223 bolt action recommendations
- Thread starter Waterboy3313
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Enfieldier
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I'm really happy with my Ruger scout in .223. It is heavy for the chambering but that helps hold it steady in off hand shooting. I replaced the plastic trigger housing with an aluminum one and the FH and handguard add a cool factor if nothing else!
kerreckt
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Savage
Varminterror
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Hand lapping isn’t the magic stick to precision.
Savage has earned its position in the market by delivering incredible performance at competitive prices. Ugly and heavy, with traditionally unfavorable features, they’ve changed a lot hearts and minds.
This Savage 12 BVSS in 223rem has been the most accurate factory rifle I’ve ever owned, including “factory custom” rifles. This particular 12 is my wife’s rifle in 223, but I have had a 22-250 and 223, and she’s had one in 300WSM - all of which printed itty bitty groups like this (this one just particularly forgiving, as it would shoot like this with anything we feed it).
Seedy Character
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My Remington shoots very well, the only change has been to mount it on a synthetic stock. I believe it is a Carlson. It had been a few years.
The most accurate .223 I have ever shot, was a bone stock Howa with a 16x scope. I wish it was mine, but, alas, it is not. Shooting Winchester factory ammo, 5 shots @ 200 yards, in a nickel size group. (5/8")
My buddy has the Ruger, because it used the AR mags, and he loves it. Another buddy bought the Mossberg and had feeding problems with his mags, that has no problems, in several ARs. He sold it.
The most accurate .223 I have ever shot, was a bone stock Howa with a 16x scope. I wish it was mine, but, alas, it is not. Shooting Winchester factory ammo, 5 shots @ 200 yards, in a nickel size group. (5/8")
My buddy has the Ruger, because it used the AR mags, and he loves it. Another buddy bought the Mossberg and had feeding problems with his mags, that has no problems, in several ARs. He sold it.
Turkeytider
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That`s great group precision !! What did the accuracy measure ? Just curious.
Varminterror
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.4moa left by .33moa down, net .52moa dispersion between group centroid (Mean POI) and Point of Aim. Point of aim was the vertex of the diamond shown in the photo.
Turkeytider
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Pretty good shootin`, Tex !!
sparkyv
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My .223 RARP is a tack driver. It's the 1st version with the dreaded rotary mag, but it'll never leave my stable.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
You guys are really good at spending my money 
Just kidding
I ordered a spring kit for a bargain Savage Axis I picked up in 243. The rifle shoots ok. I will shoot it better with a better trigger.
Just kidding I ordered a spring kit for a bargain Savage Axis I picked up in 243. The rifle shoots ok. I will shoot it better with a better trigger.
Nature Boy
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Savage 12 BVSS
1/2 MOA accurate right out of the box but if you want more it’s just a barrel swap away with any of the pre-fits from Shilen, Bartlein or Krieger.
I put a Shilen match barrel on my son’s and it stacks 5 shots on top of each other with boring consistency
Stock barrel on top, Shilen on bottom
90 VLD Berger load
BigBL87
Member
You guys are really good at spending my money
I ordered a spring kit for a bargain Savage Axis I picked up in 243. The rifle shoots ok. I will shoot it better with a better trigger.
I think you'll be impressed. Like I said before it's no Timney, but it made it a TON more shootable for me. My father-in-law didn't think the trigger on his was that bad, but then he tried mine and immediately ordered a kit, haha.
OP
OP
Waterboy3313
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I'm waiting for my Mcarbo kit to get here. I also ordered a Boyds stock for it. It would be nice if it all got here by Friday but I don't have my hopes up.
BigBL87
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Especially if it's coming USPS, definitely don't expect too much.
Which Boyds did you end up getting? Between my Boyds and the trigger kit, you really wouldn't know my Axis us a "budget" rifle at first blush anymore. Mind you, between those improvements I spent probably close to what you can find the rifle for (though not what I paid!) but you'll have that.
