223 Trainer

IdahoFF

IdahoFF

FNG
Joined
Dec 17, 2020
Messages
73
So my main hunting rifle is a Browning Xbolt mountain pro. It seems damn near impossible to find an Xbolt chambered in .223 anywhere. I figured I'd stick with the xbolt platform for a trainer but if that's unavailable what do you all suggest that would contribute the same benefits?
 
thanks all. My gunbroker search this morning didn't turn anything up. appreciate the help!
 
I have found the search on gunbroker to work better if I use as little info as possible. Click on browning and 223 and start scrolling.
 
IdahoFF said:
So my main hunting rifle is a Browning Xbolt mountain pro. It seems damn near impossible to find an Xbolt chambered in .223 anywhere. I figured I'd stick with the xbolt platform for a trainer but if that's unavailable what do you all suggest that would contribute the same benefits?
Click to expand...
Hard to train with a rifle that does not have as much recoil as the intended use rifle.
 
Wapati said:
Hard to train with a rifle that does not have as much recoil as the intended use rifle.
Click to expand...
Isn't that the whole point of a trainer? Less recoil, higher volume for cheaper on the training rifle, better able to work fundamentals without developing a flinch. That's been my experience anyway.

Obviously there's a difference between shooting 223 and 7PRC, you'd need to practice with both to work recoil management and not develop lazy habits on a 223. But the trainer still serves a purpose being at lower recoil. Otherwise, why even have a trainer instead of just shooting the primary rifle?
 
hibernation said:
Isn't that the whole point of a trainer? Less recoil, higher volume for cheaper on the training rifle, better able to work fundamentals without developing a flinch. That's been my experience anyway.

Obviously there's a difference between shooting 223 and 7PRC, you'd need to practice with both to work recoil management and not develop lazy habits on a 223. But the trainer still serves a purpose being at lower recoil. Otherwise, why even have a trainer instead of just shooting the primary rifle?
Click to expand...
Well, if that’s your experience I’d have to say “you do you”. If your training fundamentals for hunting there are several things you can do with and without a training rifle.
1. You can practice breathing and trigger pull without a trainer using your 7prc and dry firing.
2. You can practice longer range target acquisition with your 7prc and the scope on that rifle without a trainer. I feel this is one of the most effective things to make substantial gains for success. Time is fleeting in a hunting scenario.
So if you’re talking about training to drive your rifle correctly using a way less recoil rifle does not give you that opportunity to learn how to drive. I would be very surprised if you or most folks don’t have some form of flinch or bad trigger pull when firing that 7prc. I could be wrong of course because there is always the straw man. I would suggest a 308 trainer so that a person could actually learn to drive a rifle that has recoil and will help develop the driving habits to make proper corrections. If you drive properly the corrections should be for environmental considerations.
Just my 2 cents.
 
hibernation said:
Isn't that the whole point of a trainer? Less recoil, higher volume for cheaper on the training rifle, better able to work fundamentals without developing a flinch. That's been my experience anyway.

Obviously there's a difference between shooting 223 and 7PRC, you'd need to practice with both to work recoil management and not develop lazy habits on a 223. But the trainer still serves a purpose being at lower recoil. Otherwise, why even have a trainer instead of just shooting the primary rifle?
Click to expand...

This. My Browning 6.8W Mountain Pro is a light rifle and ammo is expensive.

- Cost to practice - you nailed it. I can afford to shoot hundreds of 223 rounds. I cannot afford to shoot hundreds of rounds of 6.8W per year.

- Recoil - I can shoot the Browning accurately without a flinch. But, the recoil is tiring and I certainly am not going to try to shoot 100+ rounds at a single range session.
 
Wapati said:
Well, if that’s your experience I’d have to say “you do you”. If your training fundamentals for hunting there are several things you can do with and without a training rifle.
1. You can practice breathing and trigger pull without a trainer using your 7prc and dry firing.
2. You can practice longer range target acquisition with your 7prc and the scope on that rifle without a trainer. I feel this is one of the most effective things to make substantial gains for success. Time is fleeting in a hunting scenario.
So if you’re talking about training to drive your rifle correctly using a way less recoil rifle does not give you that opportunity to learn how to drive. I would be very surprised if you or most folks don’t have some form of flinch or bad trigger pull when firing that 7prc. I could be wrong of course because there is always the straw man. I would suggest a 308 trainer so that a person could actually learn to drive a rifle that has recoil and will help develop the driving habits to make proper corrections. If you drive properly the corrections should be for environmental considerations.
Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...
All good advice, and ultimately yeah, "you do you" always applies. Getting on target faster, practicing breathing and dry firing, for sure helpful. And I definitely did have a flinch when all I shot were "full-sized" cartridges out of light hunting rifles.

