223 Vs. 308: Review Of The Accuracy ,Velocity, Control And Power

223 Vs. 308: Specifications Overview

Give a quick look on the difference between both calibers.

223 Vs. 308: History & Development

223 Remington:

Developed in 1957 by Remington Arms and Fairchild Industries for the U.S. Army, the .223 was created to be a small-caliber, high-velocity firearm. The .223 Remington is considered one of the most popular common-use cartridges and is used by a wide range of semi-automatic and manual-action rifles.

308 Winchester

Designed in 1952 by Winchester, the .308 was intended to be a shorter military cartridge that could fit in semi- and fully-automatic military weapons. The .308 is based on a shortened .30-06 case.

223 Vs. 308: Bullet Size & Weight

Bullet Diameter:

• .223 Remington: Uses a.224″ caliber bullet (approximately 5.56 mm).
• .308 Winchester: Uses a .308″ caliber bullet (approximately 7.62 mm).

Bullet Length:

223 Remington comes with 2.26″ overall length, while 308 Winchester have overall length around 2.8″.

Bullet Weight:

223 Remington bullets come in various bullet weights. But the most common bullet weight range starts from 35 to 85 grains. The most common weight for a .223 Remington bullet is 55 grains.

On the other hand, 308 Winchester bullets weigh typically ranging from 110 grain to 180 grain. The most common bullet weights for 308 Winchester are between 150 to 180 grain.

So, a 308 Winchester bullet generally weighs significantly more than a 223 Remington bullet.

223 Vs. 308: Stopping Power

Stopping power is probably the most popular term when it comes to hunting or self-defense weapons.

.308 Winchester (7.62x51mm NATO) typically uses heavier bullets than .223 Remington (5.56x45mm NATO). Heavier bullets generally deliver more kinetic energy upon impact, which can contribute to better stopping power.

223 Vs. 308: Penetration

The 223 cartridge typically features lighter bullets (around 55 to 77 grains) that can fragment upon impact, especially when using hollow-point or soft-point designs. The fragmentation can reduce penetration, especially against harder targets.

On the other hand; with heavier bullets (ranging from 150 to 180 grains), the .308 is designed for deeper penetration. Its construction often includes solid or bonded bullets that maintain integrity upon impact, making it effective for penetrating barriers and larger game.

If you’re looking at a cartridge for penetration alone, the .308 handily wins, setting it up for more success while hunting bigger game.

223 Vs. 308: Energy Velocity

The more energy a bullet uses, the faster it will travel and the more effective it will be in the stopping power department.

The .308 Winchester delivers significantly more energy at the muzzle than the .223 due to its heavier bullets and larger case capacity. This increased energy contributes to its effectiveness in stopping power and penetration, especially in larger game or defensive situations.

223 Vs. 308: Trajectory

Trajectory is the way we measure the flight of a bullet to its target based on bullet drop (in inches).

When we compare the trajectory between 223 vs. 308, the.223 Rem holds the advantage here with a flatter trajectory up to 500 yards. However as it gets farther out it starts to lose velocity.

On the other hand, the 308 Winchester is a good option at a range longer than 500 yards because of its relatively flatter trajectory. For long range shooting, this makes it the superior choice.

Below In The Table We Are Showing The Average Bullet Drop (Inches) at Long Range

So, 223 is good for short range , while 308 is an ideal option for long range shooting.

223 Vs. 308: Recoil

When it comes to recoil in the 223 vs. 308, anyone would immediately notice the difference. The 223 has significantly less recoil than the 308.

The .308 will give you a kick that will affect the shot of even the most experienced marksman. The .223 on the other hand is much milder and will be hardly noticeable for a long-time marksman.

For a new shooter, the recoil will be nearly unbearable. If you’re new to shooting, you should be able to handle this recoil without much of an issue.

223 Vs. 308: Accuracy

Both 223 & 308 Winchester bullets are accurate for long & short range.

The.223 Remington is thought to have an effective range of 500 yards, while the.308 Winchester is thought to have an effective range of 800 yards (1,000 yards can be reached with handloads or match ammo).

In short, The.308 Winchester was created especially to shoot accurately at long ranges.

On the other hand, the.223 Remington was designed to be a high-velocity, low-bullet weight cartridge that could hit targets at moderate ranges.

223 Vs. 308: Best Use for Both

.223 Remington

• Varmint Hunting: Ideal for targeting small animals like coyotes and prairie dogs due to its high velocity and flatter trajectory.
• Self-Defense: Effective for home defense with manageable recoil and rapid follow-up shots, while reducing over-penetration risk.
• Target Shooting: Popular in competitions and practical shooting sports for its accuracy and quick handling.
• Training: Cost-effective option for training new shooters and improving marksmanship skills.

.308 Winchester

• Big Game Hunting: Excellent for hunting large game like deer and elk due to its stopping power and energy transfer.
• Long-Range Shooting: Designed for precision shooting, effective up to 800 yards or more with proper loads.
• Tactical Applications: Preferred by military and law enforcement for designated marksman roles requiring accuracy at distance.

223 Vs .308: Ammo Price and Availability

Availability:

As per availability comparison, both 223 & 308 ammo is widely available because of their popularity & demand.

Both of these rifle cartridges can find with a wide range of bullet weights and types for every conceivable application.

Price:

In terms of price comparison, the 223 Remington is cheaper than the 308 Winchester. Although 308 Winchester ammo is still relatively inexpensive when you compare it to some other high-end magnum cartridges, it can’t beat 223 in price.

At the time of writing, a 308 Winchester ammo 50 round box will cost you about $0.49/round roughly, while for 223 ammo 50 rounds of box, you need to spend $0.29/round roughly.

So, we can say that 308 Winchester is more expensive than most of your 223 ammo options.

.223 Vs .308: Reloading

In terms of reloading, both cartridges can reload easily because there are various different powders, bullet profiles, and bullet weight options available.

Since both cartridges are NATO rounds, there are massive amounts of cheap, surplus brass available to buy.

Final Thoughts on 223 Vs. 308

So, after a detailed comparison between 223 Vs. 308, we can say that they have their strengths and weaknesses and are better for specific situations.

If you are new to hunting and shooting, you want a cartridge that is a little more forgiving. The .223 will provide enough power for you to get started without overwhelming you from the start.

If you are hunting medium to large game, though, you need the stopping power of the .308 over the .223. Recoil doesn’t matter very much in these situations and killing your target with one shot is always the goal.

As always, we recommend taking both cartridges to the range before making your final decision.