223 or 308?

[Laminators]

I currently use a savage 30-06 for deer and love target shooting but the recoil is a bit much.  There is the possibility of long range prairie dogs in the future, continued target shooting, and youngsters quickly taking to the sport.  If any body was to chose a savage heavy barrel rifle to meet the needs of target, prairie dogs, & close range deer which would you choose?  223?  308?  Model?  Your insights are very much welcome.

[Armed in Utah]

223 Low Profile series.......laminated wood/SS....a tad heavy to carry.....

Everyone needs a Savage 223.......

[sinman]

im using a 223 for deer this year. a model 11 with a zombie hunter barrel. should be a good time

[savageboy]

I ve killed 14 deer w my ar using 65 s. That being said A 308 is generally speaking better for the job. 223 is more pleasant 2 shoot 4 extended sessions

[outlawkyote]

  There isnt a whole lot of difference in recoil between the 308 and the 3006. Get a 22-250.

[louthedog]

For the range that most P-dogs are taken the 223 and 22-250 are great choices. I usually start bench shooting on a field with my 17 Fireball. Then move to the 223 and finally the 22-250. (well, I have had to pull out the 300 WSM when our position was in danger of being overrun with charging bull P-dogs but that's another story  ) Then I'll grab the Fireball again and head out into the field with a sit-down length bipod for some  hand to hand combat to clean up on some of the sneaky ones.  In heavy shooting the 223 doesn't heat up as fast as the 22-250.

[dolomite_supafly]

Make sure your state doesn't have a minimum caliber for deer hunting. Some states do have limits on how small you can deer hunt with.

Dolomite

[teddy12b]

You don't have a rifle until you have a Savage heavy barreled 223.  It's cheaper to shoot and accurate as anyone will ever need. 

I've never used it for deer and can't say that I would other than as a last resort.

[tammons]

I would set up a short action with a 223 8 twist Shelin barrel from midway with a B+C medalist stock.
SSS trigger, machined recoil lug etc etc. Those barrels are in stock right now.

[ctrout]

Depending on what you are considering "long range" prairie dogs, you may want to also consider a heavy barreled 243.  Better long range ballistics than either the 223 or the 308 and low recoil.  Also more power for those short range deer.  But if limited to only the choices that you mention, I would also recommend the 223.  I have a 12FV with the factory 9 twist barrel and it stabilizes the 75gr A-Maxes reasonably well.  I plan on getting it cut and recrowned at 21.75" and bored out to .223 AI very soon.  I think it will do everything that I ever wanted from a varmint gun as far as velocity, accuracy, and weight.  If not, I will get the 8 twist Shilen as mentioned above.  The 8 twist should stabilize the 75 and maybe even the 80 gr bullets and do fine with lighter bullets down to 50-55 gr as well.  I currently get 3/4" groups at 100 yds with the 26" factory tube and the A-Maxes so if it maintains this accuracy after the cut and rechamber, I'll stick with my 9 twist.

[Laminators]

Thanks for all of the info!  I appreciate your insights and will tend to lean towards the 223.  However, ctrout, has a great idea with the heavy barrel 243 that would be a great addition as well.  I will be looking for a 223 and speaking with a local 40x shooter for 77 gr for the close range deer.

[MikeCTX]

another option - go with the 223, if it is not enough for the deer pickup a 6mm-223 (6x45) barrel for the deer, then a barrel change to a .20 tacitcal or practical for the pdogs.  Only thing to change is the barrel, and all are based on the 223 parent case.

Changing my model 11(.223) over to a 20 tac, and may add a 6x45 barrel for the mode 12 at some point.

[Laminators]

MikeCTX--Sorry but you're over my head.  I like the idea of the 6mm/223 but are these interchangeable, I wasn't aware of this.  Or are you talking about 2 different barrels, 6mm and a 223?  Also, could you include some more information on the .20 tactical?

[MikeCTX]

MikeCTX--Sorry but you're over my head.  I like the idea of the 6mm/223 but are these interchangeable, I wasn't aware of this.  Or are you talking about 2 different barrels, 6mm and a 223?  Also, could you include some more information on the .20 tactical?

Sorry about that...lol, no the 6mm/223 or 6x45 as it is also known as is a 223 case necked up to a 6mm bullet, so it would be a single barrel swap.  The .20 tactical (and so the .20 Practical) are 20 caliber (.204) bullets in the .223 case (necked down vs necked up for the 6mm).  The .20 Practical is just a necked down .20 caliber - you can use .223 neck dies to size the case.  The .20 Tactical is either case formed (the shoulder is a little different) or fire formed, Lapua makes 20 Tactical brass under the Dakota name.  If you search a bit you will find several here that shoot one or the other of the .20's.  There are a few 6/223 (6x45) or 6/222mag (6x47 Rem - not the same as the 6x47 Lapua) or they shoot the 6mm-204 (204 Ruger necked up to 6mm).

Lots of choices...never enough time to try em all....hope that helps