.223 Target/Varmint Rifle

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7mmRemMag

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Ok guys, I am going to purchase a new rifle. I want a .223 but I cant decide what gun to get. I want a bull type barrell and a composite/kevlar/laminate stock. I have been looking at the CZ 527 Varmint, The Remmy 700 SPS, Ruger KM77VT, Savage FV12, Howa 1500, Tikka T3 Varmint, and the Browning A Bolt Stalker Varm.

I want something that will shoot sub moa out of the box and have a fairly good stock trigger.

I am also looking at the option of building a AR Target rifle.


HELP!!!!!!:eek:
 
Of the guns listed, the CZ Varmint and the Savage FV12 are the best bets.
Both have good (or in CZ's case, GREAT) triggers out of the box. Both will get you near or sub-MOA with no work, out of the box.

The Remmie would be a nice gun too but plan on doing some work to get it where you want it. It's not as "plug and play" as the other 2.

For my money, I'd go with the CZ.
 
we love to get us some cans/paper targets/varmints from time to time. The above AR with the heavy barrel is a great recommendation. The rifle is heavy, but that helps with recoil so you can watch your target as it gets hit.
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I went with a AR system.

Rock River Lower with 2 stage match trigger
White Oak Armament Upper 24" bull SS

Can be done for under 1K with nice goodies, harris bipod etc.


John at White Oak is great to work with and is a champion shooter, his stuff is highly regarded.

Best part is you can also look around and get a A2 style upper and have a nice ammo burner/plinker when you aren't bench shooting.
 
For dual purpose target and varmint work I would rule out all the rifles listed that don't have at least a 1-9" twist rate. In my opinion being able to shoot 69grn bullets is a very very big plus for shooting groups or critters on a breezy day

That pretty much leaves the savage and the CZ varmint Kevlar
 
What range? Heavier bullets are better at longer range, and you need a faster twist for those.
Only the tikka has fast enough rifling to stabilize the heavier match bullets.
 
Ruger M77 all the way but it will need a trigger job as they are usually quite heavy. CZ would be a good second.
 
I had no problems shooting 3/4 in groups with my brand new, straight out of the box Remington 700 SPS varmint in .308. I think I paid about $550 for it. That is a hell of a deal in my mind. The trigger is not bad at all and can be adjusted by just about anyone.
 
Ordered mine

I just ordered mine.

A CZ527 Varmint, in .223, w/ Walnut stock.

My nephew has the Savage 12VLP, in .223 and it's a real nice rifle. But, I have the Savage 10FP, in .308 & I don't care too much for the Accutrigger. I just can't get past the "glock" thingy. I'll probably replace this trigger with an after market.
I've already replaced one Accutrigger, on a 93R17-BV, with a Rifle Basix trigger and am more than satisfied with the way that went. I don't want to buy another Savage just to replace the trigger.
 
I purchased a CZ 527 American about a year ago, and love it. I looked at the Kevlar stocked rifles, but since I wanted a walk around rifle, the varminters were too heavy.

For sitting and sniping, they would be great. (WONDERFUL triggers, BTW!)
 
Went through the same thing last year looking for a new varmint rifle....chose DPMS Panther Bull 24" Special. To my delight it did quarter sized groups at 200 yards right from the box. Not cheap, worth every penny.

ar-1.gif
 
I have a 1971 vintage Remington m 700 varmit special and it is ok.
A few years ago , I found some new Colt target H Bar receivers(lower) on sale so I bought one. I already had a spare upper, so I sent it to Accuracy Speaks and had a 24" free floated bull barrel installed .

With a Jewell two stage trigger in the lower , it outshoots the bolt action.
 
The 12FV's are very accurate rifles, mine is in .243 and shoots sub moa with factory ammo, and .3's with handloads, that's shooting off a bipod. The accutrigger is a fine innovation, feels like a really good two stage trigger, mine was set about 2.5 pounds from the factory and I haven't bothered to adjust it. The plastic stocks aren't much, they work but the forend is pretty flimsy, I've got an Sharpshooter LVT due in the next couple of weeks for mine.

