I’ve only been checked by a warden for my bullets once. He looked at them and said “looks like GMX?” He was also a hunter so obviously knowledgeable but yeah it’s possible to be checked.
good catch man i shouldve read into the TMKs more!
It is legal to hunt with the 223 here in California, but we have a lead free bullet restriction because a condor ate a gopher that swallowed a golf pencil a few years back and tested for lead. I really like the idea of getting a 223 and really getting comfortable with slingin some bullets but I am afraid that the 223 will not do well out the 350-400 yard range, granted I have zero experience or knowledge of using smaller calibers on deer. Where I hunt, its dry open area, some brush, some oak trees, but unless its the rut itll be really hard to get inside 100 yards on a buck.
The 6 creed has caught my attention as well. I am going to see what the availability is today. As of right now I think I'm narrowed down to a 223, 243, 6cm, 6.5grendel
6cm is great, but it has limited factory rifle options and limited lead free options compared to the 243
As an owner of multiple Grendel rifles, I would remove it from your list due to your need for lead free bullets. The Grendel won't spit those lead free offerings as fast as the 6CM or 243 and you can't get get cheap practice ammo like you can for the 223. The Grendel with a 120 grain fragmenting cup and lead core bullet is a deer killer but with lead offerings you will limit your range below you desired maximum range in my opinion.
Hell yea, thank you Jay, this is some great info here. I will drop the Grendel from the list that's great.
Also, with a 223 you will need a fast twist (8 or better a 7) for the heavy lead free options as they are longer bullets. You would still be able to get your 400 yard desired range but you are on the edge of the acceptable velocity threshold for good expansion.
My 13 yo kid could shoot 7mn-08 pretty good. Take a look at ruger american compact 7mm-08. With your frame, it seems a great fit. 145 grn eldx does the trick every time. From 400 and under deer to 250 yards cow. With a basic 3-9x40 leup you got a great combo. Down the line uf you decide to put a suppressor, barrel length won't be an issue Look at the specs.
Form,
Great cartridge but the OP is in California and needs to use lead free offerings. The 7mm-08 unfortunately has very few lead free options in factory ammo. Most 7mm lead free bullets are optimized for the magnum 7mm cartridge class. Barnes does make a great 120 grain TTSX load but it maximum effective range for expansion is shorter than what I'd like to see.
I like this, a huge part of me wants to go 223, because i feel like ill learn to shoot the best and will get more range time in a cartridge like that. If the thread is "223 for everything," I've read it, I dig it, its what sold me on the 223 to begin with
