Looking into getting a .223 with iron sights

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kedearian

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I'm looking into buying a .223 with iron sights for targetshooting/plinking. It is mostly to be a step-up for my girlfriend since she's getting bored with my ruger 10/22 at 50 yards and wants to move out to 100. I figure the .223 has about the same level of kick, which is important to her, but a bit more power to get out to the 200yard mark pretty well. Anyone have any suggestions for a iron sighted rifle that is under $500?

Thanks
 
I don't know, but you might could find a 5.56x## AK-74 for that price, and the ammunition is suposed to be super cheap.

I would try gunshows for a used AR-15 at around $600 (price for my 20" A4 DPMS just a few months ago after the obamamainiacraze).

Good luck,
P.B.Walsh
 
J&G Sales currently has Century Arms C93's (HK33 clones, 5.56) for $499 - personally, I really rate the HK dipoter iron sights, as you can spin them round to the four different apertures to immediately adjust hold off, 100 to 400 meters, so would be a good system to learn on too. Very good price at the minute, however, be warned, Century as a manufacturer does not have the best reputation.
 
the sights on that c93 do look good, but i'm afraid going with something that looks to much like a battle rifle will scare her off and i'll be making range trips alone again. Think i might go with that single shot .223, the CZ carbine, or a savage with iron sights if i can find it. thanks for all your input
 
Savage doesn't put these sights on most of their bolt actions anymore, but if you can find a used one from a few years ago, it might work out well. Here are the sights on my Model 11 in .223:

ASTP62361.JPG

ASTP62360.JPG

ASTP62362.JPG


Downside is that the sights are plastic, but they've held up fine since 2004. Were very easy to adjust, too. I ended up scoping it anyway. The sight picture wasn't really to my liking.

Another option if you can't find a rifle with sights already installed is to get a Williams WGRS (for Savage, Remington, etc.) aperture rear and have a gunsmith install a front sight. Shouldn't be TOO expensive.

Edit to add: Just saw your limit was $500. If it were me, and I couldn't find what I wanted on the used market, I would probably get a Stevens 200 and add a Williams WGRS and have a blade front sight installed. I also like the CZ 527 Carbine idea mentioned above, but for $500, you'll have to look on the used market. I did see a new one in .223 for $500 last October at a gun show, but that was an exceptionally low price. If only it were a few years ago -- I think they used to be in the $450 range new.
 
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The .223 Saiga is a lot of fun, very reliable and beats your price goal by a wide margin. Trouble is, they're not real accurate....and they will go through the ammo quickly.

The Mini-14 is just as much fun and just as inaccurate, but costs twice as much.
Bob
 
Yeah, I was trying to keep it under what i could get an AR-15 for, since I want one and would get it since it mostly fits my bill, but the girlfriend has not liked shooting any battle-rifle styled weapons I have so it would be a hard push to get her to use that
 
Remington Model Seven Youth has sights. They are great guns and right in your price range. I have one I bought for my son, but have since taken it over. I guess I will have to buy another one here soon. I found mine on gunbroker and see them there with general regularity.
 
A 580-series mini-14 would be a pretty good choice, and you can find them new at Wal-Mart for $400-ish. Make sure you get a model with decent iron sights, though. I would avoid older mini's (accuracy varies greatly, and lemons are common), and especially older Ranch Rifles as the flip-up rear sight was literally a piece of sheet metal with a hole in it.
 
Another vote for the mini. My wife did not want a evil black rifle, even though she qualified as expert, so we got her a mini.
 
I hope that's not a faulty memory on my part re: the price (and I last looked a couple of years ago). But I'm pretty sure a new blued mini with no frills would come in under your $500 limit, and (as others have stated) if she's used to the 10/22 then the mini is just about perfect. You can even buy factory 20-round magazines now from Ruger, and I believe 30's are either available or on the way.
 
Yeah, I replied to a pm about that large magazine as being a drawback, she already goes through a brick or two of 22 when we goto the range and we only have 3 10 round magazines, i'm afraid she would shoot me out of house and home if it was the same ammount of .223. It's not that she doesnt aim, it's just that she goes a bit quick with the shots with a semi-auto, most in the 9-10 ring area at 50 feet.
 
New England Firearms, 223 single shot. I believe they still come with real iron sights, not those fake plastic cheap ones. Used @ $100, new @ $175. Expect 1-2 MOA with cheap ammo. Also it's really easy to put a scope on it later.

With a bench rest, scope and some good ammo, she might be able to hit shotgun hulls at 100 yards.

Clean-up is painfully simple, and these guns will last multiple generations.
 
Both the Saiga and the newest Mini-14 (580 model) are accurate (2 MOA or better) with the right ammo.
 
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