What new rifle do I want?

[Spats McGee]

Spats,

You might not need another rifle. I believe Harry Pope shot 22 LR out to 220 yards.

Kevin

We have an imposter! Just kidding. We don't often hear "you don't need another gun" around here.

I can’t fall in love with a bolt rifle and hi cap mags. I’ve got an AR that’s incredibly accurate, but the length of the mags makes bench shooting cumbersome compared to a slick bottom version IMO.

....Depending on the set up while bench rested, a long mag could get in the way.

ETA: My vote would be the Ruger.

Yeah, it had occurred to me that an AR mag might get in the way. Maybe I was just trying to cheap out. Wouldn't be the first time . . . .

Weatherby Vanguard small-action carbine. Available 10-round detachable mags.
View attachment 1011446

That looks like yet another good option. Thanks.

200 yards with a 22LR is a great time. Better ammo shrinks the target considerably, but even cheap stuff is manageable on 2-3moa steel at 200yrds. My son (7yrs old) and I shoot 22’s, especially Ruger Chargers lately, out to 300, occasionally 400 and 500yrds when the wind is low.

This is a 300yrd target my son fired last year on a particularly windy day, illustrated by his hair blowing in the wind , using his little Savage Mark II FSS and a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x (hair under $400 total in the picture), not ideal, but he had no trouble holding on the ~4moa 66% IPSC with junk Winchester Wildcat ammo.

View attachment 1011449

Dang. That young man did some nice shooting!

Thank you she is a shooter when I do my part
View attachment 1011474

Very nice group.

So it would appear that there are some things that I either didn't consider, or on which I should adjust my thinking:
1. I need to spend some more time reaching further out with my .22s. Y'all go ahead, twist my arm on that one....
2. I probably need to either get some of the shortest AR mags available, or give up on the AR mag requirement. No skin off my nose on that one. Since it's going to be mostly a bench gun, it will be OK if I only have a few mags. It's more important that the gun sit right on the rest.
3. All other things being equal (and they never are), I'd still prefer 5.56, but I need to open up the field to .223 rifles.

Thank you all for the suggestions, and I'd be happy to hear more. Y'all have given me a lot to think about, and that's a good thing.

 

[danez71]

5 round AR mags are the same length as 10s, they just have blockers.....or coiled up springs.

The AR has a long magwell so that limits how short an AR mag can be.

Would a natural 10 round mag be considered flush fitting in an AR? (I don't know ARs)

But more specific to this thread, for the Ruger Ranch that takes AR mags, what is the shortest mag avail? Is it basically to 10 round mag that comes with the rifle?

2. I probably need to either get some of the shortest AR mags available, or give up on the AR mag requirement.

I just got the Ruger Ranch 5.56 & wont be able to shoot it for several months .... but gives me something to mentally play with.

The 10 round

 

[AK Hunter]

Would a natural 10 round mag be considered flush fitting in an AR? (I don't know ARs)

But more specific to this thread, for the Ruger Ranch that takes AR mags, what is the shortest mag avail? Is it basically to 10 round mag that comes with the rifle?
I just got the Ruger Ranch 5.56 & wont be able to shoot it for several months .... but gives me something to mentally play with.

The 10 round

You need enough to stick out of the mag well that you can pull it out. I have an AR pistol in 300 blackout, the 10 round aluminum mag I use in it is too light to drop out so I had to put a pull string out the bottom of the mag to get it out because it's too short to grab.

 

[Picher]

Horseman's Savage .223 is a really nice range rifle. For a range rifle or hunter, I prefer a single-shot or internal magazine to a box mag. The rifles have more bedding area and stiffer, though it doesn't make as much difference for a .223 Rem. I don't like any attachments like brakes for a range rifle, but that's a matter of choice. The extra noise isn't welcome to me.

Over the years, I've worked on lots of Savage rifles and am always impressed with their accuracy, if not their appearance. Beauty is in the bullseye of the owner's target. (You can quote me on that.)

 

[Picher]

200 yards with a 22LR is a great time. Better ammo shrinks the target considerably, but even cheap stuff is manageable on 2-3moa steel at 200yrds. My son (7yrs old) and I shoot 22’s, especially Ruger Chargers lately, out to 300, occasionally 400 and 500yrds when the wind is low.

This is a 300yrd target my son fired last year on a particularly windy day, illustrated by his hair blowing in the wind , using his little Savage Mark II FSS and a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x (hair under $400 total in the picture), not ideal, but he had no trouble holding on the ~4moa 66% IPSC with junk Winchester Wildcat ammo.

View attachment 1011449

One happy rifle shooter!

 

[danez71]

You need enough to stick out of the mag well that you can pull it out. I have an AR pistol in 300 blackout, the 10 round aluminum mag I use in it is too light to drop out so I had to put a pull string out the bottom of the mag to get it out because it's too short to grab.

I dont have an AR and the ones I've shot had 30 round mags (maybe a 20 or two but no 10 rounders for sure).

As such, I have no real perspective of a 10 round in an AR and very little as to how deep the mag well is in general for ARs.

You gave me a better perspective with your description ... thanks

 

[Spats McGee]

....Beauty is in the bullseye of the owner's target. (You can quote me on that.)

And I think I will!

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I dont have an AR and the ones I've shot had 30 round mags (maybe a 20 or two but no 10 rounders for sure).

As such, I have no real perspective of a 10 round in an AR and very little as to how deep the mag well is in general for ARs.

You gave me a better perspective with your description ... thanks

The 10-rounders (and 5 round hunting mags) usually have an extended plastic baseplate to let you pull them out if necessary.

 

[doubleh]

I can’t fall in love with a bolt rifle and hi cap mags. I’ve got an AR that’s incredibly accurate, but the length of the mags makes bench shooting cumbersome compared to a slick bottom version IMO.

Just get a five round magazine for it. That is what I use for bench shooting and it fits flush with the bottom of the mag well. I also used it when coyote hunting as it didn't poke me in the back when carrying the rifle slung. Academy is showing both a S&W and a Ruger available onlline.

 

[Skylerbone]

Pictures for comparison sake.


AR with 30-round magazine.


Ruger with 5-round AR magazine.


Same Ruger.

 

[Skylerbone]

Proprietary or not, expensive (relatively speaking) or not, I prefer flush at the bench and often single load. When hunting I’ll take a blind or hinged floor plate most any day.

 

[danez71]

Proprietary or not, expensive (relatively speaking) or not, I prefer flush at the bench and often single load. When hunting I’ll take a blind or hinged floor plate most any day.

Thanks for the pics. I understand you prefer flush or no mag at the bench but does the 5 or 10 rounder get in the way in the sense that you have to have the rifle higher to keep the mag off the bench?

A flush mag sure makes carrying under the belly more comfortable but I hardly would carry my 10/22 that way... it's a lot lighter though.

I wonder how hard it would be to shorten a 10 round mag? I remember seeing a thread where @LoonWulf shortened a mag for some kind of bolt rifle.

 

[CapnMac]

The 5 & 10 round AR mags are about the same, to give a person something to grip.
They are comparable to 10 round AK mags in terms of being cumbersome on a bench.

Now that our estimable barrister has cast aside the AR mag mandate, many options open.
The Ruger American Rifle has a number of chamberings that would well fit the bill. The .243 and 6.5creed both offer quite excellent range work out to what ever distance suits best.
Mind, the Savage 110 WT Storm is probably worth a look as well in .233--for just benchrest, the 110 Precision might be the ticket.

 

[LoonWulf]

Thanks for the pics. I understand you prefer flush or no mag at the bench but does the 5 or 10 rounder get in the way in the sense that you have to have the rifle higher to keep the mag off the bench?

A flush mag sure makes carrying under the belly more comfortable but I hardly would carry my 10/22 that way... it's a lot lighter though.

I wonder how hard it would be to shorten a 10 round mag? I remember seeing a thread where @LoonWulf shortened a mag for some kind of bolt rifle.

I do find that I bang my 10 round AI mags on stuff when I'm shooting off of the bench but they're not prohibitive at least with the height bipod I use and the rear bag....

I've actually cut up a few magazines to reduce the capacity but I've never done an AR.
I've got some spare AR mags though so in the next day or two I'll give a shot.

 

[Skylerbone]

Thanks for the pics. I understand you prefer flush or no mag at the bench but does the 5 or 10 rounder get in the way in the sense that you have to have the rifle higher to keep the mag off the bench?

A flush mag sure makes carrying under the belly more comfortable but I hardly would carry my 10/22 that way... it's a lot lighter though.

I wonder how hard it would be to shorten a 10 round mag? I remember seeing a thread where @LoonWulf shortened a mag for some kind of bolt rifle.

I suppose it’s generally out of the way if the range is sensible enough to have leveled the target backers, so long as you’re using a rest. Position shooting should be no problem.

For hunting I generally pocket the mag until I’m prepared to shoot (not walking and loaded with gear). Less snaggy but again not impossible when inserted.

 

[horsemen61]

I do find that I bang my 10 round AI mags on stuff when I'm shooting off of the bench but they're not prohibitive at least with the height bipod I use and the rear bag....

I've actually cut up a few magazines to reduce the capacity but I've never done an AR.
I've got some spare AR mags though so in the next day or two I'll give a shot.

I think the mag thread about you cutting one down was for your CZ 527 American 6.5 Grendel iirc

 

[LoonWulf]

I think the mag thread about you cutting one down was for your CZ 527 American 6.5 Grendel iirc

Very possible.

The two most recent ones that I can think of were 527 magazines, and the Marlin 795 magazines. Those are also the most applicable.

 

[Picher]

Proprietary or not, expensive (relatively speaking) or not, I prefer flush at the bench and often single load. When hunting I’ll take a blind or hinged floor plate most any day.

Yeah, I like to carry one-handed and don't want a magazine sticking out where I place my hand. Internal box magazines on all but one rifle and I tend to not use that rifle in the field, even though the mag only sticks out about an inch or so.

 

[Edcnh]

I have a Savage Model 12BVSS in 223. It is a great shooter out to 300 yds, the length of my local range. Mine shoots best with 69 grain bullets.

 

[jmr40]

Buy an accurate 22, put a scope on it with enough elevation adjustment for 300 yards and go shoot. Shooting 22's at 200+ yards is the most fun I have at the range.

I also have several AR's and a Ruger Predator in 223 that takes AR magazines. I do shoot them at longer ranges from time to time, but it is making hits at 200+ with my 22 that puts the biggest smile on my face.

 

[Spats McGee]

Buy an accurate 22, put a scope on it with enough elevation adjustment for 300 yards and go shoot. Shooting 22's at 200+ yards is the most fun I have at the range. ....

Like this one?

 

[Spats McGee]

Y'all have had me doing a bunch of thinking . . . . and a bunch of internet searches. I'm afraid the Long List got longer, as I wound up altering some of my parameters. Here's where I am now, with some requirements dropped (and stricken through), and others added in blue.

....
-->Caliber: 5.56 or .223
--> AR Mags --> While I'll likely put a bipod on this, I really don't want to even worry about the mag interfering with how the gun rests. Detachable box or internal mag will be fine.
--> Threaded barrel --> Would be nice, but not necessary. I do happen to have a good friend who is a gunsmith, so I can get it threaded later if need be. Besides, the suppressor is even further down the road than the rifle.
Thanks.

That opens up quite a bit. So far, I've looked at (but not really researched) Savage, Remington, Weatherby, Ruger, Tikka, Howa, .... and probably more.

Thanks again for your help.

 

[Skylerbone]

@Spats McGee, maybe have a gander at what @LoonWulf is doing to flush-fit AR magazines into turn bolts. If you sent him a few AR mags I know he can be bribed with beef sticks and perhaps persuaded to stub a few for you.

 

[Skylerbone]

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/stubbing-an-ar-15-mag.891979/ here

 

[Spats McGee]

@Spats McGee, maybe have a gander at what @LoonWulf is doing to flush-fit AR magazines into turn bolts. If you sent him a few AR mags I know he can be bribed with beef sticks and perhaps persuaded to stub a few for you.

Apparently, @LoonWulf is a man after my own heart. I've been watching that thread.