I' ll just tell you why I got one. I am an avid squirrel hunter, and in fall when you can get 75yds+ shot the 22LR just falls short. So I decided to step up to the 17HMR. And even then the 17HMR is sorta over kill, so I image the 223 would be worse.

But you can ask why a 223 instead of a 243? why a 270 instead of a 30-06? Why 38 special instead of 357 Mag? Why 20ga instead of 12ga? Why, cause it' s nice to have something different than everyone else.