Bolt gun for 200 yd range toy, suggestions.

[CoalTrain49]

I'm getting interested in a bolt gun for some range fun. I have a 357 carbine but that isn't a 200 yd gun. My buddy has a Tikka 308 that I like but not sure if I want the recoil. I was thinking maybe a 223 because of bullet availability and light recoil. I will load my own and my buddy will give me the brass. I can also scrounge brass at the club.

I witnessed a guy shooting a heavy barrel 223 a few days ago. His group was sub MOA at 200 yards. I think his rifle was a Savage but forgot the model.

My budget is around 1K with scope. This isn't a hunting rifle, just a range toy. 200 yd max. My goal is 1 MOA.

308 or 223 and what mfg./model?

 

[Fla_dogman]

I shoot my 223 out to 365 yds. If not for hunting I think you'll be happy with it.

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[Hardtarget]

If 200 yds is all you've, well, thats all you've got. The club I shoot with is only 200yds with a metal plate at 250...if you want to climb the hill to paint it white.

I shoot my AR that distance and I only have a 4.5x scope. Lately its been set up with peep sights...but even a 5" shoot'n see is doable ( my vision ). Mostly its just fun to try.

Any way, it seems a bolt gun with good glass at 200 yds should be fun to tweak to the smallest possible group. Then you can move out some.

I don't have a gun like that. Hope you find the "one"so you can go give it a try!

Mark

 

[jaowens76]

Guys shoot 500m + with 5.56 fairly regularly. I would say a savage 10 and maybe a 10x or higher fixed power SS from SWFA. That just about maxes out your budget, but would be one heck of a paper punching machine. And if you get the urge to blast whistle pigs you would be well equipped to do that as well.

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[jmr40]

How much you wanna spend? A 223/5.56 bolt rifle with a barrel twist of 8 so you can shoot heavier bullets will be about perfect for punching paper. And a lot farther than 200 yards if you choose. Many 223's have slower 12 twists that shoot fine with lightweight varmint bullets, but the heavier target bullets would work better.

One of the Ruger Americans would be my top budget choice. Especially the Predator version. It comes with a mid weight barrel somewhere between a standard and bull barrel. Street price of around $400. Savage is good too, I just like Ruger better. My brother has one of the Ruger Ranch rifles in 5.56 and two Tikka's in 223. I have the Predator and some AR's. All are great shooters. The sky is the limit if you have the money, but I think you are on the right track with the chambering.

http://ruger.com/products/americanRifle/overview.html

 

[CptnAwesome]

223/5.56 would be good. May also look at the 22-250 rem, it would be awesome. Ammo not near as plentiful as 223 but Iot better ballistics. And since hand loading, availability wouldn't be a problem. Check it out. No winner or loser between these two. Only a really good and better one

 

[VoodooMountain]

Savage 12 from cabelas is about $400. Very accurate and leaves a good budget for a good scope. It is a fairly heavy gun though.

Remington 700 tactical model is supposed to be pretty consistent in the accuracy reports I hear.

Savage hot hunter is around $400 as well.
Both savages mentioned here have blind mags if that matters to you.
All 3 guns I mentioned have heavier barrels which is nice for a range gun and are offered in a 1/9 twist which allows for used of standard 55gr fodder as well as some heavier options such as the Sierra 69 or hornady 75 bthp.


Howa also offers a 20" barrel gun that can be had in a heavier profile but I am unsure of the twist. This gun is also offered in a lightweight sported barrel and I've noticed some online stores don't give a good description of the profile.

If you like Mauser style actions cdnn was showing the tactical Ruger 77 on sale that came with a bipod. New Ruger Hawkeyes are pretty accurate anymore compared to their older versions as their barrels have improved in consisenty and overall quality.

For shooting paper at 200 yards 223 is more than enough gun and probably the cheapest center fire option to shoot.

Decisions decisions...

 

[ssyoumans]

I've picked up a Savage 12FV from Cabelas in 223 for $369. It has a 26" heavy barrel and shoots 1 MOA pretty regularly. It is only 1:9 twist but I've had no problems with the Sierra 69gr Tipped Matchkings over TAC and Varget.
Now I'm working up a load using Hornady 53gr VMax.
Topped it with a Vortex Viper HS 6-24x50 ($400).
It is heavy but I plan to use it for 400 yard prairie dog shooting at some point.

 

[Corn-Picker]

The CZ 527 in 223 has a faster twist IIRC.

 

[adcoch1]

Either a 223, 243, or a 6.5creedmore. Savage, ruger, Mossberg mvp, tikka, cz, etc, just find the one with the stock that fits you best and throw a 10x scope by Nikon, Leopold, swfa, etc and have fun. Personally i would go 223 cz 527 with Leopold glass and the full length stock, but that's my personal taste...

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[rswartsell]

Take the Tikka to 7mm .08. SWEET action and trigger. I feel they are well above cost point, and both are key to how I shoot.

 

[goon]

If I was looking for a .223 for what you describe - just shooting at the range without much (if any) stalking type hunting, I'd look at one of the heavier barreled versions of the CZ-527.

 

[Manny]

I always hate when folks ignore a posters parameters and suggest something out of bounds from their post, but I'm gonna do it anyway. $1000 a lot of cash to spend, but i'm gonna suggest spending more and getting something that exceeds your desires. That will shoot 1/2 moa most likely, and could potentially do 1 hole groups at 200 yards. A rifle that that shoots so well you'll likely never want for more. A Savage M12 F/TR in .223 is a little under $1200 @ Bud's. Top it with a Weaver T24 target scope, about the most you can consistently use without mirage becoming a factor, about $450-ish. Add in a set of good rings and maybe a bipod and you should have a lifetime rifle that will be endlessly entertaining and satisfying to shoot & own.

Why just have a toy when you can have an ultimate toy?

 

[Brian Williams]

Why not work with that 357, it will reach out to 200 yards, you have to make it work. It BPCR shooters can shoot a 45/70 to 1000 yards you should be able to work a 357 at 200.

 

[herkyguy]

The CZ 527 in 223 has a faster twist IIRC.

Bingo.

I picked up a CZ 527 in .223 and keep it sighted in at 200 yards. Factory PMC ammo runs just under 2 MOA. RELOADS are a tad over MOA, but since then I've bedded the front lug and have been playing with seating depth to have various bullets sitting .02" off the lands. Can't wait to get it out at the range again.

Good price for a really fun gun. Low recoil, nice walnut stock, and the set trigger is amazing.

 

[webrx]

I bought a howa varmint heavy fluted barrel, my son and I shoot regularly at 200 paper and 300-500 steel.

Got it new for under $500 from Legacy firearms

Seriously fun rifle, that shoots less than 1 MOA.

Dave

 

[HexHead]

Weatherby Vanguard S2 are guaranteed to shoot sub-MOA right out of the box. I've had several and they've all easily exceeded that. I still have my .223, I use for rifle matches at my club. The new ones have a 1:9 twist. Mine has a 1:12 twist, with it's 24" barrel and the 55 gr hollow point flat base bullets I load for it, it's a tack driver. You can put nice glass on it for $1000.

 

[CoalTrain49]

Why not work with that 357, it will reach out to 200 yards, you have to make it work. It BPCR shooters can shoot a 45/70 to 1000 yards you should be able to work a 357 at 200.

I can ring a small plate with it at 220 but it's like a mortar when sighted in at 100. I've even tried some 125 gr bullets loaded pretty hot and I still have to drop them in. I know, you have to do the same thing at 500 with a rifle cartridge but I want something that can shoot a little flatter.