.223 Rifle What To Buy

CZ says today they're in the process of switching over to 1:9 twist in the .223s
Those will be stamped that way on the barrel, mine is apparently the older 1:12.
Denis
 
I tried only one heavier bullet in the CZ .223 here, Black Hills' 68-grain Heavy Match. The other three were 64, 60, and 50 by other makers.

It did not like the usually-good BH load at all.

They vary.

The CZ will accommodate both .223 and 5.56, and it's not a matter of the 5.56 being "hotter", just slightly different in dimension as a cartridge.
Denis
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Unless you have a very new CZ 527, the only ones that have 1:9 twist are the CZ 527 Varmint. That is important to know.

According to both of my reloading manuals the dimensions of 5.56 NATO and .223 REM are identical, the maximum amount of powder is very different, the 5.56 NATO being hotter.
 
It's not the powder charges that determines whether a given rifle is set up for .223 or 5.56, it's the chambers.

Not a matter of the 5.56 being "hotter".


Today, CZ says they're transitioning the American 527 from the older 1:12 to 1:9.

Denis
 
The cartridge dimensions are the same.
The cartridge load can be different, that being the 5.56 load can be hotter.
The chambers are different.

The reason you don't shoot a 5.56 NATO in a .223 Rem is because it is a hotter round and the chamber's lead to the rifling is shorter in the .223 Rem, the combination of the two is what causes concern.
 
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Again- it's the chamber, not the powder charge, that determines whether a rifle is set up for .223 or 5.56.

Rifles chambered for the .223 are perfectly capable of handling 5.56 PRESSURES, inherently & intrinsically.
A dedicated 5.56 is not built stronger, it just has a different chamber cut.

There are some .223 loads that can overlap some 5.56 pressures, the potential problem arises more from running a 5.56 in a chamber not set up for it than in the 5.56 being "hotter".

The CZs in so-called .223 caliber are simply cut for the 5.56, allowing both types of .224 rounds to be fired in them.
They're not built any stronger or any different otherwise.
Denis
 
If I take a .223 brass and load it with 22.5 grains of Ramshot TAC, is that a .223 load or a 5.56 load?

Now if I put in 25.0 grains of Ramshot TAC, is it a .223 load or a 5.56 load?
Now if I put in 26.2 grains of Ramshot TAC, is it a .223 load or a 5.56 load?

I must be missing something obvious about the comments otherwise I think I would be in agreement already.

The min load for .223 Rem 62 grain bullet with Ramshot TAC is 22.5 grains and the max is 25.0 grains.

The min load for 5.56 NATO 62 grain bullet with Ramshot TAC is 23.6 grains and the max is 26.2 grains.

So, is it hotter? Is there something I do not understand about this?



For Accurate 2200 using a 62 grain bullet:
.223 Min 19.5 grains Max 21.7 grains
5.56 Min 20.3 grains Max 22.5 grains

Again, if I take a load with 22 grains of Accurate 2200, is that a .223 load or 5.56 load? Is it hotter than a load with 19.5 grains?

I am missing something or not conveying something well, I don't know which.

Here is an article on .223 vs 5.56.
 
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Yes, you're missing something, but I can't really put it any plainer.

The powder charge is NOT what differentiates between .223 and 5.56 ammunition, or between .223 and 5.56 rifles.
Do some research.
Denis
 
option

To me, a .223 bolt should be a lightweight, handy thing, the modern phrase being the "walking varminter"....but to me more like "walking sporter". To borrow a phrase from Cooper.."no more cumbersome than a walking stick."

Something down the lines of the Rem Model 7, or the YZ/Mark X Mini-Mausers suits me just fine.
 
It's handy but not what I'd call lightweight, but my Ruger #1 varmint in .223 is super sweet. .5 MOA or better. Love that gun. I've had it since 1987 or so...
 
FWIW, Had a .223 CZ rifle in my possession to increase its length of pull for its owner. Would take it to range to shoot after I did the job on adding a spacer to the butt.

Used some of my .223 reloads in the rifle. Long story short. I was impressed with the CZ and its accuracy. To me it was also a darn nice looking rifle. Rather nice trigger...push it forward, changed the trigger pull from a hunting one to a very light benchrest target type trigger pull.

The CZ owner is a serious shooter/reloader/hunter. He absolutely loves the rifle and I understand why.

Me, I acquired a .223 Marlin X rifle heavy barrel from a fellow range member about a month ago. He wanted a shorter barrel .223 rifle and his asking price for the rifle was too good to ignore. Decent adjustable trigger and for me its not unusual to shoot 3/8" 100 yd 4 shot groups with it. I'm still playing with rerloads for the rifle. Unfortunately, mine is a plastic stock and not sure Marlin ever made them in wood. Heck, think Marlin no longer offers an X rifle in .223. But, I have mine in a wood stock I made for it just for shooting from benchrest.
 
CZ all the way -
I bought the 527 Varmint .223 (1:9) a couple of years ago couldn't be happier with it. It prefers 69gn BTHP's.
I mounted a Bushnell Elite 2400 6-24X40 using Warne Maxima high rings. The scope clears the barrel by approx. 1/4" w/ adequate bolt clearance - that's pretty close. As far as the wood goes - I ordered mine & got lucky.
Same time I bought the varmint my nephew bought a Savage VLP, we both used the same scope/rings set-up. The CZ has a better trigger (VLP has Accutrigger), is more consistant, & is just a better quality rifle.

CZ527 Varmint in .223 w/ Bushnell Elite 2400 6-24X40


 
Since you commented you want to shoot for fun, sell eventually, and /or may hand it down to a family member. Having a 2-Grand budget. If your looking for fit & finish quality. Kimber or Cooper Sir.
 
Sako's are great, but not inexpensive.
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that is why shooters buy tikkas instead of sakos:D

fancy people who talk about how the stock is marbled or whatever buys sakos

people who shoot their rifles buys tikkas

this is how mine is set up

adjhunterbrownscale700-600x600.jpg


not my pic
 
Look at the Sako Varmint stainless, as good as a custom build and better than most of whats been suggested here, IMO!;)
 
Okay guys sorry been away. Let me get some more opinions. Sako 85 varmint, Anschutz 1770d, Cooper M51. Which one would you choose and why? Which one would hold resale value.
 
If cost isn't an issue, I'd go for the Cooper. After that, probably the Sako. If cost is a consideration, I'd get the Tikka. That said, I really like the Ruger Hawkeye in 223 that I have.
 
+1 on the CZ 527, I love CZ rifles and my buddy has one in .223 with the set trigger, it's a tack driver with a Bushnell 3200 elite fixed 10 on it. Definately a nice looking wood stocked accurate well built .223Rem.
 
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