rifle calibers for me

[timbo]

I'm considering picking up a rifle for target shooting, but I'm not super familiar with accuracies of the different ammo and the comparison of how expensive the stuff is to shoot. This won't be my only rifle and I'm not planning on hunting with it. I'd like to use it on targets 200-400 yards off but still be able to buy a ton of ammo for. My first thought is .223, but I'll consider others as well. Am I reading too much into this? My second thought is that I need to put more thought into the rifle and just shoot what's cheap. The rifle I'd get will likely end up being a bolt-action.

I'm also not new to guns, just rifles. I have my own share of experience with pistols.

 

[Ringer]

Ever looked at Chuck Hawks Information Pages ? Might be a good place to start.

 

[Legionnaire]

.223 is a good round, although more susceptible to wind drift than larger calibers. Surplus ammo is cheap, though, and would likely be "minute of pie plate" accurate out to the ranges you are talking about. A lot of highpower shooters at my local range (300 meter max) shoot the .223 with much better accuracy.

My own preference for punching paper, though, is .308. More expensive than the .223 to be sure, but still available as surplus. I've shot 175gr match ammo out to 900+ yards with success. The .30 calibers (.308, .30-06, .300 win magnum) are all good rounds for long range.

However, I understand that the "rage" right now is longer bullets in the 6mm, .243, .260 range. I'm not as familiar with these calibers, but they are getting good press for accuracy at long ranges.

So, depends on what your application is. If I were going to compete, I think I'd prefer a .308. If I were just planning to punch paper and be "accurate enough," I'd give the nod to the .223. Give us more info on what you mean by "target shooting" and we can be more informative.

 

[dakotasin]

remington 700 vls chambered to 308 is exactly what you are looking for.

the 308 will also be easier to shoot longer range than the 223. the 223 will do it, for sure, just not as easy to get to do it as the 308. if the 308 doesn't excite you, look for a 7-08. all the benefits of the 308, plus the outstanding bc's available to the 7mm's.

 

[timbo]

Thanks for the help guys.

This choice is primarily intended for a recreational rifle to have fun practicing and shooting at medium to long ranges. I'm not intending to compete with it, I just want to choose a good round to shoot that will perform well at range but will also be cheap to shoot.

I really like the more powerful calibers a lot, but that's something I'll get to much further down the line. I'd love to own rifles that shoot into the magnum series of rifle rounds, including the .50 BMG... that is if I could still buy it here in CA. Like I said though, I will eventually own more than one rifle.

 

[Old Pa]

.223 Rem is a good cartridge, and if you don't have one now it's one you will want to get. Lots of cheap ammunition around, but accuracy will require money or reloading. I tend to favor the calibers that go on sale these days; .223Rem, .243Win, 7mmRem, .308Win, .30-06 (and, of course, .22LR). 12ga and 20ga work this way, too. That way (with the reloadable metallics) I can get a whole bunch of loaded Wichester ammo around hunting season for relatively cheap and have matched brass after practicing with the factory loading. There isn't much you can't do with theses calibers.

 

[CB900F]

Timbo;

Don't overlook the Swedish 6.5X55 Mauser. Plenty of guns available in a wide variety of price ranges. The 1994 Remington Classic is a very nice & highly accurate example. Also, the Swedish military surplus rifles are capable of surprising accuracy with open sights. They also have the armory bore condition disc on the stock. Plenty of places to get more info on that. Here on THR for one, just put the thread out. Winchester & Ruger have also made new productin rifles in the recent past. This round has a long & sucessful history as a match grade cartridge.

Ammo can be had as milsurp or American factory new, as you wish, also at just about any price point. If you reload, components are widely available. This would be an excellent cartridge to start reloading with if you don't do it now. Hint, try the VihtaVouri N160 powder first.

 

[duckfoot]

While the 308 is a bit better at long range stuff, but .223 is a good base for target shooting. A NEF Handi-Rifle heavy barrel in a .223 is a outstanding platform for this and alot of fun. True, you can't shoot as fast as some other actions but this only insures that you make every shot count. The lighter weight of the .223 bullet will make sure that you start learing how to read the wind at the longer ranges, and that is never a bad thing as far as I have seen. As most shooters just guess windage and then adjust after the first shot. If you don't reload then the .223 makes since due to the low cost of surplus, I've has lots of luck with Wolf .223 for ground hogs. Lots of opinions here and mine is just one, but I sure wished that I could have started out with something light instead of the 45-70 gov, but that is another story.

.02 to be taken with salt

duck

 

[Fatelvis]

Go with the 308.