Which rifle calibre?

**Lone Gunman** · 31-08-2018, 14:58

Thanks for that consideration.

Is there much difference in the cost of reloading .223 vs .308?

**bruce.patience** · 31-08-2018, 15:10

It uses more powder and points are bigger. In all honesty once you have a press and the dies there isn’t a massive difference.

Save your brass from the factory ammo. Buy decent ammo that way you get decent brass.

I load .243 at R13.20 a round .270 @ R21.50 30-06 at R22.80. This is with Vithaviuri powder R880 per 480grams vs. Somchem S365 at R480 per 500 grams. This is also using Barnes TSX monolithic points. That is to say I load expensive components. You can do it for far less.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

**Wesley** · 31-08-2018, 17:02

Originally Posted by bruce.patience

It uses more powder and points are bigger. In all honesty once you have a press and the dies there isn’t a massive difference.

Save your brass from the factory ammo. Buy decent ammo that way you get decent brass.

I load .243 at R13.20 a round .270 @ R21.50 30-06 at R22.80. This is with Vithaviuri powder R880 per 480grams vs. Somchem S365 at R480 per 500 grams. This is also using Barnes TSX monolithic points. That is to say I load expensive components. You can do it for far less.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Put into perspective, discounting the cost of quality cases, you could reload. .223 match round for about R6 or R7.

**gertjie87** · 31-08-2018, 17:18

.308
Buy norinco ammo for cheap enjoy your gun more no need to reload.
Norinco out of my howa gives about 1 moa out of my AR10 sub moa. Plenty of accuracy for 500m

**bruce.patience** · 31-08-2018, 19:04

Originally Posted by Wesley

Put into perspective, discounting the cost of quality cases, you could reload. .223 match round for about R6 or R7.

That is dirt cheap. Best I get is about R10 on .243

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

**Yeti** · 31-08-2018, 19:47

Not Much that can touch the 6.5 mm family out to 500 m.

Loaded with 123 gr - 140 Gr target or Hunting bullets it will do everything you want it to.

With proper bullet design and careful shot placement you are good to go up to and including Black Wildebeest.

All things being equal, shooting, 30 cal is more expensive and quite a bit more than a 223.

Im currently shooting 223, 6mmSLR, 6.5x47 Lapua and 308 Win, in that order of fodder expense.

**Bowhunter** · 31-08-2018, 21:17

Isn't 6.5x55 Swede factory ammo fairly easy to get locally?

**Lone Gunman** · 01-09-2018, 09:36

All the info is much appreciated!

I'm leaning towards a .308 at this point.

**bronxlive** · 01-09-2018, 10:12

Originally Posted by Bowhunter

Isn't 6.5x55 Swede factory ammo fairly easy to get locally?

My friend bought one and I have to say after checking his ammo prices and availability compared to my 308, I am very glad I have a 308.
If you don't reload, it doesn't make any sense(and the advantages isn't great enough) to pick it over a 308 or 30-06 IMO.

**bruce.patience** · 02-09-2018, 15:49

My main hunting rifle is a 30-06. Not sure why I chose it over .308 or .270. I have recently acquired a .270 from a cousin (read almost free) and I think these bracket the 308 nicely.

I shoot a 168gn Barnes @ 2720 ft/s in the 30-06 so in effect I shoot it almost like a .308

If you ask the question enough times I guess you will eventually hear the answer you want to hear.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro