Whats the most accurate 223?

K

kst8fan

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Looking for a 223 and I'm not sure where to start. I like the mini 14 but its the only one I have experience with. The 20 rd mags from Ruger are nice, but I wouldn't mind a nice bolt action of some kind. I've looked at the CZ 527 carbine, Ruger m77 just to name a few. If I do go with the Ruger, I would go with the tactical model with the plain synthetic stock, not the collapsible/folding stock. Any help would be great. Thanks
 
Hopefully this doesn't turn into another AR vs Mini thread

If you are looking for the most accurate, I think you have to look into a bolt gun. I love the mini, but it's definately not the most accurate.

A buddy has a Browning A-bolt in .223 which will consistently put 5 rounds into one ragged hole at 100 yards.
 
I agree that you'll want a bolt gun for best accuracy for best price. My 223 is a Ruger Hawkeye and it shoots great, though I did have to tinker with bullets and powder combinations to get it shooting so well.
 
Yes, mentioning a mini14 in your post was asking for trouble:D

I have no experience with .223 in a bolt gun, but in theory should be more accurate.
 
No I definately dont want to turn this into a Ar vs mini war. I only mentioned the mini cause its the only one I have shot in 223. I really like it cause you can hold 20 rds as opposed to 4-5 with a bolt action. As far as accuracy goes Im sure the bolt would be more accurate. Just can't decide on one.
 
Bolt gun no doubt. I have a beat to **** 25 year old cheapie Savage, not a Tactical, with a regular old Bushnell Sportview 3-9 that will put 5 into literally a .30 caliber hole at 100 yards...when I pay attention. Speer 50 TNT with match primers neck sized and appropriate load of H335. This gun is pre accu trigger too. Varmint killer extraordinaire.
 
I love my mini. I am one of those guys who helped make a gunsmith rich by spending lots of money getting one accurized. I am very happy with the way it shoots. It is not accurate per se. I shoot it at my local CMP club once in a while and I don't get laughed at. I have lots of guns that are more accurate and cost a lot less.
In fact i will speak more generally. I love Ruger as a firearms company, especially post Bill, and i wasn't around for most of the Bill Ruger days so harbor no ill feelings, but Ruger guns aren't accurate. My MKII is the only one that approaches accurate and it isn't something I could really compete with. Even their bolt guns are not known to be accurate(bolt guns are where I go for accuracy and I don't own any rugers and have never really been close to buying one).
Hunting guns = ruger
Defensive guns ruger is competitive
Target guns, go somewhere else.

Of course, if accurate to you is hitting a milk jug at 100 yards off a bench or from prone, the Mini/Rugers will do the job.

Savage has a wicked good reputation and some nice looking product. I owned one. It was accurate.
I have been really impressed with my Marlin 891TS for the price, but it is not a 223. I would consider marlin if I was going to buy a bolt 223 b/c I am so happy with it though.

For semi-auto strictly looking at accuracy in 223 there is only one good answer. The beloved, super accurate, modular, improve as you go, AR-15. I am selling my "M4 derivative," but I admit it is accurate, especially for the price.

My Mini will be in the last 2-3 guns I would sell.
 
John, if I read this correctly you spent a lot of money to make an already expensive mini 14 shoot average groups but then run down the accuracy of box stock ruger hunting rifles because they shoot average groups?
To the op, if you are interested in a ruger, your best bet would be the mkii v/t series or the new hawkeye tactical. I have two v/t's & one tactical & they do not disappoint. However your checkbook is the limit on what level of precision is acceptable. I do not care for the looks or design of the savage lineup but facts are facts & they make very accurate rifles.
 
I had considered the Ruger M77 but then looked @ the CZ 527 carbine. I know CZ makes a good 9mm (CZ 75b) but don't know if their rifles are tack drivers or not. The CZ is cheaper than the Ruger M77 so that is a plus. What's holding me up on the mini 14 is I don't want to spend $800-900 on a gun with mediocre accuracy. Decisions decisions!!!!
 
The Most Accurate - Savage

Jim

SAM_0245.jpg
 
John, if I read this correctly you spent a lot of money to make an already expensive mini 14 shoot average groups but then run down the accuracy of box stock ruger hunting rifles because they shoot average groups?
Click to expand...
First, I was not looking for super accuracy when I bought the mini. If I had been looking for a very accurate semi-auto I would have, without a doubt gone with an AR(CMMG bargain bin if you can wait for it). Buying the mini to be an accurate rifle would have been a big mistakes, as would buying one of their bolt guns for the same purpose.

I don't think the Ruger bolt guns will be nearly as accurate as a similarly priced savage out of box. It just isn't what Ruger does. Almost like if someone bought a Mossberg 500 field/upland combo to shoot trap competitively. You can shoot one at your local club and it won't matter, but when you go to competitions that are won by hitting a few hundred clays in a row it is going to affect you.

For the price of the Ruger a whole lot of the Savage guns are within budget.
 
So Rugers aren't accurate....? I disagree. My first one was a beat up 77V made in the mid 70's. I got it cheap off a cowboy that had the barrel shortened so it'd fit on top of his truck dashboard. That rifle shot so good that I got tears in my eyes I was so happy. Since then I've added more Rugers and though this last one (223) took some load tinkering, once I found the magic load it shoots just great. You Savage guys can just keep buying what you want, but I'll pass on Savage. I'm sure they shoot great, but the looks of them just don't do a thing for me. Reminds me of the lyrics of a song from the late 50's or early 60's, "Your girlfriend is Ugly....Yea buddy, but she sho can cook". That sounds like Savage to me. Understand that I don't dislike Savage rifles. I just don't want one.

Still, this whole thread is about which is the most accurate 223. I know that I don't have the perfect answer to that question and I doubt that most of you can either. But we all have our preferences. If I had the money, I'd probably get something from Cooper Arms.
 
I did assume the price range considered was around the rifles OP mentioned. Knock out that assumption and my suggestions are of course all wrong.

How many people are seriously competing off Ruger actions?
You can anecdote it to death and tell me that YOU are happy with the accuracy(as I hinted I know some people who think a milk jug at 100 is accurate and the Rugers will all do that all day long), but that doesn't mean the gun is accurate.
 
If I were looking for an accurate 223 rifle, I would look at the CZ 527. They have been hard to find of late. If I ran onto an old Remington Model 700, I might buy one of those as well.

If accuracy is the dominant factor, I would not get the Mini-14, but I love mine. I just don't expect it to shoot 1" groups at 100 yds. I does just fine for blasting clay pigeon sized targets as far as I normally shoot a rifle without optics.
 
Price is a factor. The price of a mini 14 is as high as I would go. ($900) The mini would be nice. Something about throwing lead downrange in a hurry makes a guy smile!!! :D.
 
I saw new Mini-14's at Walmart for $609. Just letting you know.... I like my Mini 14, but I don't consider it a highly accurate rifle. It is basically a ranch rifle meant to be grabbed and to take a shot at a coyote or feral hog at reasonable distances. Yes, they are a lot of fun to shoot.

What about those UK Wildcats?
 
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