What do you really want to do with it? Here are some thoughts if you really want it as a long range plinker.
Since money is tight, here are some financial considerations that would concern me:
First of all, the .223 with 69 and heavier match bullets is good out to 600 yards and then some with a 1-in-9 or faster twist barrel.
If I were not competing, and just plinking, I would keep the .223 barrel and simply slow down, letting it cool between shots. (Cost savings due to not purchasing a new barrel, magazine, bolt face, etc....)
I would not switch calibers for the same reason.
I would skip the tactical bolt handle if money is an issue. (oops, I see you already purchased it.) I would only purchase items that would actually help me shoot more accurately. A lot of things are cool looking, but if money is tight, I'd rather have an uncool, but accurate, rifle.
Do you reload? If so, .223 reloading components are much less expensive than comparable .308 components.
So: from a strictly financial perspective, I'd stick with the .223 and spend your money on ammo and shooting it.
If you really want to change calibers, for a long range round that would also be good for long range plinking, target shooting and hunting, I'd certainly ask you to consider a 6.5 such as the .260 Remington (which is essentially a 6.5mm bullet (instead of a 7.62mm bullet) in a necked down .308 case). The cost to change would be exactly the same as if you changed to .308 Winchester (new barrel, bolt head and mag).
260 Remington Advantages: Relatively low recoil, great long range and hunting capability. If you reload, you get a more versatile round than the .308 for about the same price, or maybe a little bit less. I have nothing against the .308, and for 99 percent of what you would likely be doing, the two rounds would provide a functional equivalency. (in other words, there are differences, but you would be hard pressed to tell the difference in most real life situations.)
260 Remington Disadvantages: If you don't reload, harder to find factory loads sometimes, and factory ammo is likely more expensive than comparable .308 ammo.
That's my two cents. I hope my thoughts are useful.
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