.223 Bolt Action........Suggestions?

S

Sneevil

New member
I'm thinking about a light, short (maybe 20" bbl), with iron sights & detachable box magazine, chambered for this round. Already own a .308 (Savage 10FP, Tasco SS 10x42, with a shorty Harris bipod).

I also have an ancient 180 series mini-14. Of course, I'd love to have an AR15 or even one of the Russian rifles, but can't get within 200 miles of one here in the PRK) :mad:

The purpose of this rifle (like we need a reason to buy another weapon) :rolleyes: would be offhand practice at different distances with iron sights, and to serve as a backup for the mini, as that is the only thing I've got that uses .223.

Any suggestions?
 
You will never go wrong with one of the Remington 700 type rifles. They're regarded as the most accurate out-of-the-box bolt action production rifles on the market.

CMOS
 
which .223

Even though it doesn't have iron sights, I would seriously consider Remington's 700 LTR. A great bolt action sniper quality rifle with a 20" fluted barrel. I too live in the PRK and feel the pain on not being able to buy an AK or AR:mad:
 
I bought a Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker last summer and am thoroughly impressed with it. It is available in .223, has a detachable magazine and is incredibly accurate! Don't know if it comes with iron sights, though.
 
"[Remington is] regarded as the most accurate out-of-the-box bolt action production rifles on the market."

I thought that award went to Savage.

Rick
 
In my experience the most consistently accurate out-the-box rifles are made by Sako and Tikka but I've not spent much time with Savage. Remingtons can be made more accurate but the standard factory rifles have too much variance in accuracy in my experience.
 
I looked into this a while ago and was quite disappointed to find that (as far as I could tell) all of the current production .223 bolts are 1/12 barreled, which limits your ability to shoot longer (ie, heavier) bullets. I'd like to see a Remington 7 or a Ruger ultralight with a barrel twist at 1/10 or faster.
 
Thanks for the replies. I think the choice now is between the Remington Model Seven and the Savage 11F. Neither have detachable box magazines, but both have iron sights. The Remington, however is a 1 in 12 twist with a 20 inch bbl, and the Savage is 1 in 9 with a 22 inch bbl. I'm considering the 'youth' model of each.
 
Hey Sneevil, I've got a S&S 223Rem M7 and it just happens to be one of the most accurate rifles in my safe. I was hoping for groups in the 8s (0.800"-0.899") but with it's favorite Load and the trigger-yanker(me) having good concentration, it easily shoots in the 4s.

I can think of no reason why the B&L 223Rem M7 with the iron sights would not be "capable" of the same accuracy level. But, my older eyes need the benefit of a good scope to get the groups I shoot.

By the way, you will really enjoy not having to spend half your range time chasing down the cases. The trigger is easy for a Gun Smith to adjust, or there are great aftermarket triggers available. I've done my own for many years and have never had to get an aftermarket trigger for my "hunting/plinking" rifles.

For what it is worth, I've settled on the 45gr 50gr, 52gr, 53gr and a few 55gr bullets for my rifle. I do like the 50gr-ers the best, but I don't shoot way out yonder with it. If extreme long range is your interest, a quicker twist barrel, as has been mentioned, would be needed to stabilize the l-o-n-g Match Grade bullets properly.

Good luck on your choice, Hot Core
 
Ain't we got fun?

Hey PJR,

Ain't it cool that we have the option of going for under-branded firearms such as Tikka and Howa (and Savage, too).

Rick
 
Don't even think about this...

Like it or not, and I don't, I have a Ruger MK-II Ultra Lite in .223 that gives me a 3 to 3 1/2 inch group.

I would stay away from the "ultra-lite" type rifles.
 
RickD

Never thought of Tikka as underbranded but the term fits. Mine is in .223 and is my predator control rifle. Previous to picking mine up I used a Remington Model 7 in .223 and only went with the Tikka because of the detachable mag option. My circumstances do not permit a loaded rifle to be kept lying around.

The Tikka shoots 3/4" groups with just about everything and with good handloads gets in the .6" range for five shots.
 
Hey, Madison!

With a buggy-whip barrel, I've always figured that if your first two shots are inside an inch, that's as good as it gets. And, since the idea for that rifle is carrying in the field while hunting, you're not supposed to need more than one shot, anyway! :) A tight three- or five-shot group is the result of a lot of work on both bedding and load development...With those thin barrels, controlling barrel vibrations to uniformity is mucho importante.

I have a Ruger Mk II, regular barrel in .223. Of course, it wears a Timney trigger...Regularly gets 1/2" groups to 3/4", depending on me...

FWIW, Art
 
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