Most accurate .223 bolt gun for $500?

[Savage Shooter]

That was my price range when I first got in to this earlier this year I got a savage 12fv .223 for 458 at a local farm and home supply. thats with the 10% order charge for it. It is extremly accurate on thing I wouldn't get it if you are going to pack it very far I put a 6-24x44 scope on it it is a tack driver down side the gun weighs 10lbs.

 

[BMW2]

O.K. I think I'm going to go with the stevens but I've got one more question. Which cartridge should be more accurate .223 or .308. I like the .223 cost wise for plinking but if I go .308 I could use it as a deer rifle, which I don't already have. If the .308 would be just as accurate and serve more than one purpose, than I might go that route. Thoughts?

 

[ImARugerFan]

I'd say Remington 700. But as you can see, pretty much anything is going to be accurate for you in this price range.

 

[rklessdriver]

Howa 1500 or Weatheryby Vanguard. I have a Vanguard VGS 20" light sporter barrel in .223 I bought back in 1996, that will shoot 3 round groups of one .224 hole at 100yrds. The hole just gets a bit larger after 3 rounds as the barrel gets hot. 5 round groups average in the 1/4" range. A 1/4 or better MOA rifle for $500.00 I know how lucky I am.

I have made a lot of money off that little rifle, back in my first enlistment. I use to tell other Marines how accurate it was and when they called BS I would offer a friendly wager, go get it, take them to the range and then take their $$$.

While not every 1500 or Vanguard will be this accurate, every one I have seen was very very accurate once you found a load it liked and better than average with almost any load. I have personaly never seen a dog come from Howa. They make as good of a rifle as you can buy for that kind of money.
Will

 

[doubleh]

I have a Stevens 200 and it does 100 yard .6" groups with Sierra 40 gr. HP's over 26.5 grains of Varget. This is a pretty mild load. I got down to 3 pounds with the factory trigger. Making a new trigger return spring from .045 music wire gave me 2 1/2 pounds. I can't see any reason to spend the money on a Rifle Basix trigger.

 

[Afy]

CZ and Tikka + handloads with high BC bullets and fire formed brass....
If accuracy is what you're after.

I dont have experience with the stevens or savage rifles... but have shot several Cz and Tikka variants.

 

[Kitchen_Duty]

another vote for the stevens 200. I own the 308 version and would pick up one in a heartbeat again (especially if it had iron sights...). I am probably going to buy another one in 243 and mod it out with a bull barrel, thumb hole stock, bipod, yadda, yadda...

 

[BMW2]

Kitchen- What kind of groups does your Stevens shoot at 100yds?

And where do you shoot when you want to shoot outdoors? I'm also a Washingtonian. I Usually go down around greenwater off of 410.

 

[Kitchen_Duty]

I'm up in silverdale and I usually frequent the olympic penisula across the hood canal bridge or I go to Poulsbo shooting club in kitsap county.

As far as groups go I have got about 1.2 MOA out of it with 150 gr federal soft points. I am going to go to a higher grain 168 to see if I can tighten them up and then I am going to start fine tuning my handloads with all of the brass I have collected.

 

[made2cut]

I went on this quest about a year ago and came home with a Tikka T3 lite stainless. If you want to save a few bucks go with a Savage.

 

[RevolverMan567]

xr100

i picked mine us barely used for 465 OTD shoots light out literally, once hit a lightbulb at 350.

 

[45crittergitter]

+1 for the Tikka.

 

[627PCFan]

Buy a used savage and re barrel it

You can keep it well under 500

 

[Savage Shooter]

I bought a savage 12fv .223 to say its a tackdriver is an under statement and i shoot wolf i love it one problem you might have is packing it around very far mine weighs 10lbs on the dot with my 6-24x44 scope and claw sling.