I'm a pretty mediocre shot, trying to improve, but adding a 223 trainer was pretty huge for me. The lack of recoil helped me eliminate the flinch, and honestly just got me to practice more. Dry firing is great, but having the 223 is more like I can get "dry fire" practice with instant feedback to keep me more honest. Hitting steel with the 223 is fun enough that I want to shoot more, and that feedback loop leads to more shooting, which is maybe what it's all about.

A 308 trainer isn't a bad idea though, I might consider that to mix it up. I view it all as a toolbox now. I still shoot 22LR, it's cheap and fun and I can work on group sizes from field positions for dirt cheap. I might shoot 100 rounds of 22, 50 rounds of 223, and 5 to 10 rounds from my main hunting rifle as a solid practice session. As season approaches, I'll mostly shoot the main hunting rifle.
 
hibernation said:
All good advice, and ultimately yeah, "you do you" always applies. Getting on target faster, practicing breathing and dry firing, for sure helpful. And I definitely did have a flinch when all I shot were "full-sized" cartridges out of light hunting rifles.

I'm a pretty mediocre shot, trying to improve, but adding a 223 trainer was pretty huge for me. The lack of recoil helped me eliminate the flinch, and honestly just got me to practice more. Dry firing is great, but having the 223 is more like I can get "dry fire" practice with instant feedback to keep me more honest. Hitting steel with the 223 is fun enough that I want to shoot more, and that feedback loop leads to more shooting, which is maybe what it's all about.

A 308 trainer isn't a bad idea though, I might consider that to mix it up. I view it all as a toolbox now. I still shoot 22LR, it's cheap and fun and I can work on group sizes from field positions for dirt cheap. I might shoot 100 rounds of 22, 50 rounds of 223, and 5 to 10 rounds from my main hunting rifle as a solid practice session. As season approaches, I'll mostly shoot the main hunting rifle.
Click to expand...
I agree that shooting more definitely helps a lot. I put thousands of rounds through my comp bolt 223 rifle a year, all positional shooting. I agree that all that has a positive affect on your abilities. I do know that shooting a 223 is far more forgiving for shooting form errors that larger calibers. My example to would be this, if you are not driving your rifle correctly it is possible to miss high, low, left or right and it’s you and not your environment so making a correction is very difficult. I do a lot of practice with my 223 as well but shooting my 25 creed is better for me to practice my form because it tends to show my bad habits. I suggested a 308 because the components are readily available and similar recoil.
Anyway hope this was helpful and I’m not trying to be a know it all. Just trying to give up one person’s opinion.
 
77TMK said:
Why not just get a precision 22LR?
Click to expand...

Because the .223 performs more like another center fire cartridge at longer range.

And, apart from the recoil, I can have the exact same rifle in .223 and my hunting cartridge. Or close enough to make no difference at all. I find that valuable for practicing in field positions and carrying it during the offseason.
 
The is irrefutable evidence of why most/ a lot of people on here have a .223 trainer. And a lot have changed to using their .223 as their hunting rifle, and a large majority have gone to low recoiling rifles that due to bullet selection will absolutely be devastating on game way further than most of us should shoot. But there is nothing wrong with a Big magnum as long as mentioned before you shoot it well. 1,000 rounds a week through a 7PRC would be rough at best, 1,000 a week through a 223 trainer is easy and pleasurable. You will absolutely become better with the 7PRC having a 223 training rifle. It has been unequivocally proven we ALL shoot low recoiling rifles better and more consistently than heavy recoiling rifles.
 
If you have the room, put a 3 or 4” gong out at 500 yards with a .223. Lots of fun and not hard to miss if you don’t have your fundamentals down and read the wind
 
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