Most accurate .223 rifle under $1,000
- Thread starter spook22
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This is the work of my Savage Model 12 and, from what I've heard and seen, is not unusual for a heavy barrel Savage. The only mods have been a B&C Medalist tactical stock, but it shot just as well before the new stock. The stock just made it easier to get a consistent hold and it certainly rides the bags better now with a wider forend. The recent addition of an aftermarket RifleBasix trigger set down to about 8 oz should shrink the groups a bit more. The custom KG GunKote camo did a good job shrinking my time, but not my groups. The load this rifle loves is 24.5 H335 with a Nosler 55g BT, Lapua cases, CCI400 primers.
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dawico
Member
I am going to have to say a Savage also. With their Accutrigger, Accustock, accurate design, and price, they are hard to beat.
Ditch-Tiger
Member
CZ 527 Varmint
Looks better than the Savage too!
Looks better than the Savage too!
Captcurt
Member
Spend half of your money on a Savage and the rest on a scope and accesories. I have a Model 10 Ultralite 300 WSM that outshoots everything but my tricked out tactical. And it does it for less than half the price.
Steve in PA
Member
Another vote for the Savage 12FV for the win!
Thanks for the input, i do have a savage in a .17 and it seems to be accurate for such a small caliber. Do you have any other suggestions on rifles in .223 maybe with a pistol grip? Also will i be able to reach out to 400-500 yards with a .223 savage accurately? If so what kind of groups do you guys get at that range? If i would go for the savage is the accu stock really beneficial?
speaksoftly
Member
I'd say Savage first and Remmy 700 second.
Savage Model 12FV in .223. Has the 26" heavy barrel. Accu-trigger, and about 6 months ago they were on-sale at Sports Authority for $399. Absolute blast to shoot. I load range brass, using a powder drop, discount 55 grain bullets, and can easily shoot MOA or better without too much trying. I can only imagine what fully prepped brass, weighing each charge, and a good target bullet would do..
Jed Carter
Member
The Savage or the CZ for the money and spend the rest on a great optic.
Reaching out to 400-500 yards with a .223 is easy. Hitting something small at 400-500 yards with any rifle is a matter of training and the inherent accuracy of the rifle. If your rifle in the best of hands, from a perfect rest, is only capable of 2" at 100 yards, then it will at BEST, under perfect conditions, with the same flawless execution, be capable of 10" at 500 yards. This is NOT varmint accurate. So, in theory, if your rifle shoots 1/2" at 100 yards, it will print 2 1/2" at 500 yards, which is plenty accurate for even little prairie dogs. However, in the real world, there is wind and gravity, both of which are working against you hitting the target at 500 yards. Gravity, fortunately, is predictable, but wind is not. You can dial up any amount of elevation on your scope to have the bullet and the crosshairs meet at 500 yards, and you can dial in any amount of windage to account for wind, but all of these require knowing what you are doing. It's boringly routine, even in the hands of an amateur, to hit 1" groups with a 1/4" rifle at 100 yards. Stretch things out to 500 yards and unless you know how to read the wind and either hold to factor this in or make windage and elevation adjustments, you WILL miss every time. Small, light little bullets are even less forgiving of wind reading errors.
So, in short, yes, a .223 is more than adequate for 400-500 yards shots in varmints or targets, but it all comes down to knowing how to get there. A 300 MegaMagnum rifle will just be a more expensive miss than the little .223 if the operator can't do his part. All the expensive hardware and glass in the world will not make up for the deficit in the operator. You can see this play out every trip to the range with folks with very expensive rigs who have no business shooting at even deer sized game at any distance. Practice, practice, practice.
Also, don't waste your money on the new accustock. Buy an older Model 12 series and replace the stock. After some research, I found the best bang for the buck was the Bell and Carlson Medalist in tactical configuration. The lower end B&C stocks are better than the Savage stock, but not as good as the Medalist. If you really wanted to do it right, just buy a model 12 action, or a cheap used model 12, and replace the barrel with a high quality aftermarket barrel. Drop in a nice trigger for $150 from Rifle Basix and you're good to go. A relatively inexpensive rig to put together and it would be shocking to see it shoot anything worse than 1/2" groups in good hands.
So, in short, yes, a .223 is more than adequate for 400-500 yards shots in varmints or targets, but it all comes down to knowing how to get there. A 300 MegaMagnum rifle will just be a more expensive miss than the little .223 if the operator can't do his part. All the expensive hardware and glass in the world will not make up for the deficit in the operator. You can see this play out every trip to the range with folks with very expensive rigs who have no business shooting at even deer sized game at any distance. Practice, practice, practice.
Also, don't waste your money on the new accustock. Buy an older Model 12 series and replace the stock. After some research, I found the best bang for the buck was the Bell and Carlson Medalist in tactical configuration. The lower end B&C stocks are better than the Savage stock, but not as good as the Medalist. If you really wanted to do it right, just buy a model 12 action, or a cheap used model 12, and replace the barrel with a high quality aftermarket barrel. Drop in a nice trigger for $150 from Rifle Basix and you're good to go. A relatively inexpensive rig to put together and it would be shocking to see it shoot anything worse than 1/2" groups in good hands.
67rschev
Member
How bout an autoloader ? I Picked one of these up in a whim impulse buy at 850 bucks cheap . I get such a kick outshooting the guys at the range with thier high dollar bolt guns . Hell , out shoots my bolt guns most of the time . Are you ready for this one ? A DPMS Sweet 16 LOL . Sad but true .
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. Are you ready for this one ? A DPMS Sweet 16 LOL . Sad but true .
most bipods just clamp onto you sling swivel studs
I have a suggestion for you, Spook22. I've deduced by your questions that you're fairly inexperienced with rifles. If this is the case, I would advise you to look into getting a bolt action .22 and shoot it, a LOT. You will learn a heck of a lot more about accurate shooting from a 22 rimfire and thousands of rounds of inexpensive ammo than you will from buying even a .223 and shooting it less. Unless you have an unlimited ammo budget, shooting a .223 with even plinking ammo will run you around 25 cents per shot. And that is for ammo that will most likely not shoot near the potential of any accurate centerfire 223. Just a thought.
I paid $500 out the door for my shelf-model Savage 12fv, and I couldn't be happier with it. I love how it feels when I hold it, it fills my hands well, and it feels solidly-made. I want to put some weight in the stock, to help balance the heavy barrel out.
Thanks for the suggestion Meta, but i already have an auto loader .22 rifle and a scoped .17 hmr savage and am getting pretty good with both. The problem is i would like to shoot farther and i am really pushing it with the .17 at 200 yards even though i can get about 2-3" groups.
tango2echo
Member
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My Savage M10 Predator .223 wears a Nikon Coyote Special scope in matching rings. I put about 200 rds of cheap Federal 55gr through it. It does well under 1" at 100y for 5 shots. Working on handloads now and just installed a RB trigger. I have $3000 custom rifles that will not do that. Total invested in the Savage is about $800.
Red Cent
Member
Midway and others sell a "Savage 3 Screw Target Action" for about $575.00. Mate a Douglas #9 air gauged benchrest barrel ($350.00) with this action and stock it and you will be amazed.
Just read the new policy about images and articles. Bummer.
Just read the new policy about images and articles. Bummer.
Tim the student
Member
What new policy? I'm not seeing anything.
Could someone PM me the linky?
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