DoubleUp
Well-known member
Like many of you, I've hunted them with everything from a 17 Rem. to 308 Win. There really are too many external factors to say which is better. For the fur hunters, when fur was worth something, the smaller calibers were less likely to destroy pelts. For the contest hunters and control guys, instant killing is the ticket, so the bigger bores have lots of appeal. I like the stopping power and range of the big 22's like the 250, etc. or the 6 mm bores like the 243. Then again eastern hunters may need a different weapon than the long-range western hunters. My hunting is almost exclusively at night, and I really like the AR platform for that. Plus, I reload everything, and plentiful brass is readily available for the 223. Same can be said for the 6x45 which has a little more horsepower. I had been shooting my 22-250 bolt-action (Savage 18" barrel suppressed) with good results but have currently switched back to the AR (Stag) in 223 Wylde chambering with a 16" Satern barrel suppressed. It handles so well with the suppressor, allows instant follow-ups, and doesn't cost an arm and leg to reload. Night calling, I seldom have a need to shoot over 200 yds. and usually much closer. Is it perfect, obviously not, but it does get the job done rather well (when I do my part.)