Bolt Action .223

[JoeMal]

I'm looking for a target/small varmint rifle. I don't hunt a whole lot (especially larger animals) so a 223 seemed like a cheaper way to go for a rifle, especially when considering ammo. It will be more of a range gun than anything else; I'm looking to shoot up to 200-250 yards.

I've looked into several options...the Rem 700 is popular but I would prefer to stay away from this one. I have also heard good things about the CZ 527, Savages (various models 25, 11, 14), Ruger M77, and Howa.

Honestly, any of these would probably do just fine, but I'm looking for personal opinion from experienced shooters in the bolt action .223. As mentioned the rifle will be used for target more than anything. Are any of these preferred? Thanks in advance

 

[matrem]

the Rem 700 is popular but I would prefer to stay away from this one.

In my small section of the world, these have been the most used bolt .223s.
Any reason for that statement?

 

[JoeMal]

In my small section of the world, these have been the most used bolt .223s.
Any reason for that statement?

I guess it's just a personal thing. The only experience I have with Remington is 1. Their .22 ammo sucks and 2. My cousin has an 870 that cannot stay away from the 'smith because there's always something wrong with it. So I guess that's why I want to stay away...it's probably a dumb reason, but whatever. I'm not 100% opposed to owning one, but it's certainly not 1st on my list

 

[ThePunisher'sArmory]

Savage Tactical 110, .223, Long action, 24" Bull Barrel, change the factory stock out for a Mcmillan. Bought one used for $350. Its heavy but very very accurate. 1-2" MOA at 100 yards. Thats very accurate with me behind the trigger (I need to work on my control). Its capable of 1/2" @100.

 

[DIM]

Tikka t3 either varmint or tactical, then TC Venture, Tikka and TC guarantee to shoot 1 MOA or less... The others you just play Russian roulette, I have Rem 700 myself it shoot 2" 5 shots groups at 500 yards, I like it, but I had to modify its stock to B&C then glass bedded and adjust its trigger to lightest pull possible, like 1.5 lb...

 

[dstark]

I love my M77 hawkeye .223 and savage 110 .270, they can both out shoot me. Not much experience with the others

 

[TIMC]

I have several rifles in .223 but the only one I have in a bolt gun is the Savage mod 11BGTH topped with a Leupold VXIII LR 4.5-15x50mm. This is probably the most accurate rifle I own and on a good day will shoot less than.5" groups at 100 yards using hand loads with 60 grain V-Max bulets. I simply love this rifle! The accu-trigger did take a little getting used to but it is nice.
The rifle was right at $700 and the scope was a little more but it made a great combination.

 

[DIM]

Savage mod 11BGTH topped with a Leupold VXIII LR 4.5-15x50mm. This is probably the most accurate rifle I own and on a good day will shoot less than.5" groups at 100 yards using hand loads with 60 grain V-Max bulets.

With your Savage I would recommend 69 gr SMK, you'll be amazed what it can do with boat tail bullets with higher BC, lucky you Savage puts 1:9 twist so heavier bullets can spin down range... With Remington I got 1:12, so 60 grain bullets are its limit...

 

[rangerruck]

I will say it before, and i will say it again. For a large factory producing
products gun/rifle company, no one outdoes cz.
Just look here;
go to bottom of the 3rd page.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=532600&page=3

 

[NWCP]

My CZ 527 is chambered in .223 and shoots like a dream. Whether, or not you intend to hunt varmint with it the rifle is definitely accurate enough to take ground squirrel and other such furry critters out past 200 yards. It's fun to shoot with at the range as well. The single set trigger is very light and works well from the bench. The fit and finish on my 527 is very good. The rifle balances well and is lght enough to tote around in the field all day. My gun prefers Hornady ballistic tip ammo in the 45 to 50 grain range.

 

[eastbank]

please don,t buy a rem 700 in 223, as you can see this one is a ugly puppy and only shoots 1.5 inch 5 shot groups at 300yds with select reloads and a 1 lb trigger, the shame i have to put up with when i show up at the range,its just about all i can bear. there are other rifles that will do that,but this one has done it from day one and is the cross i must to bear. eastbank.

 

[armoredman]

If you want something you can carry all day in the field, I'd suggest the CZ 527M. I have one in 7.62x39mmm, GREAT rifle. The full size 527s are also fantastic rifles, you get far more than you pay for.

 

[MAKster]

When buying a .223 bolt action be aware of the twist rate. Many of the Remington models are 1 in 12" while other brands like the Savage are 1 in 9". The 12s will not shoot the heavy bullets as well.

 

[HOWARD J]

I have a Savage 12FV .223 with a 6-24 scope.
I use it for bench target shooting.
A little over 9#---little hevy for an old man lugging around in the field.
It is very accurate !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[PT1911]

I highly recommend the cz 527... I have the varmint model and love it.

personally I would stay away from the new Remingtons unless you have an additional 500 or so over purchase price to "fix" all of the potential problems from the factory... granted, once those things are sorted out, you will have a damned fine shooting rifle and perhaps the best, but nowadays, they are a huge headache and there are much better "out of the box" shooters.

The Tikka, Savage, and TC are also great ways to go.

