Which .223 rifle?

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Eagleeye said:
I was wondering if you guys can give me your expert opinion on my first .223 rifle.
Rifle will be used for target shooting only, must be accurate with a light trigger pull.

Will be grateful for your opinions.
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90% of the rifles listed so far will be rubbish for proper target shooting.

Barrels too short, twist rate too slow, stock designed for form, not function.

Proper target config here: Savage Arms FTR .223 Rifle | New Guns for Sale | guntrader

30" 1:7" barrel

Very light trigger

Adjustable target stock
 
MarinePMI said:
Hmmm...I think your budget will be the deciding factor, honestly.

I own many .223's. Savage Model 10, Tikka Varmint, Howa 1500, a half dozen AR-15's, and I'm probably forgetting at least one.

They all shoot well. Where the difference lies, is in fit/finish, as well as feeding.

The Savage is a tack driver, but it feels a bit clunky. And even with an Accu-trigger, while they can be tuned to be light, the issue is the triggers wear over time, so you'll end up having to re-tune it. It's just the nature of the trigger design. It won't inadvertently fire (by it's very nature it can't) but will begin to happen is when the bolt is run into battery, the sear will slip and be caught by the safety. Forcing you to reach up and lift the bolt handle to re-cock the rifle and slowly lower the bolt handle into battery.

The Howa I have, is also a tack driver. But the barrel twist is the older 1-12, so it was relegated to 40gr bullets for vermin. That being said, it was a slick and smooth feeding rifle from the internal magazine. Nice fit/finish, but the trigger was a bit mushy when you tried to take it down to less that 2.5lbs.

AR's I won't address, since those are fairly rare in the UK.

The Tikka Varmint has been my overall favorite. Primarily because there is a rapidly growing aftermarket support for the rifle, allowing you to customize it to whatever your liking might be. But beyond the aftermarket support, the bolt (with a swept AI style Sterk bolt handle) is probably the smoothest, most silky action of the ones mentioned. It's effortless and flawless in feeding (sitting in an MPA BA Comp chassis with AICS pattern mags), and has shoot many a target and vermin at long range, running 55-77 gr bullets. It's just a real pleasure to shoot.

So I would recommend in the order of highest to lowest:

Tikka Varmint
Howa (Miroku)
Savage

I don't have much experience with the Bergara rifles, save what I see at our local range and matches. They seem to be a good quality rifle ass well though....

View attachment 324719
MPA BA Comp Chassis, Sterk Swept bolt handle, MDT AICS .223 mags, KRG Midas two-stage trigger, Leupold MkV 5-25 TRMR 3
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What twist rate are the tikka and savage?
 
Gave this a bump so you could find it in classifieds ukv . Screenshot_20230819-192952_Chrome.webp

I have no connection with the advertiser , thought it might fit the bill .
 
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If you're looking to build a .223, I'd suggest a Zermatt Origin action, with whatever barrel/chassis you want. Origins are probably the best for the buck/pound in a custom action. Interchangeable bolt heads (if you decide to change to a different case sized cartridge later), controlled feed, mechanical eject. @Ronin could easily fit a barrel to one. Nitrided action and DLC's bolt make for a really nice, really durable action.

JMTCW...
 
MarinePMI said:
If you're looking to build a .223, I'd suggest a Zermatt Origin action, with whatever barrel/chassis you want. Origins are probably the best for the buck/pound in a custom action. Interchangeable bolt heads (if you decide to change to a different case sized cartridge later), controlled feed, mechanical eject. @Ronin could easily fit a barrel to one. Nitrided action and DLC's bolt make for a really nice, really durable action.

JMTCW...
Click to expand...
Looking into it 👍
 
caberslash said:
90% of the rifles listed so far will be rubbish for proper target shooting.

Barrels too short, twist rate too slow, stock designed for form, not function.

Proper target config here: Savage Arms FTR .223 Rifle | New Guns for Sale | guntrader

30" 1:7" barrel

Very light trigger

Adjustable target stock
Click to expand...

