223 Tactical Bolt Action, Practical Uses?

[Olympus]

Just curious what the real world practical application is for a tactical rifle chambered in 223, like say the Remington SPS Tactical. It seems a lot of brands are selling a tactical style rifle and offering two chamberings, 223 and 308. I understand the 308 chambering, just never knew why the 223 chambering was the only other option.

 

[P.B.Walsh]

1. Trainer for your more expensive shooting 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, or .30 cal rifle.

2. Low recoil for introducing new shooters to the precision rifle.

3. Cheaper to shoot.

4. More challenging to shoot in windy conditions.

5. Good "starter" chambering as summarizing points 2 - 4.

6. Cheaper bulk ammunition for positional practice.

7. If you only have a short range availible to shoot at, there is no reason to shoot paper wil a larger cartridge.

8. Ammo commonality with your AR or other 5.56 NATO / .223 defensive carbine.

9. Wide variety of reloads availible.

10. Sometimes you just want to have fun and not worry about recoil or extra blast.

Personally, I do not have one. However, I'd like to build my kid one when I have one to shoot with dad.

 

[adcoch1]

It's because 223 is the other "operator" caliber. It's also really accurate, and the wannabe "tactical" guys like the familiar, and marketing is targeting that. Doesn't mean any of the firearms are bad, or good, just that "tactical" is a marketing tool nowadays. Plus tactical stuff requires accessories, and that's where the money is...

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[rbernie]

Just curious what the real world practical application is for a tactical rifle chambered in 223, like say the Remington SPS Tactical

It's the most practical way to teach my children how to shoot a rifle.

Also - if they needed to use the rifle for varmintin' (two legged or four), it's not as if the chambering can't get the job done.

 

[Olympus]

I see. How come other calibers are not being added to these "tactical" model? 6mm has always been a big success with competition shooters for its accuracy and the 6.5 models are quickly gaining ground.

Is it simply because the 223 and 308 are the "comfortable" choices because they are just so readily available?

 

[tarosean]

8. Ammo commonality with your AR or other 5.56 NATO / .223 defensive carbine.

Pretty much the only reason I have thought about one.

Marketing also gets a plus one.. Take a varmit rifle chop the barrel, color it blk/fde/odg , rename and make $.

 

[Jackal]

Coyotes, varmints and fun.

 

[M1key]

Neighborhood Watch.

BTW, 223 probably outsells the "other" calibers, what, 100 to 1?

M

 

[X-Rap]

Prior to 2000 they were called varmint rifles. A good 223 bolt action will shoot very well out past 600 yds for a fraction of larger calibers.

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[tarosean]

BTW, 223 probably outsells the "other" calibers, what, 100 to 1?

You would be incorrect.. While it's definitely in the top five, I doubt it's toppled 30-06 or 308 yet. Course it's a hard thing to prove since published data isn't exactly easy to come by.. Usually magazines, websites, etc. extrapolate data from reloading components, dies. To get a "list".

I would say those are your top 3 calibers no matter where you look though..

 

[Baldman]

Not sure I'd call my 223 tactical but I picked up that caliber so I could use the same ammo as my AR. It saves me money 2 ways, the ammo is not that expensive and I go through it a lot slower than I do when I shoot my AR. Mine was purchased just to punch holes in paper, if I enjoy shooting it and I want to move up then I'll get something in 308.

 

[M1key]

You would be incorrect.

How many ARs are sold yearly? How many people buy case over case of ammo? How many hundreds of those rounds are shot through those ARs every weekend by men, women, and children?

Try that with your ______.


M

 

[tarosean]

How many ARs are sold yearly? And how many people buy case over case of ammo?

Lots, now compare to 15 million hunters in the US..

 

[M1key]

Do those hunters typically buy 1000s of rounds for their rifles? I seriously doubt it. I suspect they do a lot more handloading.

How many of those "boutique" AR calibers were even around 40 years ago? They got a lot of catching up to do...



M

 

[Jackal]

Most hunters I've ever known have about 4-5 boxes of ammo for their rifles. Most AR owner I've known have 1,000-10,000rds on hand.

 

[tarosean]

Do those hunters typically buy 1000s of rounds for their rifles? I seriously doubt it.

Nor does your average AR owner.


PS. None of us forum members likely count as "average" owners...

 

[M1key]

Wanna bet?

I'd say there is more 223 "hoarded" in this country than any other caliber. For years. Go argue your point on any of the AR/Survival forums...


M

 

[tarosean]

Bet on what? it's impossible to prove either way.

BATF doesn't separate out AR's from Long Guns and Ammo companies don't publish their figures.

 

[jmr40]

You would be incorrect.. While it's definitely in the top five, I doubt it's toppled 30-06 or 308 yet.

223/5.56 combined outsell 308 by more than 3:1. 30-06 isn't on the list.

http://www.luckygunner.com/labs/2013-ammo-stats/

 

[AABEN]

You would be incorrect.. While it's definitely in the top five, I doubt it's toppled 30-06 or 308 yet. Course it's a hard thing to prove since published data isn't exactly easy to come by.. Usually magazines, websites, etc. extrapolate data from reloading components, dies. To get a "list".

I would say those are your top 3 calibers no matter where you look though..

I would say that the 223 is the top sale gun. Be-caws it is cheaper to shoot ammo cost is a lot less and a wide range of guns to pick from and there are a very accurate gun out to around 500 yards and is a very good varmint gun.

 

[tarosean]

223/5.56 combined outsell 308 by more than 3:1. 30-06 isn't on the list.

here is a list from Federal Ammo dated 2011
http://www.chuckhawks.com/federal_rifle_cartridge_2011_sales.htm


.223 Remington
.243 Winchester
.30-06 Springfield
.308 Winchester
.270 Winchester
.30-30 Winchester
7mm Remington Magnum
.22-250 Remington
.300 Winchester Magnum
.25-06 Remington


We can keep finding tidbits of info.. Nothing will ever be conclusive though.

 

[colonelhogan44]

When I used to go to popular shooting spots in the mountains 10 years ago, I'd find 22lr, 9mm, 8mm mauser (oh for the glory days of $0.04 8mm surplus...) and 30-06 mostly.

Now I find mostly 223, 7.62x39, 9mm and 40SW, with much of it steel cased. Everyone I know who has an AR runs 500 rounds through it at any given opportunity. They are not on any of these forums either.

Anecdotal and YMMV.

 

[Ibmikey]

First i have AR's in .223 (using the cal for both .223 and 5.56) and .308.....I also have ammo for each, normally 12,000 + for .223 and 1500 for the .308. More ammo for the rifles i like to shoot best. I also have a Ruger Scout in .223 that was purchased specifically for Texas hogs and general plinking and it is paired with my hunting friend with his Scout in .308.
I like the .223 cartridge and reload for it extensively, since visiting my friend in Texas for the past two months i have gone through about 1500 rounds of .223 mostly in plinking but some of the 40 hogs i have taken fell to the .223 cartridge.
So i have great fun with the caliber in both AR's and bolt action rifles as well.