223 Bolt Gun or AR.......

When I was in my 20s and first started shooting, I was really into semi-autos. Then a few years later I started appreciating simplicity and accuracy, and would only buy bolt action. Now I like building ARs because ... I get to build them, not because they are semi-auto.

So I don't think you are weird at all. I do share your feelings in a similar way though. For me I just cannot get into revolvers. Nothing wrong with them, and I have shot them and have had good experiences. I just don't prefer them and probably won't ever own one.

Lou

I like them both but i do like assembling ARs with various goodies on them.

I prefer a 24" barrel AR-15 over a bolt action and prefer a bolt action over a 16" M4forgery.

Even though the .223 came about because of the AR, (M16) it is perfectly at home in a bolt gun, and preferring a bolt gun is fine.

Of course some of us might like both flavors, and are wanting to try some others as well.

I have both, 2 Ar's and a Mossberg MVP Predator 20". I like them all and the fact the Mossberg takes the AR mags.

Now this is going to date me.....I owned an AR back when the only ones for sale...were made by Colt.....shot a lot of vermin with it....west texas prairie dogs....which at the time...were a pestilince for ranchers.....used the Colt labled mini scope made for it...with the range dial for 5.56....sold it when offered much more money than I had into it....now....40plus years later...I use a CZ527Fs...which will happily shoot 223/5.56....and using winchester white box and my own reloads...will shoot clover leaf groups all day long....and that CZ single set trigger has spoiled me...given the choice between another AR and another CZ....I will take the CZ EVERYTIME!!!

i have both. the ar for me is mostly a tool for serious social work, and there isn't much that bests it in that task. however, i get more enjoyment out of bolt actions and prefer them to semi's.

i've considered building an SPR type ar, thinking that perhaps i would enjoy the ar platform more at the range if it were capable of the same precision that my bolt guns are.

I'm with you. I have had a few ARs and AKs over the years and can't say that I truly miss any of them. I have had a few bolt guns that I don't miss either. The only guns that stand out as guns I should have kept have been revolvers and lever guns. I do like the .223 and will own one again if anybody makes another box fed lever gun or a nice pistol/revolver in that chambering. It is at the top of the wish list for the contender as well.

I do want to purchase an ar lower and build the rifle but I just can't seem to pick out any reason why.

Now, if someone made say a long action bolt or lever action rifle that fed from a detachable box with interchangeable caliber barrels I might could go for that, but the springy vibratey AR is a definate no-go for me. I might prefer a piston driven but I doubt it.

I enjoy shooting my Savage Axis 223 bolt gun, it is just a pleasure to shoot. Most of the time I also take the AR to the range and shoot each of them. Tend to go thru more ammo with the AR. Like the slower pace of the bolt guns for bench rest shooting.

I'm with you. Trying to convince myself to like an AR, and I just can't. As it "improves", I tend to like it less and less. I qualified in Basic on an A1, didn't mind it but liked it better than the A2 I had in Korea. Both were much better in my opinion than the M4 I just qualified on, especially with all the gadgets they throw on it.

Of course, these were all military uses. I'd like an A1 with the triangle handguard in a semi. The tacticool stuff I keep seeing in the magazines is just silly, to me - but to each his own.

I'm looking at the Ruger American or the CZ.

While I enjoy shooting my AR rifles my 223 bolt gun is an old Remington 725 that was originally a 222 Remington that I built as a 223. While the ARs are enjoyable to shoot I gravitate more towards the bolt gun. Just something about that rifle.

Ron

viking499:

Yup. Seek help!

I strongly prefer a bolt-action rifle over any other. They are strong, reliable, and tend to be more accurate when compared within same price-level. That is to say, compare a $900.00 bolt-action to a $900.00 AR, I'd bet a dime-to-a-dollar, the bolt will win, and can almost assure it, when using hand-loads. Are there ARs that are supremely accurate? Sure...and you'll pay for the additional 1,000th of an inch accuracy.

Dang! If I were a psychologist, I could have sent you a bill for that feedback.

Geno

nah man, nothing wrong with you. I prefer a bolt gun too. Better inherent accuracy in design and none of that 'SPRONG' from the buffer every time you fire. AR's are fun, I have my share, but the bolt gun remains supreme when it comes to accuracy. The top-notch AR's are close, but not quite there, for a much higher cost.

I enjoy both, I've got 3 AR's and one bolt action .223, however I've got two TC Contenders in .223 also one a pistol the other a carbine. Don't believe there is nothing wrong with you at all I too enjoy the .223 caliber, simple as that.

Bolt guns have advantages when reloading as well.

Okcafe86 said:

Bolt guns have advantages when reloading as well.

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I'd like to hear your take on this. Thanks.

Anyone else this way, prefer a 223 bolt over the semi auto platform?

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Bolt guns have advantages when reloading as well.

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Only when they do not use the AR mags. Longer OAL possible.

Jim

My favorite:



My 2nd favorite:

I have and like both. The uses seem to vary on my mood. When I'm making a walk around the property I grab my Ruger M77 Compact. It's light, handy, balances very well, and is accurate for the first 2-3 shots. If I just want to send lead down range I grab the AR.

If I need to dispatch some critters chances are I won't need a fast follow up or more than one or two rounds.

