.223 or .308

R

recon1

New member
I am going to be purchasing a new bolt action rifle soon. It will mainly be used for varmint hunting and whitetail once or twice a year. I would prefer a .223 but don't think it would be a good caliber for whitetail (ussually use .30-06).
Has any ever hunted whitetail with a .223. I really want a all around rifle that I can get comforatable with and use year round. Any input or citisism would be appreciated.
 
.223 may be a bit light

Hi Recon, I went deer hunting once with a .223, a Colt pre-ban AR years ago in Michigan. (semi and .223 legal) 55gr soft points. Scoped shot, the classic quartering away behind the shoulder... once, twice... no reaction. I watched the deer in the scope thinking I was the world's worst marksman. The spike moved into some brush and I started checking the scope and mount, sure it was loose again. My brother and I eventually found that deer several hundred yards away by complete accident walking out of the woods after having found no sign of the deer or blood or hair. Body fat had closed the small entrance holes completely and the internal damage was not as dramatic as I'd hoped it would be. No exit wound. The paced distance on my 2 shots was approximately 40 yards.

Moral of that story for me: .223 means close distances and head shots... (and to buy a good .308)

If you'd like a double duty varmint/deer rifle consider a .243. Packs a much greater punch than the .223 for deer yet isn't overkill on a groundhog or prairie dog. Recoil is no greater than the .223. Most makers offer the .243 in several different variations.

Darryl
 
Thanks for the feedback. I'm trying to stay with the .223 or the .308 simply because I found a excellant deal on a Remington 700 Tactical Light. I believe they only come in .223 or .308.
 
Not as cheap, but it will work.

I have a Rem 700 VS in .308 and I have used it for everything from deer to squirrels. The Hornady 110 gr. V-max will demolish any squirrel or jack rabbit (I don't shoot the jack rabbits anymore, it is a horrible sight. Blows them into two or three pieces). And then you can load 150 gr or 165 grain for hunting. I have even used this rifle for a 1000 yard match with great results! Only problem with using the .308 for varminting is it is going to cost a bit more for bullets and powder. However, this gun will work for anything you want to shoot, the .223 just isn't.

700camo1.jpg
Sorry about the blur in the middle. Stupid Walmart!
 
An LTR? Grab it...

Recon, I've got 2 LTR's in .308 and absolutely love them...one is setup for long range and the other is in more of and 'urban' dress. By all means get it in the .308, you won't be disappointed! The .223 for me became strictly a varmint cartridge after my hunting adventure. Add the scope of your choice and you're ready to go... try your hand at handloading too. The .308 responds well to 'tweaking' the load to the gun.

Darryl
 
Of course, you also hear anecdotes about the deer that walked away from a 7 mag.

Several of my friends hunt whitetails with .223's, with good success. Most are good enough to make head shots and rarely shoot beyond 100 yds. However, last year, a young friend of mine shot a buck at 150 yds with a 55gr. Ballistic Tip (that's a varmint bullet) and dropped the deer dead in its tracks. Fist-sized exit wound on other side of deer.

Shot placement's important. If you are going to be shooting more varmints than deer, go with the .223; much cheaper to reload; accurate out to 500 yds or so. You don't see too many folks shooting 30 calibers at crows and p.d.'s.

I also agree with the advice regarding the .243, but if you're deadset on the Light Tactical, then you'll have to live with either the .308 or .223, I suppose. I have a .243 VLS that's a tackdriver. I've clocked 55gr. bullets at 4200 fps. Mine prefers 75gr. Sierras.
 
There are states that the 223 isn't legal for deer.Its a varmet round good coyotes and such.Shot placement is fine and you can take a deer with a .22 long rifle but would you hunt with one?Get the .308 and leave the varment hunters have the 223.
 
The .243 is made for this situation. 55-75 grainers for the varmints and 95-100s for the whitetails. For a light, easy to carry rifle, you can't beat a Remington Model 7. Even though it's a light wand of a rifle, a little accuracy work (better trigger, action truing, bedding) will go a long way. Put a nice 2.5x-8x scope on top and you are done.

The .223 is a favorite cartridge of mine but it's forbidden for deer hunting in my part of the world.
 
Go with the .308 LTR

Since you are going to get a deal on either a .223 or a .308 LTR, just go with the .308. You will not be sorry.
 
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