.223 Rifles

[AnthonyC.]

I have been wanting a .223 rifle for a while now and have decided to get myself to start saving for it. I have a couple in mind already, there is the Remington SPS, I know there are a few differant models and I am not sure what the difference in accuracy is between the Tactical, the regular SPS and there is a new model that has a triangular barrel and built in muzzle brake. I was also wondering what other brands and models I should consider....


Thanks,

Anthony

 

[Bartkowski]

What do you want the gun for?

700's are good but you may want to look at savage since they are relatively inexpensive.

 

[YodaVader]

I have had some great accuracy results with my .223 SPS Varmint. I installed mine in a HS Precision stock. The .223 SPS Varmint has a 1 in 12" twist 26" barrel and plastic stock where the current SPS Tacticals have a 1 in 9" twist 20" barrel and Hogue stock. With the 1 in 9" twist you can go up to 69 grains or little heavier.

Also have a laminated stock Savage 12BVSS with a 1 in 9" twist which has shown good potential even with a rough barrel and bedding issues.

Also have a 700LTR .223 which is sort of like a SPS Tactical except in a HS stock and barrel flutes and a lot more expensive but it is the best shooting of my .223s.

 

[AnthonyC.]

I am going to be shooting at 100-250 yards just for fun. No hunting right now but if I ever decide to, I would like to be able to take it and go varmint hunting as well. But for now I would like it to be a target gun for the range. I wish I could get .22-250 or .243 but I would like to shoot alot for less money. How much is .243 ammo going for these days?

 

[doc2rn]

Ruger 77 MKII in all weather barrel/action configuration.

 

[skinewmexico]

Get a faster twist, you'll be glad later.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Like the man said, decide what twist rate you want: whether you want a 1 in 12 (many), 1 in 9 (Rem, Savage, new Handis, some others), 1 in 8 (Tikka), or 1 in 7 (*certain* Savage Long Range Precision Varminters). I recommend 1 in 9 or faster, in case you decide you want to run heavies.

Some guns I would look at if getting a new .223 for precision work: CZ 527, Remington XR-100 Rangemaster, Savage Long Range Precision Varminter, Weatherby Vanguard Sub-MOA guaranteed rifle, Remington 700 LTR, and the Tikka T3.

 

[W.E.G.]

AR-15 before all others.

 

[AnthonyC.]

I only have about $650-$750 to spend on this rifle, I don't think that will get me a nice AR.....I was looking at Mini-14's but I don't know about longer ranges with semi's

 

[bigfoot311]

you can build a really decent AR for $750

 

[REOIV]

What do you want to do with the gun?

You can scoop up a saiga .223 for $270 bucks and convert it to AK style for another 200.

You could build a decent AR15 for $700.00

What is the expected usage of the gun?

 

[Gunsby_Blazen]

Have you looked at any of those Savage rifles with the Accutrigger?
for a while i was looking at those. here are a few links:

http://www.savagearms.com/12fv.htm

http://www.savagearms.com/12model_Varminterthumbhole.htm

http://www.savagearms.com/BreakingNews081506.htm

I dont know..., that Remington with the triangular barrel is a good looking gun and you know it will be dead accurate.

Also, on the mini-14, they are fun to shoot but not nearly as accurate as a bolt. AR rifles are typically more accurate. are you wanting one for target shooting, varmint hunting, or just fun shooting around? I have a mini-14 target model but it cost me around 750 and it has no iron sights so you would need an optic. I love my Mini and its pretty darn accurate. i shoot about one and three quarter groups using black hills but i don't have that harmonic dampener thing adjusted as good as i could. ...and thats me shooting bench on a really good day. anyway, i am a Ruger fan but i wouldn't get a regular mini-14 if you want accuracy. There is also a NRA mini-14 out now that i heard gets better accuracy than the regular model but i cant give you any more info on that one...

 

[AnthonyC.]

well since everyone keeps asking me I will post my previous post again,

I am going to be shooting at 100-250 yards just for fun. No hunting right now but if I ever decide to, I would like to be able to take it and go varmint hunting as well. But for now I would like it to be a target gun for the range.

 

[Guitargod1985]

Anthony, check out the Tikka T3. It's a top notch bolt action. It's very light, very accurate out of the box (after scope zero, of course) and will serve you well. You can find some pretty good prices compared to the Remington 700 Varmint, and the stock on the T3 is superior to the Remy's.

