Help finding the right .223 bolt gun.

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TonyAngel

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Hey guys, I once again find the need to plug into the information bank. I realized yesterday that I much prefer to shoot a bolt gun. I know this because I built a brand new AR precision build about the same time that I bought my .308 bolt gun and I have close to 500 rounds through my bolt gun, in three weeks, and about 200 rounds through the AR.

I think I need a bolt gun in .223. I would like it to be carbine length, with around a 20" barrel. I would like a twist rate of nothing slower than 1:9. I like to shoot 77gr loads. Since I'm used to ARs, I consider 7lbs to be pretty light, so I think I can get maybe a medium contour barrel? I don't want a bullish barrel like on my SPS tactical, but not a skinny barrel either. Just heavy enough to offer some stability. I don't want open sights on it. I want to scope it (a reason to get another Swarovski). Is there anything out there that meets these parameters?

If not, does anyone know where I can get a Remignton 700 action? If so, I'll put one together (or have someone do it for me).

Thanks guys.
 
I think a Remington 700 VTR in .223 would be a fine choice for you. The VTR isn't known for its outstanding accuracy but if you handload, im sure you can dial a very accurate load down.
 
rugers, I really like the compact gun. 16" barrel, short stock. get the stainless /laminate and you have a great hard use handy gun. http://www.ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeLaminateCompact/index.html
I don't think the rugers are really know for being all that accurate though.

as far as shooting heavy 77 grain bullets out of a 223, I've never really been a fan. do you think maybe you're really trying to make the caliber be something it's not? like a civic with a turbocharger? perhaps something like a 7.62x39, 243 6mm tcu or something would work better? you could even buy a savage action and have it rebarreled to the contour and twist of your choice. or wildcat if you reload.

but back on topic, I really like the tikka's and the browning A-bolts too. CZ's have a loyal following, and I too really like the remmy VTR barrel design. I wish it was a shorter lighter gun though.
 
I did look at that Ruger carbine. I'm just not wild about that 16.5" barrel and the 1:12 twist. I could live with the barrel length if it wasn't for the slow twist rate. At this point, I'm thinking that I'm going to get some flavor of Remington and get my smith to chop the barrel if needed. Maybe he can reprofile it for me too.
 
If you want to shoot 77gr then go for 1:8 or faster twist. Most bolt guns off the rack are going to be 1:9 and you'll be OK up to maybe 69gr, 62 gr for sure.

Savage makes the F/TR in a 1:7 twist, 30" barrel and 12.5 pounds, everything else AFAIK is 1:9 twist. The tapered barrel Model 11 or 16 is going to come in at ~7 pounds w/o scope. The heavier barreled Model 10 Predator ~8.5 pounds also with a 22" barrel, and there's a Model 10 Precision Carbine @ 20". The Model 12 Varmint has a 26" barrel and is ~9 pounds. There's also the Lightweight Varminter series.

I guess I'm partial to Savages, and building on either a Savage or Remington action to get exactly what you want is OK, but you could spend a lot of money to do no better than the factory.
 
My recommendation is a Howa 1500. Mine is extremely accurate with handloads.
 
im with kludge. try the savage preditor, or the Remington modle 7. I own a savage preditor and my dad owns the Remington. the savage out shoots the Remington and they both outshoot the tika my dad bought and sold after substandard performance. it wasn't that bad though. we are hand loaders and give every rifle a chance to perform. the good thing about buying savage or Remington is if you don't like it you have a great action to start with. I would stay away from ruger because of poor accuracy and trigger problems.
 
I'm gonna take another look at the Savage. When I went to the store to check them out, I didn't like the way the trigger felt, but I shot one in 6mmBR this past weekend. It was a custom job with a stock trigger. The guys says that he just likes them. Anyway, it shot really well and the trigger didn't hinder me the way I thought it would.
 
