I have finally decided on a caliber for a new rifle after much consideration, It will be a 223. I now need some help on deciding on a brand. Bolt action for sure. Price anywhere between 500.00 and 750.00 with or without scope, that can be added later. I already own a M77 Hawkeye which I really like, just that the triggers on those usually have to be worked or changed. This rifle will be mainly a range gun but will carry it in the field for coyotes and woodchucks, so not too heavy. New or used isnt really a issue, there a few dealers around here with quite a selection of used..
New 223, suggestions
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How far will you be shooting at the range and at coyotes? Are 55 grain bullets the heaviest bullet you're going to shoot or would you like the option of going heavier? Do you want synthetic or wood stocks, blued or stainless steel barreled actions?
It would really be better if you go out there handle a few rifles and then come back and discuss you're favorites. If you like Ruger that would be the first one I'd look at, ask the store if you can dry fire it. That will give you an idea if you like the trigger or not or if it is going to need some work.
It would really be better if you go out there handle a few rifles and then come back and discuss you're favorites. If you like Ruger that would be the first one I'd look at, ask the store if you can dry fire it. That will give you an idea if you like the trigger or not or if it is going to need some work.
shooting out to 300 yds, max weight bullets would be 55, I have handled a few different rifles, remington, savage, and I like your idea about dry firing them, some places let you, others dont..I have never owned a 223, I know they can be very accurate and I will be reloading for it. As far as the stock, I think unless I get something with a real nice stock I will put a boyds thumbhole on it, I have a boyds on my ruger and really like it. Stainless is not necessary but if the price was right I would go that route.
4runnerman
New member
Savage in the Model 12 FV series. Heavy barrel,but still not that bad. I carry mine Yote shooting all the time. A little more than you wanted to spend,but well worth it.
The bad news is that there will be as many different answers as responses. The good news is that there will be no wrong answers. Just about any answer will be a good one.
Since you said that you will be adding a scope LATER, then that means you will want iron sights NOW. So a good choice would be what "husqvarna" said: a CZ 527 - either a carbine, lux, or full stock. The trouble will be finding one.
Another option is the savage model 11 hog hunter. It has iron sights, 20 inch barrel, and is threaded for a flash suppressor. However it is a little heavy. It also has a crappy stock, but the stock can easily be replaced with a boyd's thumbhole, which you were considering.
Two other possible options in your price range are the howa and the tikka. They come without sights, which means that you would have to scope or add iron sights right away. The tikka is notorious for being accurate and is lightweight. However, the tikka only comes in a long action which may or may not be an issue for you. The howa is a great value for the money.
There is another option which, I think, would be ideal for your purposes: a walking around, stalking rifle for small game. The trouble is that it's over your budget and not a bolt, but you have a hawkeye and like rugers. That would be a ruger 1 A in .222 remington, which ruger is offering this year. .222 Remington is not as available or cheap as .223 but you handload. Just buy 500 rounds of empty brass, and you will have enough to last you for a long, long time. If you want to wait, I have also "heard" that ruger will be offering the 1A in .223 remington next year, but that's just internet rumors, so who knows for sure.
Anyway happy new rifle. The planning is half the fun.
Since you said that you will be adding a scope LATER, then that means you will want iron sights NOW. So a good choice would be what "husqvarna" said: a CZ 527 - either a carbine, lux, or full stock. The trouble will be finding one.
Another option is the savage model 11 hog hunter. It has iron sights, 20 inch barrel, and is threaded for a flash suppressor. However it is a little heavy. It also has a crappy stock, but the stock can easily be replaced with a boyd's thumbhole, which you were considering.
Two other possible options in your price range are the howa and the tikka. They come without sights, which means that you would have to scope or add iron sights right away. The tikka is notorious for being accurate and is lightweight. However, the tikka only comes in a long action which may or may not be an issue for you. The howa is a great value for the money.
There is another option which, I think, would be ideal for your purposes: a walking around, stalking rifle for small game. The trouble is that it's over your budget and not a bolt, but you have a hawkeye and like rugers. That would be a ruger 1 A in .222 remington, which ruger is offering this year. .222 Remington is not as available or cheap as .223 but you handload. Just buy 500 rounds of empty brass, and you will have enough to last you for a long, long time. If you want to wait, I have also "heard" that ruger will be offering the 1A in .223 remington next year, but that's just internet rumors, so who knows for sure.
Anyway happy new rifle. The planning is half the fun.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Lots half-MOA choices available. Mine is a 77 Mk II light sporter. 1:10 twist. All I've done to it is change to a Timney trigger. Easy to pop prairie dogs to 300 yards. About eight pounds with scope, sling and ammo.
Boomer58cal
New member
Not to get off topic, but a quick word on dry firing in gun shows. As we're all a family here I'd like to give a word of warning.
There have been several cases in the last few years here in Oregon of Anti-gunners slipping live rounds into guns on gun show tables. Some random gun show attendees picked up a pistol off one of the tables and attempted to dry fire it. Well it went BANG!.
For most experienced guys they always check but you never know.
One of the gun shops in my local area has a display set up with about a dozen different triggers assemblies you can try. Pretty neat deal. Ask around maybe you can find something similar in your area.
Boomer
There have been several cases in the last few years here in Oregon of Anti-gunners slipping live rounds into guns on gun show tables. Some random gun show attendees picked up a pistol off one of the tables and attempted to dry fire it. Well it went BANG!.
For most experienced guys they always check but you never know.
One of the gun shops in my local area has a display set up with about a dozen different triggers assemblies you can try. Pretty neat deal. Ask around maybe you can find something similar in your area.