243-1.jpg

243target005.jpg

AR's can also be very accurate, I have a DPMS 16" bull barrelled upper on a RRA lower, total cost was around $625. Then I added a JP trigger so it went up a little more. Off a bipod mine shoots in the .5's with Black Hills 55gr. SP and 52gr. HP reloads, that's really pretty decent in my book.

DPMS223-1.jpg
 
how much are you looking to spend? do you want a bolt or semi-auto?

that said both my Savage 10FP & RRA Varmint both shoot <1MOA out of the box.
the RRA shoots .25" (3rds @100yds) groups with either Black Hills or Lake City ammo.
 
these are all fine choices, the Howa will be the cheapest, unless you get the Axiom model, the Savage and CZ will proly be the most accurate, and the cz set trigger will be the coolest; you can set it as low as you like, without taking anything apart at all!!!!
 
a) I just read an article in Shotgun News regarding the Howa Axiom and the author was a bit less than pleased with it. It averaged 2" groups (meaning some smaller than 2", but also some LARGER than 2"!). The author stated the Axiom "had potential." If you're like me, "having potential" is not a very heartwarming quality when it comes purchasing a rifle.

Incidentally and FWIW, I watch the show Predator Quest on the Sportsman's Channel every week. The host is Les Johnson and he is quite the skilled marksman. He just acquired Legacy International as a sponsor. On the last show, he was shooting an Axiom and missed a coyote at a relatively close range (75 yds?). I was surprised as he usually does NOT miss and often makes difficult hits with coyotes on the run. The look on his face with the miss was very telling in my opinion. At the end of the show, he spoke well of the Escort shotgun by Legacy, but he said nothing of the Axiom. Again, very telling IMHO.

b) I wish I could tell you more about my new rifle as far as it's shooting ability, but I just picked it up Monday and haven't had the chance to barrel break it in yet. It is a Sako 75 Varmint Laminated Set Trigger in .22-250. Check out Sako's website and look in the Old Models section if you're interested. There are still some new, unfired 75's floating around out there, but the newer 85's in this configuration are supposed to be available in the 2nd qtr of 2008. The set trigger is amazing at ~7.5 ounces; standard pull is 2-4 lbs. These rifles are fairly pricey. Mine had a sticker of $1796.00 on it. I ended up paying $1484.00 and topping it off with a Leupold VX-III 6.5-20x40mm and adding a Harris bipod. Roughly, I've got $2300.00 in it thus far. It better be a tack-driver!!! Without yet knowing how it shoots, I must say Sako's construction/engineering is impressive and the 85's come with a 5-shot MOA guarantee or they don't leave the factory. It's definitely a high quality piece, and I would not be hesitant to look at Sako or Tikka if I were you. I hope my info has helped you.

Sako75Varmintlamstainless.gif
 
I really like the CZ. This particular one is definitely a keeper. IMG_0208.gif

And don't be fooled about the heavy bullet stuff. If you know your bullet's trajectory and you can read the wind, you can still make hits at respectable distances. Hereabouts on the prairie the wind is usually quite brisk, and the shots typically start at about 250 for prairie dogs. Some shots are out in excess of 400 yards. None of these 400 yard shots are "sure" shots, but if you know how your bullet performs you can do just fine with the 50 to 55 grain bullets.
 
I bought a savage 12fv a few months ago in .223. Its not the prettiest rifle, but it is dang accurate right out of the box. It fits all of your criteria, bull barrel, .223, etc. 1 in 9 twist for some of the longer range bullets. using 25gr H335, 55gr v-max bullets, 1/2 to 3/4 groups at 100 yds. It would probably overlap at that range but I think the rifle is more accurate than my abilities, LoL.

I vote for the Savage model 12fv, of all my rifles it is my first pick for the range nowadays.
 
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