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looking to buy a new rifle ?
- Thread starter rebs
- Start date
hounddog409
New member
of those listed, I would recommend the Ruger.
Always been a fan of Ruger, and own or have owned a bunch with out issue.
I am not a fan of Savage, but this is not saying they are not good rifles.
Actually a Ruger Precision is on my short list for next purchase.
Always been a fan of Ruger, and own or have owned a bunch with out issue.
I am not a fan of Savage, but this is not saying they are not good rifles.
Actually a Ruger Precision is on my short list for next purchase.
What's your budget?
"...Savage or RugEr..." Six of this, half dozen of that. You can buy strictly on the price but try 'em both on for size if you can.
Cabela's shows there is a decided difference in price between a 12 FV and the Ruger. A 20" .223 Ruger runs roughly a grand. $379.97(currently on sale) for a 12 FV, that is a varmint hunting rifle, not a target rifle.
"...Savage or RugEr..." Six of this, half dozen of that. You can buy strictly on the price but try 'em both on for size if you can.
Cabela's shows there is a decided difference in price between a 12 FV and the Ruger. A 20" .223 Ruger runs roughly a grand. $379.97(currently on sale) for a 12 FV, that is a varmint hunting rifle, not a target rifle.
If you want a disposable, meaning when you shoot out the barrel in say 8K rounds, you sell it and buy another, the Ruger American Predator with AR15 mags. $500ish.
In the middle, maybe a Tikka T3 Varmint.
If you want something more refined that will be about $500 to rebarrel, then a Bergara HMR-Pro. $1500ish
In the middle, maybe a Tikka T3 Varmint.
If you want something more refined that will be about $500 to rebarrel, then a Bergara HMR-Pro. $1500ish
MarkCO said:If you want a disposable, meaning when you shoot out the barrel in say 8K rounds, you sell it and buy another, the Ruger American Predator with AR15 mags. $500ish.
Why disposable? The Ruger is as easy to swap a roached out barrel on as a Savage for around $350. You can always upgrade the stock to a chassis as well and I imagine you'll eventually see a McMillan or Manners. B&C already has a Medalist for the rotary mag rifles.
kilotanker22
New member
There are tons of excellent options in your category. I would venture to say that you couldnt go wrong with any option from Savage, Remington, Ruger, Winchester, Bergara,CZ or Tikka. The list goes on and on. My personal preferences lie with Savage, Winchester and Remington. Price wise Savage, Ruger and Remington all have similarly price budget lines. That all shoot sub 1 moa with some care. You will find far more after market parts and upgrades for a Savage 110 or Remington 700. Than probably any other make and models.
My recommendation? Savage 110 tactical, Varmint. Or Remington 700 SPS Varmint, VTR or SPS Tactical.
My recommendation? Savage 110 tactical, Varmint. Or Remington 700 SPS Varmint, VTR or SPS Tactical.
Winchester hasn't made a .223 for several years, and they had a 1:12 twist barrel better suited to 55 grain bullets or less. With the bullet options today I'd try and find a 1:8 twist rifle, the Ruger American rifles offer that. Savage and Remington use 1:9 twist which would my second choice.
Because they are cheap. When you go to start rebarreling them, you want to clean up the machining and true things and pretty soon you have spent $500 on a $400 rifle. Better to shoot them for about 1/2 to 3/4 of their life and sell it.Why disposable? The Ruger is as easy to swap a roached out barrel on as a Savage for around $350. You can always upgrade the stock to a chassis as well and I imagine you'll eventually see a McMillan or Manners. B&C already has a Medalist for the rotary mag rifles.
Don Fischer
New member
I've never owned a Savage CF rifle but of the two that's where I'd go. They didn't get that reputation for accuracy for nothing. I've had a couple Ruger 77's, older wood stock's. Beautiful rifle's that left a lot to be desired in the accuracy department. If I were looking into a 223 for target shooting it would be a 700 Remington. I've only even seen one Remington I couldn't make shoot, a mod 7 when they first came out. Never have another it was so bad. Have a 700 ADL I got as a gift years ago that shot about as bad as a rifle could. Pryed the stock off and completely rebedded it and found a 1/2" rifle. Today it has a wood stock! I have it stuck in my mind that if accurate is what you want you need a round action. Remington and I believe Savage have that. Look at the custom action's made for bench rest shooting, all are round actions. I think the deal is they are much easier to bed. Probably a bit stiffer too if that matter's. I have a 700 BDL long action I put one piece Leupold base on with the intention of stiffing up the action some. Don't know if it did but the rifle sure shoot's! I never tried bedding either of my Ruger's, that recoil lug has me stumped. Ruger mod 77, one of the most beautiful production rifles in my opinion but I'd never buy one looking for accuracy!
MarkCO said:Because they are cheap. When you go to start rebarreling them, you want to clean up the machining and true things and pretty soon you have spent $500 on a $400 rifle. Better to shoot them for about 1/2 to 3/4 of their life and sell it.
How far out of true are they, have you had one apart to check? Modern machining tools usually get things pretty close the first time. I'd be willing to bet that's why most shoot well out of the box.
Yep, they are cheap I'll give you that. So are Savage Axis rifles and people screw on new tubes all the time. Just because they are cheap doesn't really equate to disposable IMO.
Disposable is probably not the best term. Use, wash, sell...repeat. I am on my 2nd RAP in .243Win and I will likely sell it this spring. About 5K on the All weather RA in .223 I use as a trainer for new shooters. My first one, it cost me $75 to put 2K through it. Sold it to a guy who is going to shoot a box a year at Deer and Pronghorn.