Also, the T3 can be had in either 1/12" or 1/8" twist and holds 6+1 shots as opposed to the Remy 700's 5+1.

 

[ChristopherG]

Here's another Tikka vote. Mine is a 1/8" twist 24" heavy-barrel (aka Varmint). Outstanding out of the box trigger, and good to excellent synthetic stock. It loves Black Hills 77 gr. SMK's. With a bipod in the field (i.e., in the dirt and scrub), if I don't shoot under an inch for 5 shots anywhere under 200 yards, I know full well it's my fault.

 

[AnthonyC.]

I am not sure what all of this twist stuff means, is 1/12" mean the bullet twists once in every 12 inches? and 1/8" in every 8 inches? and what should I look for? 1/12 or 1/8 or is there also 1/9? light bullet in fast twist=more accurate or heavier bullet in faster twist=more accurate?

 

[stubbicatt]

I like my CZ 527 LUX. Great rifle, accurate, light weight, great trigger, nice wood stock. I'd get another, and so I recommend one to you.

 

[AnthonyC.]

just looked at tikkas, and the Tikka T3 Hunter with wood stock caught my eye, Its a beautiful gun.

 

[Gunsby_Blazen]

here is something....
got some info on rifling, but then i am kind of a newbie...

http://www.6mmbr.com/223rem.html

anyway, i think its some good stuff....

 

[ChristopherG]

Bullet weight is limited by twist rate. Heavier bullets have to be spun faster to stabilize in flight. Heavier bullets hold groups farther downrange and resist winddrift better. Here's the way I understand it (but stand open to correction):

1/12 will prefer lightweight bullets; probly won't like anything over 60 grs

1/9 will probly shoot 69 gr. match bullets okay. Maybe Hornady's 75 gr. bullet--it's a sometimes thing.

1/8 should shoot up to 80 grain bullets (though once you get over 77 grs., it's unlikely you can mag feed them; they're too long).

1/7 will shoot 90 grs. This is for guys who insist that the .223 is a thousand-yard gun.

Mostly these heavier bullets evolved as a response to the 600-yard phase of Hi-power rifle competition. If you just wanna shoot varmints out to 300 yards, a 1/12 will probly do you fine.

 

[AnthonyC.]

So what about .223 ammo? Wolf? Ultramax? Federal bulk pack from walmart? silver bear? no 5.56? What should I shoot? I am only going to shoot about 100 rounds a week, but if I could shoot wolf, I would shoot ALOT more than that.

 

[1911 guy]

Here's the best .223 advice I can give you for the money: Buy a Stevens Model 200 and shoot Black Hills 68gr ammo in it. Spend the rest of the money on good mounts, rings and scope, the rifle will take full advantage of it. I handload for my .223, a Stevens, and it turned in .66 MOA for ten rounds yesterday morning. Winchester small rifle primer, Winchester case, 23.2gr Varget powder and a Hornady 68gr HPBT bullet. From the bench of course, I'm not nearly good enough to do that offhand.

The Remington rifles will severely limit your bullet selection, they have a much slower twist, 1:12. Savage/Stevens uses a 1:9

 

[alsaqr]

Look at the CZ 527 American. Mine makes consistent <.5" three shot groups at 100 yards.

 

[s2brutus]

If you want to get in for cheap, the H&R Handi-rifle is hard to beat.

I've got the one with the 22" bull barrel (not the "varmint" version) and it's more accurate than I am. I can pop a coyote through the head quite easily at 200 yards with mine.

Just make sure you shoot .223 Remington in it and not 5.56 NATO. Considering how much "meat" there is around the .223 chamber on a Handi-rifle, I don't think there's any real concern of blowing it up, but whenever I've shot 5.56 in mine the brass gets stuck and won't eject when I unbreech it. I have to knock it out with a light tap from a cleaning rod.

Handi-rifles are cheap and more fun than a barrel of monkeys.

 

[blkbrd666]

AnthonyC,

You might want to look at this http://www.classicarms.us/ There's an AR15 not far down from the top of the page.

Since I'm mentioning it, has anyone here bought one of these from Classic? Are they in as good condition and the picture shows? I don't hear them mentioned much, therefore, I haven't heard anything bad or good about them.