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Target Rifle
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My first inclination would be to take a peek at the CZ 527 Varmint models. They come with rock solid proprietary rings, a single set trigger (un-set is usually around 3-3 1/2lbs, set stage is around 1lb give or take an ounce or two), they have generous palm swells that weem to work equally well for righties or lefties, free floated bbl's. I can't recall at the moment if the newer models come with 1:12 or 1:9 twist barrels, but that should be of little concern at 300yds as 55 to 69 grain bullets will/should do just fine.
I have both the 527 Varmint and the American models, and I can tell you- they have been the best money spent on rifles that I can claim. I load mine a little on the warm side, mag length, but with only 55gr bullets. I have never had a problem with loading, firing, ejecting. Nor have I ever had any problems with the rings going loose, or adjustments in the trigger mechanism going squirrely.
CZ has a healthy following here- check the search feature and see for yourself. That might be good medicine for me too- as I started to write that no one has admitted a dislike or hate towards them. But it might just be that I haven't personally seen a flame towards that line of rifles yet.
Anyway, glad to see folks who still do some earnest research before taking a rifle buying plunge. As much as I endorse the CZ's you might well decide they aren't right for you after all- at least you can say you made a well researched decision regardless of which rifle you go with. Have fun, good luck, and good shooting!
Edit: I just peeked at the CZ website, and it does appear they sport Varmint barrels in 1:9 twist.
I have both the 527 Varmint and the American models, and I can tell you- they have been the best money spent on rifles that I can claim. I load mine a little on the warm side, mag length, but with only 55gr bullets. I have never had a problem with loading, firing, ejecting. Nor have I ever had any problems with the rings going loose, or adjustments in the trigger mechanism going squirrely.
CZ has a healthy following here- check the search feature and see for yourself. That might be good medicine for me too- as I started to write that no one has admitted a dislike or hate towards them. But it might just be that I haven't personally seen a flame towards that line of rifles yet.
Anyway, glad to see folks who still do some earnest research before taking a rifle buying plunge. As much as I endorse the CZ's you might well decide they aren't right for you after all- at least you can say you made a well researched decision regardless of which rifle you go with. Have fun, good luck, and good shooting!
Edit: I just peeked at the CZ website, and it does appear they sport Varmint barrels in 1:9 twist.
You can't go wrong with a heavy, free floated fluted barrel, laminated stock, AccuTriggered, Savage Bolt Gun. Barrels are easy to replace.
May I suggest a Savage Single Shot, in 223. Mine shoots: 1/4" MOA {three shot group} at 100 yards. It likes: Black Hills Remanufactured 223, using once fired Lake City Brass, loaded with 69 grain Sierra Match Kings; that I order from Midway.
May I suggest a Savage Single Shot, in 223. Mine shoots: 1/4" MOA {three shot group} at 100 yards. It likes: Black Hills Remanufactured 223, using once fired Lake City Brass, loaded with 69 grain Sierra Match Kings; that I order from Midway.
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I would recommended either a CZ 527 or a Savage 10 FCP-K for a .223 based on direct experience. Both shoot well out of the box without tinkering at all.
The Savage comes in about $150 cheaper if you opt for the Kevlar stock on the CZ (I would recommend it if you shoot with a bipod as I do). The Savages were about $ 700 and the CZ 527 was around $850 both without scopes.
I have the CZ 527 Varmint with the factory HS Precision Kevlar stock that has a factory trigger at 3.3 lbs and also has a set trigger just under 2 lbs. It shoots great averaging under 0.340 at 100 yards with my top 10 hand loads including bullet weights of 40, 45, 50, 52, 55 and 63 grain bullets. Its best loads average 0.264 with Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tips and 0.274 with 52 grain SMKs. It has even shot 69 grain SMKs with several loads averaging under 0.440 inches so it has great performance over a wide range of bullet weights, which surprised me for a 1:9 twist.
I've been able to duplicate that kind of MOA performance at 200 yards as well. It has shot over 1200 groups and still shoots just as good as it did on the first group.
My two buddies at the range have Savage 10 FCP-K with Accu-triggers and Accu-stocks and they both shoot very well. Their triggers are in the 2 lb 10 oz range from the factory.
The oldest Savage 10 FCP-K (with about 600 groups recorded) averages 0.328 at 100 yards with its top 10 hand loads but with a smaller sample of bullet weights.
But it has shot some loads with 68 grain bullets at 0.490 so the Savage also has good performance over a wide range of bullet weights. It's best load averages 0.282.
The newest Savage 10 FCP-K (with only 120 groups recorded) averages 0.398 at 100 yards but has only shot 52 and 69 grain bullets. His best load averages 0.276 with 52 grain bullets. He shot a couple of new 52 grain loads this weekend into several one hole groups that haven't been included in the totals so his 10 best loads got a whole lot better. The 69 grain bullets are a bit heavy for its 1:9 twist but is still shoots them well with its best 68 grain load averaging 0.371.
As you can see, all three rifles are good shooters. We record everything we shoot for groups to verify the loads so there has been lots of data to confirm that the CZ 527 and the two Savage 10 FCP-Ks were very stable and accurate platforms right from the factory.
The Savage comes in about $150 cheaper if you opt for the Kevlar stock on the CZ (I would recommend it if you shoot with a bipod as I do). The Savages were about $ 700 and the CZ 527 was around $850 both without scopes.
I have the CZ 527 Varmint with the factory HS Precision Kevlar stock that has a factory trigger at 3.3 lbs and also has a set trigger just under 2 lbs. It shoots great averaging under 0.340 at 100 yards with my top 10 hand loads including bullet weights of 40, 45, 50, 52, 55 and 63 grain bullets. Its best loads average 0.264 with Nosler 40 grain Ballistic Tips and 0.274 with 52 grain SMKs. It has even shot 69 grain SMKs with several loads averaging under 0.440 inches so it has great performance over a wide range of bullet weights, which surprised me for a 1:9 twist.
I've been able to duplicate that kind of MOA performance at 200 yards as well. It has shot over 1200 groups and still shoots just as good as it did on the first group.
My two buddies at the range have Savage 10 FCP-K with Accu-triggers and Accu-stocks and they both shoot very well. Their triggers are in the 2 lb 10 oz range from the factory.
The oldest Savage 10 FCP-K (with about 600 groups recorded) averages 0.328 at 100 yards with its top 10 hand loads but with a smaller sample of bullet weights.
But it has shot some loads with 68 grain bullets at 0.490 so the Savage also has good performance over a wide range of bullet weights. It's best load averages 0.282.
The newest Savage 10 FCP-K (with only 120 groups recorded) averages 0.398 at 100 yards but has only shot 52 and 69 grain bullets. His best load averages 0.276 with 52 grain bullets. He shot a couple of new 52 grain loads this weekend into several one hole groups that haven't been included in the totals so his 10 best loads got a whole lot better. The 69 grain bullets are a bit heavy for its 1:9 twist but is still shoots them well with its best 68 grain load averaging 0.371.
As you can see, all three rifles are good shooters. We record everything we shoot for groups to verify the loads so there has been lots of data to confirm that the CZ 527 and the two Savage 10 FCP-Ks were very stable and accurate platforms right from the factory.