I have had three completely apart. One a RAP and the other a RA all weather and a RPR. What I found was consistent with what others who have trued up their RPRs. Bolt lugs and faces, some in the barrel locking lugs as well. I guess the nice thing is that they can really be squared up and polished up at home, if one wants to, since headspace is easy to reset.
From a $ per round with decent accuracy, the Rugers are, for me, a great value. Even as a high volume shooter, I have to balance the time I spend reloading, shooting and working on guns. For me, it takes about 30 minutes of time to sell one and get another. So it is 1/3rd the time and cost to sell and replace as to true up and rebarrel. I'll use that time on my higher priced rifles though, and those are what I mostly shoot in matches.
I have had three completely apart. One a RAP and the other a RA all weather and a RPR. What I found was consistent with what others who have trued up their RPRs. Bolt lugs and faces, some in the barrel locking lugs as well. I guess the nice thing is that they can really be squared up and polished up at home, if one wants to, since headspace is easy to reset.
From a $ per round with decent accuracy, the Rugers are, for me, a great value. Even as a high volume shooter, I have to balance the time I spend reloading, shooting and working on guns. For me, it takes about 30 minutes of time to sell one and get another. So it is 1/3rd the time and cost to sell and replace as to true up and rebarrel. I'll use that time on my higher priced rifles though, and those are what I mostly shoot in matches.
I'm a fan of the Ruger. But I'd also call it a disposable rifle. Yes, it is possible to re-barrel one. But I don't think it is cost effective. They are plenty accurate as is and if I ever wore one out I'd probably just buy another rather than try to replace the barrel. It would cost less, and probably shoot just as well.
For what the OP wants to do he can buy 2 or 3 of the Ruger Predators for what the Precision rifle costs. Same barrel, same action, same accuracy. The stock isn't worth that much to me and the versions that take AR magazines are a bargain.
The 77 was never designed with accuracy in mind. It was designed with rugged reliability in mind. The new Ruger American series isn't the same rifle and incorporates a lot of design features designed to enhance accuracy. It'll shoot with anything short of a custom rig costing 10X as much.
For what the OP wants to do he can buy 2 or 3 of the Ruger Predators for what the Precision rifle costs. Same barrel, same action, same accuracy. The stock isn't worth that much to me and the versions that take AR magazines are a bargain.
I've never owned a Savage CF rifle but of the two that's where I'd go. They didn't get that reputation for accuracy for nothing. I've had a couple Ruger 77's, older wood stock's. Beautiful rifle's that left a lot to be desired in the accuracy department.
The 77 was never designed with accuracy in mind. It was designed with rugged reliability in mind. The new Ruger American series isn't the same rifle and incorporates a lot of design features designed to enhance accuracy. It'll shoot with anything short of a custom rig costing 10X as much.
Id vote Ruger as well, but id opt for the Ruger Precision rifle
Comes out of the box ready to go. Slap on some glass and get shooting. When you shoot out the barrel, its as easy to change as an AR.
I have had three of those too. The one I have left only has the receivers and bolt left and is a highly customized integrally suppressed .308. Not as easy to change the barrel as an AR. Some of the barrel nuts take serious breaker bars to break them loose, and you still need a barrel vice and to set the headspace.
If we are voting, I'd take a Bergara or Tikka over the RPRs everytime. Better overall fit and finish for about the same amount of coin.
The Savage would be my choice for a keeper.
It has the acu trigger and that is a very good trigger, not quite a great one but good. The 12FV gets the varmint acu that goes down to 1.5 lbs.
You can change the barrel easily and upgrade in the process.
Bolt head floats so it has more up side in not needing to be blue printed to get accurate. Don't get me wrong, you want to shoot sub 1/4 MOA you will need a higher grade setup, but for varmint or target work its good.
Boyds makes great drop in stocks, I like the laminates for looks and they are composite so they don't move.
You will spend more on the scope than the rifle.
It has the acu trigger and that is a very good trigger, not quite a great one but good. The 12FV gets the varmint acu that goes down to 1.5 lbs.
You can change the barrel easily and upgrade in the process.
Bolt head floats so it has more up side in not needing to be blue printed to get accurate. Don't get me wrong, you want to shoot sub 1/4 MOA you will need a higher grade setup, but for varmint or target work its good.
Boyds makes great drop in stocks, I like the laminates for looks and they are composite so they don't move.
You will spend more on the scope than the rifle.
The reason I stay away from Savage is that it is up for sale by Vista, partly in an attempt to sanitize Vista from the scourge of selling guns. Every company that has taken that path has seen a huge increase in QC issues. Who will buy them, and will they even exist in a few years?
I have 3 FV12's, a 223, 204R & just got a 22/250. I use 'em for pdogs and punching paper. The 223 & 204R are completely stock except for the scope mounts & scope, shoot .5 to .75 moa with hand loads all day long. The 22/250 shot MOA with factory PPU 55g SP ammo on it's first trip to the range.
My choice would be a Savage target model. Savage target models generally shoot very well, have a pivoting bolt and easily replaceable barrels. They also have a good selection of target triggers and their own accutrigger isn’t bad.
Ruger has decent triggers, generally a bad rep on barrels and use as cast bolt raceways(Hawkeye) if that matters to you. I do believe they have improved their rep with the American series and the precision rifle series.
Ruger has decent triggers, generally a bad rep on barrels and use as cast bolt raceways(Hawkeye) if that matters to you. I do believe they have improved their rep with the American series and the precision rifle series.