.223

[Skeenabilly]

As I continue on this thread, owners of the .223 calibre, your likes and dislikes please. Potential coyote calibre.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Skeenabilly

As I continue on this thread, owners of the .223 calibre, your likes and dislikes please. Potential coyote calibre.

Likes, everything , dislikes?
Not a one!
it's about perfect for an all around varmint rifle within 300 yards.
Beavers are no problem with mild hand loads, and gophers are always fun!
it's cheap to shoot, and there are a wide variety of .223 bullets and factory ammo available.
It's not nearly so powerful to be overly noisy, is easy on barrels, and most of the factory guns the .223 comes in are very accurate.

No, it's not a 22/250, but then a 22/250 is bigger, louder , way more powerful if a guy wants to worry about pelt damage, and is a lot more expensive to shoot in factory configuration.
I have one, and several .223's, and the 22/250 sits in the rack most days.....
Cat

[cougar chaser]

no complaints about the 223,, great for all around varmint shooting,, fast and flat within range,, less kick than two fifty so u can watch your target better

[MadMarty911]

+1 on it being a great round for coyotes/gophers. I had a 22-250 but I sold it to buy a .223. The reloading is way cheaper (for me and my swager )

[ShawnM]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

and is a lot more expensive to shoot in factory configuration.
I have one, and several .223's, and the 22/250 sits in the rack most days.....
Cat

The .22-250 is not more expensive to shoot. When was the last time you bought factory ammo for it? The cost for .223 and .22-250 are almost identical if you're comparing the same brand, product,etc.

HOWEVER: you CAN buy cheap Chinese made .223 by the case lot which would make it cheaper because you can't usually get Chinese made .22-250.

[ShawnM]

I also happen to think that the .223 is one of the greatest calibers ever released. The barrels last forever, stay cool, TONS of rifles to choose from, shoots flat, hits hard, sounds like a pop-gun, etc.

I chose .22-250 but a .223 would be an epic coyote gun. I say go for it.

[elkhunter11]

The .22-250 is not more expensive to shoot. When was the last time you bought factory ammo for it? The cost for .223 and .22-250 are almost identical if you're comparing the same brand, product,etc.

HOWEVER: you CAN buy cheap Chinese made .223 by the case lot which would make it cheaper because you can't usually get Chinese made .22-250.

Wholesale sports lists 223 American Eagle loads at $8.49 per 20 rounds, and 223 Remington loads at $9.99 per 20 rounds. I have yet to see 22-250 factory loads selling for those prices.

[MadMarty911]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Wholesale sports lists 223 American Eagle loads at $8.49 per 20 rounds, and 223 Remington loads at $9.99 per 20 rounds. I have yet to see 22-250 factory loads selling for those prices.

+1
If they do sell for those prices, please let me know where!

[mischief]

Originally Posted by MadMarty911

+1
If they do sell for those prices, please let me know where!

+2
I would love to get 22-250 rounds that cheap, I do not reload yet, because right now my rifle likes the Hornady the best and I am paying about $1.25 a shot. So it is sitting in the safe on most range days as it is just not worth it to shoot paper.

[ShawnM]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Wholesale sports lists 223 American Eagle loads at $8.49 per 20 rounds, and 223 Remington loads at $9.99 per 20 rounds. I have yet to see 22-250 factory loads selling for those prices.

Again, comparing apples to apples I found Hornady superformance ammo on Wholesale's website. The price difference was $3.00... Given the performance difference between the two cartridges and the fact that every manufacturer is tooled up for .223 because of its use as a NATO cartridge it's pretty close in price. At Basspro I've seen that difference in price as close as $1.00...

EDIT: Actually on CORE LOKT CENTERFIRE RIFLE CARTRIDGES
Remington on WSS website the price difference is $2.00

[elkhunter11]

Again, comparing apples to apples I found Hornady superformance ammo on Wholesale's website. The price difference was $3.00... Given the performance difference between the two cartridges and the fact that every manufacturer is tooled up for .223 because of its use as a NATO cartridge it's pretty close in price. At Basspro I've seen that difference in price as close as $1.00...

EDIT: Actually on CORE LOKT CENTERFIRE RIFLE CARTRIDGES
Remington on WSS website the price difference is $2.00

That doesn't change tha fact that you can walk into Wholesale Sports or similar stores, and walk out with a 20 round box of 223rem factory loads for under $10, and you can't do the same for the 22-250. After all,the people that purchase a 223rem in order to save money on factory loads, usually do most of their shooting with the lower priced loads.

The same is true when some people choose the 270win or 30-06 as a hunting cartridge, because of the price of factory loads. Sure the price is similar if you purchase premium 270win loads, 30-06 loads or 25-06 loads, or 280rem loads, but that doesn't change the fact that you can purchase the lowest priced 270win loads, or 30-06 loads for significantly less money than the lowest price 25-06, or 280rem loads will cost you.

[ShawnM]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

That doesn't change tha fact that you can walk into Wholesale Sports or similar stores, and walk out with a 20 round box of 223rem factory loads for under $10, and you can't do the same for the 22-250. After all,the people that purchase a 223rem in order to save money on factory loads, usually do most of their shooting with the lower priced loads.

The same is true when some people choose the 270win or 30-06 as a hunting cartridge, because of the price of factory loads. Sure the price is similar if you purchase premium 270win loads, 30-06 loads or 25-06 loads, or 280rem loads, but that doesn't change the fact that you can purchase the lowest priced 270win loads, or 30-06 loads for significantly less money than the lowest price 25-06, or 280rem loads will cost you.

