.223 rem vs. .218 Bee out of a short barrel - muzzle blast question

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

This is technically a handgun question, but it fits better in Rifles and Handguns actually:

I have a T/C Contender with .218 Bee barrel, 10". Have dies and brass and everything.

I'm thinking of changing and going to the .223 rem, 10" instead for the same purpose.

But the reason I got the 218 Bee in the first place instead of the .223 rem is because I thought muzzle blast and recoil would be pretty horrid from a .223 with a 10". The blast is quite mild from the .218 Bee, so I'm currently satisfied. BUT, I'd like to simplify my calibers/dies/life *IF* and only if the .223 rem blast/recoil is not going to be appreciably more than the .218 bee from this short barrel. I'm fairly convinced that the recoil/blast would NOT be too terribly much more from a 14" barrel. BUT, that's beside the point, as I must use an 8 or 10" for my purpose, of having a light handy sidearm for use on feral dogs & coyotes out to 75 yards, when I'm bird hunting with a shotgun.

So whaddya think, stick with Bee or simplify and go with .223? I'm really on the fence. I have dies for both. Anything else to consider besides blast/recoil. Ballistics are irrelevant - either one of these will do the job well enough with chosen 40 gr softpoints or larger.

 

[maskedman504]

The PLR-16 is a 9.2 inch barrel and the blast is quite bad (awesome) without a compensator.

I love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ql-SAv3PDk&feature=related

 

[Floppy_D]

Do you wear ear-pro when hunting? I don't; having fired quite a bit of 223 from an SBR, I'd want the 218 bee, especially if it's doing the job.

I think 218 Bee is a really cool round, I'd be tempted to stay.

 

[NCsmitty]

Dr. Tad, IMO, you can get good performance from the 218 Bee with a little hot rodding.

Do you know what twist the barrel has? It will either be 1in14 or 1in12, I believe. It might make a difference if you convert.

Here's an interesting dissertation on rechambering TC barrels.

http://www.lasc.us/BellmTCfactoryBarrels.htm


NCsmitty

 

[natman]

Since the 223 is loaded to higher pressure and has a larger case, I strongly suspect that the 223 would have an appreciably louder report from a 9" barrel.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Thanks; that's what I thought; I'm sticking with the .218 Bee! Most of the time I wear hearing protection when hunting; sometimes I forget though.

 

[RonE]

I must use an 8 or 10" for my purpose, of having a light handy sidearm for use on feral dogs & coyotes out to 75 yards, when I'm bird hunting with a shotgun.

So whaddya think, stick with Bee or simplify and go with .223? I'm really on the fence. I have dies for both. Anything else to consider besides blast/recoil. Ballistics are irrelevant - either one of these will do the job well enough with chosen 40 gr softpoints or larger.

I say stick to the .218 Bee but even if you do go to the .223 if the pistol is for feral dogs and cayotes out to 75 yards, you are probably only going to have one shot at the most on any given day and perhaps only two or three shots a year so, what difference does a little noise make? You won't feel the recoil if you are shooting at an animal rather than a target.

When I am bird hunting, the last thing in the world that I want to lug around with me is a pistol or any other kind of gun.

 

[rangerruck]

I to, have the kel tec plr, and not only is the muzzle blast like a m38 nagant, but it is severly loud; I have had peeps that were next to me at the range, say it sounds nothing like a 223 ar, or any other 223 rifle.
and mine has a Vortex flash supressor...

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

you are probably only going to have one shot at the most on any given day and perhaps only two or three shots a year so, what difference does a little noise make? You won't feel the recoil if you are shooting at an animal rather than a target.

I know what you're saying, but I'm going to (of course) practice with this bad boy too, to sight in and be proficient, so it does matter.

When I am bird hunting, the last thing in the world that I want to lug around with me is a pistol or any other kind of gun.

I used to feel that way too, before the wild dogs started decimating my turkey & rabbit population

 

[claiborne]

ME too.

I carry a S&W 66 when bird hunting for the same reasons.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Yep, that was my second choice, a Dan Wesson 6" .357 mag, but wanted a little more range and speedy bullet, so I have a chest/shoulder holster for the T/C Icon with 4x pistol scope & 10" bbl.

 

[briansmithwins]

Sounds like .223 Rem and a suppressor would be the best solution.

A good can will take the blast down to around .22 levels. BSW