[bessemerbob]

I am hearing good things about both rounds and some negs about each. My goal is shooting up to 300yrds. I am rulling out shooting a 22 so please dont try to sway me that way lol, but for range shooting, in the 200 to 300 yard range what is the better round....

[cpttango30]

Originally Posted by bessemerbob

I am hearing good things about both rounds and some negs about each. My goal is shooting up to 300yrds. I am rulling out shooting a 22 so please dont try to sway me that way lol, but for range shooting, in the 200 to 300 yard range what is the better round....

Depends on what your shooting and what your shooting at. If you want a 300 yard hunting rifle I would go with either in a bolt gun weather it is a Remington, Howa or Savage. Most 223 bolt guns run a 1:12 twist and will let you shoot up to a 60 gr bullet. anything up to 62gr will get you out to 300 with ease. the 204 is faster and shoots a little flater but it also uses lighter bullets which allows them to lose velocity faster. the 204 is a great cartridge as is the 223. Either will do the job on small varmints and paper out to 300 easy.

[Gene Langston]

If I weren't so heavily invested in the .223, I might opt for the .204. But, I"ve got all the stuff for a .223, including bullets, brass, etc.

Both are really good rounds for varmint shooting. Going beyond that, the .223 has an edge, say in deer hunting ( a big edge, really.)

[cpttango30]

YOU MUST watch your state game laws. Many states do now allow the use of a 22 cf on deer or any game animals.

[Yunus]

I considered .204, .223 among others in the end I decided on the .223 because I am not a reloader and prices are unbeatable for practice/target rounds and ballistics are close enough to not be a major factor for me.

If you look at my post about my Howa, I was shooting with 2 other people, 1 had a .204 and the other a .243. All of the guns were able to hit the bullseye at 185 yards. I would say the individual shooters affected the groups more than the calibers at that range.

[bessemerbob]

Thanks group..... I am going to go with the .223 This will be a range gun, no hunting. Please dont try to get me on the 22lr, I want something that still packs a little punch at 300yrds. I think I am going to go with the Savage 12 series. I was thinking Remington 700 SPS but the savage comes stock with 1-9twist and accu trigger. Plus 100-150 less on the wallet!

[stalkingbear]

I wouldn't dream of suggesting ANY rimfire at 300 yards! Nobody in their right mind shoots rimfires at 300 yards expecting to do very good or ethnically TRY to take animals that far with rimfires. The .223 will be more economical and ammo is MUCH easier to find.

[cpttango30]

Originally Posted by bessemerbob

Thanks group..... I am going to go with the .223 This will be a range gun, no hunting. Please dont try to get me on the 22lr, I want something that still packs a little punch at 300yrds. I think I am going to go with the Savage 12 series. I was thinking Remington 700 SPS but the savage comes stock with 1-9twist and accu trigger. Plus 100-150 less on the wallet!

Good choice with the savage. You can shoot up to 70gr bullets with that 9 twist I think.

[bessemerbob]

I would dare say Savage might have jumped past Remington, at least the 700 line.... Savage is making some very nice guns these days, and my 270WSM that Ill be trading in soon is a very nice gun.

Ive read alot of guys are having great luck at 300yrds with 60-69grn bullets. Well Ill need to really look into ammo once I actually have the weapon in my hands.

[Gene Langston]

If you intend to shoot those heavier bullets, make sure to check the twist rate. Savage MAY be slower, like a 12-twist, can't remember. I don't think that slow of a twist will stabalize a heavy bullet all that well.

Edited: The Savage rifles have a 1:9 twist, should stabalize a 69 gr. bullet fine.