Boomer
I have both Savage and ZC in .223. The Savage trigger can be set to your liking down to 3.5 lbs. and will shot MOA. A CZ 527 trigger can be set to your liking and the single-set can be set down to OZs. Mine single-set is set a 9 Ozs. and shoots sub MOA (1/4" at 100) with hand loads. My vote goes to the CZ. The 527 Varmint with heavy barrel and Laminated stock is not overly heavy for carry.
jason75979
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Might catch a bit of flack, but....
Bought my son(7years old) a savage 114 "lady hunter".
I know, I know, the name just screams!
But, after receiving the rifle and checking it. Its awesome. Nice and short, lite, accutrigger, raised cheek, minimal recoil, and just flat out pleasant to shoot.
Personally, I think savage missed the bus naming this one.
Bought my son(7years old) a savage 114 "lady hunter".
I know, I know, the name just screams!
But, after receiving the rifle and checking it. Its awesome. Nice and short, lite, accutrigger, raised cheek, minimal recoil, and just flat out pleasant to shoot.
Personally, I think savage missed the bus naming this one.
Attachments
Been there
New member
Tikka, guaranteed accurate. No improvements needed
About a year ago I bought a Remington 700 SPS Tactical. It is a heavy barreled version and some might not like the SWAT Team wanabe sniper look. I am ok with it. I put a Leupold Scope on it and it's zeroed pretty much at 30/300 meters.
I had my wife, my daughter and my son-in-law at the range one day. Son-in-law fires about 20 shots at 30 meters and he is having fun but the x-ring isn't in danger of extinction yet. He tires and my daughter looks at the rifle, settles in behind the scope and fires once. You know that little X in the center of the X-Ring? The round strikes about 2 millimeters south of the X, like inside the bottom triangle. We all thought is was a nice shot although my son-in-law was maybe a little tweaked.
About 30 minutes later son-in-law is shooting at 300 meter steel and after several shots he has hit nothing but dirt. He stops, my daughter slides behind the rifle and dings metal first shot. To his credit my son-in-law didn't lose his cool, but anyone looking wouldn't have mistaken his expression. He was ticked.
The Model 700 is still a fine rifle. I wouldn't try and say it's the best. But that heavy barrel in .223 Remington is such an easy shooter and the weight is excellent for a stable off-hand shot as long as you don't have to hold it too long. That being said, some might not like the rubber hogue overmolded stock and I wouldn't blame them, it's the one item I would probably change about the rifle.
I had my wife, my daughter and my son-in-law at the range one day. Son-in-law fires about 20 shots at 30 meters and he is having fun but the x-ring isn't in danger of extinction yet. He tires and my daughter looks at the rifle, settles in behind the scope and fires once. You know that little X in the center of the X-Ring? The round strikes about 2 millimeters south of the X, like inside the bottom triangle. We all thought is was a nice shot although my son-in-law was maybe a little tweaked.
About 30 minutes later son-in-law is shooting at 300 meter steel and after several shots he has hit nothing but dirt. He stops, my daughter slides behind the rifle and dings metal first shot. To his credit my son-in-law didn't lose his cool, but anyone looking wouldn't have mistaken his expression. He was ticked.
The Model 700 is still a fine rifle. I wouldn't try and say it's the best. But that heavy barrel in .223 Remington is such an easy shooter and the weight is excellent for a stable off-hand shot as long as you don't have to hold it too long. That being said, some might not like the rubber hogue overmolded stock and I wouldn't blame them, it's the one item I would probably change about the rifle.
just got done looking at a brand new Tikka in 223, just dont care much for the composite stock, would I be a fool or ruin the accuracy if I were to say put a boyds thumbhole stock on it? It has a hell of a nice trigger and its light but the stock just doesnt grab me, price new 569.00..blued, stainless could be had for 659.00
I don't know about the new ones but I have personal experience with 2 Remington 700's that shoot into one hole at 100 yds most of the time. Both were made in the early 90's. Both are 12 twist and like 52 gr Sierras.
One is laminated and the other is composite and both are blue.
One is laminated and the other is composite and both are blue.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
I've spent so many years with conventional stocks that I forget and bang my thumb when cycling a rifle with a thumbhole stock. Slower to reload, as well, from the extra sideways motion.
Okay for the range, I guess...
Okay for the range, I guess...
Huffmanite
New member
CZ527 should be considered. Don't own one, but did have one for a week to do a modification to the length of pull of the stock for its owner. Darn nice rifle with a very very good trigger. Rifle was extremely accurate too.
It's really hard to beat the set trigger on one of those CZs.
That being said, if you have a Sportsman's Warehouse or a Cabela's near you, you might want to ask about the Tikka T3 Superlites. They are exclusive to those two stores.
Sportsman's get them in a black stock while Cabela's gets camo. They are essentially a Tikka T3 Lite with a Sako Finnlight barrel. The barrel is stainless and fluted.
Rifle + rings weigh about 5 lbs 5 oz. Add a Leupold Ultralite scope and you have a coyote setup at under 6 lbs.
That being said, if you have a Sportsman's Warehouse or a Cabela's near you, you might want to ask about the Tikka T3 Superlites. They are exclusive to those two stores.
Sportsman's get them in a black stock while Cabela's gets camo. They are essentially a Tikka T3 Lite with a Sako Finnlight barrel. The barrel is stainless and fluted.
Rifle + rings weigh about 5 lbs 5 oz. Add a Leupold Ultralite scope and you have a coyote setup at under 6 lbs.
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