However, the AR can be used for anything I use a bolt gun for. It might give up a quarter MOA of accuracy, but it has a whole lot more versatility (ie. 30-40 round mags, semi auto, room to add gadgets). I might not need all the versatility but I like having it there... Just in case.

Another "both" guy, but for hunting I'll always take my 77 Mk II. Just messing around, no telling. My Colt AR is easily a one-MOA critter, but the Rugilator is usually at or marginally above 1/2 MOA.

A bolt action 1 in 8" twist with a 22-23" med weight barrel is on my 'A' list. (I 'only' have 5 guns on it at any time). I'd like to find one and set it up with a great scope. I'd take an AR if it were (legally) given to me, but it's pretty far down the 'buy' list.

Greg

Anyone else this way, prefer a 223 bolt over the semi auto platform?

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I own one .223. It's a bolt gun. I guess there's nothing I like more than plinking at fairly long distances. The most I have been able to shoot in my region is right at 500 yards. The .223 is great for that distance. It's plenty accurate and wind issues are just starting to get severe at that length. I have a Savage LRPV that cost considerably more than many AR's and I wouldn't trade it for much of anything. It shoots plenty accurate and I can afford to shoot it all day without getting into reloading (which I should do but I figure by the time I'll get good enough at doing it to make me a better shooter I'll be too old to care).

For social work I still prefer my rock solid SKS. I love the feeling that it's going to fire 99.9% of time I pull the trigger. It's accurate enough at social work distances and it's more powerful than the .223. And to be honest I've seen several low end AR's that were jam-o-matics instead of automatics. Of course they aren't all like that but I would probably have to put more money with the LRPV to get a really good AR. I guess there are some better low price examples now than there were a few years ago but I have stockpiled enough 7.62 x 39 on my boat to keep me going for quite a while (as in I'll probably never live long enough to shoot all of it). I bought the gun cheap. I bought the ammo cheap. It does what I want it to do so I'll keep it. As much as I admire the beauty of a good AR I just don't seem to be interested in buying one. If I could find a really nice, super light, short barreled AR with a good can on it and a very nice red dot scope I can see myself buying that if the price was right. But the price is still way more than I have in my peasant rifle and it will still do what I need it to do. Plus it's a barrel of fun to burn up ammo in too. I've put a bunch through it already. I even bought a backup but I traded it for a graduation present for my daughter. So as much as I would like to own a really nice AR I can't justify the cost for what it will do for me. I know some of them are really good deals these days and I know they are very effective in many ways. But keep in mind that I have an SKS with detachable mags that actually work perfectly. They have never failed once in over 20 years. I can shoot a tight enough group at 100 yards to hold off any band of zombies headed my way and if I need to shoot farther than that I'll get out the LRPV. It will put eyeballs out at 300 yards with relative ease (not that I ever want to do such a thing - it makes me ill to think of it).

My first comment would be, if you find a given rifle or action more enjoyable, by all means shoot it and forget the rest. Your enjoyment is what you should be after. Even if everyone here disagrees, your opinion is the one that counts to you.

I personally lean a bit towards the auto loaders. They are the best balance. My favorite to shoot is a custom build, basic A2 stock, plain Jain flat top upper the most basic round rifle length float tube you can get, around an 18" SPR profile barrel. Its a very fun gun, plenty accurate, and handy enough to haul around. I've been through the ultra light rifles and find them more enjoyable to carry but not to shoot all day. I've been through the ultra accurate and heavy rifles which are fine to take from the car to the bench but thoroughly unenjoyable to haul for any time. Too many of today's bolt rifles are no lighter than a standard M4 clone. The ones that are more accurate tend to be 10+ pounds. I figure I can always slow down my shooting with an AR but I can only speed up so much with a bolt gun. I am on the look out for an ultra light bolt rifle in 223 again that isn't overly expensive and isn't built to the bottom dollar. So far, I've come up with not much and will probably build an ultra light AR instead.

If I could have just one it would be an AR.

When precision shooting, nothing beats a bolt gun but the AR is the best for all around use.

I have both. The biggest problem with bolt action 223's is that almost all are twisted for very lightweight bullets 55 gr or lighter. Most won't shoot bullets 60 gr or heavier very well. I think that is beginning to change somewhat.

If forced to choose 1 it would be the AR. They can be configured multiple ways depending on what you want. I have 3 and have no more than $800 in any of them and accuracy is MOA and often much better depending on the ammo used. With comparable scopes they all weigh about the same.

Basically anything I can do with the bolt gun I can do with the AR. And there are some things I can do with the AR that I cannot do with the bolt rifle. But I don't plan on selling the bolt gun either.

jmr40 said:

I have both. The biggest problem with bolt action 223's is that almost all are twisted for very lightweight bullets 55 gr or lighter. Most won't shoot bullets 60 gr or heavier very well. I think that is beginning to change somewhat.

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For 2014, Weatherby changed the .223 rifling on their Vanguard S2 from 1:12 (or 1:14 on some models) to 1:9 across the board. I have a 1:12 one, and while I shoot 55gr, it will handle up to 62gr. It's a tack driver.

I also have a 1:9 AR. If I need a bigger bullet, I have other rifles for that. I wouldn't be using the AR for hunting game in any event.