Light weight bolt .223 to shoot SS109

[benzy2]

I'm looking to buy a lightweight rifle in .223 to shoot hand loads using a 62gr SS109 bullet. I bought them pre panic by the 5,000 box and I've got a lot to shoot. I run the bulk of these through a couple different AR rifles. I'd like to end up with a light weight bolt rifle that will shoot them as well. I plan to use it as the ground hog rifle when not plinking and around here, you don't get more than a shot or two before everything has gone underground. Due to that, I'm not looking for a varmint profile rifle nor a semi-auto version either.

The problem I run into is finding a rifle that will stabilize the 62gr penetrator bullets. A few of the more budget friendly rifles either don't come in short action or are setup with a twist rate that won't get me there. I'm not looking to dump a ton of money on the rifle. If that were the case, I'd grab a cheaper rifle and simply load all lighter bullets at an increased cost. So what's out there in the budget land that offers a .223 in at least a 1:9" twist if not faster that isn't a heavy match rifle?

 

[jakk280rem]

Tikka makes the T3 in a 1:8 twist. Should easily stabilize a 62gr bullet.

Savage make the model 25 Walking Varminter in 223 with a 1:9 twist barrel and weighs in under 7lbs.

Browning makes a 1:8 twist 223 but it's a bench gun. All their light weight offerings are 1:12.

A Stevens 200 in a 1:9 would work.

 

[viking499]

Stevens or Tikka.

 

[c0nspire]

Isn't SS109 a 5.56 round? I'm not an expert in bolt action rifles, but I have never seen a bolt action in 5.56, only in .223. I'm sure someone else will come along shortly to correct me if there are 5.56 bolt actions in the market. In any case, I wouldn't want to risk running 5.56 through a .223 bolt action, so just be careful.

...never mind, you said bullet, not round. My bad.

 

[Scrumbag]

CZ Varmint is only 7.2lbs and has a twist at 1:9.

They are also moving towards 1:9 and phasing out the the 1:12 for all models

ATB,

Scrummy

 

[rule303]

The Mossberg MVP would be another one to consider. Not as light as the Tikka, but has a better stock, and uses AR mags. I have never seen any rifle shoot SS109's all that well. They seem to have quite a bit of variation in bullet weight and concentricity.

 

[Mike1234567]

I bought a stainless/synthetic Savage Axis for $350 delivered after shipping/FFL fees. It has a 22" barrel with 1:9 twist.

 

[viking499]

Boyd's is also now making a stock for the Axis.

 

[Magnuumpwr]

1st: c0nspire, he said uses SS109 to load in 223 case. The case is the problem, not the projectile.
2nd: Ben, sounds like several nice options have been mentioned. No models come to mind to add to the list.

As to 1st, one day I will use what the SSGT told me. Read everything thoroughly before you reply!

 

[benzy2]

Thank you guys for the suggestions. I'm probably going to grab an axis simply knowing the use this rifle will see. The SS109 isn't the most accurate bullet ever but it is good enough to ring the steel plates I've got. It also was bought for around $0.05/per bullet which is tough to beat. Some of the other rifles would be nicer but this will be used now and then and will be treated a little rough when its in the field making the cheap axis seem like a good buy.

 

[Jim Watson]

An old report from Australia said that if you load them down a bit, say 100 fps off of factory, they will be substantially more accurate.