Target Round

[WoodchuckAssassin]

Best caliber for Target shooting out to 300 yards, but mostly between 150-200 yards? I’ve been reading a lot about the .223 vs. the 22-250, but I really like the slightly larger bullet on a .243 just in case I see something I’d like to dispatch (or even better, a .250 savage…if I could find a rifle that will chamber it!). My dad’s shot a 22-250 for years, but its bark is enough to wake the dead! Would the sound of a .243 compare to a 22-250?

I’m not wanting a 1000 yard round, just one that will give me a nice flat trajectory – something I can sight in at 150 and shoot out to 300 without doing too much math. I know the rifle you’re using is a huge factor, but assuming your gun is true, what’s the right caliber for you?

 

[CountryUgly]

.204 ....nuff said

 

[rcmodel]

A .243 uses a similiar or slightly larger powder charge then a 22-250.
So it will be about as loud.

Sounds to me like a .223 is what you need.
It is loud too, but not nearly as loud as a 22-250 or .243.

If you sight in a .223 at 200 yards, you will be about 1" high at 100, and 7" low at 300.
No math needed.

Good ammo is available everywhere at pretty atttractive prices compared to most other calibers.

rc

 

[Abel]

243 will be just as loud.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

Id vote 223 based on your requirements. Its the cheapest of your options per round and is plenty of speed, power and accuracy for 300 yard shooting. If deer hunting is a possibility and you plan to use the same gun, then Id vote 243. For a range toy, 223 is hard to beat.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

Nothing will really beat the .22-250. The .223 lags behind it in most important aspects, such as power and trajectory, though, it will cost a whole lot less. The .243 will give a lot more power in a similar trajectory, but will be louder. The 6mm Rem would be a good choice, except that it isn't as practical as far as cost and availability.

 

[TonyAngel]

If you just have to have a rifle that can double as a hunting rifle, the .243 may be what you'll want. It's pretty fast and has a pretty flat trajectory. On the other hand, you could also consider a .308.

When I think of a target rifle, especially if it's going to be the only one that I have, I envision a rifle that's going to be shot, a LOT. For distances out to 300 yards, a .223 would be perfect. Brass is cheap, powder charges are relatively small and bullets are relatively cheap for match grade.

Another thing that you have to consider is that with rounds like the .243 and .22-250, the barrel life is also going to be a concern. I know that I've seen .243s start to lose their accuracy after as few as 800 rounds, although 1500 is more the norm. With a .223, you'll likely get more like 8000 to 10,000 rounds out of the barrel. I know that hunting rifles won't see nearly that many rounds put through them; but it doesn't take long to put 1500 rounds through a target rifle.

Of course, my accuracy expectations may be more demanding than yours, but even at 3000 rounds, that isn't much of a barrel life. I know a guy that just loves the .243 and uses his rifle for nothing but shooting p-dogs and he has his rifle re-barrelled every year.

Don't get me wrong, I really like the .243. It is most of what everyone says it is. It just wouldn't be my first choice for a target round, considering a re-barrel costs me something around $500.

 

[jeepmor]

220 swift. Flat and fast. But again, it costs something and if you don't reload, it'll cost even more, like usual.

I think the 223 is fine for what you want if budget is the key and you're not a reloader or wanting to shoot A LOT.

Hope this helps, the choice is yours.

 

[rcmodel]

His question was about a 22-250 being too loud, and would a .243 be less loud.

A .220 swift vis a 22-250 and which one is louder?

Come on!!

rc

 

[StrawHat]

I used to use a 222 Magnum for groundhogs and such. Also for informal targets. The closest commonly found round to that would be the 223. If you want factory, the 223 or 243 would satisfy your needs.

If uncommon suits you, the 6x45, or 223 necked to 243 is a fine cartridge and has won a few matches.

What kind of target shooting are you attempting? Bench rest, long range, pop cans? It makes a difference. Heck some guys use the 22 LR for 220 yards targets.

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

I plan on target shooting whatever objects I can find around the house: paper plates, tin cans, clay pigeons, ex-girlfriends, beer bottles – I guess some of those make better targets than others. Haha. Most importantly, I’d like something I could shoot for a good couple of hours without killing my ears or shoulder (the latter of which I’m not concerned about with any of these cartridges). I already have, like any red blooded American, several 22’s, but I’ve never owned a high powered rifle.

It would also be a woodchuck/squirrel/crow gun if the opportunity rises, but mostly I’ll be using it to drive-tacks across a field with my old man. I like the idea of the necked down .222 magnum (aka, the .204), but is it just a fad? Do you see any other company besides Hornady making them? I want a gun I can still find ammo for in 15 years.

