.223 versus .308

B

ballistic gelatin

New member
Tell me which one to buy for the best all around cartridge. Hunting, Defense, or Combat. And which style is the most "adaptable" to a changing environment. Such as plastic and polymer or wood and steel. Volume of ammo you can practically carry or how much is needed per target engaged.
 
My personal opinion is that the issue of combat is highly unlikely. Folks have been predicting the fall of civilization for most of my not-so-short life, and it ain't happened yet. It is wise to prepare for self-defense against the typical one to three or so Bad Guys, but you need to think out your own scenarios. None of us can be of much help until you've thought it through about your own probabilities.

Hunting and target shooting are your most probable uses. If you are talking deer and feral hogs, the .308 is superior. For varmints and target use, the .223 is better.

The plastic/polymer/wood/steel is moot for either cartridge. I'm a traditionalist, and prefer wood and blued steel, but it doesn't really matter as to effectiveness. And .223 ammo is, what, about half or less of the weight of .308?

For starters,

Art
 
I'm no expert... in anything. But I've thought long and hard about this issue too. IMHO the answer is: buy both. I recently purchased an M1A, was at the range yesterday with quite a few .223 shooters. After I got done with one 20-rd. mag, with my muffs still on, I saw a group of three .223 shooters eyeing me. One said to the other two, "That's the bad boy. You don't have to be too accurate with that for deer." I took that to mean they liked the powerful .308 cartridge. But the .223 has its place in "combat" (as Marines and Army in Afghanistan will testify) and in "defense," though I'm not sure how that differs from combat. If you mean home defense, buy a 20-gauge shotgun. The .223 is easier to shoot in rapid fire than the M1A, and can be more accurate out to 200 yards or so (here come the flames! :) ) but the .308 has that "reach out an touch someone behind hard cover" quality. Again, buy both. That's my plan. And what's between a .223 and a .308 in an autoloader? How about 7.62x39, such as an AK? That's what I would buy next if I wasn't prohibited from doing so in my state (even clones!)
 
Last edited:
kinda like Fast, Cheap or Good
pick any 2

many locales don't allow 223 for deer hunting
(yet it seems to work on man sized men)

if you are debating a social rifle
get an AR & plan for a FAL

shooting AR is a hoot
FALs have a wide support network
 
Ok - I'll jump in with a solid one-sided vote.;)

223.

It's over 22cal, so a lot of states will, indeed allow it for big game. Be careful, though - make sure to check your local laws. Call your game warden.

Recoil is almost a non-issue with the 223/5.56, so follow-up shots can be had quicker, with or without a nice muzzlebrake.

Carrying large amounts of ammo - that's obvious. You can certainly carry more 223 than 308 when it comes down to it.

Defense/combat? Well, highly unlikely, but like I always say, anything that spews lead at hundreds of feet per second is good for defense or combat. 223/5.56 is used side-by-side with 308 in Long-Range Highpower Rifle competitions. Any farther than 1000 yds in combat, and I'd say you're probably being a little more agressive than defensive. Laying low is the best survival tactic at long distances.

I like 308, but I find myself grabbin my AR more times than not.
 
Over a .22 cal ? It IS a .22 cal. Same bore as most .22 rimfires. Has more energy than .22 long rifle but still a .22.

Sam
 
I don't want to beat this subject to death, but the drawback to the use of ANY hot-shot .22 for deer hunting is the absolute requirement for a high level of skill to avoid crippling a deer and losing it.

Yes, the .223 will kill deer. However, a gut shot or a leg hit may well not anchor the animal long enough for a second, killing shot.

Ethics. Always think ethics while hunting. It's a respect thing.

I don't care about clean kills on bad guys. If a BG offers gratuitous deadly threat, I really won't play Clinton and feel his pain. I just want the deadly threat ended.

Art
 
Man, this topic is really beat to death here, lately. :D

Both cartridges can be used effectivly in the right hands, but you say Hunting, Defense, or Combat, which may have different requirements, depending on the particulars...If hunting, I'd want the .308, if defense, I'd want a .308 backed up by some .223's AND .308's, If combat still the .308, still backed up by .223's!

Solution? Buy them both, keep for yourself what you handle better, keep for an extra the other one.
 
If I had to choose one (and I don't, because I own guns chambered for both :D), I'd go with the .308 because it will comfortably handle substantially larger game than the .223 will.

And Art's right. One .308 cartridge weighs roughly what two .223 cartridges do.

Personally, give me a 168-gr. HPBT out of a good .308 bolt gun over just about anything else out there.
 
Location

You know what they say in the realestate business. Location is everything. Urban enviroment requires a different approach to defense than say where I live here in Alaska. Same for anyone in a rural setting. Primarily hunting. Either way buy 1000rds and cache them in a safe place. Then go back to enjoying life.

Marshall
 
And Art's right. One .308 cartridge weighs roughly what two .223 cartridges do.
Click to expand...

But a single 180 gr soft point will do a whole lot more damage on a bear or elk or deer than two 65 grain FMJ.

For urban combat it is best to have a good lawyer with a sharp pencil. :D
 
Well, I guess I'll add my 2 cents worth...
If you were limited to one, I'd go with .308. Like the rest of those who have posted on this thread have said, the .308 will do the job of the .223, but with more umph...I'm currently waiting on my next .308 as I've grown tired of having only the .223 in the locker.

When you compare both, I think the jury will tip towards the .308. As for those who keep talking about "urban combat" and what not, I'd only add a couple of thoughts, I remember when hurricane Andrew came blowing through Florida...I also remember watching the LA riots on TV...Suddenly, the "urban combat" idea doesn't sound so Walter Mitty...As they say, when 911 doesn't work, it's mighty comforting to have the ole .308 by your side. traintrackker
 
They are completely different cartridges. IMO the .223 is for plinking and target shooting, not any kind of a defense or combat round whatsoever. Now the .308 on the other hand, has many more uses...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top