Next caliber, 223 or 243?

[mechanic]

I want one more caliber in a Handi, and I'm torn between 223 and 243.  I have dies, brass and bullets for both.  I have had a 243 ultralight before, and it was fine for hunting, but I want a gun to bench with, and hunt with.  I'm thinking a bull barrel.  I'm kinda' leaning toward the 223, but the 243 has better downrange ballistics.  The 223 would be more fun off a bench.

What ya'll think?

Ben

[Catshooter45]

Tough call Ben.

I took my .223 barrel and had it rechambered to .225 Winchester.  It'll send a Nosler 60 grain partition out the 22 inch barrel at just over 3200 feet and group three into less than an inch at 100.  Plus it has a rim, which I prefer.


Cat

[PowPow]

Had a 223 bull, added the gunstocksinc varmint forearm.
Looked cool; bet I killed a whole ream of paper with it; shot a coyote out of a tree stand with it.
But the first time I went walking through the woods with it was the last. It felt like I was hauling around a crosstie.
Just sayin'.

[quickdtoo]

Had a 223 bull, added the gunstocksinc varmint forearm.
Looked cool; bet I killed a whole ream of paper with it; shot a coyote out of a tree stand with it.
But the first time I went walking through the woods with it was the last. It felt like I was hauling around a crosstie.
Just sayin'.

Never seen a coyote in a tree stand before, that's unusual!! 

Tim

[mechanic]

Well, I'm going to check my stand more  thoroughly before I climb up next time!!!

Yep,  the bull is heavy, but I won't be taking it on long walks.  I use my 357 for that.

I do have a place to hunt now where I have some 300 yd. openings, something I've never had in the past for the most part.  I used the 243 ultralight on a power line once, but have never shot past about 200 yds, which is my self imposed limit anyway.  Unless it's a 30 pt. buck that just won't come no closer........

[PowPow]

I think the coyote got the tree stand from a company called ACME. It was wearing rocket powered skates.

[All Hawks Kill]

Well I love my 223 and I'll be range testing the 243 barrel I fitted today in the next few days.  So I say why not both. 

[trotterlg]

I think mostly the .243 is a bad actor.  Larry

[necchi]

I like my 223, it's accurate, I can shoot it all day, and I only need 23-25 grns of powder per round. I've heard alot more stories of guys not getting groups with the 243 than those that brag on it's accuracy,,I think 6mm simply preforms better in a different platform. Even guy's that bench 6mm's aren't useing the 243

[Mac11700]

For bench shooting they can both shine..Each has it's own merits and each has their own preferences for being a bench gun. The 223 will be easier on the shoulder to shoot,and cheaper to reload for,and most likely easier to set up for. Both have a excellent choice of quality components to choose from.Both can be exceedingly accurate.

Things to ask yourself before deciding..

What range am I going to shoot.. I know you have said earlier that 200 Yards was your self imposed limit for hunting ..do you plan on increasing this distance for bench shotting? If not..then no questions about it..go with the 223 bull barrel..and IMHO.. get one of the 24" ones. Having a dedicated Handi bench gun and striving to make it shoot in the 1's & 2's consistently is not an easy task..Not only do you have to prep the gun to be able to shoot those kind of groups..but you have to train yourself to be able to shoot them on a regular basis,so..Am I willing to do what is needed to accomplish this? Shooting and loading for this is more involved than just shooting for casual groups or sighting in for deer hunting. 

If you are wanting to stretch the distance out to and beyond 300 yards..then get the 243 bull barrel. The ballistics of the 6mm's will outshine those of the 22's when dealing with any wind you will encounter at long ranges. Again..IMHO get either of the 24" bull barrels. The reason I say go with the longer barrel is simply..more velocity..in bench shooting this something you want to have at your disposal. You will be working up loads finding which works best and at what velocity..

There are a lot of people who dislike the 243's in the Handi's..most of them I have found don't take the needed steps in their fitting,reloading or barrel bedding process to make these rifles truly shine,which is why you will see the 223 get recommended more often than the 243.It's just a lot easier to get them to shoot good.For a truly dedicated bench rifle..each will have to have it's own forearm and bedded properly for it.If you just want an occasional bench gun that shoots good..then that is different.The 243 can be very picky in this regard but once you have it figured out,then you can reap the advantages it offers.

Either one..for a bench gun..have the factory fit it for you.I have always included a nice note to the gunsmith taped to the reciver thanking him for taking his time to fit the barrel perfectly and tuning the trigger for me to the lowest safe pull he was allowed to do for me.A perfectly fitted factor barrel starting off with a 3lb. trigger pull will make having what you want 10x easier than one you are unsure of and have to tinker with to get right no matter which barrel you elect to go with.

If you don't believe the 243 is used in matches..then you haven't really looked into it..Go here..this will give you a better view of what the 243 offers to those who choose to use it.

http://www.6mmbr.com/243Win.html


Good Luck



Mac

[petemi]

I had a 6mm Rem Model 7 and had FTF issues with it and traded it for a Ruger .308 M77 MKII  In my opinion, the .308 has it all over the 6mm.  On the other hand, my Handi .223 is much more accurate than my Handi .22-250, and compares very well accuracy wise with the Ruger.  The .243 doesn't enchant me at all.  I haven't read anything fantastic about it here, and I know how good the .223 and .308 are.  Between them they'll do as much and more than a .243.

Pete

[spikehorn]

I have 223s and 308s so I see no need for a 243

[mechanic]

I had about made up my mind for the 223 before I asked, and now I think that's the way I want to go.  I definately want a bull barrel.  I have no trouble with a heavy weapon, as most of the time my longest walk hunting might be 1/4 mile.  I have carried my BC in 45-70 around a bit, and I like the heavy feel and steadiness I get from a heavy weapon.

I also have a rolling block that weighs almost 12# that is superb off the bench. 

If I need a long range hunting gun, I'll probably use the 45-70 anyway.  I shoot steel plates out to 800 yards with my BC, and can shoot fairly accurately with it to 200 or perhaps a little more. 

So....223 it will be.

Thanks guys, for your imput.

Ben

[Frank V]

Good choice Ben, of course there wasn't really a bad choice there. The .223 will be way more economical to shoot & if you're shooting for pure fun & pleasure you'll get more rounds for your buck. Congratulations.
Frank

[petemi]

Ben, you'll like the .223.

I love the distance shooting you're doing with the .45-70.  I get sick and tired of folks telling me about "the hundred yard rifle".  That statement tells me clearly that they never shot one seriously, and perhaps never even owned one.  There are a lot of "hunters" around that say a box of 20 cartridges will last that many years.  The butt cheeks obviously never learned their rifle regardless of caliber.

Pete