Jeramie Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 I get payed tomorrow (15th). Im heading to Walmart to order a new NEF handi Rifle. I was opting for a .223 but I read another post about the .243 being a good round for varmit too. I will be hunting yotes and probably a few other things too. I doubt I will ever sale the pelts but I may have one mounted (possibly even another cat). Both are legal deer calibers in Oklahoma. I have two 30-06's so I would likely never take one out unless it was the .243. They are both the same money (give or a take a few dollars). What do you all think? Category: Firearm/Gun Type: Rifle Action: Single Shot Manufacturer: New England firearms Caliber/Gauge: .243 Win Model: SB2-343 Finish: Blue Stock or Grips: American hardwood Monte Carlo pistol grip stock Barrel Length: 22 Heavy Overall Length: 38 Weight: 7 Capacity: 1 Sights: Scope mount rail and hammer extension Safety Features: Transfer Bar System Drilled & Tapped: Yes Additional Feature 1: Locking device for safety in storage & transport or Category: Firearm/Gun Type: Rifle Action: Single Shot Manufacturer: New England firearms Caliber/Gauge: .223 Rem Model: SB2-623 Finish: Matte Blue Stock or Grips: High-density polymer, black matte finish Barrel Length: 22 Heavy Overall Length: 36 Weight: 6 Capacity: 1 Sights: Scope mount rail and hammer extension Safety Features: Transfer Bar System Drilled & Tapped: Yes Additional Feature 1: Locking device for safety in storage & transport Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? I would probibly go with the 223 in the surviver model because of the cool stock. Youv'e already got a good deer gun so you don't really need the 243 and the smaller bullet will be a lot better on the pelts. A word of advice. Send the nef reciever back to the manufacturer befor you ever shoot it and have them lower the trigger pull to 3lbs (that's as low as the factory will go). Most gunsmiths will not work on those triggers and the factory 7lb pull is pretty stiff and hurt my accuracy pretty bad. If you decide later you want another caliber, just send the reciever back and get one fitted. You can get them pretty cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7th Posted July 14, 2005 Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? Both are great rounds and I will be getting a .243 soon for my 10 year old, my 7 year old took the .223 that Dad gave the boys 3 years ago and I would like to have the 10 year old shooting something with a li'l more uuumph then the .223 on the WV deer he will go after for the first time this year. For Ok shooting, I would go with the .243 over the .223 just for the range that it has over the .223. Do you reload or know someone that does? The 55 gr HP in the .243 is a screamer and don't mess up a yote as bad as I first thought it would. Go up to the Sierra 85 gr HPBT and you have a gun that will take them out to 500 yds if you can do your part. I like to push myself and do shoot at that range and more, so get yourself out there and put some range time in and you will be hitting them out there also but only if you put the time in on the range. Good luck and good hunting. Frank. PS, are you Military? we get paid in the morning also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimT Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? I would go with the .223, and if you want get a .243 barrel later. They are cheap soooo.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gobblergetter15 Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? I would definately go with the .223 and like johnf said youll want the trigger pull lowered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? If I was going for versatility and we did not already have one I would go with the .243. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orion_70 Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? I missed out on the handi rifle in .243 at the gun show this weekend. I saw a guy carrying one but was looking at another gun when he walked up beside me at a booth and then asked the guy in the booth if he wanted to buy the rifle for $50... he won it, brand new in the box, never been fired.. needless to say it was over the counter before I could blurt anything out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted July 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? [ QUOTE ] PS, are you Military? we get paid in the morning also. [/ QUOTE ] Nope, just Salary. The 15th and the last day of the month. Btw, thanks for your service! Thats something I always wanted to do and made the wrong choice at 18, I didnt go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted July 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? Whoa! $50! What a good buy! To bad you missed out on that one..