OP
OP
Waterboy3313
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Its camp spike. I got the grey one. I didn't want any of the bright colors that scream look at me. This rifle was a good deal. It actually didn't cost me more than $100. New stock and trigger guard about $170 shipped. $25ish for the MCARBO trigger kit shipped. Athlon Talos scope about $200.
I will be into it for around $500 plus another $550ish for reloading components. I wouldn't really put the scope or reloading components into the price but since everything is for this setup that's my total cost so far.
If I can get where I'm happy I would say it's not a bad deal. The scope and reloading components would have been similar with anything else I would have ended up with.
BigBL87
Member
That's funny, I have the same stock as well. Great choice, IMO. I was in a similar boat investment-wise as well, though mine was $54 with a $50 mail-in rebate so it was as close to free as you can probably get, haha. I think if I were paying full price I'd bump up to a RAR or Savage 11, but at a killer deal I couldn't pass it up.
MarshallDodge
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Buying a factory rifle is always going to be a gamble.
I cannot comment on Savage as I have never owned one.
My 90s era Remington 700VS is a half MOA rifle. They made good stuff back then but I wouldn't trust them today. I also have a Remington 783 which is surprisingly accurate, a consistent 0.7MOA, for the price point of $300.
My experience with accuracy on the Ruger American that I had wasn't all that good. The stock that they come with is pretty flimsy, not the best for shooting off the bench.
My Tikka Sporter shoots under half MOA consistently but they are not cheap. The Tikka Varmint is a quality rifle for the price point and would be my first choice today.
The Mossberg MVP Predator that I had would throw the cold bore shot about an inch wide and then put the next four into a ragged hole. I sold it because I didn't like the plastic trigger guard and it didn't always feed well.
I cannot comment on Savage as I have never owned one.
My 90s era Remington 700VS is a half MOA rifle. They made good stuff back then but I wouldn't trust them today. I also have a Remington 783 which is surprisingly accurate, a consistent 0.7MOA, for the price point of $300.
My experience with accuracy on the Ruger American that I had wasn't all that good. The stock that they come with is pretty flimsy, not the best for shooting off the bench.
My Tikka Sporter shoots under half MOA consistently but they are not cheap. The Tikka Varmint is a quality rifle for the price point and would be my first choice today.
The Mossberg MVP Predator that I had would throw the cold bore shot about an inch wide and then put the next four into a ragged hole. I sold it because I didn't like the plastic trigger guard and it didn't always feed well.
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Tom609
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I've been pretty happy with my Savage Axis with the Accutrigger. I can't say it does well with box ammo, but I reload and the results are impressive. Consistently MOA at 100 yds.
Turkeytider
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The ones I`ve seen at the range are good guns, especially at their price point, and shoot well IMO. They are certainly not precision target rifles, nor do I think they were intended to be so. They are "meat guns ". I think that essentially goes for all the Savage budget and package guns.
Space Ghost
Member
I know you said you like to tinker, so do I. Problem with that is whenever I do, I generally end up spending quite a bit more in the long run.
Oh, I get what I want in the end, but my tinkering always seems to end up costing me.
That's also because I often start with a used rifle.
Were I to go shopping for a bolt gun in .223 today, I'd go for a nice new one from the get-go.
Tikka or Bergara would be my first choices now. Scope it, and you're done.
I will add that I sold a .223 Series II Weatherby Vanguard a while back I wish I'd held onto. (I believe they are same thing as the Howa actions)
Very nice gun. My biggest gun screw up of the last 10 years.
Oh, I get what I want in the end, but my tinkering always seems to end up costing me.
That's also because I often start with a used rifle.
Were I to go shopping for a bolt gun in .223 today, I'd go for a nice new one from the get-go.
Tikka or Bergara would be my first choices now. Scope it, and you're done.
I will add that I sold a .223 Series II Weatherby Vanguard a while back I wish I'd held onto. (I believe they are same thing as the Howa actions)
Very nice gun. My biggest gun screw up of the last 10 years.
Seedy Character
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The Vanguards are Howa actions
Old S&W branded rifles ('80s) are Howa actions
Probably others, I would guess.
Old S&W branded rifles ('80s) are Howa actions
Probably others, I would guess.
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