Thread: Will 223 still be popular

When limited to a bolt gun you'd think there would be lots of better choices than 223.
But when you factor in the cost and availability of factory ammo, cheap and easy to reload, long barrel and case life it's still a good choice.

The the 204 Ruger and 22-250 are the obvious alternatives, both being readily available in factory guns, but 204 Ruger is arguably not as good for deer or goats, and 22-250 factory rifles always come in a slow twist that limits the use of heavy projectiles.
I bought a 223 about 10 years ago and at different times have wondered if I should've gone for something else, but it's such a nice cartridge to shoot and the mix of cheap bulk ammo and reasonably priced match ammo has made me happy with the choice I made.