Author Topic: 223 AR vs 223 Bolt (Read 802 times)

Ghostrider_23 · « **on:** April 21, 2006, 01:12:39 PM »

Hey guys first time in this section, the rest of the sections are very helpful. I am looking at perhaps getting a new rifle. I want to shoot at distances around 200 yards. I currently have an AR-15 heavy barrel but not sure how it will do at 200 yards :sniper: I was thinking of looking into the following and need you advise.

223 in bolt action : Drop off above 250 yards

22-250 : But I hear the barrels burn out on this round

222 Remington : Hard to find and will have to reload myself (not a bad thing)

Keep my AR and put a good scope on it

I plan to do mostly target practice and hate the recoil of the larger cals like the 308 or 30-06

Any ideals as to the cal. I should go with or any experience with any of the above rifles.

MGMorden · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2006, 01:39:42 PM »

I generall prefer bolts over semi-autos. They tend to be more accurate, and there's just something "magical" about a good bolt gun. I don't own enough of them to make a great recommendation, but I will say that my Savage 110 has done superbly. My other bolt guns are all military (most original, a few sporters).

As to caliber, your list sounds good so far. I'd personally lean towards the .223 Rem, just because ammo is dirt cheap and the more you can practice, the better the human component will get :wink:. IF you don't mind expensive ammo or handloads though, you might also check out the .204 Ruger.

nomosendero · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2006, 05:11:35 PM »

It really depends on which AR you have. I have a RRA Varmiter & I have found 4 bullets so far that will shoot less than 1/2" for 5 shots at 100 yards. If it does well at 100 yards & is the right twist, there is no reason
that the accuracy would drop off any different than a bolt gun. I am no
doubt a bolt man, but this AR does so well & others do too that I no longer
own any bolt action 223's. For volume shooting, it rocks because you can engage multiple PD's without moving.

I also have a very good Rem. Varmit 22-250 & for the longer shots it has an edge & you can do the mist thing way out there. But, it is not the best for volume shooting because it heats up quick. I also use bigger bore long range Varmiters & the have a specialized use, but if I had one Varmit rifle,
like McMorden said, I believe the 223 is best.

hunt127588 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2006, 05:48:52 PM »

I have a Bushmaster Varminter AR-15 and a Stevens 200 in .223. The Varminter is the most accurate .223 I own and can hang with any mass produced bolt gun out there. I would hesitate to use what you already know and go from there. The AR should perform great at the distances you are talking about.

Dogshooter · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2006, 03:24:31 AM »

I'd second the previous opinion. I have a Varmintmaster with a B&L 6X24 scope. It will keep up with any bolt gun I have. The only thing I DON'T like is the weight. When I am sitting in one place in a prarie dog town I can take 'em out to, and sometimes past, 400 yards. If I am moving around much, I take a bolt gun (like my Kimber 84M Varmint) because they weight a lot less.

nasem · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2006, 09:49:14 AM »

ok, for shots around 200-250 yards, you CAN NOT go wrong with ar-15. I have a bushmaster A3 in 20", standard heavy barrel, crome lined, and I shoot 10 cent rounds of (wolf 55gr FMJ, cheap bullets) and I can easily get 2-3 " groups @ 200 yards. I know 2-3" is nothing to brag about, but im using the cheapest types of bullets you can think of, If i was using premium stuff, I bet I can shrink those groups to about an inch @ 200 yards.

azshooter · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2006, 03:22:11 PM »

Same story - my Bushmaster Varmiter shoots 1/2 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards. I can't ask for more.

De41mag · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2006, 04:30:29 PM »

Add one more for the Bushmaster Varmiter.
The thing is so accurate, it's almost scary. But with 40+ years of work perfecting it, it should be accurate.
I took my AR Varmiter on a prairie dog shoot last year and could not ask for anything better as far as performance.

Dennis

nasem · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2006, 02:47:46 AM »

Yes guys, I mean, people usually scream out "BOLT ACTION" when they hear PD hunting but.... they are over looking the fact of how godly accurate those ar-15s are (DPMS, bushmaster, olympic, colt, etc) they are all accurate.

I will never buy a varmint "bolt" gun, what for ? My bushmaster is on top of that department.

Hey De41mag -- did those PD pop when you hit em ? lol

Gregory · « **Reply #9 on:** April 23, 2006, 05:16:01 AM »

I've lost count....but here's another happy owner of a Bushmaster Varminter, I may get a light weight bolt 223 someday because the AR is a bit heavy for toting around.

De41mag · « **Reply #10 on:** April 23, 2006, 03:28:38 PM »

nasem;

Heck yes, those PD's popped when you hit em.
I was on a dried up river bed one day during the shoot and I mean we were shooting pretty regular when off to my right, not 15yds. away, an adult came out of his hole. I spun around to the right and put the cross hairs on him, and fired. That dog went about 15 feet in the air and landed in front of me. The guide that was spotting for the others heard the POP and said " I guess you got that one!"
Plus others wanted to shoot it and they were getting their own Win. 45 JHP factory rounds and shooting the heck out of my Bushy. They could not put it down.

Dennis

nasem · « **Reply #11 on:** April 23, 2006, 05:09:00 PM »

I get the same results shooting squirels with it lol, its lotta fun. I don't like to run anything lighter than 50 grains, those super fast bullets are death to barrels.