Mostly Long Guns

Several decades ago, it was common for gun writers to discuss a handful of rifles and cartridges that should be included in a rifle battery to cover everything from mice to the largest animal that would be hunted. The topic remains a great one, but today I will discuss just one rifle cartridge that has an important role on my gun rack. Before going forward, note that this cartridge is housed in a bolt action rather than a modern sporting rifle, commonly known as AR platforms. You have probably already read the title of this column, so you know that I am referencing the 223 Remington.

Although its development began in 1957 for the ArmaLite AR-15, the 223 was submitted to SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute) by Remington in 1962 and introduced commercially in December 1963 in the Model 760 pump-action rifle. It was soon offered in bolt-action rifles to serve as a sporting cartridge primarily for varmints, pests and similar applications. As an interesting side note, the 5.56mm Ball Cartridge M193 was formally adopted by the U.S. military a month or so later, in February 1964. It could be used interchangeably in 223 Remington rifles. The case was based on the 222 Remington that was introduced in 1950 and had become widely popular and respected among varmint hunters and benchrest shooters. As experiments moved forward, engineers began using the longer 222 Remington Magnum blank case, a cartridge developed in 1958.

Critics did not like the short neck of the 223, yet it proved very accurate and produced around 150 to 200 feet per second (fps) higher velocity than the beloved 222, or “deuce” as it was affectionately called, giving it a bit more range. As is usually the case with a military cartridge, the 223 was destined to become hugely popular among civilians, and most bolt-action rifle manufacturers began offering guns chambered for it. (Please Note: The 5.56 mm Ball M193 was interchangeable with the 223; however, with the introduction of the 5.56 NATO in 1980, the two cartridges are generally not fully interchangeable because the chambers are cut differently. The 5.56 NATO chamber typically has a longer leade and the pressure measurement methodology differs between the two. Even though SAAMI does not recommend mixing them, in my experience, in a pinch, 5.56 loads can be fired in bolt-action rifles. It is fine to fire 223 Remington ammunition in a rifle with a 5.56 NATO chamber. This is a complicated subject that could be a very long column, and covering it fully would take us away from today’s discussion. We will need to treat that topic another day.)

As a ballistic baseline, the 223 pushes a 55-grain bullet at about 3,240 fps. Most early bolt-action rifles featured a 1:12-twist barrel, although select models were fitted with 1:14-twist barrels, including early AR rifles, the Remington 40XB and others. Both twist rates generally worked well with the 55-grain bullet above, but would also stabilize bullets as light as 35 grains. The 1:12 twist would also work well with most cup-and-core expanding 60-grain bullets. When the 5.56 NATO appeared in 1980, the barrel twist changed to 1:7 on service rifles to accommodate heavier military bullets that effectively extended the range of this small cartridge. Many bolt-action rifle makers began changing the twist rate to 1:10, 1:9 and 1:8, with a select few offering 1:7, to better accommodate the trend toward heavier, longer, high-ballistic coefficient (BC) bullets. I have used them all but generally favor the 1:9 for general purpose in my working bolt rifles, with 1:8 a close second. Here is why.

We have some truly outstanding varmint, hunting and defense bullets that have been developed over the past several decades; they typically weigh between 40 and 60 grains, although some hunting bullets (not to be confused with long-range match bullets) weigh up to 70 grains. Some boast very high ballistic coefficients for their weight and can be pushed to impressive velocities to extend the 223’s effective range. One example is the outstanding Hornady 53-grain V-MAX, which has a .290 G1 BC and can easily reach 3,300 fps with many powders and even 3,450-plus fps with select powders from a 22-inch barrel. Hornady offers this bullet in their Superformance factory load with a listed velocity of 3,465 fps. In addition to stretching the 223’s range, it is super accurate and pure dynamite on coyotes, rock chucks, and similar varmints. Nosler offers its excellent Ballistic Tip Varmint in 40-, 50-, 55- and 60-grain weights; these bullets leave little to be desired in terms of accuracy and ultra-reliable terminal performance on varmints. In addition to being available as components for handloaders, they are offered in the premium NoslerCustom factory loads.

To shift gears, the 223 can reliably take deer-sized game as long as the right bullets are used and reasonable distance limitations are respected. When my children were young, I introduced them to short, lightweight 223 bolt-action rifles, and they each took down mule deer with them. The focus was to let them practice regularly so they could place shots with absolute precision. I have no idea how many deer they took, but it was many, and we never lost a single animal. Small boys, and even my daughter, grow incredibly fast and soon graduate to 7x57 Mauser and larger cartridges. The point is that the 223 was highly reliable with correct bullets and would easily penetrate to the offside of deer and exit, which is preferred. Some of the more outstanding bullets included the 55- and 60-grain Hornady SP (without cannelure), 55- and 60-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, 60-grain Partition, 70-grain AccuBond and Barnes 53-grain TSX. These same bullets are top choices if the 223 is called upon in a defensive situation.

