Seeking thoughts on a Remington 700 in .223

[YZ]

I shot one as a bench gun with a 1:11 twist rate. Anything heavier than 50gr shot terrible at 100 yards. Twist rate is crucial for your shooting, I would suggest a 1:8 and using the 75 or 77gr projectiles if your goal is long-range. You will also want a MUCH more powerful scope for that kind of distance shooting, along with a very good spotting scope.

This is uncommon. Fifty five grain is light standard. A 223 rifle needing less than 50gr a shot is half useless. My CZ 527 had 1:12 barrel twist, and it was accurate with 62 gr bullets at 100 yards. My Browning A Bolt has 1:12 twist also, and it is accurate with 69 gr bullets at 200 yards. At longer ranges the twist rate may well come into play, but my bias is, that's where 30 caliber begins to rule, so can't testify.

Knowing Remington's commitment to LE/military, I would expect the twist rate of 1:9 if not less. Should be in the specs somewhere.

 

[GetmeoutaCT]

Decided to pass-

As I said early on, this was a case of a neat little rifle grabbing my attention. Once I got over that (I always wait at least 48 hours when I feel an impulse buy coming on), I ask myself what I want the gun for. In this case, it's for long-range target shooting, and for putting meat on the table and long-range SD if things ever go sideways. For all those those jobs, it's not enough cartridge. So, I think I'll focus on .308.

Thanks for all the advice, everyone.

 

[B!ngo]

I suspect you did the right thing.
I was going to mention (but got to this thread too late) that before you buy a Rem 700, take a good hard look at the Tikka T3's. The .223 has a 1:8 and 1:12 option, the actions are like butta', and they have a great rep for repeatability and accuracy.
Or raise the ante just a bit and to with the T3 Sporter for longer range work. I have the .308 in left hand and a 24" barrel, but they have all mixes of calibers, barrel lengths and rh/lh in those. I can attest that they are a quite amazing and seem quite reasonably priced for the quality of the gun.
(and no, I have no affiliation with Tikka).
B

 

[GetmeoutaCT]

Thanks, Bingo.

 

[Reloadron]

As I said early on, this was a case of a neat little rifle grabbing my attention. Once I got over that (I always wait at least 48 hours when I feel an impulse buy coming on), I ask myself what I want the gun for. In this case, it's for long-range target shooting, and for putting meat on the table and long-range SD if things ever go sideways. For all those those jobs, it's not enough cartridge. So, I think I'll focus on .308.

Thanks for all the advice, everyone.

I think taking a "chill pill" was a smart move. Impulse buying can be a bad thing when it comes to rifles.

That said the 308 Winchester is a good cartridge, I enjoy mine. However, consider some of its offspring like the 243 Winchester, 260 Remington and the 7mm-08 Remington wth a focus on the 260 Remington which I believe was mentioned earlier in this thread.

As to the rifle manufacturer? Your call on that. I like the older Remington guns but that is just me. Tika and Sako make a fine rifle also and Savage has been turning out very good rifles.

Ron

 

[JDGray]

My LTR shoots lights out! Would have been a good pick up, if they'ed come down a bit on price.

 

[GetmeoutaCT]

Ron, thanks -

I see that the calibers you mention come well-recommended; my concern is ammo availability. Are good commercial loadings for those available, especially now? Unfortunately, I don't load my own. Also, I have a lot of .308 and .223 for my other rifles; I'd probably want something in either and looks like .308 is the better of those two.

 

[ilmonster]

I won't speak to whether your particular rifle is a good deal of not, but on shooting a .223 Rem 700. I got the itch to get a bolt action paper punching (steel too) gun this year (already have a BCM Mod 0 AR), so I picked up a Remington 700 SPS Tac (with 1:9 twist) for around $500. I added a Vortex 5-15x44 SFP scope from Midway, a set of TPS rings and 0' base and topped it off with a Bell & Carlson Medalist 2092 stock and Harris bi-pod (just under $1,500 all in). I now have a rifle package that will shoot 3/4 MOA groups out to 200 yds. I'm sure it's more accurate than I am, being new to bolt action rifles. I am shooting Hornady 75 gr BTHP Match ammo, which the 1:9 barrel seems to like (I thought that bullet it might be too heavy, but it shoots fine). Now I need to find somewhere to shoot further than 240 yds, which is the furthest my local range has. Also, I've discovered how shooting with no breeze is a breeze, and how 10mph or more of wind makes me look like I'm shooting a shotgun! Now it's all about learning about reading wind, external ballistics, etc. Quite a bit of fun!

 

[GetmeoutaCT]

Monster -

yes, I have the itch too, but it's hard to figure out what to scratch it with. My main reason for passing on the gun that started this thread was the realization that I'd like to go out further than 200 yards or so, which seems to be the consensus practical limit for .223 without spending a lot of money.

.243 comes well recommended, and the local Cabela's seems to have a decent selection of that cartridge. I'm a little partial to .308 though, because I have a lot of it and have shot it in other rifles (semi autos though). T3's have a lot of fans but they strike me as just a bit light for serious range work. At the other end of the spectrum is something like the the Savage 10BA with a Night Stalker 32x scope that the gentleman at Cabela's showed me, that looks and feels like it could handle .50 BMG and costs about twice my upper limit. Forget about shouldering that monster, at least by me.

I suspect I'll end up somewhere in the middle - maybe a Savage Model 10 with a decent glass.

 

[JDGray]

My .223 LTR shoots out to 600yrds just fine

 

[Chuck R.]

My .223 LTR shoots out to 600yrds just fine

Same here with my 700 XCR "Compact".

Loading 69 SMKs or Horn 75 grn (single loading) it holds fine out to 600. There are lots of folks shooting .223s further than that with the right bullet/twist combo.

Best benefit is with the smaller powder charge it’s cheaper to shoot.

Chuck

 

[back40]

200 yards isn't anywhere near the practical limit for .223. that ltr will easily handle ranges of 600-700 yds. i've been considering one myself.

 

[Mohave-Tec]

Remington® Model 700 SPS .223 Varmint Rifle $487 at Wal Mart.
With no more recoil than a 223 has, a Savage Axis, $279 at Wal Mart with a $150 Nikon 3x9 is the bargain of the century.

 

[GetmeoutaCT]

Well, I guess I'm back to considering .223. I didn't mean to offend anyone; I was repeating what folks with more experience than me were telling me about accuracy of the .223 beyond 200 yards.

 

[Reloadron]

Well, I guess I'm back to considering .223. I didn't mean to offend anyone; I was repeating what folks with more experience than me were telling me about accuracy of the .223 beyond 200 yards.

Well back to what you mentioned:

Again, given that the only thing I will probably shoot with it is targets, .223 starts to make a lot of sense.

If your purpose is punching holes in paper and enjoying a day at the range then the .223 will serve you just fine. Now if you want to take coyote at 300 yards then the .223 is not the best choice. Since you mention target shooting and the targets are paper the 223 will do just fine. Buy the rifle, choot the rifle and be happy.

Ron

 

[YZ]

For paper, a 45 carbine is even better. Less noise, bigger holes.