RE: 223 or 243
I've never been a fan of the .223.....so IMO get a .243
To me if the .223 weren't a military round, it would be cease to exist. Both the .22-250 and .220 swift are way WAY better.
And the .243 has more of a varmint/deer combo where as the other is pretty strickly varmints. Seriously, if you gave me a .223.....I'd sell it. If you gave me a .22-250, .220, .243, I'd certainly keep it/use it.