Some things never change and THE Cardinal Rule is: Bullets matter way more than headstamps.
The .224" is always gonna have a much better BC,at anything resembling similar mass. For me,all I wanna shoot in a little guy,is 88's and their .545 BC. That is slicker than 105/8's in 6mm and they of course are traveling faster,out of like case capacity. Factor 2650fps in a Vanilla Little Guy 223,with same. No muss,no fuss and no bullshit. I still see Lapooey 223 brass on shelves,along with 88's.
AICS DBM allllllllllll the way for me. 1-7" for certain. I'd cut to the chase and bush the bolt,if talking OEM donor.
With all that being said,my crummy is warming up now and my Baby Montucky 270 is in the front seat. Why? It's S/S,short(18"),handy and I'm in LOVE with it. 5 in the belly,but modest work to increase COAL,as the magbox proper goes(700 milled follower too) and upon the bolt stop. Exhaust port is flared to boot. A 700 is Crazy Easy. AICS DBM and you are done.
As 22BR and 6BR go,it's the same extrapolation,as 88/90's and 105/8's go. Though NOTHING begs to please,like a 6BR. Again on a 700,simply AICS DBM and you are there. I bush those bolts too.
To set the stage,I'd simply opt AICS DBM on your existing Halibut and get your mind right upon same. AM steel 5-rounders for Default Utility and MDT Poly 10's as Herd Clips. A roundfile will take both to 2.5XX++ COAL. No flies on a 75 ELDM.
I PREACH a 700 based 7" RPM Vanilla 223 with 88's daily to pards,but everyone wants to get "tricky" or "fancy". I get it,because I have multiple rifles in all of 'em. Long story short,proficiency can't be purchased and a guy has gotta shoot. Had a pard over yesterday evening,who's missed more big shit,than most folks will ever see and I gave him the 7" vanilla 223 88 Talk for the umpteenth time. To no avail. He was trying to fuck me outta Seven DEADLY Sins and I just laughed.
A .473" Donor for a Little Guy would be 6BR and 7". A .378" would be a Vanilla 223 7".
Need to make a modest jaunt this morning and sniff around,while shooting come-ups on a few New Toys,then make it home before Post Office closes. With a shred of Weather luck,there will be a Mini Howie 7" RPM Bart' 22PPC AFI Carbon Queen lying in wait. 88/90's at 2800fps from a 19" and sub 4.5lbs bare rifle,with 4rd flush BDL bottom metal.
I can see it upsetting The Herd........................(grin)