 

[loose noose]

Woodchuck, No matter what you decide to buy, make sure you use ear protection or else you'll wind up like me and be saying, "huh?" all the time.

 

[wingman]

223 and 204 either will do what you wish.

 

[dubbleA]

Would reccomend a suppressed AR 15 varminter/ target model in .223. My Sabre Defence is as accurate as any factory rifle, yes even Savage bolt guns and sounds like a 22 rim fire when suppressed. Cheap to run, easy on the shooter and barrels, ammo is plentiful anywhere. Plenty for what you described.

 

[Jeff H]

It would also be a woodchuck/squirrel/crow gun if the opportunity rises, but mostly I’ll be using it to drive-tacks across a field with my old man.

I can't see why there would be any cartridge better suited to what you want to do than a 223. For the cost, you can't beat it with any of the other choices in this thread and out of your list of requirements, there is nothing the 223 can't do.

 

[TonyAngel]

Just as a point of reference, I shoot a .22 out to 200 yards without much problem. Hitting paper plates, clay pigeons and soda cans is pretty easy. A .223 will do what you're asking for without breaking a sweat.

 

[Tim the student]

I'd go .223.

ex-girlfriends

Low road.

 

[BCRider]

There's a bucket load of cartridges that will do what you want. Hell, I'm doing exactly this with my recently bought and set up old Remington rolling block rifle set up with a new barrel for shooting the old classic .38-55 round. Oh sure, I had to sight in and write down the setting for the vernier ladder peep sight. But it's a matter of a couple of seconds to change the sight elevation.

It would be better if you suggested to us what manner of rifle you would like to buy and what sort of sighting system you prefer.

Obviously some cartridges are better for lower recoil than others. One which is quite nice is the 7mm-08. The lighter bullets compared to the parent .308 sizzle along with a healthy gain in speed and the light weight of the bullet reduces the kick to the shoulder. But it's not so fast a bullet that you'll shoot out the barrel in only a couple of thousand rounds either.

You say you want to avoid the "math". But whatever you choose will require a few clicks one way or the other of the sighting system as you move back and forth between target distances. Once you zero the scope or sights in for a middle sort of range simply test and record until you learn how many clicks or divisions to go each way from the 200 yard zero to zero for 250, 300, 400, 500, 150, 100 and 75. Write this down on some little card glued or otherwise attached to the stock or sight itself.

 

[Robert101]

I suggest the 308. I think the .223 rounds are fine but I'm partial to the 30 cal. If you want to expand the range or hunt, the 30 cal will be happy to comply.

 

[JRI]

222 Remington,257 Roberts,7x57 Mauser

 

[unwise11]

.223 is your answer...

OR...

.300 AAC!! Get it chambered in a Remington 700 and you're having fun.

 

[browningguy]

If you are looking for accuracy then something like the 6BR is the ticket for out to 300 yards. Go have a read at http://www.accurateshooter.com/ , they have sections on most all of the target shooting cartridges as well as loads, and reviews of rifles, scopes etc.

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

Browningguy, thanks for the website - lots of good information. If I wanted to, could I shoot the .243 Ackley Improved in a rifle chambered for the original .243? Just curious.

I'm still looking for the right rifle to add to my ranks, but I'm leaning towards a Savage 10. They have a used on at the local shop for $450 w/scope. There's no magazine on the model I looked at, but man oh man did that trigger feel sweet. I forget what it was chambered for.

I'm liking the 223 more and more. I did some price checking at Walmart yesterday, and a 20 round box of 223 was $5.50 (Tula-ammo), and a box of 243/308/22-250 was $20. Wow! I didn't know it was THAT big of a difference. Sounds like 4X the fun to me!

 

[StrawHat]

Browningguy, thanks for the website - lots of good information. If I wanted to, could I shoot the .243 Ackley Improved in a rifle chambered for the original .243? Just curious.

I'm still looking for the right rifle to add to my ranks, but I'm leaning towards a Savage 10. They have a used on at the local shop for $450 w/scope. There's no magazine on the model I looked at, but man oh man did that trigger feel sweet. I forget what it was chambered for.

I'm liking the 223 more and more. I did some price checking at Walmart yesterday, and a 20 round box of 223 was $5.50 (Tula-ammo), and a box of 243/308/22-250 was $20. Wow! I didn't know it was THAT big of a difference. Sounds like 4X the fun to me!

No, the 243 Ackley can not be fired in a standard 243 chamber.

Savage makes a very good rifle.

As for the ammo, you get what you pay for. If you want consistantly accurate ammunition, load your own. If you are happy with just hearing your rifle go bang, buy the bargain stuff.