New varmint rig, what to do?

[Tim51]

I am thinking about getting a .223 varmint rig, mainly for coyotes and only out to 400 yards. I already have a Ruger M77VT in .308 and a Bushmaster M4. I am trying to decide between getting another bolt action or a Rock River varmint upper for my AR. For the bolt action I am looking at the Savage 12FV, CZ 527, or another Ruger. Any other recommendations? For the Rock River upper, should I go with the 20" or 24" upper? For the glass, I am thinking of a Nikon Monarch, Burris Fullfield II, or Weaver Grand Slam in 3.5 X 10. Lastly, is the monetary issue, I am looking to stay under $900. Which route should I take?

Tim

 

[bogie]

Try the Savage 12BVSS - stainless barrel, and a VERY nice laminated stock. You'll still have plenty left over for a good scope.

 

[Sactown]

The Savage 12BVSS is a very nice rifle for how much you're paying. I have one in .223. I replaced my trigger with a Sharpshooter trigger. As bogie stated, the laminated stock is a really nice platform, it has a nice palm swell, but is heavy. I also had a CZ527 in .223. The set trigger option on those CZ centerfire rifles is absolutely awesome. If you're looking at the CZ, get the model with the heavy barrel. I had the CZ527 Premium with the thinner barrel and found that groups would open up as the barrel heated. The removable magazine is another plus for the CZ. I've had no experience with Nikon scopes, but I've used Burris as well as the Weaver Grand Slam series. I think the Grand Slam series is excellent. I have one on my .22 and .22magnum. The optics are bright clear and crisp, almost as good as my Leupold VX-III. The Grand Slam has the smaller profile target knobs so they won't catch on branches if you decide to carry your rifle around. I didn't like my Burris as much as my Grand Slams or Leupolds. Good luck on your purchase. Between the Savage and the CZ527, I'd have to go with the CZ, accuracy of my CZ seemed to be better, until the barrel heated up, the set trigger is absolutely fabulous, and it's easier to change ammunition (the Savage doesn't have the door on the bottom of the stock to unload, forgot what that is called). Hope this helps.

 

[Art Eatman]

I'm not sure I'd consider a .223 for coyotes much over 200 yards. The old "clean kill" thing. Granted, excellent marksmanship adds yardage, but even so, 400 is beyond what I'd want to do to Ol'
Wylie.

On a real calm day, with a good rest, I might try such with a .243...

, Art

 

[Smoke]

.223 is fine to 400yrds. If the shooter is capable at that distance.

Savage is good. Remington (Sendero for me) is better.
I don't ahve enough experience with others to comment.

I have a nice AR but still prefer a heavy barreled bolt gun for distance and varmints. Just me.

I've read goo things about Savage's new trigger on their heavy barrel guns and am anxious to try one myself. IF what they write is true....thats what I'd do.

 

[Bottom Gun]

My vote goes to a Sako or a Tikka in .223 with a Nikon Monarch scope.

You won't have to do anything to the rifle except take it out of the box and shoot it and the Nikons are better scopes than Leupolds or the others you mentioned.

 

[cratz2]

The 223 will definately work out to 400 yards but generally isn't considered ideal for that range. Keeping all your shots inside 6" at 400 yards is going to require handloads or at least premium factory ammo. Point is, the $4.00/box winchester FMJ stuff isn't going to cut it. Handloading or premium factory ammo isn't any more expensive in 243 or 22-250 than in 223 so I would tend to go for one of those cartridges.

For rifle recommendations, I'd say the Savages have a lot to recommend them but you may tire of the synthetic stock quickly. The Remington 700VS or VLS probably outsell the Winchester Stealth, HBV and Coyote but I prefer them. You already have a Ruger - with a little trigger work, they tend to be great rifles. Some have reported erratic accuracy results but I've owned three in the last two years and my father in law has two more and all are equally accurate - all MOA or near-MOA capable.

And at 400 yards, on coyote, a 10x scope may be a bit light even though I have that very scope on both of my rifles that I have taken coyote with. On the other hand, the 3-10x Grand Slam is a very good value, if not the best value, in scopes right now in my not so humble opinion. SWFA and BearBasin both have them for under $250 shipped. I think if I were building a rifle specifically for coyote out to 400 yards, I'd consider more glass - maybe the 4.5-14.

 

[Tim51]

Hi all,
As always, excellent advice!
Well, it looks like the consensus is to go with a bolt action. I should have stated in my initial post that my intentions are for most shots to be between 100-300 yards, with the capability to go out to 400 if needed. Well, the next step is to locate a few of these rifles and scopes to do the hands on test. Thanks for the replies.

Tim

 

[bogie]

Suggestion: You can ALWAYS download a .22-250 to .223 velocities, but you can't upload a .223 to .22-250 velocities.

Plus, the larger .308-size boltface will make rebarreling/switch barreling easier.

 

[cratz2]

You can ALWAYS download a .22-250 to .223 velocities, but you can't upload a .223 to .22-250 velocities.

Speaking of which... has anyone done any chrono work with the Winchester USA2232 ammo? 45 Gr HP loaded to a claimed 3600 fps. Not too shaby for a 223 if it's close to an honest velocity.

 

[standingbear]

never tried the other varmit rifles listed but can say this; i have a ruger m77 in .223 with a harris bipod and a tasco 6-24x scope.i sighted it in at the 150 yard mark with blackhills vmax bullets(the red plastic tipped..they shoot very flat).it almost takes the fun out of groundhog hunting.works very well for me and the tasco scope hasnt wandered in zero in 8 years.