Please help me out with a 223 heavy barrel bolt action.

[Rule3]

Target or Varmint rifle. I want 223 as I am set up to reload it, it's relatively cheap and really do not need a 308.

Mostly punching holes in paper. These all have 1:9 twist, I have a 1:12 twist 223 bolt but want to use heavier bullets.

I was pretty much set on the CZ 527 as they are great rifles for the price.(it has a magazine, the others have hinged floor plate) Also like the Ruger M77 Mark II BUT I now have come across the FN TSR XP USA. It gets real good reviews but is almost twice the price of the CZ . In the $900 range.

I have a CZ 452 American in 22LR and it is a tack driver and a beautiful gun (walnut) as well. The Ruger is pretty heavy composite stock and the FN is Houge overmold in OD green, more of a tactical military look. Free Floated, bedded.

They all can shoot better than I can, but off a rest they should be 1" or less.

Anyone have the FN rifle??

 

[WC145]

Remington 700 SPS Tactical - $574 - 1 in 9 twist I believe.
Remington 700 SPS Tactical .223 Hogue Stock $574.00 SHIPS FREE

 

[cmort666]

Savage 10FP.

 

[mkk41]

Savage 10FP.

Bingo! My first choice. Got one in .308 and it constantly embarrasses rifles costing 4-5 times what I paid.

Even the bargain-basement priced , light barreled Stevens 200 will constantly do under an inch.

 

[mgjohn]

Here is another Savage lover. Great guns for the money. My 308 is a tack driver.

 

[Rule3]

I forgot to mention the Savage and Remington. I like the Remington price range but is Remington still as good as they used to be?

Now you are making it harder.

It's hard to even look at one let alone buy one. I have seen the Ruger and many 700's in different calibers. I have a 30-06 CDL 700 but it's a Walnut stock, sporter barrel older classic looking rifle.

 

[H Richard]

I have a Savage 10FV, Heavy barrel in .243 and it shoots well under a half inch. The acutrigger is great. You can't beat a Savage for quality & Price, (and I have 2 Rem 700's in 22-250 and .308).

The CZ's are also great quality for a reasonable price.

 

[Wheelgunner840]

I am this close (holding finger and thumb so they are just about touching!) from buying the Savage Model 12 VLP .223 (varmint low profile). All reports I have gotten so far have proclaimed that this gun is ridiculously accurate!

I am also just punching paper, and plan on putting very good glass on it. I looked long and hard at the CZ 527 Varmint, and decided that I will go with the Savage.

Take a good look at them!

Savage Arms


WG840

 

[ridewv]

... I looked long and hard at the CZ 527 Varmint, and decided that I will go with the Savage.

Curious, what is it about the CZ that's making you go with the Savage?

 

[billdeserthills]

I have a friend with a heavy barrelled Howa rifle, very accurate

 

[JohnD]

+1 on the Savage 10FP

 

[Bullseye Smith]

Winchester has a nice .223

 

[Joe Kent]

In years gone by, I would have said Remington 700's without even pausing to say go, but in today's world I would rank Savage equally well for using on the Civilian side. Once Savage got a decent trigger from the factory it "kicked" them into the serious range. Their barrels were always way better than they were given credit for. For military or LE use, there are far more"parts" made for the Remingtons. For casual use and enjoyment , I would use either the 700 or the various versions of the Savage, but I would pay strong attenion to the twist and what weight of bullet you will be using. For prairie dog shooting I use "light" 223 bullets so a 1 in12 twist is better. In my match guns I use either a 1 in 9 or even tighter. If you are going to use "surplus" 55 gr. either a 1in12 or 1in9 is probably ok but individual rifles will usually have a preference.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Most of your .223 varmint rifles are going to support a light bullet twist rate for the 40 grain or so bullets. If you want to use the heavy for caliber bullets then I would start looking at the police style models or tactical named variants. They are usually set up for at least 55 or 62 grain bullets. I have not seen one marked 1 in 7 but that doesn't mean they don't exist. I paused while typing to check the Savage website and came across sku 18145 that lists a 1 in 7 twist. MSRP is $1315 for the Model 12 LRPV Left Port version so maybe they make what you are looking for after all.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

What's wrong with a Ruger model 77 Heavy Barrel??

 

[wbraswell]

Wheelgunner, buy that Savage 12VLP. I bought a new one online for $550 plus S/H and transfer. Stainless, laminated stock, and accutrigger. I'm just beginning to work a load up for it, but every Savage I've seen in the last 20 yrs. is very accurate. Some of the brands listed in this thread, I would consider just overpriced, probably not as accurate as the Savage.

 

[Rule3]

What's wrong with a Ruger model 77 Heavy Barrel??

Not a thing, it is on the short list, that is now getting longer
A friend at the range has one, and it is what started this whole thing. Maybe I will just steal his

Bullseye,

That's why I like the FN also, they own Winchester now and the trigger is the M 70 trigger. The only problem with the FN other than price is it only comes in OD green. I hate that color. It's a Houge stock so it should be available in black but it's not.

 

[Joe Kent]

Caj, the problem with the Ruger Bolt guns is the way they are bedded. They are perfectly fine for general hunting use but lack the ability for extreme accuracy. I like most Ruger products but find the current 77's lacking in fit and finish and I can say that I have considered using some of the new ones based on price and availibility but on further examination of several new ones in the box, I backed away. Keep in mind the discussion has been about most accurate out of the box for "bench" use. HRichard, in one of the above posts, supports the Savage and as one of my very best friends , I can tell you that both he and I have been life long Remington men up until the Savage redesign of their superb 110. If you have the opportunity to go and work the action of the new rugers you will get somewhat of and idea about what I mean with fit and finish.

 

[JOliver]

I have had about all of the ones named and they will shoot better than most can hold.The big Savage was the most accurate I've seen but it was a mule to tote.The heavy barrel Howa was the cheapest and I love it,it sports some serious glass on it now.The Remington I bought I had rebarreled and they are so accurate they arent even fun to shoot at paper anymore.

OCD sounds like you really want the FN but are trying to get a firm definate on buying it,If thats what you want get it the others won't make you happy if thats the one you really want.

 

[PALADIN85020]

I've been shooting this .223 Ruger M77 Mark II target model with a 26" barrel since I bought it new in 1994. It's always under a minute of angle with handloads. The trigger is two-stage, which suits me fine, being used to that with 1903s, M1s and M14s in the military. The second stage letoff is quite sweet.

That's Joe in the picture, my "helper dog." He's always there to assist when I take pictures. He thought the gun smelled OK to him.

I think today I might have gone for the Savage 110 with its Accu-trigger; looks like a good bet.

John