Bolt action vs. AR in .223 - Accuracy difference?

[BigBL87]

All - I ended up buying a Thompson Center Compass II in .223. Got a pretty good deal on it, and it has a good reputation. But I won't be able to shoot it until next spring. I'll try to circle back when I do. Thanks for all your input.
https://www.tcarms.com/firearms/bolt-action-rifles/t-c-compass-rifles/t-c-compass-ii

Solid choice for a budget bolt gun.

 

[JJFitch]

I'm thinking of picking up a Remington 783 in .223. It comes with a 22-inch 1:9 barrel. Can I expect any more accuracy out of it vs. my AR with 16-inch 1:9 barrel, or will the differences be insignificant at 100 yards - 300 yards? Thanks

Considering each rifle is capable of sub 3 inch groups at 100 yards and the wound channel is 4"'s the difference is insignificant.

Any bolt gun should print sub 1" at 100 yards or the lack of sales will end that model!

The deal breaker here is the 300 yard reference. The 22 inch barrel in a decent bolt gun makes the difference here.

Now, when talking about purpose built precision rifles the difference can be insignificant but how accurate can you afford to go? There are at least 20 individual steps necessary to achieve sub MOA and similar accuracy at 300 yards from barrels to triggers to precision fitting parts to glass to ammo to shooter ability.

Smiles,

(I was responding before post #51 appeared!) "s

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

Semi-autos centerfires fire from a locked bolt; however, chambers need to be a bit larger to allow easy extraction and to prevent jamming. Therefore it's rare to find a semi-auto that shoots MOA, but I've seen/shot some. Ammo plays a big part also, so testing various brands/types will often make a difference in accuracy.

Yes, you are correct, I think the part about the bolt was just me thinking out loud lol. I know it doesn't affect the actual bullet itself but due to the bolt moving inside the gun almost immediately after firing it, I was thinking it may have some affect on the point of aim and point of impact relationship.

 

[Picher]

Chambers on semi-autos are a little sloppier than good bolt-action chambers, just so they don't jam on slightly-larger ammo. A bolt rifle has much greater camming power and can cope with slightly-larger ammo, especially reloaded ammo, and extract it after firing.

 

[HOWARD J]

My AR 15 with 3-9 scope will shoot all day in a 1" circle at 50 yards. My Savage heavy barrel with 24 power scope will shoot all day in a 1" circle @ 100 yards.
AR 15 weighs about 6 pounds---Savage weights 10 pounds.
WHICH WOULD YOU LIKE TO CARRY ALL DAY?

 

[Charlie Martinez]

Based on what the type of shooting the OP describes I don't think the bolt gun is going to make a significant difference in the performance he requires. However if he's planning on doing precision type shooting where tiny groups are required at long distances maybe he should be considering a better bolt gun than the 783. To me the 783 may only be replacing his AR semi-auto with a bolt action of similar performance.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

Based on what the type of shooting the OP describes I don't think the bolt gun is going to make a significant difference in the performance he requires. However if he's planning on doing precision type shooting where tiny groups are required at long distances maybe he should be considering a better bolt gun than the 783. To me the 783 may only be replacing his AR semi-auto with a bolt action of similar performance.

Yeah, I agree with you Charlie. A 22" 243 Win is my next rifle I want and I think it would do well for the OP as well.

 

[Picher]

My .270 Win Rem 700 BDL Stainless weighs less than 8 lbs with a Leupold 3-9X scope. It shoots 3/8" groups with my handloads at 100 yards. It doesn't need to shoot that tight, but I'm not going to complain.

 

[Varminterror]

There are at least 20 individual steps necessary to achieve sub MOA and similar accuracy at 300 yards

20 individual steps? Can you elaborate on this?

 

[doubleh]

Yes, please elaborate.

 

[JJFitch]

"Verminterror" and "doubleh" I answered the OP to the best of my ability!

To discuss the steps to achieve sub MOA at 300 yards would be hi-jacking this thread I suggest starting another thread, "20 steps to achieve sub MOA at 300 yards"!

Smiles,

 

[murf]

"Verminterror" and "doubleh" I answered the OP to the best of my ability!

To discuss the steps to achieve sub MOA at 300 yards would be hi-jacking this thread I suggest starting another thread, "20 steps to achieve sub MOA at 300 yards"!

Smiles,

great idea. if you start another thread, @pitcher can tell us how he gets sub moa out of his hunting rifle! that and your "steps to greater accuracy" we can all stop worrying about our "minute of barn" accurate rifles (not trying to being facetious here).

murf

murf

 

[Skylerbone]

Remington 783, Leupold 3-9x40, .243, Remington CoreLokt. It isn’t a horrible shooter but it isn’t a whisker better than my fairly basic ARs. I also know that pushing a few rounds through the 783 after warm up will have it walking POI a bit, something my AR barrels don’t do with 30 rounds in under 3 minutes.

 

[dog gone it]

I got into this subject years ago. Back then the answers were pretty much the same as most on here now.
Bolts are more accurate straight out of the box, but there are variables.
If you are very particular about the slightest variance of accuracy for each load, then bolt is the way to go.
Im not 100% sure about this but I think that snipers use bolts exclusively for dependability and accuracy, but maybe its because their ranges are further than what the average person would shoot idk.

 

[mavracer]

I sold my Savage bolt 223 because it didn't shoot any better than my AR. To be fair my AR has an excellent WOA barrel a good Larue trigger and Leupold glass and I have about double the $$$ in it than the Savage but I just didn't need both LOL.

Same thing happened to my Remington 308 Bolt.