For varmints and pests, select premium loads with high ballistic coefficient bullets, whether handloads or factory loads, are effective out to 500 yards in a super-accurate rifle topped with a scope that is up to the task. Deer hunters should limit distances to around half that figure as a maximum.

Based on my favorite bullets for field use, the 1:9 twist offers 100 percent reliable stabilization out to 500 yards and top accuracy for my preferred bullets for deer to coyotes, with 1:8 running a very close second. If a shooter plans to use the hunting bullets mentioned above but also heavier bullets for match work that weigh 68, 69, 75 or 80 grains, then the 1:8 twist will have an advantage.

There are some really outstanding bolt-action rifles chambered in 223 that are offered at modest cost and deliver reliability and accuracy. First, let us address a question that many younger-generation shooters are likely to ask: Why choose a bolt-action rifle over an MSR or AR-pattern rifle? There are several very good reasons. 

I often have a rifle in each of my winter cattle-feeding pickups from November through May and even inside the roof of a couple of tractors. When coyotes harass or kill a calf, one shot is all it takes to end the predator’s career. After the shot, the bolt is left closed with the empty case in the chamber while I proceed with winter chores. It is not a good idea to have a live round in a rifle’s chamber in a pickup or on a tractor. In this manner, I do not have to rely on a safety. By comparison, an AR-pattern rifle will eject the empty case out the right side, which often ends up in the defrosting vents and automatically chambers another round. At that point, I have to remove the magazine, clear the chamber, drop the striker, put the live round back in the top of the magazine and reinsert the magazine. In essence, the bolt action is safer and more convenient in my world. The triggers of many modern bolt rifles are much, much better than those in AR-pattern rifles right out of the box. On average, bolt rifles, even those with a modest price, are more accurate than run-of-the-mill ARs.

In looking through my odd accumulation of bolt-action 223 rifles from Mossberg, Savage, Weatherby, Ruger, Howa/Legacy Sports and others, it is rare to find a rifle that will not stay inside 3⁄4 of an inch, and most will stay inside 1⁄2 inch with select loads. When riding horses, ATVs, or hunting on foot, the bolt rifle is far more compact and easier to carry. A bolt action is simple, incredibly tough and rugged and is offered in many variations.

As indicated, many companies offer bolt-action rifles in 223; I will mention just a few that are especially interesting for one reason or another. Around 2013, Mossberg introduced the MVP (Varmint/Predator) series of rifles. I have shot more than a dozen of these rifles, ranging from 204 Ruger to 308, with all producing great accuracy. One very interesting variation is the Patrol, with a 16.25-inch medium-heavy barrel that comes with open sights, a Picatinny top mount and an excellent trigger right out of the box. My rifles will stack bullets into 1⁄2 inch with premium handloads. In addition to being offered at a very modest MSRP, these guns feature AR-style detachable magazines, and the 10-round version is ideal for how I use them: it protrudes only modestly and 10 shots equals 10 coyotes, well, usually nearly 10 coyotes. Their compact size, large magazine capacity and light weight make them an ideal emergency rifle to keep in the trunk of a car or in the house. They feature the 5.56 NATO chamber, so they are fully interchangeable with all 223 or 5.56 NATO loads.

Savage has long been known for its modestly priced Model 110/10 rifles that are highly accurate; the AccuTrigger offers a light, crisp pull right out of the box. Another remarkable rifle is the Weatherby Vanguard, developed in conjunction with Roy Weatherby in 1971. It is an outstanding rifle with more traditional features, including a hinged floorplate and cold-hammer-forged barrel, and it comes standard with an accuracy guarantee. Most of the rifles I have worked with will easily group under 3⁄4 inches. The Howa Model 1500, imported by Legacy Sports, is essentially the same rifle as the Weatherby Vanguard, with base models available for around $600. The Ruger American (now offered by Glenfield as a Model A) and American II have been huge commercial successes; they boast great accuracy at modest cost and are offered in both 223 and 5.56 NATO chambers. Most versions are fitted with a detachable AR-style magazine, and street prices start at less than $600. Ruger still offers the super-rugged and reliable M77 Hawkeye Laminate, but rising production costs have pushed street prices to around $1,100 or so. In my opinion, these rifles are worth every cent.

The 223 boasts low-cost, lightweight ammunition – about 28 pounds per 1,000 rounds – that is available worldwide. It offers a high level of efficiency, accuracy, long barrel life, and great versatility due to a huge selection of bullet options, especially for handloaders. Plus, it is fun to shoot. The selection of bolt-action rifles is extensive, with variations for nearly any practical application, from hunting to defense. As indicated, a 223 bolt action plays an important role in my rifle battery.