.223 Bolt Gun

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Ohio Rifleman

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Well, I've been wanting a revolver for a while, but it's looking like that may not be legal for me at 19. So, instead, I'm thinking about purchasing a .223 bolt-action rifle at some point in the future. I've never fired this caliber, but I think it would be very fun to shoot, accurate, inexpensive and low recoil. any suggestions for a rifle like this? Oh, I'm used to shooting semi-autos, so I'd like a change of pace in a bolt action.
 
Buddy of mine on the Sheriff's Dept. recently bought a Savage heavy barrel .223 bolt action. It's wonderful. He got it with a decent scope and bipod for under $700. It shoots as accurately at 100yrds as any other .223 bolt i've seen. He can shoot circles around me and I'm pretty darn good :neener:

But the rifle isn't everything. A bolt rifle is only as good as its scope. What is it the snipers say? Be ready to spend twice as much on the scope as you did a rifle? So a $500 rifle is at full potential with a $1000 scope, and so on... So if you want to get your moneys worth, pay as much attention to your choice of scope as you do the rifle. Too many people get an expensive precision rifle and but a crappy Tasco "hunting" scope on it and show off their "sniper rifle" at the range... Eek.

The .223 is a great, cheap plinking round and good for varmints-- he uses his on Coyote and raccoon with great success. I'm personally fond of the .308 because I don't find that it knocks me around at all, and the ammo is affordable through a bolt action because you don't light off rounds anywhere near as quickly as you do through a semi-auto. And .308 holds a better trajectory at an extended distance and works well with single shots on larger sized targets (like deer). I'm not trying to talk you out of .223, just saying there are other really good choices out there, too... .243 is a slight step above .223 and still under .308, but I am not sure how affordable the ammunition is...

The .223 is do-able as a SHTF rifle at close range, but I'd opt for a bigger caliber for anything life threatening because wind can seriously affect the accuracy of a .223 over a distance. But aside from the end of the world, I'm hard pressed to think of an emergency situation where you'd take a bolt gun...

Yeah, you need to be 21 to carry a revolver (any handgun). Well, thats not totally true. You need to be 21 to purchase one. At least in my state (Indiana), you only need a carry permit to carry and you can get that at the age of 18. That means your parents or legal guardian have to legally purchase it for you and let you carry it (with your states permit). I was carrying a .45 by the age of 18, but couldn't buy my own until I was 21. Go figure.

Bolt Actions and Revolvers, eh? I think this man has a fetish for reliability!

TRL
 
My two top choices.

I'd strongly consider either them Rem 700 or Savage, both in varmint (heavy barrel) configuration. Assuming you're just looking at paper punching. If varmint hunting is in your future, a slender, lighter barrel may be more useful for walking and moving here in Ohio. No prarie dogs to shoot boxes of ammo at in one sitting.

I've got one of each (700 in .223 and M10 in .308) and have found that you can put up to a 44mm objective scope on either using standard rings. Handy for keeping the sight plane as close to the bore axis as possible. I use Simmons Aetec 44mag scopes on both.
 
CZ527
Very fine shooters, nice action, nice wood, decent price, set trigger.

Learn to shoot with irons first, then scope it up. And yeah, expect to spend good money on a scope

oh, money no object?
Cooper Arms
Those rifles give me a <deleted> good feeling. :rolleyes:
damn, I love they way they look, they apparantly shoot even better.
 
Savage 10FP

Love mine. It shoots better than I can. I have shot several 1/4-1/2" groups at 100 yards with factory Black Hills 68 gr. HPs. Get it, shoot it, love it.
 
I third the Savage. I have a 12FV in .223 and it's a better shooter than my brother's Weatherby Threat Response that cost literally twice as much....and mine has a better trigger (which is something Savage has over most of its competition).

Great gun for around $400.

Look for a good used scope on ebay or on the boards, and you can get into a hyper accurate bolt gun for around $500.00.

Here's mine...
Savage_12fv.jpg
 
I got the bug to snag an accurate .223 rifle a few months back myself but I went with an NEF break-action. I put about $200-ish down for the rifle and about as much down for the glass to go on top of it.

I actually went into the shop to buy $15 worth the silicone impregnated "gun socks" -- so it was an impluse buy. It's nice being single some times.

I can't complain. It works.

I know it's not what you're looking for, but if you want to go "cheap" on the rifle and drop more money on the glass it's not a bad way to go.

Danged fun to shoot, that's for sure. :)
 
I fourth the Savage. My 10FP in .308 is a great rifle. The trigger is awesome and it shoots sub 1 inch all day long.
 
And yet a 5th vote for the Savage. I have a Model 12FVXP in .223 which is the varmit rifle with a scope already mounted on it. The rifle is VERY accurate with 1/2" groups @ 100yds if I do my part. I got mine with the scope for under $500 at Dick's Sporting Goods.
 
The 12F Varminter has a longer barrel (26") and doesn't have the extra sling stud up front, otherwise the same rifle (unless you get an upgraded stock option on the FP).

I have a 12FV in .204 Ruger and it's very accurate. I did replace the stock last year with a B&C Duramaxx for less than $100 and I like that even more.
 
The 12F Varminter has a longer barrel (26") and doesn't have the extra sling stud up front, otherwise the same rifle (unless you get an upgraded stock option on the FP).
Click to expand...

IIRC, the varminter's accutrigger is different than the FP's. The 12's trigger can be adjusted down lower than the 10FP's.
 
IIRC, the varminter's accutrigger is different than the FP's. The 12's trigger can be adjusted down lower than the 10FP's.
Click to expand...

ii's the other way around. ;)
 
I'm for the Savage too, but I'd go with a Model 11G. The reason I say that is I have a 11GL (left hand) in .243Winchester and I've had real good results with it. It does have the AccuTrigger.

11gcns.jpg


Suggested retail on this one is $515, but in my part of the country, they're not that high.

http://www.savagearms.com/11g.htm

Thing is this is the hunter series with hardwood stock and mine was bought when they still had sights on the barrel... I got mine with sights so I'd have a back-up to the scope and possibly mount a Foolproof rear.
 
I have a Savage model 10FP, pre-accutrigger. Burris scope. It is a little heavy, but a good sling helps a lot.

If you handload, try Ramshot TAC under a 55 gr Hornady V-max. It'll ruin a coyote's day or turn a skunk inside out.

With factory ammo, mine will shoot virtually anything acceptably.

IMHO, after a scope and sling, start saving your money for a solid bipod. If you do any kind of hunting it's a good investment.

Doug
 
Nipprdog and Swingset,

You are both wrong about the Accutrigger adjustments.

The Law enforcement Model 10 series and the Varmint Model 12 Series both have accutriggers that adjust from 1.5 to 6 pounds.

From the Savage website (http://savagearms.com/at_pressrelease.htm):

"In the 12 Series Varmint and Law Enforcement Series, the AccuTrigger is adjustable from approximately 1 1/2 lbs to 6 lbs."
 
I was thinking of gett a bushmaster ar-15 style .223 rifle. Is this a rifle that is legal for hunting or no? I really would like to take one to the range and learn how to shoot one accuratley, but am hesitant to drop that much money on one if I cant use it to hunt as well.
 
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