The .223 is indeed a very 'efficient' cartridge.
Up to its limits, of course, which are subject to 'debate'.
To stay on-topic, I would just say the .223 worked perfectly well for me as a varmint cartridge, but my hunting was mostly at short ranges (40 or 50 yards was a 'long' shot), and it was almost all fairly 'quick', offhand shooting.
The ~6-lb Colt Lightweight Sporter that I used was almost perfect for this, at least for a 'long' gun (it had a 16-inch barrel), so I'm all for hunting with the AR platform.
I also tried a 24-inch, heavy-barreled Colt AR, and although it was very accurate, it was really much too heavy and cumbersome for 'field' work, so I went back to the Lightweight.
Or a sixgun. 
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Complete thread:
- Self Justification -
Dave B,
2013-01-16, 11:59
![[*]](themes/default/images/complete_thread.png "Open whole thread")
- No need to justify it; they are handy little carbines. -
Rob Leahy,
2013-01-16, 12:24
- Good point... My .30 Herrett has one of those awful - Hobie, 2013-01-16, 12:29
- More or less how I ended up with a 7.62x39 rifle -
Hoot,
2013-01-16, 12:35
- I'm putting together a 300 Blackout for my son's eventual... - mcassill, 2013-01-16, 12:53
- Self Justification -
Charles,
2013-01-16, 12:56
- Well I've done that too! - Dave B, 2013-01-16, 13:11
- Charles, - Drago, 2013-01-17, 02:01
- I bought a Rossi 357 carbine and a mini 14 last year - stonewalrus, 2013-01-16, 13:48
- The .223 is indeed a very 'efficient' cartridge. -
FOG,
2013-01-16, 14:00
- The .223 is indeed a very 'efficient' cartridge. - Byron, 2013-01-16, 14:55
- No need to justify it; they are handy little carbines. -
Rob Leahy,
2013-01-16, 12:24