Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles How about a .223 Rem equivalent made for short actions?

The idea is to make a mild .223 cartridge that is ideally suited for a standard .308 length action, and isn't overbore either. It would be nice to have a milder .22 cartridge tailor-made to cycle and feed in a .308 length bolt action rifle. Something that wouldn't burn a barrel in 1500 rounds but still common as dirt in a Model 70 Featherweight.

Maybe given length requirements and case capacity, it isn't even possible. I might be asking a question with no valid point, but that's why it's a question. If there were a popular mild .223 case for .308 length actions, Winchester would already chamber it in the M70. And maybe that cartridge really is already, and has to be practically, the 22-250 Rem, especially if handloading is factored in?

I have owned Model 700 and Ruger Mark II in .223 Rem in the past. Also a CZ 527 which was truly a great rifle but the scope mounts, backward safety, and bolt handle compelled me to sell it on. Currently have a Kimber Pro Varmint in .223 Rem which seems like it might be the right answer for me. I like the CRF and the three position safety, as they matches my Model 70. And I put Warne bases on it so I can swap scopes easier.

Glad it works for you, Stick, not all of us are as talented as you, and we sure don't all have the same priorities.

Back to Phil,

223 almost by definition is a "mild" cartridge. If Joe Biden allowed me only one "hunting rifle," it would probably be a 223. Just an amazing, versatile platform, so easy to work with.
Honestly, 22-250 is on the snorty side already for me, my 22BR is probably as hot as I'd ever load for, it scoots and shoots. In its special, stubby way, it's been a good choice for me, so good that I'm interested in what lies "in between," meaning a .441 based along either PPC or Grendel lines.

Agree. I've settled on the .223 Rem in that bracket as I can practice a lot with good barrel life. I just wish it would be chambered in the Model 70. I understand that they used to do a CRPF ultra short action for it, and FN even made a TSR bolt action in .223.

I had a Model 70 Varmint Laminate in .223 but it wouldn't feed or cycle worth a damn. Probably New Haven fit and finish though. When they have to make a whole new action type for it, you know it's going to either not work or be discontinued. Hence the wish for a .223 Rem equivalent tailor made for any 308 length action. The 700 and the Mark II seemed to work OK though.

I wonder how the old push feed M70 Featherweight XTRs fed and cycled...

IMO, prioritizing it being chambered in a M70 would be the least of my concerns. And that is from someone that has more Mod 70's than any other action.

If you want a CRF 223 M70, find a pre-64 that was rechambered to .222 and rechamber/rebarrel. They are out there. However, that it isn't going to be a 308 length action. Otherwise, Kimber is the next closest thing.

I went down the M70/223 rabbit hole a few years back. After owning a Stealth, Coyote, the above mentioned pre-64, and a couple others I slowly traded off everything but the Coyote and kicked myself for never getting a Kimber. I did punch the coyote out to 223ai.

Good luck

I read an article in the June issue of Handloader on the .224 Clark. Fits in short actions.

The 224 Clark is a 7x57 Mouser necked down,which mean 6mm Rem, 6mm Rem AI and 224 TTH case length,which is a short action Goat Fhuqk. Hint.

Pardon reality,being a priority. Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!.................

My copy of PO Ackleys book on wildcated rifle cartridges is at my sons place, but wouldn`t doubt what your after has already been done. Nothing much really new..if it`s a brass cartridge case, someone has modified it.
Look him up.

Agree. You absolutely need the rifle to feed and function when the gophers coordinate and start a flanking maneuver, or that porcupine skids into the dirt with those lethal spikes a few feet away from you.

I also like the CRF because I can control how hard/far the brass gets flung. Mostly I just want the same safeties and other ergonomics so handling gets to be second nature. Then my cheaper shooting translates to my .308 and .375H&H. So Kimber has me as long as they make an 84M in .223 Rem.

Though I did choose an Anschutz 1710 for rimfire and sold the 77/22, go figure. The accuracy and the trigger were the main reasons for that. Hard to shoot anything else after you make little one hole groups at 50 yards.

Vudoo CRF is all about ZERO bullet deformation and is simply a fhuqking marvel,due that and other reason(s). Hint.



I've a few 77 Rimfires/Horns/KHorns and a few Annie 54's too. Hint.



Just sayin'................

218 Mashburn Bee.

If you think push feeds don't have the ability to reliably extract a fired cartridge I have to wonder!

