster was only using factory ammo, I'm not sure what 90 gr. ammo is factory made for the .223. Some cartridges are just more accurate then others when all else is equal, i think the .308 is such a cartridge, the only more accurate .30 cal. that i have worked with is the .30 br.IMHO
 
The .308 with Federal gold match 168gr & 223 with Federal Gold match 69gr or 77gr
Shot in any quality rifle with Varmint barrel would be a just about even at 350y
it would be determind by the shooter who could see wind changes. if there was a lot of shooting say 60 round competition, I would think the 223 might come out on top because of the recoil factor.
if your hand loading I would give a little edge to the 223 rem with 90gr Bergers but very little.
manitou
 
He says "off the shelf, nothing fancy" ammo. The match grade stuff may be off the shelf, but is it nothing fancy? My argument is that the $20 a box 308 ammo outshoots the $14 a box 223.
 
manitou210 said:
The .308 with Federal gold match 168gr & 223 with Federal Gold match 69gr or 77gr
Shot in any quality rifle with Varmint barrel would be a just about even at 350y
it would be determind by the shooter who could see wind changes. if there was a lot of shooting say 60 round competition, I would think the 223 might come out on top because of the recoil factor.
if your hand loading I would give a little edge to the 223 rem with 90gr Bergers but very little.
manitou
Click to expand...


Don't forget, If you are shooting at a target with scoring rings, The .308 has the advantage of cutting a bigger hole and can hit lines the .223 would miss given equally placed shots. Not more accurate, but can produce higher scores.

NormB
 
If "Off the shelf ammo" would be considered ALL factory loads, I think the edge would go to 308 due to the larger selection of Match load offerings. I believe this would be the limiting factor.

If your .223 didn't like Federal GM offerings, your SOL, unless there are some new .223 factory offerings that I am not aware of.
 
There is a reason why Palma shooting allows either 308 (up to 156gr bullet) or .223 (up to 72? gr bullet)...... EQUAL PERFORMANCE.

Since the most common, high performance, off the shelf ammo is Federal Gold Medal Match. Shooting both would yield like results.

The difference would come at the till.

(US Prices)
308 (168gr)- $36.99/20
223 (69gr)- $30.99/20

Grizzlypeg said:
I vote 308. I think that unless you are talking about match grade ammo, there is a discrepency between the standards to which plain vanilla 223 and 308 hunting ammo are produced. If you are talking match grade ammo, which I don't think the question was about, then 223 really closes the gap. I think there is vast willingness to accept mediocre quality control 223 ammo for some reason.
Click to expand...

Since the OP put this in the Precision Forum, I would have to assume that they are not asking about Hunting rounds, had that been the case then this would have been better off being posted in the hunting section.
 
I am not sure if this a fair question but it is a fun one. I see that a lot of people comment on how the 308 would handle the wind so much better. I was just playing with some Sierra software and really the 223 and the 308 move almost the same at 350 yards in 10 mph cross wind. I was a little surprised my self at how much the same they are. Not of the shelf but just for example the soft ware shows a 155 plama 308 with muzzle velocity of 2900 fps to drift 5.1" and a 223 69 gr with muzzle velocity of 3000 fps to drift 5.2". I think in a shoot off between the two the cartridge would never be the deciding factor.
I have been to a few F/class shoots and the 223's and even the odd deuce do very well out to 600 yards.I plan on shooting a savage 223 this year out to 600 yards and my 6.5 past that.
I don't think you will get a definitive answer on this one, lots of opinions but not sure this one will ever be settled .
 
I have shot thousands of rounds of both in competition and have run controlled tests out to 1000 yards.

The wind drift of a 308 shooting 155, 175 and 190 is about the same.

I have found the accuracy of a 223 shooting a 80gr Sierra to be about the same as a 308 shooting a SIerra 155. The grouping ability is about the same and the wind drift is about the same (slight advantage off 223 was noted at 1000 yards).

The 308's had a Obermyer match chamber (short throat perfect for the 155) and the 223 had a Wylde throat (longer toa ccomodate a 80 gr bullet seated well out.

Velocity of both was in the 2975 fps range out of 30" barrels.

If memory serves, the 308 ammo grouped around 2" hi by about 3" wide at 500 yards.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
What weighs more ?A ton of bricks or a ton of feathers?
Click to expand...

Good point...which would make a better hole in the target...not a bigger hole/

I have been considering getting into long range rifle shooting, within the confines of our local range (300 yards). I know the 223 does wonders, though I feel the 308 would be a solid choice given the variety of bullets available.
 
NORTH OF 53 said:
I am not sure if this a fair question but it is a fun one. I see that a lot of people comment on how the 308 would handle the wind so much better. I was just playing with some Sierra software and really the 223 and the 308 move almost the same at 350 yards in 10 mph cross wind. I was a little surprised my self at how much the same they are. Not of the shelf but just for example the soft ware shows a 155 plama 308 with muzzle velocity of 2900 fps to drift 5.1" and a 223 69 gr with muzzle velocity of 3000 fps to drift 5.2". I think in a shoot off between the two the cartridge would never be the deciding factor.
I have been to a few F/class shoots and the 223's and even the odd deuce do very well out to 600 yards.I plan on shooting a savage 223 this year out to 600 yards and my 6.5 past that.
I don't think you will get a definitive answer on this one, lots of opinions but not sure this one will ever be settled .
Click to expand...
Sorry, some one should have called bull sh&* on these numbers. I am still trying to figure out what went wrong with the program or what input was of. The 223 and 308 are close in wind drift at 350 yards but not that close. It's more like 8" vs 12 " with a 10 mph cross wind.
 
The 308 with 205gr bullets are 1" better than a 223 with 90gr at 2850 in a 10mph cross wind and the 223 is better than anything below 205gr .308win.
problem will be getting the 205 to 2700fps and after a days shooting Fclass 60 + sighters
The guy shooting the .308 could be some sore, big recoil with 205gr bullets laying prone shooting
 
No difference. After 250m it is all a wind game and those most adept at reading the wind will win out regardless of calibre.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom