new bolt gun for wife

[joemusso]

i have been tossing between a Remington 700 .223 or .243

she will be shooting 100-500 yards nothing longer.

no hunting just paper or metal targets.

which would be the best for her?

could you give me pro and cons on both calibers.

thank you
joe

 

[Russ D]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

.243 will do better in the wind and is still a very mild shooter with cheap reloading components.

 

[roggom]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

223 a little cheaper to shoot, both in ready made ammo and range brass, less recoil. Get a 1:9 twist so you can throw some heavies.

243, can hunt larger game with it, more energy down range for varmints.

 

[Bayou1535]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

Do you mean 1:7 for the heavies?

 

[excess]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

Stopping at 500, get the 223. It will do everything she needs inside that distance.

 

[hyoslvr]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bayou1535</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you mean 1:7 for the heavies? </div></div>
Surely he does. 1:7 shoots 77 grains good.

 

[PSYOPS]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bayou1535</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Do you mean 1:7 for the heavies?</div></div>

Not for .223 bolt guns. According to the Sierra Reloading Manual, "With this cartridge, we recommend a 1x10" as a minimum for the 69 grain MatchKing, and a 1x8" for 77 or 80 grain MatchKings".

Barrel length: 24"

I think for gas guns, you'd be correct with a 1x7" twist.

 

[darkarcher]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

Paper only, .223 with 1:7 or 8. Much lighter recoil, cheaper ammo. I am trying to get my wife behind my 24" AR. If she likes it I will get her one.

 

[Mike_in_FL]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

Ok, now I'll mess you up, get both, 6x45.

 

[swampbuck]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

I really like the 6.8 SPC for these kind of projects.

1. Factory ammo available. Standard cartridge.
2. Great up to medium size game in the 150 yard range.
3. Not as cheap as the 223 but more versitle with similar recoil
4. Cheaper than the 243 with longer barrel life and less recoil.
5. Avaiable in bolt and AR platforms.

 

[Big_Rig_416]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

223 is plenty for this range. Thats what i would use.

 

[hamstur]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

Some good points up there, but you specifically say "500 yards nothing longer" and "no hunting." 223 is the clear winner. I don't see any case for 243.

- Match ammo availability
- Ammo cost
- Barrel life
- Effective beyond 500 yards

Because the 223 is not as LR capable as the 243, it will be a little more challenging to shoot. To me, that makes it more fun and will improve the ballistics learning curve should she move to longer ranges & change caliber later...

 

[jswhitesell619]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

As much as I love the 243, with what you specified 223 all day long. Like everyone has said, inside of 500 there isn't a real big need for the heavier recoil, and better ballistics. At 500 the 223 is still a very nice round, and will be very comfortable for her to shoot, especially if she's smaller framed or new to shooting.

 

[dogman]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

Do you have AR15's? Same ammo for different rifles. My wife has a Rem 700 SPS 223...loves it. She can focus on fundamentals and not worry about recoil or grabbing the wrong ammo.

 

[PRDRIVER]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

Out the 500 yards the .223 will be fine.

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

Earlier today I was shooting my .223 9 twist Savage 12FV and hitting 8" round steel at 645yds with 75gr Hornady Steel Match ammo.

No super feat, but stupid light recoil and pretty cheap shooting the steel-case but accurate Hornady ammo.

 

[joemusso]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

thank you guys for all the great info. I think i have decided on a .223 for her.

bass pro has a remington 700 SPS .223 for 579.00

joe

 

[fdkay]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

I'll chime in if you haven't already bought the gun.

The .223 is a fine cartridge and easy to shoot, but at longer ranges can be difficult to master.
You need to verify that SPS has a 1-9 twist. The tactical does for certain, but a varmint model will most likely have a 1-12, limiting you to 55 grain bullets.

The .243 is an awesome cartridge, louder, still light on recoil and far easier to shoot at extended ranges. It eats barrels though and match ammo is almost strictly a handloading proposition. There is match ammo out there, but it is expensive. Luckily, there is plenty of highly accurate hunting ammo available.

You haven't said if there was a price limit on the rifle.

My answer:
Savage LRP in 6.5 CM. Excellent accuracy, long barrel life, light recoil and comes in an excellent stock (the SPS stock sucks and will need replaced, adding at least 230 dollars more to the cost).
It is a win-win all the way around. Don't handicap your wife with a cartridge that is very challenging to shoot beyond 200 yards accurately.

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fdkay</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Don't handicap your wife with a cartridge that is very challenging to shoot beyond 200 yards accurately. </div></div>

223 is 'very challenging' to shoot accurately beyond 200yd?

 

[fdkay]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

If she is shooting for groups, yes it is.

If all u want to do is hit the target that is one thing, if you want to shoot respectable groups that will encourage you to continue, that is another.

How often does a standard .223 (not an AI, or custom barrel shooting 80 grain bullets) win at a 600 yard f-class event?

If you were making a 500 yard shot with a full value 15 mph wind, which would you rather have, a .223 shooting a 77 grain bullet or a 6.5 CM shooting a 140?

 

[BoilerUP]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fdkay</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you were making a 500 yard shot with a full value 15 mph wind, which would you rather have, a .223 shooting a 77 grain bullet or a 6.5 CM shooting a 140? </div></div>

I'd personally rather be shooting the 6.5mm...but there's quite a gulf between a 223 and a Creedmoor in terms of "ass". Recoil from a Creedmore is noticeably more than a 223, which is more likely to turn off a shooter than struggling to learn wind calls. Yes, a brake can mitigate this, but then you've got a noise concern (suppressor makes everything moot).

The "tweener" cartridge, IMO, is a 6BR...which is quite expensive compared to anything mentioned thus far as it will require a custom build <span style="font-weight: bold">and</span> reloading, unless one is independently wealthy.

 

[coug]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

You may want to take a look at a savage Model 10 predator in 6.5 creedmoor. they are great and I would place a bet that it will out shoot the Remington out of the box.. If you don't want the 6.5 CM that would be a great round for a female then look at the same rifle in a .223 I own one and I feed it 75gr. A-Max and that thing is astonishing out to 800 yds.

 

[fdkay]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: BoilerUP</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: fdkay</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you were making a 500 yard shot with a full value 15 mph wind, which would you rather have, a .223 shooting a 77 grain bullet or a 6.5 CM shooting a 140? </div></div>

I'd personally rather be shooting the 6.5mm...but there's quite a gulf between a 223 and a Creedmoor in terms of "ass". Recoil from a Creedmore is noticeably more than a 223, which is more likely to turn off a shooter than struggling to learn wind calls. Yes, a brake can mitigate this, but then you've got a noise concern (suppressor makes everything moot).

The "tweener" cartridge, IMO, is a 6BR...which is quite expensive compared to anything mentioned thus far as it will require a custom build <span style="font-weight: bold">and</span> reloading, unless one is independently wealthy. </div></div>
The LRP is a rather beefy rifle. Recoil will be almost nil. The 6.5 is a very efficient cartridge, out of a 24" barrel, report won't be anything more than average.

120 grain match loads are available that will fly straighter and flatter that a 168 from a .308.

Savage also makes a couple of 6BR.

 

[lazy21]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

I'm working on getting a 223 for the wife to shoot and something my daughter will enjoy too when she's ready(22 months). What I have so far is a AICS 2.0 (with two mags), USO SN3 T-pal 3.2-17, and a set of seekins rings. I'm trying to hunt down a Stiller Tac30 223 and a Rock M40 .224 and off it goes to the smith.

 

[coug]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

Oh and I will add that the 1 in 9 twist will turn the 75 grain and 77 grain just fine. I shoot the A-Max over all the others because the high BC I had 1500 of the 75gr Hornady BTHPM and they just dont hang with the 75gr. A-Max. I put 24gr of varget behind it. I have seen people shoot up to 26gr behind it but with 24gr. I still get 2850fps out of my 24" Barrel. My Dad bought the new Savage predator that has all the bells and whistles.It shoots the same as mine in the older model.........Bug holes. But like I said in the same rifle you can get the 6.5 creadmoor and I am sure she can handle it just fine. my small frame 10 and 11 year old girls shoot the 6.5X47 lapua of mine with no trouble its almost identical.

 

[Tactical_Tom]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

For that range 6mm BR is really nice. You will have twice the barrel life of the .243 and possibly better accuracy and less recoil. The New barrel on my Lawton is shooting Lapua factory ammo at around 1/4 MOA when there is no wind. Every now and then it will shoot a flier and open the group up to 1/2 MOA or so but I think most of then is my fault . I am actually kind of shocked it shoots so well, the action wasn't the that well machined from the look of the tool marks on the bolt. I did have my smith clean up the bolt a bit though...

 

[Willyz_54]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

Don't write off the tikka scout in .223 if you decide to go with that caliber. Tikka scout is a great out of the box sub moa shooter.

 

[billyburl2]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

I vote for the 243. Because she might like it, and want to shoot further... Or go hunting.

 

[peterh]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

joemusso, sorry got to get my two cents in here, don't know if you like Remington's but the Rem 700 Compact Tactical in 223 would be a great little rifle for your wife. These rifles are no longer made by Remington and I don't know why. They are probably some of the best made best finished guns they have ever made. First they start with an all stainless steel which is then Tricote (teflon) coated they then added a match deep wide fluted 20" barrel and on top of that they gave it the best trigger Remington makes It's called the 40X trigger. It has a very nice smaller dimensioned tactical stock. The bolt is black engine turned that gives the rifle an interesting look. Like I said the overall finish on the rifle is flawless. Now the best part is that this little rifle can shoot too, I'm sure by now you guessed that I own one of these, well I do and I love it. I normally shoot 1/4 -1/2 groups at 100 and it bangs the hell out of three inch disks out at 300yards. you can still find these guns on the net NIB only thing they are not cheap normally around 1100-1200. like I said if you like Rem check these out. Good luck

 

[majohnson2]

Re: new bolt gun for wife

Like fdkey point out 243 is not barrel friendly. She shoots 500 rounds and the accuracy goes, a barrel is $300-$400. And the have cost of having it fitted. The new rage is the 6.5, but other point to the 6. The 223 packs good value, easy shooting, and low ammo cost.

I've introduced a few different girl friends to shooting my R700 223 SPS and they like it. The 26" barrel makes it easy for them to shoot good almost from the start. And if she's shooting good, she's more likely to enjoy it and want to shoot more often. The funny part is when they start out shooting the guys around you at the range.