I think your on the right track. if you buy one of savages $600 rifles you will like it till the barrel is shot out. then put a heart or kreiger on it to make whatever you want . you will grow to like the accutrigger. it will out shoot the tika. like I said I own a savage preditor and you can't custom build one to shoot any better than one hole at 100 yds. as to your bullet choice you don't have to go so heavy to shoot a long ways. we use 40grn v-max on prarrie dogs out to 600 yds. yes the wind can be more trouble but its also more fun to figure out.
 
Man, this whole bolt gun thing has me tearing my hair out. I have the bug so bad. What's killing me is that I built this uber accurate AR. I know it's super accurate. I've shot groups with it that everyone at the range said that it would never be capable of and then better shooters than I am have gotten on it and have done better. The thing is that for every .5" group I shoot with the AR, I've shot three with my new .308 bolt gun and it kicks twice or maybe three times as hard. I think that for punching paper and long range shooting, the bolt gun is more for me, so....I figured I'd get a bolt gun in .223.

This afternoon has been kind of slow, so I've been surfing the net and looking around. Now, I come back to check my thread and someone mentions an LTR, which is what I wanted, but didn't want to spend the money because I didn't know how I'd take to this whole larger caliber bolt gun thing. I mean, I have had a Weatherby .30-06 for a long time, but it's a hunting rifle and I've never even tried to shoot it on this level.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to pick up, get this, an LTR barrel in .308. I got it for $40. I know the guy that I got it from and he says it has less than 500 rounds through it. In my recent surfing, I've also discovered that I can get a "custom" 700ish action for under $1000 or just a plain Jane 700 action for around $400. The wheels are really turning now.

Do I pursue the .223 bolt gun, or divert my resources to building a "real" .308 to my tastes? What I'm envisioning is a portable, lighter, tack driver. My intent is to take the LTR barrel and have it threaded for a muzzle brake. I could conceivably build a pretty nice 700 for under $1000. I already have the HSP PSS stock that my current 700 is residing in.
 
if you want cheep to shoot go with the .223 if you want 2 308s build another. if it were me from the sounds of it you shoot a lot. so in a couple of years you will have your barrel shot out. so stash the barrel for when you shoot your barrel out. and get your .223 to save some money on powder and lead.
 
I am considering a new 223 as well. Not to hi-jack the thread but any opinons on the Savage 10 Precision Carbine. I am looking for a truck gun for coyotes and what not around the farm. I also want something that will shoot when I go to punch some paper. Any opions on this model would be appreciated.

Thanks,
David
 
I have an Anschutz 1770 and it is a real marvel. (mine has the 1 in 12 barrel twist, now they are 1 in 9)
It is my favorite firearm.
I am so pleased with its performance that I now have a Schmidt and Bender PM II on order for it.

Greetings
Peter
 
I vote again for the CZ of whichever configuration you prefer. The thing about the full sized, short actions, of most manufacturers is that they will handle the small case of the 223 just fine, but aesthetically it just doesn't work for me so well. The CZ has a number of advantages, including its diminutive receiver, controlled round feeding, the set trigger, hammer forged barrel. And with all this is light weight. If you like walnut stocks theirs really can't be beat.

Best of all, the price is usually quite reasonable.:cool:

What's not to like?
 
coug, that sounds like good advise. I just get so obsessive about things that I can't see the forest through the trees sometimes. I DO NOT need to .308s. I'm gonna just start having the work done on the barrel, having the brake installed, then I'm gonna put it away.

I do feel that I need a good .223 bolt gun. My first impulse was to get another SPS Tactical, but it's really heavy for what it is, which is a lighting kicking rifle.

What do you guys think of the XCR Compact Tactical? I think I'd rather have a Remington.
 
Tony,
I picked up an Remington 788 about 12 years ago, still shooting fine. I know this possibly doesn't help you out, but this rifle will put 5 rounds into the same hole @ 100 yds, have shot many Pd's @ 300-400-500 yds, all day long.
 
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