Thread: 223 for varminting?

whats not to like????
why the heck not????
made for the job

Without knowing your exact situation, terrain, vegitation, target species, and whether your paying ammo, the .223 is a great general alrounder. Also handy on a first pass is the .22 with subs and sometimes LR, (cheap ammo), a .17 , or even a .243 if your looking of bit more reach across gulllys etc.

Personally I found the .222 a bit underwelming against a .223. Just an opinion. ..

We shoot everything with the .223 from rabbits, cats, ferrits etc up to Wallabys and the odd deer if it presents itself and someone wants one. Its the universal allrounder unless your near a built up area.

Not to mention just a good trigger.

Bought 1000 rounds of Belmont 223 with Barnes 55 gn mpg for shooting wallaby and rabbits. Frangible copper projectile.
Tried them out of my tikka with 1 in 12 twist but wouldnt group at all but they group well out of the 1 in 8 twist tikka.
Anyone used these for varmint shooting?

Originally Posted by timattalon

What is your budget? A Howa 223 is what I use. most now have the faster twist, but min has the 1:12 which is a laser with the 40gr or 35gr projectiles.....downside is that it is not as accurate with anything over 55gr and even some of the 55 dont go well. (Talking 35-40gr will be inside 15mm at 100m and 55gr will be closer to 60mm groups...) I know where there is a new Howa Ranchland still in the box, no scope and I am pretty sure its 223. Might even be a 204 there too. About $900 for it. The Howa Minis are good too, but the ranchland has the steel floor plate internal magazine.

Check the twist on what 223 you look at. The slower twists work really well with the varmint projectiles but are usually not so great with the bigger ones, but the faster twist 1:7 etc generally work better with heavier bullets. With rabbits it wont matter which hits them as they will be demolished anyway, but lighter faster projectiles have less fall at the ranges you are able to use them at.

Ah yes good point, budget wise I'm looking at howa, ruger american ranch/Predator type rifles. A detachable 10 round mag is very appealing so the mini might do the trick and it won't look out of place next to the other howa in the safe

Does anyone know how are the magazines in the mini as far overall length goes?

Twist wise, I'm only wanting to shoot the lighter projectiles, something in the 36 to 50 grain range I think. Something that will deal to rabbits and hares, I don't need it to kill anything bigger than that, the 308 and 7 mm rem mag take care of that.

If you buy a Mini, on on my second one now..always 10 shot mags, make sure you saw off most of the small mag release lever front side of the mag. Its plastic and catches on everything releasing the mag every few minutes.. Take it back by about 2 thirds. Still works fine. The 10 shot mags are easy to load too. I found with a lot of use the mags developed a feeding problem. Spring might be a bit on the light side so I keep it lighly oiled and seems to be ok at the moment.

I have a Ruger American 223 in 1:8 twist. Had it cut to 16 inches and fitted with a DPT over barrel great shooter for the price i reckon. Awesome on bunnies and i also use it in the bush for sika and have taken fallow with it also. Main varminting rifle is a cz455 in 17hmr.