What is the rifle of my dreams?

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MrPeter

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:confused: My next rifle purchase needs have some specific traits, without breaking the bank. There are thousands of rifles out there and I have no idea where to even begin looking to find out what I'm looking for, so I thought I could list what I need, and maybe someone could make a worthwhile recommendation. I thank you all for your suggestions in advance:

This rifle must be (in rough order of importance):
As inexpensive as possible
A bolt action
Be chambered in .223 Rem or 5.56 NATO
Be accurate enough to make decent groupings at 100 yards
Have a magazine

It would be lovely if this rifle had:
A removable magazine
A thumbhole stock
Had pretty wood furniture - Nix that, on second thought I also like the synthetic stocks... almost more...
Accommodations for mounting optics
Accommodations for mounting a Bipod

I am slightly partial to CZ but only by heritage :)

Suggest away! And thank you all again for your suggestions!
 
No thumbhole in the stock, but a Steyr scout sounds up your ally..

Spare mag in the stock, as well as a foldout bipod.

MyScout.jpg

Of course, all of this rests on what your definition of inexpensive is.
 
Just curious, don't want to step on anyone's dreams and all but I have to ask....


You dream of .223 at the top of the list?
Kinda curious why......
 
TexasRifleMan said:
You dream of .223 at the top of the list?
Kinda curious why......
Click to expand...
Cost of ammo. *plink plink!*

Definition of inexpensive is nowhere near $1000.
I'll leave it at that. Don't want to get too constrictive.
If I get a consensus that it really is worth it, then I can spend the money, but its just a target rifle for unofficial paperplate destruction. No competition persay.
 
Compared to many of the other Bolt-action calibers available, 223 is still the cheapest centerfire one that I know of. It's also very common.

This Savage seems to look like the best bang for my buck so far. The pump remington looks pretty neat too, but a little more than I want to pay for a pump. Not that a pump is bad, I'm just specifically looking for a bolt-action. The only thing the savage is missing is a detachable mag. Am I going to find one with my budget at all?
 
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Not in a Savage, but I have never found that to be a deal killer... just a little inconvenient. I am so used to it now, it doesn't even matter.

FWIW I have several Savage rifles and I believe that they are the best bang for the buck available today. Meaning they are the most accurate for the least amount of money.

If you go to their website, don't even look at the MSRP... street prices are much less than that. Just go to a local shop and pick the one you like.
 
Jump all over that deal! I guarantee that will be a shooter and that is a very good price!
 
Well, I'm not really ready to buy now, as the next purchase I plan to make will likely be a Steyr M40 (handgun). After that, I will be getting this rifle, so hasty purchases are not something I can make at the moment (unable to buy the pistol for at least another two weeks.)
 
You may want to check on the Howa bolt action rifle. One of the models has a laminated thumbhole stock, and I have heard good reports about them. They have been in production for awhile, and specs may have changed in that time.

The weatherby vanguards are built on a Howa action, but the furniture will vary. Here's a link to a discussion of the thumbhole varmint model:
http://forums.forthehunt.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=140387

To see what it looks like: http://www.auctionarms.com/search/displayitem.cfm?itemnum=8471653

Good luck
 
Savage 12VLP, with a few caveats: no thumbhole stock, but the laminated one that it comes with is excellent; no removable magazine (comes with a 5 rnd. blind mag), and if you reload with a specific OAL in mind (as do I) your loads may not fit in the mag, so single-shot loading is required. Other than that, this rifle in .223 is just flat accurate. I just shot 5 rnd., 100yd. groups out of mine that were no more than .650", I kid you not.
 
How about a Rem SPS chambered in .223? Their varmit or tactical version is pretty slick and not all that expensive. Lotta gun for the money and it meets all your criteria.
 
^^^ I agree with jhansman. I wanted a detachable mag, but I went with the blind mag and have been happy. I bought a savage 12fv, and it shoots 1/2 or better at 100yds with my handloads. Many times if it isnt windy (my local outdoor range commonly has 10-20mph winds L to R) I can overlap holes on paper. I had a dragonfly land on my target over the summer, and I actually hit it from 100yds! Its an ugly gun but it does exactly what I want it to do very very well. I may put the BVSS stock on it someday though, it will make it much better looking to the eye.
 
Too bad you want a bolt action, and you are about 20 years too late for the good prices....but I love my 223 HK 630 with a walnut stock, detachable mag, 10 rounder available, and shoots as good as a bolt.....
 
Keep an eye in your local gun shops...I picked up my Remington 700 .223 with Harris bipod and simmons 4-25x optics for $550 OTD. Sounds like that would fit the bill.
 
If I were you and I didn't own a Rem 700, I'd try one. I have a 700Police and a Savage model 12 LRPV (target accutrigger) and I love them both dearly, but they are both in the $850+ range just for the rifle. There is a plethora of 700 models to choose from and if you really get ambitious or win the lottery, you can take the barreled action and send it in for a custom barrel and bolt truing. The 700 trigger isn't super high quality, but it is well within the average to dedicated shooters requirements. I adjusted mine down to 1lb and some change with the help of an article I found online; they are easy to understand if you look at 'em real carefully. What you could do is get a wood stocked model in the finish of your choice and eventually change it out as the funds/want becomes availible, which may save you some money. As far as the thumb hole stock goes, Remington has the 700 VL SS but those are around $800 iirc. Pricewise for a used 700, I've seen 'em go for $400 at gun shows/stores which is a really good price as long as the bbl isn't shot out of it.
 
Wow thanks a lot. You all have given me plenty of food for thought. I must say though, if I could get a deal like xr7boost did, that sure would make my day. That Rem SPS looks pretty neat too.

I'll have to do more and more research but I appreciate being pointed in the right direction.

Feel free to keep 'em coming! :D
 
I Dunno if it has been said or not yet, but I BELIEVE Remington makes a model 700 model in .223. I Could be wrong but I'm sure (as it is with most rifles) you can pick up a thumbhole stock if thats what your heart desires. Sounds like a good deal only they aren't the cheapest rifles.
 
another vote for the Savage

I have 5 BVSS's and 2 VLP's. Five of the 7 are proven sub 1/2MOA guns. I have not shot the other 2 enough to say exactly how good they are but I would bet $5 that they are gonna be as good if not better. The other gun that I would consider is the the CZ 527 Varmint. This is just a link to show what it looks like. I have heard very good things about these guns and it does have the detacheable mag.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=92801390
 
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