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Still debating, 223 vs 22ARC

KMW 1954

Experiencing metal lock trying to decide between re-barrelling. I have three Savage actions available, two of which are candidates for a new barrel. One is a Model 10 223 with a blind magazine that I truly love. It currently has a Model 12 26" Varmint barrel that still shoots just under .5MOA pretty easily with 69gr bullets. Would love to have this with a much faster twist. The other is a Model 110 Switchback 6ARC that I purchased used and it just didn't shoot at all. It now has a Shilen 28" 4 groove Bull barrel on it that shoots fantastic. It is staying as is. Lastly is a Model 11 that currently has the old 6ARC barrel on it and this is the one with the most probability of a new barrel.

My dilemma for this action is do I put a fast twist 223 barrel on it are do I go ahead and try the 22ARC? The whole foundation for this rifle will be bench target shooting out to 300yds. The 223 will give up a little speed but it will also use less powder so it should be a bit cheaper to shoot.. In all honesty I am highly intrigued by the ARC and I am already set with a bolt head for it.
 
I can't imagine at that distance either one wouldn't work well. Powder usage is 3-4 grains per round (ex. using Varget load data 77 gr.) more for the ARC.

Like above, the big issue is quality brass. 223 has everybody, ARC only has ADG at the moment.

So, do you like to gamble? Go with tried and true or roll the dice on the new kid.
 
Suppose, ask yourself will a 52 grain bullet achieve all I want to do? Yes you can go faster twist & heavier bullet for the 223. My impression is the 223 will do light to medium bullets well & heavy bullets OK when compared to the 22 ARC. providing your barrel is twisted apropriatly.

With a standard twist 22 ARC I would expect the Heavy bullets & longer copper offerings will shoot good & I question if the lighter bullets would do well or not in the fast twist 22 ARC. If you only want to shoot the longer heavier bullets, the 22 aRC may serve you well.

If less expensive ammo is a priority for you, then 223 may serve you just fine.
 
All these responses and all these perspectives, all make valid points. Ones that I have asked myself over and over, hence the dilemma. At times I lean one way and then the other.

The Model 10 will be a keeper and will most likely at some point be rebarreled with a Heavy Bull 223 barrel which also plays a part in my thinking on this. Which leaves the Model 11 that at this point is my playground. It has been a 243 originally and I shot it as that for a short time. Then if had the Model 12 barrel on it for 2 winters during which time I shot it in a Winter league. Now as stated is sits with that used 6ARC barrel on it.

That Model 11 was originally purchased as a barreled action with the intention of barreling it with a 6BR or 6 Dasher until that Model 12 barrel fell into my hands. It was a brand new take-off, never used and purchased for a mere $100.00.

As for brass. In the 223 I am using Norma and PMC. I like both as they both work well and are very consistent. In the 6 ARC I have Hornady and Starline so have not tried the Peterson or Alpha. So far the Starline is holding up well and appears more consistent and durable than the Hornady. So with a new barrel of either persuasion it will also get new brass.

Still undecided!
 
I am biased. I have 6 .223's. Basically there isn't anything a .22ARC can do better, in my mind, than a .223 except maybe heavy bullets faster.
Now, if you want a .22ARC for the simple reason you don't have one, go for it. That's a perfectly valid reason. If I want faster I'll pull my .223WSSM out of the safe and send a pill down range FAST.
 
So you have a 223 and 6ARC for a range gun now, and you are wondering if you should go with another 223 or 22 ARC? And 300 is your max, with another 223 that shoots well?

I'm a savage nut myself, switch them around often to try new pairings. Out of the two you currently shoot, are either shot from a magazine or were either a repeater? Which one feeds better if you mag feed them? Does one have a stock set up you want to keep or do you have your eye on a certain stock you want to try?

You say you love your 223, but wish it had a faster twist. To me, that would be the answer. If your current rifle is set up as a 9 twist, see about getting that set up for lighter 53-69gr, and set your second up as a 7 twist for heavies?

I honestly regret not having a simple 22-24" #3 contour 223 in my savage barrel pile, will be fixing that in the next year or so.
 
I would rebarrel the 223 with an 8 twist, shoot it with 69-80 grain bullets and see what I thought before rebarreling the 6 arc into a 22 arc. You could rebarrel it with a 7 twist and use 80-85 grain bullets but that wouldn't gain you much at 300 and in. The per round cost is going to go up noticeably also.

For 300 and in the 8 twist will be everything you would want.

For bench shooting 300 and in, I don't think the 22 arc would give you anything noticeably better than 223 with an 8 twist or the 6 arc.
 
I'm another 223 guy, with various rifles in different twists and lengths.

I have a 7.5 twist Krieger 223AI that shoots very consistent, and would probably go that route before choosing 22ARC. At anytime, you can convert 223 brass into 223AI. Just setup the throat for the bullet you are going to use.
 
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