 

[Geno]

eastbank:

I feel you pain regarding the cross we bare for owning M700s! I am so humiliated that my M700 Varmint .223 Rem fires sub-1" groups at 288 yards (in-the-field), and that with factory-loaded 45 grain HPs. I concede those were a 5-shot group, a 3-shot group, and a 7-shot group (in total, 15-shots fired with no cooling)! Of course, my M700 Tactical, and M700 Police fire as-accurately-as the Varmint. I am cursed...cursed, I say!

Whatever shall we do?! I suggest we submit ourselves to further "humiliation" of purchasing more M700s. We deserve no less! I admit I have "cheated" fate and upgraded my M700 with an HS Precision Police stock, Farrell 20 MOA picatinny rail epoxied to the action, a Timney 1.5 pound trigger, and a Weaver 36X scope. One of these days I'll mount up my Nightforce 12-42X56 scope, my Timney 4 ounce trigger, and hand-loaded ammo and see what it really can do.

Geno

 

[Art Eatman]

FWIW: I had to install a Timney trigger to make the shooting enjoyable, but my Ruger 77 Mk II light sporter has always been a sub-MOA shooter (three into ½ MOA) and has done well in a couple of extensive sessions of wiping out prairie dogs.

 

[stubbicatt]

I really like my 527 CZ. The detachable magazines are a nice feature, although there are those who do not like the aesthetics of the mag poking out the bottom of the receiver like that. I have approximately 3000 rounds through it, handloads. It shoots them very well. Prairie dog hits at 600 are doable.

In comparing my last Remington product, a 40X XC, I would say that the CZ makes a better product. The mill marks under the rear receiver ring of the 40X were atrocious. No such poor quality control anywhere on the CZ that I could see. I would have thought for the premium price I paid for that Remington 40X rifle it would have been better finished. The trigger was replaced with an aftermarket Jewell trigger. The trigger in the CZ is really very nice "as is."

Between them, speaking from my limited experience, I would choose the CZ. Besides, it is nice and light and balances nicely. As you can see mine is the older "LUX" version. Get whatever you like and enjoy it as much as possible.

 

[eastbank]

geno, i feel i must come out of the closet for better or worse,as a remington junkey. i was sent to the betty ford clinic and forced to shoot savages,winchesters,tekia,s and cz,s but it has done little to curb my addiction. my familey as all but disowned me over this habit. woe is me. eastbank.

 

[eastbank]

i,m afraid thats all i can show right now as i,m getting sleepy and alittle hungry after handleing my drug of choice. eastbank.

 

[Geno]

eastbank:

Land sakes but you has got the illness! Man I want one of those pistolas!!!!! Some day...some day!

Geno

 

[NCsmitty]

European rifles are fine rifles, but I do encourage any American to buy American made firearms.
Of those, I think the TC line of bolt rifles offer the best bang for the buck.

www.tcarms.com/firearms/venture_predator.php



NCsmitty

 

[eastbank]

geno, the rem xp-100R,s are in .223 and .260. the 223 shoots into a inch or better at 100yds with reloads, the .260 does 1.5-1.75 inch at 100yds with factory ammo. i just woke up after that drug (remington) induced sleep, i may get the other remingtons out later. i do have other rifles and i shoot them,but i always feel a little dirty and guilty afterwards. its like smoking home grown verses golden triangle, not to worry that was 46 years ago in a far away land. eastbank. ps.these(md. 70 win 7mm mag.,md 680 cz .22 hornet) are for the other rifles boys.

 

[JoeMal]

Wow...just wow

So I just got back from the range. I had planned on doing some plinking with my .22 and getting my scope sighted in at 75-100 yards. I had been shooting for maybe 20 minutes...what do you know; two brothers show up asking if they can share the range with me. (The place I shoot at has a few ranges. The one main range (goes out to 500 yds) was full, so they came to shoot with me up to 100 yds.) They were extremely nice gentleman...and what do you know, they had some bolt action rifles with them.

So one of them grabs his Savage 12 .223 with a 26" bull barrel. I told him that I was interested in getting a bolt .223 and he stretched his arm out and said "Well here, shoot this ". So I did. At 100 yards, I was shooting pretty much into one hole (with their reloads). Pretty sweet. As the large range started to clear out, we took it over there. We walked and put down some clay targets and I was hitting clay targets from 300 yards easy. My 3 rd. groups at 300 yards were about 3"; not bad IMO for someone who doesn't have a lot of experience shooting long range rifles. He had a Cabelas brand scope on the gun.

So my day of shooting my little Marlin turned into fun shooting a Savage .223. I'm really leaning towards just getting one since I know how it feels and shoots; something I probably won't get from other rifle choices. Sure I can go to a gunstore and see a CZ (maybe, local gunstores are bad here.), but the opportunity to shoot one? Probably won't happen.


I'm still open to discussion, but heavily leaning into the Savage range

 

[Geno]

JoeMal:

I have never heard anything bad about Savages...ever. I have heard that most are shooters right out of the box. Best part is, they are USA-made!

Glad to hear you got to test-fire one to assure that it feels right. That, IMHO, is the key-factor to accurate shooting. If it doesn't feel right, forget about it.

Kudos,

Geno