Most accurate .223 bolt gun

[ACP]

In my never-ending quest to spend money that I don't have, I am hereby entertaining your suggestions for the best sub-MOA, out-of-the-box .223 caliber bolt gun that can be had for, oh, let's say about $750 (base gun -- no mods. or optics). My goals are shooting paper and plinking.

Two that come to mind are the Ruger M77 Target/Varmint series and the Remington 700 LTR. I'd also consider a new upper for my Bushmaster XM-15.

Any other suggestions?? Thanks!

 

[Bobhwry]

CZ 527 varmint!!

 

[RNB65]

I don't own one myself, but a lot of folks swear by the Savage 12BVSS.

 

[ArmedBear]

Sub-MOA guarantee:
http://www.weatherby.com/products/guns.asp?prd=Rifles&prd_sub_type=3&prod_code=VSR308NR20

Go to Legacy's website and look at Howa M1500 Varminter, Thumbhole Varminter, etc. Same action as the Weatherby, may have different barrel length; different stocks. Stocks should be interchangeable. Howa also sells the barrelled actions, which you can put in whatever stock you want, if none of the options suit your fancy. Boyd's makes them (see Weatherby listing) for a decent price, for example.

http://www.legacysports.com/product/index.htm

 

[RecoilRob]

I had a Ruger 77T in that would shoot sub 1/2 min groups with bullets it liked. Being a 1 in 12" twist, it only really liked 50 grainers and would throw 55's all over an inch at 100yds.

The Ruger trigger is two stage and really nice. Adjustable and mine was 2lb on the dot. Just be sure to torque the action screws properly and you will be good to go with a good one.

Edit: Meant to say the 55's used up the inch, weren't actually over MOA. Mostly .7 to .8 or so.

 

[Michael Courtney]

The .223 cartridge is not really demanding. Most ordinary (sporter) barrel profiles are sufficiently stiiff to deliver MOA accuracy with a variety of loads and sub-MOA with handloads. There just isn't enough energy in the cartridge to really ned a bull barrel unless you're benchrest shooting and want to get under 0.5 MOA.

My recommendation would be to get the least expensive Rem 700 in .223 and put an HS precision stock and a Jewell trigger on it. I've got Jewell triggers on a couple of my rifles and there's nothing like a great trigger to enhance practical field accuracy. I can shoot 0.5 MOA from the bench with a bad trigger, but when I'm shooting at a live, possibly moving target, a great trigger means more than an inherently accurate rifle.

Michael Courtney

 

[cslinger]

There are lots of accurate rifles both those CZ's with the set triggers right out of the box are just about breathtaking especially when you consider performance and build quality for the dollar. Are they a Cooper .....NO. Are they damn good. Hell yes.

 

[BrainOnSigs]

Tikka T3 Varmint.

 

[nipprdog]

Savage.

 

[rbernie]

Savage 10FP

 

[Metapotent]

Tikka T3 being practical.

In absolute terms: A Super-duper, Ultra Custom Rem 700 with 26inch bull barrel.

 

[robctwo]

I just bought the Savage 10FP in .223. Added a Bell & Carlson Stock. Under $650.

I also bought the CZ527 Varmint in .204. Walnut stock. Around $500.

Added scopes to both and they are a blast. Need to add a .308 Varmint as well. Not sure whether to stay with one of these or try another brand. Very satisfied with both.

I was looking at the Howa thumbhole varmint in .308 at Sportsman's Warehouse today. Interested to hear any experience with that rifle, but do not want to hijack a thread.

 

[joneb]

I've been contemplateing the same thing. My conclusions were/are to get a Savage heavy barreled .223 rem. ( 1:9 twist as are most savage .223's) or the CZ .223 527 varmit kevlar 1:9 twist, or the CZ 527 varmit in a .204 Ruger. Other than the varmit kevlar CZ's in .223 are 1:12. Being a reloader my choice of twist rates and caliber may be different from yours.
I've been financialy side tracted by a few handgun purchases, and now my attention is on a .223 AR type rifle with lots of mags. and ammo, just prepareing for a possible power change

 

[YodaVader]

Two that come to mind are the Ruger M77 Target/Varmint series and the Remington 700 LTR.

I own one of the .223 LTRs and it is quite an accurate shooter. It has the 1 in 9" twist and I have shot up to the 69 MatchKing with excellent results. These days it may exceed your $750 price. I added my old Jewell trigger to mine. The LTR is a nice compact package , the 20" barrel balances well for me and off hand shots are easy to manage.

I don't own one myself, but a lot of folks swear by the Savage 12BVSS.

I picked up one of these not too long ago. Another excellent shooter and a decent trigger right out of the box - mine was a very crisp 2.25lbs. Stainless steel , 26" barrel and again the 1 in 9" twist. Great for shooting off a rest but you will not want to carry it around. I picked mine up for $599 which falls well below your listed price ceiling. Here are the two rifles:

The scope on the 700 was back at Leupold for reticle change.

 

[hps1]

Or you could get the FP10 Savage (I paid $495 for mine), put a good scope on it and shoot it as it comes out of the box. Mine shot almost everything I tried in it, including Win. white box under an inch @ 100 yds.

The three shot cloverleaf below is with 25.6 gr H335 in WW case, CCI primer and 55 gr. Nos. BT @ 3300 fps Note: This load is max. in my rifle, primer pockets begin to expand on 3rd firing, so start low & work up!. It does not like the same load behind a 53 gr Sierra match king; I shot the cloverleaf, which measured .21", moved scope 1/2 minute left and fired the center x shot with 53 gr. SMK , followed by the other two shots which opened that group to 1.25" .

Yes, the FP10 comes in the ugly, flimsy tupperware stock, but I can't see that thru the scope and that is much more important than looks IMHO.

Regards,
hps

 

[IV Troop]

Tikka and Savage seem to be the most consistent for being tackdrivers out of the box.

 

[Cueball]

My Savage 12FV fits those specs and did so out of the box for under $500

 

[Hazzard]

I'd have to vote the Savage 12 series as well.

 

[tulsamal]

I got my Tikka Tactical for $750 shipped! Just have to keep an eye open with money in your wallet ready to jump out.

OK, it had about 150 rounds through it before I got it but you could never tell. And the guy spent $200 getting the factory brake on it. So that's $1500 worth of stuff. I was perfectly happy to give him 50% of his money back!

Gregg

 

[270Win]

I'm for the Remington 700 VLS

 

[ChristopherG]

If I was buying a .223 for anything up to 300 yards, I don't think any factory gun realistically has a claim to best the Savage for out-of-the-box accuracy--and certainly not for the same money.

After 300 yards, you want to be able to reliably stabilize heavier than 69 grain bullets. Some 1/9 twist barrels will do that, but others won't.
Among factory bolt guns, only the Tikka (and Sako), as far as I know, has a 1/8 twist rate. That would get you up to 80 grain bullets, which are viable out to 600 yards.

If you don't particularly want to go long, though, I wouldn't let this be a concern; I mean, the .223 isn't really good for much past 300 yards, other than punching paper.

 

[Bottom Gun]

Sako would be my choice in a bolt action. My heavy barrel varmint has to be one of the most accurate .223's I've shot.

You may just want to work with your Bushmaster a little though. Here's a pic of a 5 shot 100 yd group I shot with a box stock 16" Bushmaster using factory 62 gr Winchester M855 (green tip) ammo. The only modification I made was to shave the front sight, install a Rock River trigger and scope it with a 2-5 Pentax in an Armalite mount.

Don't believe what they say about chrome lined barrels not being accurate.

 

[rangerruck]

cz varmint with the kevlar stock. a mind blower. lemme show you mine, a shorty 527, and what it does at 100 meters.






the good thing about the cz varmint is that the bbl has a much faster twist, so you can use the heavier stuff.

 

[ajax]

Savage model 10g

 

[Karbon]

I vote for the Tikka... or the CZ after seeing rangerrucks post.

That's dead on.