I am looking for a .223 ranch gun

Well looks like the majority favor the Mini 14. I guess I'll look into it, don't seem to be any up for sale at the moment though.
And Ruger always seems to be raising their prices.

Everybody telling me to get a Tavor or an XCR, yeah I would like one and its on the wishlist but not for this purpose.

Maybe I'll use my line of credit if looks like the Libs are going to win a majority.
 
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Turkinator said:
I think a lot of guys read this thread and think it's a question of "name your favorite rifle". A 3000$ bull pup has no practicality on a farm. If the calibre is .223/5.56mm I would use a stainless mini. Honestly though if it were me I would go the bolt action route. The mini is a practical semi, durable, doesn't require maintenance or cleaning but is easy to do so, and you're not going to cry if it gets dirty or scuffed. I would personally rather have a good bolt action varmint rifle but to each their own.
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Are you a farmer? Because I am and I feel that the tavor is a great option for all you listed.
 
onetwentyish said:
Are you a farmer? Because I am and I feel that the tavor is a great option for all you listed.
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Are you? Because I feel if you were, you would know what kind of role this gun would have and you would never assign it to a 2500+ rifle, no matter how well suited it might be. Maybe I should have stated my budget to be $1000 max than people would stop recommending Tavors and XCR's.

I have the money to go out and buy either or both if I was really feeling reckless. I am not going to do that.
 
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EchoAlpha said:
Are you? Because I feel if you were, you would know what kind of role this gun would have and you would never assign it to a 2500+ rifle, no matter how well suited it might be. Maybe I should have stated my budget to be $1000 max than people would stop recommending Tavors and XCR's.

I have the money to go out and buy either or both if I was really feeling reckless. I am not going to do that.
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I didn't say it was in your budget, hence why I have not said for you to get one. It just seemed like turkinator was suggesting one couldn't use the Tavor in place of a bolt gun.

In my opinion though, what you seem to be looking for at the price you are willing to pay doesnt exist with a Non-restricted status in Canada. That is why I still with hold making any recommendations to you other then have a look at some bolt or lever guns.
 
onetwentyish said:
I didn't say it was in your budget, hence why I have not said for you to get one. It just seemed like turkinator was suggesting one couldn't use the Tavor in place of a bolt gun.

In my opinion though, what you seem to be looking for at the price you are willing to pay doesnt exist with a Non-restricted status in Canada. That is why I still with hold making any recommendations to you other then have a look at some bolt or lever guns.
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Then the 3 Mini 14 Ive seen on FB groups for under 1000$ one was a Target model, rest were ranch. Under 1000$, Semi, 223, NR Doesn't exist? I only paid 1200$ for my AR180B, CSA/VZ 223 can be found for 600-800$, T97 750-800$. Hes gonna need to go with VZ/CSA, Mini 14, T97 because thats his budget.


Sure they're out there, other guns out there then whats popular.
 
onetwentyish said:
I didn't say it was in your budget, hence why I have not said for you to get one. It just seemed like turkinator was suggesting one couldn't use the Tavor in place of a bolt gun.

In my opinion though, what you seem to be looking for at the price you are willing to pay doesnt exist with a Non-restricted status in Canada. That is why I still with hold making any recommendations to you other then have a look at some bolt or lever guns.
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You don't what you are talking about. There are at least five options that I am aware of. Most of which I had rejected but one of which I have been convinced to take another look at. Look I could be convinced to reconsider a rifle I had initially dismissed but not to double my budget.
 
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RobertMcC said:
Then the 3 Mini 14 Ive seen on FB groups for under 1000$ one was a Target model, rest were ranch. Under 1000$, Semi, 223, NR Doesn't exist? I only paid 1200$ for my AR180B, CSA/VZ 223 can be found for 600-800$, T97 750-800$. Hes gonna need to go with VZ/CSA, Mini 14, T97 because thats his budget.


Sure they're out there, other guns out there then whats popular.
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Lets take a look at what OP wants/doesnt.

EchoAlpha said:
As the title states. I'm looking for a NR .223 semi-atuo ranch gun that tough, economical, relatively light and reasonably accurate. I'd like to use the ar mags so I'm not interested in a Mini-14 plus I don't believe the Mini to be value for money anymore anyway. I considered the T97 and a bullpub would be nice but I've since discarded that idea due to bad ergos and terrible accuracy.
My budget is 1500 absolute maximum, would not like to spend that much to be honest but I'm being realistic.
I've dismissed the Su-16(over priced garbage) and the vz 58( inaccurate, wrong mags).

This is a carry around the farm gun I'm not going to do that with a a $2000 plus rifle. Right now I'm looking at a Benelli MR1 and the AR180b. Don't know much about either of them. I'm hoping to get 2 MOA am I dreaming?

AR180b's used to be rare and expensive but I see the price has come down on them and they show up for sale more often, probably because of the increase of NR .223 options.

Can someone with experience with the MR1 or the ar180b maybe tell me how they carry and shoot?

Did I miss any thing?
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Out of your list Robert, all there is is the AR180B.

I dont recommend them or the Benneli MR1s. Like I said, I can not give you a recommendation on either, and with the current criteria I would rather suggest OP looks to more traditional rifles. If I HAD to pick out of his list for his given critera, I guess I would say MR1?
 
Surely a used fixed stock MR-1 can be had for under $1200?

I just re-read the OP and realized that comments regarding the MR1 were requested.

I like mine. It has been a very reliable rifle, shoots all ammo I have run through it including Win white box HPs that choke my Norinco CQA.

I very rarely clean it and the ARGO system shoots clean, way cleaner than my CQA.

It is a heavy rifle for a .223. I guess it is the ARGO gas piston system.

It is not tackdriver but shoots 2.5-3" at 100 yards with cheap bulk ammo.

It's ergos are wierd for AR guys but I have gotten used to them.

I left the irons on it set for 50m. I have a 2x7 with a ranging reticle that lets me shoot out 500m without holding over (haven't tried it past 200m yet). The 2x7 is zeroed at 100 yards and the 200 yard reticle is on too. The scope is on a QD mount so I can go to the irons quickly.

I mounted the tri rail on it and have angle mounted a red dot on the right side zeroed for 25 yards and it works very well.

I have an 850 lumen Fenix PD35 mounted at 6 o'clock with a tape switch that will melt eye balls and turns night into day for about 150 yards.

Overall I like it a lot and always throw it behind the seat of my truck when I go into the bush.
 
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EchoAlpha said:
You don't what you are talking about. There are at least five options that I am aware of. Most of which I had rejected but one of which I have been convinced to take another look at.
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Glad you decided to clean up your post! ;)

I havent been following this thread closely, so my inital comment was not direcred to you at all. Im only getting involved because you more or less attacked my first comment.
 
Thanks for all the input so far guys I guess I'll start keeping an eye out for a Mini 14 and maybe an AR180b as well. I've been dissuaded from the MR1 by pm from someone who had one.
 
I don't know what you use on a farm but why dismiss the su16? The one I had ran flawlessly . Anybody who can't get 2moa out of it , probably can't do much better with any rifle.its 5lbs, uses lar mags, and$850 all in. Sure there were a couple of broken receivers , probably due to shooter error. so what , if it breaks your the origional owner you have warranty. Just because 5 or 6 people on here says it's crap, don't mean it's so. Do a google search, you might find 3 or 4 broken receivers out of the 10,s of thousands that were sold. You should have no problem out to 300 yards , on a coyote.
 
Brianma65 said:
I don't know what you use on a farm but why dismiss the su16? The one I had ran flawlessly . Anybody who can't get 2moa out of it , probably can't do much better with any rifle.its 5lbs, uses lar mags, and$850 all in. Sure there were a couple of broken receivers , probably due to shooter error. so what , if it breaks your the origional owner you have warranty. Just because 5 or 6 people on here says it's crap, don't mean it's so. Do a google search, you might find 3 or 4 broken receivers out of the 10,s of thousands that were sold. You should have no problem out to 300 yards , on a coyote.
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If it could be had for 500-600 bucks like in the states I would probably get it as an "expendable" gun. But not for $900, its not worth it it.
 
Brianma65 said:
I don't know what you use on a farm but why dismiss the su16? The one I had ran flawlessly . Anybody who can't get 2moa out of it , probably can't do much better with any rifle.
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I don't know, I did decently out to 300m with my bolt action .223, but 100yrds with the su16 was 3-4" at best and wasn't impressed enough to keep it for yotes.
I never reloaded for it though.

I'd be mighty impressed to handle a su16 that can shoot 2moa.
But it's still only as tough as a plastic fastfood cup.
 
lone-wolf said:
I don't know, I did decently out to 300m with my bolt action .223, but 100yrds with the su16 was 3-4" at best and wasn't impressed enough to keep it for yotes.
I never reloaded for it though.

I'd be mighty impressed to handle a su16 that can shoot 2moa.
But it's still only as tough as a plastic fastfood cup.
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maybe people should try some decent ammo,not use norc,then complain about the accuracy. I don't know what every one else were getting but I know what I could do with it. It's the same with the XCR ,some guys are saying 3or 4 moa, I got 1 moa ,with quality factory ammo. Maybe there's a few lemons out there ,I don't know.
 
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