De41'
Sure, at relatively great expense it can be done. BUT: Accurate Arms (powder co') shows its use in handguns but not in rifles in their Volume 1. They say it's good on varmints to 200 yds out of a 14" barrel.
I'm guessing, just guessing, that the .223's case capacity gives a relatively poor velocity (due to its relatively poor expansion ratio) in rifles that use it converted to 6mm/TCU. The 6mm bore would use up that powder capacity quickly.
The .223 Handi' you've got right now could be converted to a .22-250 very easily. With it's 1 in 12 twist it would probably handle Speer's 70 gr' hunting bullet Very Well.
Now that would be interesting! A high-speed 70 gr' bullet (or one of a lesser weight like Hornady's 60 gr' spire point) would be stable out of the .22-250 at that twist to a very good distance, I'd say. The 70 gr' would probably be stable beyond 700 yds. And it would take some pretty large deer at 300 yds' --- from what I've seen a .223 do with just 60 gr's of projectile. I'd guess the .22 cal' bullets down to 55 grs' of weight would not come apart from rotational velocity at the forward velocity supplied by a .22-250 at that twist rate. Remember many .22-250's use a 1 in 14 twist.
The neat thing about this conversion: you only need new brass and new, large rifle primers. You can use BL-C(2) with Excellent accuracy out of a .22-250. I'm loading rounds for a friend that are doing it out of a Model 700.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it! Wish I'd thought of these parameters before....... :wink:
SS'