The UK's Finest Independent Forum for Shooters and Gun Owners. Est 2010.

Hmmm.

Spent ages working on 223 brass today. The thought occurs that with the precision and time it takes to make 223 ammo that works, I really can't be arsed any more since it's a pernickety sod at the best of times. Very satisfying when it works for sure, but I spend a lot of time working on it.

I also have a 308 which Mrs Logic shoots most of the time.

I guess I can rebarrel the existing Savage into .308, but the thought does leap to mind that would it be worth selling / part exing it and turning it into a totally different rifle, in .308. What benefits would I see with more expensive actions? better choice of stocks? More accuracy?

Thoughts appreciated please!

Many moons ago I bought and messed with a heavy barrelled rifle in .223 after about 18 month of reloading and shooting disasters I sold it and bought a very old but in very good nick Steyr SSG.308. My problems disappeared over night the first outing on the range with the Steyr was just so much fun. Don't be chewed with it just get rid and buy some thing that works for you.

.223 is probably one of the easiest cartridges to load accurate ammo for as it's so forgiving according to several of my manuals. What makes you think it weill be any different with a .308? Will you not spend the same amount of time and effort on a .308 case as a .223?

If however, it is the gun that won't "shoot" and quite frankly, some just won't, then swapping it out will certainly eliviate the tension...

But the Savage you own, already has a reputation for accuracy, so what are you trying to achieve. I'm not sure if I'm missing the point or not...?

.223 is probably one of the easiest cartridges to load accurate ammo for as it's so forgiving according to several of my manuals.

So you have reloaded for .223 yes. You have experience of building rounds for this calibre yes.You are not just quoting from a re loading manual are you.

Alpha1 wrote:So you have reloaded for .223 yes. You have experience of building rounds for this calibre yes.You are not just quoting from a re loading manual are you.

I've owned eight. The first a Colt AR15 Delta H-Bar, bought the year before Ryan ran amok. Then a couple of mediocre variants on the Ruger and Parker Hale platform, then a couple of straight pull AR's and even a straight pull Ruger Mini 14, which I won a bet with right here on being able to get it to print 1.5 to 2" groups, which was believed to be impossible with that gun.

Then I've had a Savage Model 12BVSS, one of the most accurate guns I've ever owned. It would punch V-Bulls at 800m, as witnessed by forum members here, with boring regularity.

My current .223 is a Browning A-Bolt TCT. Just starting the load development, but so far looking very promising. The last outing it printed several 5 shot groups around the inch mark..... At 300m.

And all of the ammunition was built using Lee equipment.

You got anything to bring to the "party"....?

The "sows ear turned into a purse"



The Savage



And the TCT....

Mr_Logic wrote:Hmmm.

Spent ages working on 223 brass today. The thought occurs that with the precision and time it takes to make 223 ammo that works, I really can't be arsed any more since it's a pernickety sod at the best of times. Very satisfying when it works for sure, but I spend a lot of time working on it.

I also have a 308 which Mrs Logic shoots most of the time.

I guess I can rebarrel the existing Savage into .308, but the thought does leap to mind that would it be worth selling / part exing it and turning it into a totally different rifle, in .308. What benefits would I see with more expensive actions? better choice of stocks? More accuracy?

Thoughts appreciated please!

Says it all really Tom...your mrs shoots the .308....

IF you intend shooting F/TR then get shot and go .308, just lay off the GGG :55:

Cheaper in terms of stress, aggro and returns in the long run....how many .223s do you see on the F/TR circuit?

Shed loads of components out there and more to come I expect

Part ex for a Dolphin modular perhaps??

C

maggot, she shoots the 308 because the 308 works, which does make the point.

equally that 223 has shut quite a few up who said it wouldn't work... the problem is just the time to get it to work.

the difference in loading - 308 = full length size, trim occasionally and charge master load, then shoot.

223 needs neck and body sizing, careful trimming (and my redding trimmer won't reliably grip the base of 223 but is fine with 308) and then loading takes ages too, trying to get powder charge just right. have ordered some extra accurate scales though so that should help.

however, two 308s are easier because I can run one large pool of Lapua palma brass and then standardize on one bullet for both. hopefully they both like ramshot TAC too, since I can actually buy that!


so options on 308... will check Dolphin. are people shooting 30 or 32 in barrels these days? not bought a rifle for ages!

I've owned eight. The first a Colt AR15 Delta H-Bar, bought the year before Ryan ran amok. Then a couple of mediocre variants on the Ruger and Parker Hale platform, then a couple of straight pull AR's and even a straight pull Ruger Mini 14, which I won a bet with right here on being able to get it to print 1.5 to 2" groups, which was believed to be impossible with that gun.

I am surprised you got the Ruger to shoot that well. Well done.
I gave up on the .223 after having nothing but trouble re loading for the last one I owned I have no desire to own another one.

Thank you. There's a thread on it somewhere on the forum...

Only problem I have with the 223 is the size of the bullets!, being just a bit under 6' 6" I have rather large hands/fingers so reloading is a bit of a pain.

Much easier to chop down the case and reform it to a 300 Blackout that uses proper man size bullets