223 Trainer

[77TMK]

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.

You can practice all the wind calls and positional shooting inside 200 yards with a 22lr and at 6 cents a shot. Easy to set up a 22 the same any good bolt gun.

 

[BLJ]

Easy to set up a 22 the same any good bolt gun.

I actually setup my 308 to match my 22.

I will agree that 22LR’s provide excellent practice.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

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?

Just get a Tikka, a Ruger, or an AR. Set it up well and start shooting. You can mix in your xbolt from time to time. The whole idea is MORE TRIGGER TIME. Who cares if they’re not exactly the same? I don’t.

I have many rifles and not one of them are set up the same. However, I’m adept with all of them. Switching from one to another is not a big deal. Shooting my .223 Rem and 22LR rifles has done nothing but good for my overall marksmanship skill level…at a cheaper cost too.

 

[hibernation]

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.

Definitely helpful, thanks for the input. I wonder if some of the perspective difference is just based on volume of shooting, where everyone's at with their practice/experience level.

I used to be that guy who shot a box or two of ammo per year from his hunting rifle. I was mainly a bowhunter and practiced a TON with my bow, but it was a pretty embarrassing level of practice with my rifle. Getting the 223 (and a 6.5 CM) upped my practice volume by a mile and has made a real difference.

Still, I might shoot a thousand centerfire rounds per year in total. You're well beyond that round count so it makes sense you take your training to a higher level and get more out of shooting larger cartridges regularly.