223 Range gun buyers help

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bessemerbob

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Well thanks to the group I have decided that the 223REM is the caliber gun that will work best for me at the range. Now that I know the caliber I need to know what is important for a range gun. I know heavy is better, but when it comes to crown etc I am lost. So what do I need for a good range gun that most likely will never be used for hunting. Looking at the Savage 12FV or the Remington 700 SPS. Here is the kicker. Trying to buy a gun at or below the $600 mark….. Hey what can I say I’m one of the few Americans still paying my mortgage! And thanks to Obama Ill probably be helping many others pay theres!


Stock isnt a issue I plan on buying a good thumbhole stock.
Optics are already taken care of.....
 
Looking at the Savage 12FV or the Remington 700 SPS
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I have the SPS Varmint .223 and it is quite a good shooter , mine was on sale at Dicks and was well below the $600 mark in late 2007 , actually below $500 at the time!

Also have a 12BVSS and it shoots well , the 12FV is nearly the same without the laminated stock. It has the 1 in 9" twist barrel which will shoot at least up to the 69 gr. bullets accurately.

To get the 1 in 9" twist in the SPS will require the SPS Tactical 20". I have the LTR version and it is my best shooter.
 
More for my curiosity than anything else:

What do you hope to accomplish with this rifle? More to the point, where do you want to go with your shooting? Building trigger time for competition? Plan to hunt with a different rifle and want a practice companion?

You say heavy is better... isn't always the case. If your range is a bench-only affair yes, but some ranges allow for different shooting positions (prone etc) and there the ability to run a proper sling with a lighter rifle might well be more fun.

More info might make a difference in what people suggest.

Don't really have specific recommendations for you myself, except if you don't have a .22 rimfire get that first. :)
 
Long range shooting 200-300yrds. No hunting. I no longer hunt rifle season just in Muzzle loader. The range I belong to has bench shooting....
had the 22LR, traded that away a few years back.
 
i've been debating the same thing. i was looking at the rem 700 VL SS w/thumbhole stock. but i've heard alot of good things about the tikka t3. i'm still deciding though. i might wait on purchasing a bolt action 223 and get a 17 hmr so that my son can use it as a starter gun as well. trying to get him shooting SAFELY while he is still young (8 yr old). what do you guys recommend for a 17 hmr rifle? worry not trying to jack your thread or anything...
 
Get the Savage 12FV. I picked one up for $550 and I believe it's the best value for the money you can get. Mine is an honest .5 - .75 MOA gun.

The stock is crap, frankly, but you say you're planning to replace it anyway. I filled my forend with epoxy to stiffen it up, and bedded the recoil lug and around the pillars. It's serviceable for now until I scrape together the cash for a nicer one.
 
if I knew there was not a chance in field work, or hunting, It would be the savage 12 series. These have to be the most accurate rifles out of the box out there right now, for a decent price, but I will throw in 1 more; the cz kevlar varmint. With a single set trigger, you can really break off some one hole groups with just mind control.
 
More votes for the Savage 12 series. Like I said I am really happy with the savage I have now. I be pricing one at the gun shop this week.
 
Whats the optimal grain for the 1-9 twist in the savage. Ive read 69gr. Is this about the best.
 
I'm having really good luck with 60 Grain Vmax bullets. I have some 69 Grain Sierra's loaded up but haven't tried them yet.
 
Well group after all the talk and all the reading and all the reviews I did a stupid thing, I think! Took my 270WSM into the gun dealers today to order a Savage 12FV and see what I could get for a trade in on the old 270….. Well I fell for the old bells and whistles trick and after they told me they could give me 265 for the old girl if I got the Remington 700 VTR, or $200 if I ordered the Savage I bought it hook line and sinker. My friend who was along didn’t help…. He is a avid shooter and I take his advice very seriously and he kept saying just how awesome of a gun it was. So without running down my mental check list (1 free floating barrel, 2 heavy long barrel, 3 ability to adjust the trigger to next to nil, 4 ability to buy a great aftermarket thumbhole laminate stock) I said Ill take it. Granted it did shoot nice, and I have read some positive reviews I’m just wondering if I am going to waste a good bit of time and money on ammo trying to get this thing dialed in at 300yrds. Sorry guys I embarrassed to even post this ..


Bob
 
In the end it's all about which rifle speaks to you and makes you happy. I'll admit I'm a Savage fanboy, but Remington is no slouch :D

I personally just don't care for the looks of the VTR, but it should be a fine shooting rifle. I don't think the barrel is free floating, but that should be easy to take care of by yourself. Bedding the stock is easy to do, too, and I've found it has significantly improved all the rifles I've done it to.
 
I think an important factor for accuracy is going to be the trigger. Most rifles shoot better than anyone can.

Savage has a trigger that is adjustable. I think they make pretty good rifles too. You will want a 1:9 twist to shoot the 69 grain bullets at the distances you mentioned.
 
I was going to suggest a Savage Model 12 with a 1-7 twist, but since you're shooting at such short range, and buying a Rem, not really needed. Must be having trouble moving the vtr to give $65 more.

Mine is an honest .5 - .75 MOA gun.

The stock is crap, frankly, but you say you're planning to replace it anyway.
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Talk about two contradictory statements. How crappy could it be to do 1/2 MOA?
 
Talk about two contradictory statements. How crappy could it be to do 1/2 MOA?
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Well, like I said, the first thing I did after breaking in the barrel was bed the recoil lug & action screw areas, and stiffen up the forend. So it's not too bad now.

But straight from the factory it sucked. The forend flexed so easily it could touch the barrel, and the recoil lug didn't even contact the stock. For me it wasn't a big deal because it was a cheap and easy to fix. I can't really say how well it would have shot without the stock work. They definitely have a reputation for accuracy.
 
What is involved in bedding a stock?
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Basically, you put some kind of release agent (wax, etc) on the action and a layer of some kind of epoxy in the stock. The action goes into the stock and the screws are tightened down. When it's dry you pop the action back out, and what's left in the stock is molded to exactly fit your action.

I think an important factor for accuracy is going to be the trigger. Most rifles shoot better than anyone can.
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Don't the new Remingtons have a user-adjustable trigger also?
 
Problem solved. Traded for a Savage 12FV today. The guy at the gun shop said nobody wants these VTRs. In the end it cost me the 270 I traded. If I would have bought the 12FV from the start I could have spent the same amount and still had the 270...... Live and learn

So I guess the thread is done!
 
So you ended up trading straight across? Not bad, I would have figured you'd lose your shirt.

Stick a good scope on it and have some fun!
 
Well I lost the 265 they gave me on the Savage model11 270WSM. Plus I did have to pay 30 on the 12FV..... So it really is a $295 screw up


Oh by the way 2-3 gunshops Ive been to this week say the VTR is total crap and they sell 3 savages now for every rem..... Sad to see whats becoming of Remington
 
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