.223 Bolt Action Rifle

[Necessary_Nutrient]

Looking at the Ruger American 16 inch and 22 inch barreled rifles.
Mainly for shooting woodchucks approx. 150-250 yards. And possibly coyotes.
I have a Leupold vx-1 and a Leupold rifleman NIB one of which will be mounted on it.

I like the look of the 16 inch rancher but I know I'll lose some velocity.
What barrel length do you guys suggest?

Also open to other suggestions for rifles. In the Ruger American Price range of 500ish dollars though I don't see much that I feel would be any better. Would consider spending more if something really stood out to me but I also just want an inexpensive rifle to kick around with.

Savage 25 Walking Varminter is what I recommend and own. Very accurate for me, I’d expect it to outperform the Ruger. Relatively light for the performance, does come in a 1:9 so you’d be best at 75 grains or less.

https://www.savagearms.com/content?p=firearms&a=product_summary&s=19740

 

[Hokkmike]

CZ 527 is not so plain and plastic as the American - but the Ruger is a solid gun.

 

[Picher]

Looking at the Ruger American 16 inch and 22 inch barreled rifles.
Mainly for shooting woodchucks approx. 150-250 yards. And possibly coyotes.
I have a Leupold vx-1 and a Leupold rifleman NIB one of which will be mounted on it.

I like the look of the 16 inch rancher but I know I'll lose some velocity.
What barrel length do you guys suggest?

Also open to other suggestions for rifles. In the Ruger American Price range of 500ish dollars though I don't see much that I feel would be any better. Would consider spending more if something really stood out to me but I also just want an inexpensive rifle to kick around with.

The 22-inch would keep noise down, and add enough velocity to be noticeable, not to mention balance better. I have one that I picked-up "new-in-box" at Marden's Discount, for a song. It's got the cheap synthetic stock, which I bedded/floated and it shoots great. It's light and carries well...not pretty, but it shoots lights-out and loves to ride in my pickup when I go down back to the fields. My varmint loads keep groups under 1/2" at 100.

 

[Bearcat1982]

appreciate all the info and recommendations so far. I do have a Ruger American in 308 with a 22 inch barrel, I've taken it on drives although 16 would be easier the 22 hasn't been bad. I'm leaning heavily on the 22 inch configuration. The savage 25... that's sharp. I don't see one in .223 only .204 On the bass pro website.
Im tied to getting at bass pro as Im planning on using some gift cards (should have specified)... but I could always use them on ammo. The savage 110 stainless has made the short list as well.

 

[Hookeye]

AR w 16" and 3-9X EFR Freedom VX will be zeroed tomorrow w Fiocchi 50gr.
Pop a couple chucks and then set aside til after deer season when we test out the new E caller.

Short .223 is loud but handy.
Which reminds me to order more Surefire EP3 plugs

 

[Turkeytider]

appreciate all the info and recommendations so far. I do have a Ruger American in 308 with a 22 inch barrel, I've taken it on drives although 16 would be easier the 22 hasn't been bad. I'm leaning heavily on the 22 inch configuration. The savage 25... that's sharp. I don't see one in .223 only .204 On the bass pro website.
Im tied to getting at bass pro as Im planning on using some gift cards (should have specified)... but I could always use them on ammo. The savage 110 stainless has made the short list as well.

I have a Savage 110 Storm in .223, stainless. Shoots great and has been flawless functionally. Recommend.

 

[FL-NC]

My 223 bolt rifle is a Mossberg MVP and I love it. I also have a Ruger American in 300 blk that I love, and I would buy another Ruger in 223 if I didn't already have the MVP.

 

[Spats McGee]

In case you are interested, @Bearcat1982, I’ll be posting a range report on the new Howa Mini I got in my New Howa Day thread later.

 

[Bearcat1982]

In case you are interested, @Bearcat1982, I’ll be posting a range report on the new Howa Mini I got in my New Howa Day thread later.

definitely can you post a link?

 

[redneck2]

<a href="https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/new-rifle-day-howa-mini.920323/">New Rifle Day! (Howa Mini)</a>

 

[Spats McGee]

definitely can you post a link?

@redneck2 posted one right above this post

 

[ThomasT]

I would like a bolt gun in 223. I had a Interarms Mauser MKX I stupidly sold many years ago. Now my walking around 223 is an H&R Handi Rifle with plastic stock and 22" barrel. I have a Burris Fullfield 3x9 mounted on it with Ballistiplex reticle and its a shooter. Its not really heavy but feels very solid. It hgas a 1/9 twist and will stay in the one inch range all day long. I'm not letting this one get away.

I wish I had of bought a Ruger Ultra Lite with 20" barrel before Ruger went plastic.

 

[shuvelrider]

If you can find one, an older school Remington M788 in .223 would make a good walkaround gun. I found one earlier this year at the lgs, hefty little rifle with a reddish color in the stained wood stock. I still have not shot it yet but am happy to have found a bolt rifle for that caliber. I've looked at AR's for too many years with the army, so they just don't trip my trigger anymore.

 

[Necessary_Nutrient]

Was going through some of my old reloading photos developing a Benchmark Powder load for the Sierra Match King 69 Grain and found this performance from the Savage 25 Walking Varminter. These were only 3 shot groups but the Savage (Groups are circled) did manage a 1/8" group for the 22.9 charge (it's kind of hard to read), which was finally selected. It's a really accurate rifle for the price, to be sure!
The cases were Lake City XM193 swaged to get the crimp out of the primer pocket and trimmed to length.

 

[db_tanker]

I have the Ruger in 16" and it is a great shooter to 300 yards and pretty flexible since 223 can be loaded up or down the scale for what you need.

 

[Turkeytider]

Thanks everybody. I appreciate the input and advice. Hope everyone has a safe and great 4th!

OOPs! Put this in the wrong thread! Still wish everyone a happy 4th!

 

[wesmonster]

I've got two Ruger bolt actions, both are AR mag versions.
one is a 16" Ranch in .300bo, the other is a 22" Predator in 6.5Grendel.
The 16" is much easier to carry. For me it balances better.
Inside of 200 yards the extra fps of another 6" won't make a noticeable difference.
I've shot .223 out of 10", 12", 14.5", 16" and 20". Going from 16" to 20" made the least difference at 200 yards.

 

[Bearcat1982]

sweet, well when it came down to drive out to Bass Pro... I started looking at a few hand guns... lol a 223 rifle is for sure in the future but my next gun might be a Beretta... After much reading of what you guys have said here and carrying my .308 American with a 22 inch barrel and carrying a small 44 ruger carbine with a 16 inch barrel deer hunting, Im leaning hard on a short barrel. shooting wood chucks when I do, I wear hearing protection, its not like deer hunting when shots might come unexpected and "matter". Im hit a gun store maybe later and see what's available locally as well on the used rack.

 

[Bearcat1982]

If you can find one, an older school Remington M788 in .223 would make a good walkaround gun. I found one earlier this year at the lgs, hefty little rifle with a reddish color in the stained wood stock. I still have not shot it yet but am happy to have found a bolt rifle for that caliber. I've looked at AR's for too many years with the army, so they just don't trip my trigger anymore.

Im in NY also and Im not sure I'm willing to buy an over priced NY legal AR with a fixed mag or other od ball restriction. So bolt action it is unless laws change... but I doubt that's going to happen.