Fair enough, if you buy crappy ammo then yes you can get it for much cheaper. Again, it's because every manufacturer in the world is tooled up for .223... I wouldn't shoot it myself but I know there are people that just want it to go bang.

All I wanted to point out was that comparing exactly the same products there was a neglegible price difference.

If you want to save even more money then reload your own. That puts the cost of .223 vs. .22-250 on more even ground.

[bigshell]

.223 is an awesome cartridge,easy to reload for (if yer into that) very accurate too.

[Metalmike123]

I own two .223 rifles, I love the cartridge. Long brass life, cheap components, effective range of 300 yards on coyotes, mild recoil, easy on barrels, and extremely accurate. It's just such a fun cartridge for me.

[Kurt505]

If your in the market for one, wholesale sports in north Edmonton has all their rifles and shotguns on sale for 10% off this week, I just picked up a stainless mini 14 to strap to the rack of the quad. Such a good deal I couldn't pass it up, I love the 223 semi's for plinking. Wish a guy could get 30rd clips here in Canada tho.

[TOG]

I reload my.223 with the heavier bullets and it works very well on yotes well past the 300yr mark. Love the round and the gun.

[vtecngsr]

I just picked up a Savage Model 25 LV-T chambered in .223 from Cabela's was about $700, had it out last weekend what a blast, 6 shots to sight in at a 100 meters.

put a 4"x4" piece of paper with a single dot on it around the size of a bullet. my buddy took the first shot then I took a second shot at it, two shots, two separate shooters one oblong hole!

would highly recomend.

Great fun rifle, can’t wait to get out again this up coming weekend

Cheers

Vtecngsr

[88thunderbird]

From time to time Can tire on McCloud Tr has 1000 round american eagle 55 gr BT in an ammo can for $399 .

[Loki610]

Originally Posted by vtecngsr

I just picked up a Savage Model 25 LV-T chambered in .223 from Cabela's was about $700, had it out last weekend what a blast, 6 shots to sight in at a 100 meters.

put a 4"x4" piece of paper with a single dot on it around the size of a bullet. my buddy took the first shot then I took a second shot at it, two shots, two separate shooters one oblong hole!

would highly recomend.

Great fun rifle, can’t wait to get out again this up coming weekend

Cheers

Vtecngsr

I got the same gun this spring and I've been really happy with the results accuracy wise, except for the winchester 55 FMJ!

One thing no one has mentioned here is the ability to load cast bullets for cheap plinking rounds. Havent done it myself yet but I may look into it this winter. Velocity of course would have to be much lower!

[eric2381]

Myself I prefer the 22-250 for yotes. I've shot quite a few with the 223 and it kills them very well, I just like the speed the 22-250 gives me.

I've got 2 223 rem and a 223 AI and three 22-250s and a 243 win. I like all of em and the 243 with 58gr vmax really knocks the yotes dead. The 223 is a pile of fun for gophers and small game and coyotes. But I just like the 250 for the speed.

If you're going to use it only on yotes, I say get the 22-250. If you're going to use it for yotes and crows and gophers and other small game, get the 223. That's my opinion anyways.

[Loki610]

I finally got my first coyote with my .223 yesterday! Saw the mangy bugger sneaking into the yard from the east so I ran back to house, grabbed the rifle and set up at the barn with my bipod. Was just getting ready to take a 300 yard shot when it caught my scent and took off to the north. That was when I saw the closer one come out of my haystack and run off after th first. I tried something I read about on here and made a barking noise and the yote stopped dead and presented a shot just over 200 yards. 53 grain vmax and 24.5 of varget made a perfect shot right through the boiler behind the shoulders and out the other side! did the classic spin and dropped in its tracks.
I love this caliber!

[Redfrog]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

Likes, everything , dislikes?
Not a one!
it's about perfect for an all around varmint rifle within 300 yards.
Beavers are no problem with mild hand loads, and gophers are always fun!
it's cheap to shoot, and there are a wide variety of .223 bullets and factory ammo available.
It's not nearly so powerful to be overly noisy, is easy on barrels, and most of the factory guns the .223 comes in are very accurate.

No, it's not a 22/250, but then a 22/250 is bigger, louder , way more powerful if a guy wants to worry about pelt damage, and is a lot more expensive to shoot in factory configuration.
I have one, and several .223's, and the 22/250 sits in the rack most days.....
Cat

Exactly. Couldn't have said it better.

[rwm1273]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

Wholesale sports lists 223 American Eagle loads at $8.49 per 20 rounds, and 223 Remington loads at $9.99 per 20 rounds. I have yet to see 22-250 factory loads selling for those prices.

But those cheap rounds are FMJs.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by rwm1273

But those cheap rounds are FMJs.

Mnay7 hunters prefer FMJ ammo for pelt hunting, I personally don't use them however.
Cat

[elkhunter11]

But those cheap rounds are FMJs.

For shooting paper, or other targets, many people don't care, as long as they are cheap to buy.

[ishootbambi]

Originally Posted by ShawnM

Fair enough, if you buy crappy ammo then yes you can get it for much

If you want to save even more money then reload your own. That puts the cost of .223 vs. .22-250 on more even ground.

you're still wrong. 223 burns less powder period. factor in the barrel life and the 223 is even cheaper yet.