I've been trying to find an inexpensive rifle in .223 to carry in the boat but can't find any with iron sights save for a Ruger Scout! I'd love to find a single shot but every one I've seen comes with a scope base and NO iron sights! I want something I can throw into the boat without having to baby a scope. Any suggestions??

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I'm not sure what "inexpensive" is any more. But Henry makes one. MSRP 4 and a quarter.

Single Shot Rifle | Henry Repeating Arms

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I always take precautions

Rossi..
Good enough for a boat gun? They sell for around $200/ $250. They are a discontinued product but still see them around. Might be a collectors item soon though as they become RARE!

(That Henry posted above looks pretty nice..)


MODEL R223MB - .223 REM BLUE RIFLE WITH WALNUT FINISH

"inexpensive" = ??????????


Used????????

CZ 527 Carbine....223 and 7.62.....come with basic irons.... add skinner barrel peep or receiver peep sight.

S&W M&P Sport

I've grown fond of the .22 magnum for varmints in Penn's Woods.....Cheapest is a... Ruger American Compact .22 mag 9rd mag.

Ruger 77/357 (or .44) like mine as a utility rifle at the cabin. Disclaimer;I have added a 1-3x20 Weaver scope.

I had to go with a 1980's vintage Savage 110 in 30/06 caliber to find a cheap rifle with iron sights. Cheap wound up being $245 after I sold the Tasco scope that was on it.

A used rifle in a pawn shop may be the one you're looking for....

Many AR rifles have flip up sights, or you can add them. They do not cost that much. My new rifle has them, but it is not inexpensive.

The CZ's are nice.

Sent from my SM-N930T using Tapatalk

Mossberg MVP Patrol. Cheaper than the Ruger Scout.

That's just what I was going to say. Looks almost identical too.

x3 on the Mossberg MVP patrol. It takes standard AR mags and is pretty darn durable in finish. It's designed for abuse and comes standard with fiber optic sights. I have one and can say they shoot! Think I paid $400 for mine.

MVP Patrol Rifle | O.F. Mossberg & Sons

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Dave

I was temped but it has that little 'spring loaded thingie" to use AR magazines.......made me shy away ..... no logical reason just seemed complicated/fragile?????

I too was a little skeptical at first. I now have the patrol and the varmint models in the MVP line. Both in 5.56/.223. Both have been excellent shooters and 100% reliable for my range/ walking use.
FWIW, I have a compact 3x9 scope with QD rings that goes on and off the built in rail in seconds for the Patrol. It's a vary handy and adaptable set-up.

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Dave

CAJ:

About the only .223 single-shot I've seen that appears to be worthwhile is the new Henry break-action. It fits your iron sight requirement (drilled and tapped, too), and actually looks like a rifle instead of some designers bad dream!

Check it out. Cabelas has them in stock for around $370, but I'm sure that they can be found for less. If I were to spring for one, I think I would opt for a .243 because of a greater choice in loads up-or-down. But that's just me.

Hope this helps you out.

TC Contenders but they are like lays potato chips.

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Front sight and squeeze

In addition to the Henry single shot, their many lever guns have iron sights, as do tons of old Marlin and Winchesters on the racks of most gun stores. Every Walmart has plenty of .30-30 ammo, and unless you have a particular need for the .223's range, the .30-30 should take care of anything that walks, swims or crawls in the Sportsman's Paradise.

I don't know what inexpensive means to you but a Savage Hog Hunter comes in .223 with iron sights. Bud's sells them for $425.

Savage 19661 11 HOG HUNTER 223 TB $425.00 SHIPS FREE

Try Rossi.

Life is too short for cheap guns! Even for a beater boat gun!
How about a Browning BLR in .223

Won the lottery lately?

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I would look for a H&R or NEF, the standard models came with
sights. They are both discontinued but there is a lot of them
floating around. Some models had synthetic stocks. The one
thing that I will note on these rifles, on the barrel it is stamped
not to use military ammo. This has to do with the 223/5.56mm
Syndrome.

...I'd vote for the H&R/NEF Handi Rifle also...

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A Country Boy Can Survive

AR's can be had for less than $500......Meets all your qualifications...

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S&W Accumulator

+1. Get a used entry level AR with either a carry handle or flip up sights. You can literally throw it in the boat if that's what you wanna do.

The most rugged rifle I've ever seen is the SKS. It will keep working no matter what. AK's are close behind but not as rugged IMO. They both have sights. I love my AR's but I still have my SKS because it has kept working perfectly for 25 years and many thousands of rounds of ammo. I don't know what they sell for now. Likely an AR is a better deal unless you just want something you can beat to heck and not worry about. That's what an SKS is.

Also I'd buy the Savage Hog Hunter over the single shot NEF and H&R break down rifles. They are more accurate and they won't break down over time because of the break down barrels. Those pivot points work loose over the years. Savage makes some very accurate rifles even among their cheaper models. And the Hog Hunter is designed to take a beating too. If the choice was a $275 Handi Rifle and a Hog Hunter for $425 I'd take the Hog Hunter every time. They are much better rifles. The Handi Rifle is made to be the cheapest rifle possible. They will work a good while but they Savage will work for your grandchildren.

The handy rifles are handy, but they are not that cheap anymore, have you looked at a remington 700 adl, many of these have iron sights and I just saw one in 270 shoot a half inch group at 100 yds with a 5.5 lb trigger

Saw one recently in a cdn ad at 369 dollars

Hi Caj,

I hope my post is of some value to you. I agree with others who mentioned buying a low-cost AR-15. I bought a Ruger with a scope for $599.00. You can buy them easily under $ 500.00.

I have purchased new Savage bolt actions and haven't been too impressed. The action just doesn't have the same feel as the older ones. However, the new Savage rifles can be had for $300-$400. For that price, it is an excellent buy. Just need to keep perspective. I have no experience with the Mossberg mentioned.

Were it me, I'd likely go the AR route or something on the used market under $500 in this instance.

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Sks/7.62x39 got gators? Very accurate to 125yds. Battle field proven reliable.

When a snake comes into the boat please don't shoot the boat. These critters like to visit boats at night.

That hasn't been my experience at all. I guess it's been a few years since I bought one but the last one I bought was smooth as butter. And the accuracy is amazing. It wasn't a cheaper model but still - 5" groups at 500 yards says all I need to know.

SKS would be the ticket, but they're climbing in price now. You're doing good if you can find one at $300, and not mismatched. But they're a great platform for slinging 7.62.

Not a 223, but was cheap, has one peep site and accurate as I need it to be for anything I'm doing...

Attached Images

20170904_155436.jpg (140.2 KB, 36 views)

As a collector of original Enfields, all I can say is MY EYES!!! MY EYES!!!

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Release the Kraken

My first choice would be for Caj to ride his time machine back the 1970s then buy a new .223 Remington Model 788 bolt action at Ernst Hardware for $99.

In the role of the poor man's .223 prairie dog rifle 788s were superseded by hardwood stocked Savage 110s during the late 1980s. Both tended to be more accurate than Winchester Model 70s and Ruger Model 77s. While the price of used 788s went up so high it took them out of bargain territory Savage 110s remained affordable. Consequently my second choice is an already scratched up 20 to 30 year old economy grade .223 Savage 110.

Thanks for the answers. Like Dorothy I have realized that I "always had the power to go home" so to speak. I'm just gonna use my Mini 14. That's what it was made for! And since I only paid $300 for it at Wal Mary years ago it DOES qualify as a cheep .223 with iron sights. Interesting exercise nonetheless and thanks for the participation.

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