Best reasonably priced bolt action in .223

[Bacon buster]

Plus one to the American predator. Not the best at anything but for the money you’d be hard pressed to do better. With that budget you could get the rifle some glass and possibly some other accessories like a sling or bipod. Those rifles shoot Moa with good ammo right out of the box

 

[BWS]

Of the 1/2 dz + here,this is my favorite.

New'ish ADL,ceracoated,filled/tuned tupperware,Timney,Bushnell 3-12 Elite.

Shoots Lee 225-55RF into tiny bragging groups @2800fps with IMR4198.

Honorable mention is a very early(flat back) stainless #16 Savage,love the barrel options,and the short action(LA Savage are a little too long). CZ 527 LUX is OK but,that dang backwards safety just brings it down a few. It is my favorite iron sight rifle though,and that ain't to be taken lightly considering how nice some of the older guns are equipped.

 

[Space Ghost]

My .223 turn bolt is a Weatherby Vanguard Series 2. It only has a 1/9 twist so I can't go higher that 68 or 69 gr in bullet weight, but it really likes the 62 gr bonded sp, so I settled on those. I cut the barrel down a bit and added the flash suppressor.