Whatever your think of, unless it is adopted by the military it will never become as popular as the 223. Just about everything that can be done to the .224 has been done, you want a short action .473 head diameter there is the 22 Benchrest and 22-250 and all its variations. Any cartridge with a .473 that will feed will need to be downloaded to match the 223 Rem, even the 22 BR is getting too short to feed reliably without some serious work.

CFR's are highly over rated. I've owned a gunshop and would test fire every rifle I took in trade and saw no advantage. All of my target an hunting rifles are push feeds an they work just fine. We've come a long way in 100+ yrs when the CFR was developed for bolt action rifles. We are no longer using powders that were notoriously unstable in heat(cordite and early smokeless), burn cleaner, more control in loading and the list goes on, on how reliable and consistent modern ammo is.

The 22 BR is hardly fhuqking "daunting",in regards to feed/function. Simply feed it ala AICS DBM's and you are there. Hint.

Even if it is a Fhuqking Krieger. Hint. LAUGHING!







Pardon wares that exist and my simply shooting it all and then some. Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!...............

I had a push feed model 70 Featherweight .223 and it fed and cycled perfectly.

Joan,

My Model 70 XTR Featherweight 223 was THE biggest piece of fhuqking schit Factory Rifle I've ever owned(outta 100's and 100's),but mine actually existed...you "lucky" kchunt. Hint. Congratulations?!?

Fortunately for you,Imagination and Pretend are free,so even you can "afford" to "contribute". Hint.

In fairness however,the 70 Heavy Varmints wearing S/S tubes in 223,were/are fairly Skookum,despite 9" RPM being too slow and a Push Feed. Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!.................

Good to know. One of those is still on the bucket list.



I see the Vudoo doesn't fail to eject when it's not harming bullets. Looks like well made actions too. Annie 54's can be temperamental about ejection.

I like the GAP stock, but would forego the thumbhole as they don't generally fit me well.

Q: What scopes are those? Looking for a go-to offhand scope from 4-16 or 20 x 40ish with focus down to 15 or 20 yards, with decent adjustment range. Haven't found what I want other than a Sightron Big Sky that I like. Of course if I like something, then they stop making it.

Stock ergo's are subjective and MacaMillion crashing the Annie T-Hole Mould remains amongst THE Darkest Of Days. Annie "feed and function",remains the most HILARIOUS in the Industry. Hint.



You wouldn't like those scopes. 10yd parallax 42 Mil's of erector travel and they track/repeat/hold zero like no other. Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!.................

Good to know. One of those is still on the bucket list.

one of those is NOT on my bucket list at all!

I've had one for 20 plus years.....and it shoots great...

paid $300 for it at a gun show, because the original owner was old and getting out of going out to shoot...

Said it only had about 300 rounds down the tube and it looked like it..

I've put a couple thousand down the barrel myself.. mainly Blue Dot, Unique or Alliant Steel loads...

actually more, because its averaged a couple thousand in several varmint seasons alone...mainly 40 grain V Max and/or Varmaggeddons..

Another plus is if you need to put the round back in the magazine you don't have to fully eject it, just pull the bolt back far enough to push it back into the magazine.

Rickety,

You and Shefire should combine "forces" and align your Imaginations and Pretend,if only in "fairness"...you "lucky" kchunts. Hint. Congratulations?!?

It'll only come as a "surprise" to a "Hard Charging" Texan,that even via 700,you can simply wrap portside digits belly stock belly,wthdraw said chambered round and simply "snick" it back in the mag,less a Texas Juggling Act. Hint.



This makes it a VERY Big Day for you,because now even you "know". Your Velcro Sneakers making more sense than ever,given your "abilities". Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!..................

I see you've been hitting the Jim Beam again Stumpy. Its only 7 Pm on PoW Island and you're hitting the bottle.. which evidently you are out of Cocaine and Weed....I'll still give it to ya tho Stumpy... no one makes the most out of their last two working Brain Cells than you do....

for a lazy guy, NO ONE gives their jaws as much of a daily work out than you do....but I guess living alone.... its either on line on he campfire, or being out in the outhouse Choking your Chicken.. with thoughts of Fat Broads on your mind...

it ain't easy being Schtick is it?

when you wake up from sleeping it off... have yourself a good day Stumpy....even at no cost, you're still the best entertainment value on the entire www....