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted July 15, 2005 Report Share Posted July 15, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? Personally, I am not a fan of the Survivor stock. I would stick with the wood version. I also would get one or the other then send the receiver in and get the other barrel, or more barrels. Barrel Accessory Program The .223 will be cheaper to shoot. You will find a lot more choices in ammo for the 223 also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted July 16, 2005 Report Share Posted July 16, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? If you are only going to hunt smaller game I would go with the .223 just b/c of the cheaper ammo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7th Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? Well, Zac just got his birthday gift today (he will be 11 in Nov) I got a great deal on a wood stocked handy rifle .243 just what I was looking for him. I will be home Thanksgiving day and hope that he will get his first deer then, what a going away present for me! Hope that this will hook him bad, he has been up in the air about hunting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? I've got one and love it. Make sure you get a scope that's as good as the gun. They're are a lot better riffle than thier price tag suggests. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? [ QUOTE ] Personally, I am not a fan of the Survivor stock. I would stick with the wood version. I also would get one or the other then send the receiver in and get the other barrel, or more barrels. [/ QUOTE ] Why don't you like the survivor stock? It looks to me like it would be easier to control and would get better accuracy with the pistol grip. Am I wrong here? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? I don't like injection molded stocks for one. They are way too flimsy for my liking. I am also not a big fan of thumbhole stocks. Its ok for a benchrest gun, but I do not like them for hunting. Actually, they will tend to give worse accuracy off the bench than a plain stock. the verticle grip lets the shooter put too much downward pressure on the grip. This induces stress and opens groups. It can also move POI. Keep something under your wrist to take the weight off and you will find the groups shrink. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7th Posted July 17, 2005 Report Share Posted July 17, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? johnf, this is the 2nd youth handy rifle I have, the other is in a .223 and my 6 year old has laid claims to it. I was looking at getting something with a li'l more uuuumph to it and still light recoil. Dad has me looking at the 95 gr Belistick tip but it is very hard for me to get away from Sierra bullets. I have used the 85 gr HPBT and loved it for me but will look at the 100 gr SBT for Zac. AJ, I don't care for the thumb hole stocks my self, I have a Seal Skin sock that I cut the top off of and put dry rice in the foot area, ran a bead of silicone and sowed it shut the over lapped it and sowed it again. Set this under the grip and a li'l squeeze and the site will go up, lighten up on the grip and it comes down. That is one of the best things I got in my first sniper school and us it all the time. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? [ QUOTE ] johnf, this is the 2nd youth handy rifle I have, the other is in a .223 and my 6 year old has laid claims to it. [/ QUOTE ] How do yo like the 223 for the 6 year old? (size, pull, weight, kick ect.) I was thinking about getting one for my daughter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
preacherman Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? I, personally, like the little .243 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7th Posted July 18, 2005 Report Share Posted July 18, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? johnf, Jimmy is 44" tall and will go about 45 lbs, sorry though I forgot he is 7 now. He loves the thing, I put the gun on the sand bag and with a scope on it he put 14 out of 15 rounds in a 2" block at 100 yds the first round was at 11 and 8" out. He takes it out hog hunting with me, has not got one yet but still looking for one to stay there long enough, may get his some shooting sticks. He can shoot setting down OK just takes time. Frank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lilcrackshot Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? Well I think you should go for the 223 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? After looking at the additional barrel prices Im going to pic up a .270 at a local pawn shop. I think I can get it for $175. Its very clean and well worth the money. I am also ordering a .223 and a ML barrel. Aj, can you order both barrels at the same time. If I send in the receiver will they fit it for both the .50cal and the .223 and send them back at the same time? Again, thanks for the input gang. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnf Posted July 19, 2005 Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? They will fit as many as you want to buy. I would make sure that they dropped the trigger down while it was there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted July 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 19, 2005 Re: .223 or .243? I think I will John. I rarely will take a shot over 150yds. Depending on what part of Arkansas your from youll understand. We have thick Oaks and Pines, etc. Im sure the lighter trigger will be a nice addition though! I cant wait to get everything in so I can start playing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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