If your not going to shoot 300yrds or more definetly go with the 223 they have about the same knock down power and are way cheaper to shoot i personally have 3 223's and love them i have a savage of which i have over 100 coyotes killed with it and a remington 700 bdl thati just got and will use it on coyotes and my upcoming prairedog shoot and have a single shot heavy barrel nef that is pretty good but i would recomend the 700 bdl in 223 for a really good varmint gun.