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Author Topic: WHICH BARREL?  (Read 595 times)

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Offline mattbodnarchuk

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WHICH BARREL?
« on: December 08, 2006, 06:46:03 AM »
Hey guys,

I have an NEF combo in .30-06 and 20 ga and a Ruger 10/22 (.22 LR). I
want to buy ONE accessory barrel for my handi to fill the gap in
performance (hunting) between the .22 LR and the .30-06 calibers.

Which one do you think would be better to fill the gap, .243 or .223?
(I know about the "problems" with .243 handis, so I'd get the bull
barrel if I ended up choosing .243.)

What do you think?

Thanks!

Matt
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Offline darat100

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Re: WHICH BARREL?
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2006, 07:01:28 AM »
Go with the 223.  You have the 30-06 for big game.  The 223 will fill in nicely and be MUCH cheaper to shoot.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: WHICH BARREL?
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2006, 07:03:19 AM »
Welcome aboard, Matt! That answer is easy for any dyed-in-the-wool Handiholic, BOTH of em, you pick the one you want to start with, since I already had a .308W BLR, I started with the .223, then added a .243, .25-06  and a .45-70, it's been no turning back since!! ;D

Tim
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Offline dw06

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Re: WHICH BARREL?
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2006, 07:21:03 AM »
Get the 223,shoots great with winchester white box if you don't reload and if you do is easy to load for.But like Tim said get BOTH.Welcome to GBO!
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Offline PartsMan

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Re: WHICH BARREL?
« Reply #4 on: December 08, 2006, 10:49:04 AM »
One more vote for 223
mine is 22" hb
LOVE IT
223 "practice" rifle the same as your deer rifle.
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Offline Mac11700

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Re: WHICH BARREL?
« Reply #5 on: December 08, 2006, 11:20:47 AM »
You didn't say what type of hunting you would be doing with it...and trying to fill the gap between a 22LR & a 30-06 with just one barrel doesn't really get it...Being a Handi-holic requires multiple barrels to fill that slot...but...if you must try...let's do this right....22cal to 30 cal..well you have the 223 and 22-250 for varmints...you have the 243 for both varmint & deer....you have the 25-06 for both...you have the 270 for both...you have the 7-08 for both...then the 280 you can do both...the 30-30 you can do both...then the 308 you can do both...caliber wise...these are your choices to "fill" inbetween...then you have to figure out if your talking about power wise...since the 22 cal LR id at the bottom...and the 30-06 is practicly at the top...you have a lot of wiggle room inbetween...also...since you haven't said what type of hunting you will be doing with it and at what ranges...will matter a-lot too...dedicated long range varmints...I'd say you have 3 choices...the 22-250 & the 243 Bull barrel...and the 25-06...While the 223 is a very good round...I'd say the 22-250 will edge it out for those really long shots...just as the larger caliber guns will do over the others as well...If you want to hunt deer with it as well...then either the bull barreled 243 or the 25-06...if you just want a smaller all around deer rifle easier on the shoulder than the 30-06...then the 7-08 or 270 would be a logical choice...in a 22" Handi...

In reality...your just going to have to buy more than 1...

Mac
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: WHICH BARREL?
« Reply #6 on: December 08, 2006, 11:57:44 AM »
As I intimated and Mac said flat out, the question isn't which one, it's which one first!!!  :o ;D Then you have decide on the barrel contour, you also have 24" fluted bull barrels in both calibers to choose from.....decisions, decisions!!! ???

Tim
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Offline myarmor

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Re: WHICH BARREL?
« Reply #7 on: December 08, 2006, 02:25:06 PM »
Welcome to Graybeardoutdoors. Stick around and enjoy the site.
Well as far as your selection, as Mac said you didn't mention the actual "bridge" you plan on making. Be it  Hunting or Target.
Also you didn't mention if you handload or not  ??? This would be a big factor in my reccomendation.
And If not..1st off why not?  ;D ... then, are you looking for a inexpensive cartridge to shoot?


The 223 is always a good bet in my book, as I own 2 and love them both. Awesome shooters, and easy to reload for. Easy to stretch out a Ib of powder and componets are widely availible. If you don't handload, then ammo is everywhere and cheap too. Just a good over all inexpensive performer, handload or not.
if you want to shoot often, then I wouldn't recomend a 204 or 22-250 unless you handload for it. That or if you have lots of money. In that case go for it ;D But these rounds usually are more expensive than 223s. Same kinda goes for the 243 and 25-06.

Give us a little more info on what you are actually looking for.

-Aaron



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Offline kennyd

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Re: WHICH BARREL?
« Reply #8 on: December 08, 2006, 02:52:31 PM »
Where are you hunting.  In Colorado the .223 is not legal for big game, the .243 is a great antelope gun.  If you are wanting to do varmints, it is different.  You could try all of the '06 family, one at a time; 25-06, 270, 280, and 35 whelen.  I have only good things to say about my .25-06, and the .243 my brother has possession of.  A .270 or .280 is nearly a match in use for the 30-06.  The other "gap" would be for a light recoiling fun caliber, you could try one of the pistol calibers, or the venerable 30-30.  A 45-70 is not light recoiling, but is fun; it does duplicate the 30-06 in being  serious about power, but not range.
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Offline mattbodnarchuk

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Re: WHICH BARREL? - UPDATE
« Reply #9 on: December 09, 2006, 11:49:59 AM »
Hey guys, thanks for your input. I will mainly be hunting in the
Eastern US (South and North) and Scandanavia (wife is Finnish). Hunting
in the West is possible, but not likely soon.

Actually, I think I'm going to hold off on getting another barrel for a
little while. I figure that what I have right now (.22LR and .30-06)
can cover everything I'd want to hunt in the near future (rabbit, small
European deer, caribou, whitetail, moose) if I just use the right ammo.

Maybe there will be a .2x caliber barrel for varmints in my future.

Thanks again.

Matt
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