I do get what you're getting at but I feel you're being a touch over dramatic about the suggestions so far being "rubbish for proper target shooting"- though I do confess I'm not quite sure what you mean by proper target shooting, especially given its the OP's first .223. Lots of club shooters are very happy with the suggestions so far based on my experience.

Sure the suggestions so far won't wring every last drop of performance out of the .223 at longer ranges, and I do agree a relatively fast (1:9 or 1:8 sort of thing) twist rate is best (for the flexibility if nothing else) but for 95% of club target shooters shooting at typical club shooter distances with (much as we like to kid ourselves) typical club shooter skill there's absolutely nothing wrong with a Tikka Super Varmint/Howa with a heavier profile barrel/Remy 700 etc.

Notwithstanding the above the Savage you posted is certainly a good rifle, but it's also knocking on for 3 times what a good secondhand rifle as previously suggested will set the OP back. Great if the OP's got the budget (got to be pushing £3k once a sensibly matched scope, mounts, mod etc are factored in on top) but let's not kid ourselves any of the rifle suggested so far are rubbish, especially as I get the feeling the OP, no disrespect intended, is a relative novice.
 
zanes said:
I do get what you're getting at but I feel you're being a touch over dramatic about the suggestions so far being "rubbish for proper target shooting"- though I do confess I'm not quite sure what you mean by proper target shooting, especially given its the OP's first .223. Lots of club shooters are very happy with the suggestions so far based on my experience.

Sure the suggestions so far won't wring every last drop of performance out of the .223 at longer ranges, and I do agree a relatively fast (1:9 or 1:8 sort of thing) twist rate is best (for the flexibility if nothing else) but for 95% of club target shooters shooting at typical club shooter distances with (much as we like to kid ourselves) typical club shooter skill there's absolutely nothing wrong with a Tikka Super Varmint/Howa with a heavier profile barrel/Remy 700 etc.

Notwithstanding the above the Savage you posted is certainly a good rifle, but it's also knocking on for 3 times what a good secondhand rifle as previously suggested will set the OP back. Great if the OP's got the budget (got to be pushing £3k once a sensibly matched scope, mounts, mod etc are factored in on top) but let's not kid ourselves any of the rifle suggested so far are rubbish, especially as I get the feeling the OP, no disrespect intended, is a relative novice.
Click to expand...

If a 'target' rifle is not chambered/barreled to shoot competitive bullets at sensible speeds, and comes in an unsuitable stock, how is it a good buy?

There could be a semi-suitable secondhand rifle kicking about, which would save them some time and expenditure on a 'dead-end', off the shelf rifle.

Admittedly the OP has not stated what type of 'target shooting' they are doing, but when people start recommending a stalking/varmint type setup, usually with slow twist and shorter barrel, what's the point in buying if you are going to throw another £650-1,000+++ to re-barell it in short order?

Probably outside the scope of this discussion, but looking at the Hornady reloading manual, they list three separate sets of '.223' data:

.223 Remington

5.56mm NATO

.223 Remington Service Rifle

None of them particularly relevant to bolt action rifles, since the COAL tops out at 2.250" on most of them, but comparing them is worthwhile when looking at BC/muzzle velocity.

The service rifle data in particular.
 
Join other forums like UK Varminting and F Class UK.....designed for the target shooter.
There is a RPA 223 on this forum, single shot.
Great fundamentals, and then rebarrel to suit at a later date ?
 
Eagleeye said:
CZ 527 with 1:9 twist anyone had experience with it as we all know CZ rimfires are the best out there.
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I have one in Hornet. Accurate guns, but not set up for target work (in the competitive sense). Magazines are expensive, and some don't like how they protrude, but the rifles overall performance (as a hunting rifle) is superb. They are essentially a mini-Mauser action.
 
MarinePMI said:
I have one in Hornet. Accurate guns, but not set up for target work (in the competitive sense). Magazines are expensive, and some don't like how they protrude, but the rifles overall performance (as a hunting rifle) is superb. They are essentially a mini-Mauser action.
Click to expand...
👍
 
Remington XR100, rare single shot heavy barrel, but 1 in 12 twist....
Thumbhole laminate stock...I had one.super accurate.
Be good to rebarrell with whatever twist and throat you want...
Cheap second hand....
 
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