Looking for opinions on an accurate over the counter .223

smak_daddy

smak_daddy

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Hi all,

I want to buy a tack driver bolt action .223 rifle. I am not in a position to get a custom rifle built. I am looking for an over the counter rifle to possibly tweak.

I am looking at the usual suspects Savage LRPV, Tikka Super Varmint, Weatherby, etc...

The gun will be shot as far as it will go (600, 700, 800+ yards?). I will be loading 77 gr to 80gr bullets so a 1:8 twist is mandatory.

I have no problem sending the gun to a gunsmith for a trigger job and bedding, etc. I am looking for the most accurate over the counter rifle to start with.

I'd love to hear what you guys think.
 
I just shot my newly aquired 223 Tikka varmint..using junk ammo..shoots real good..2 shots to sight it in..then start grouping..got to love it.
 
I have not shot them all but have had great success with out of box savages shooting well. Plus they are a tinkerers dream because of the barrel nut. The best shooting .223 out of box was a 10fp for me not the LRPV. Luck of the bbl draw. Have you thought of a semi custom? I have 8 twist SS select match .224 bbl in the mail right now thats available.

I really like the savages in HS Precison stocks. ;)

BTW any of the guns you mentioned can shoot well. I've just found savages to be more likely too. I haven't shot em all though so YMMV.



Cheers
 
Ok from you stated intentions there are only two factory rifles that will stabilize an 80 Grain bullet. Savage Long range precision varminter and a tikka. From what I have read, out of the box, you have a better chance of a decent shooter with a tikka then a savage.

I have an savage 12 FVSS it is accurate, but not spectacular. About .75 MOA to 600 Meters, then I am getting vertical dispersion. It was however inexpensive. About 500$ used. I am now swapping out the barrel for a rob mclennan one, and I have changed the stock for a boyds laminate target. For the gun and the parts and the gunsmithing the total it is running about 1100.00

Factory rifles are built to maximize profitability not accuracy. They mass produce a decent product at a decent price. The barrels are not handlapped, the stocks are not bedded, the chamber may not be concentric. What is surprising to me is how many of them deliver decent accuracy.
Juanvaldez could put a decent barrel on a cheaper savage and the total would probably be about the same as a LRPV or tikka and would probably outshoot either.

Cath8r I stand corrected sort of. Sako is the parent company of tikka. And yes a sako barrel has the same twist rate of a tikka in 223. It probably the same barrel for more money.
 
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The realty is EVERY factory rifle is a crap shoot. Many factory guns shoot very well, many do not. There are good and bad in every brand and every model. I regularly hear from many shooters who are re-barreling factory rifles because of poor performance, including the so-called best of all these brands - except Tikka/Sako.

If I was to hedge my bets and predict which factory rifles will have the best probability of shooting very well, they would be...

1) Tikka Tactical, Super Varmint of varmint models
2) Savage FTR in 223 or LRPV (7" twists though)
3) Remington Heavy barrel models
4) Browning A-Bolt Target
 
yup ,, bought a few guns in my time... kept the ones that shoot the most consistent..oops never bought a Savage..

P1000054.jpg
 
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My LRPV 1:7 was right around $1000, has a factory (Accu)trigger adjustable in the low OUNCES range. Mine's the single shot left port/right bolt version. A never sell gun, no bedding or other modifications and a true 1/2 MOA gun. Downside - extremely front heavy (extremely!) and definitely not that portable due to weight. Plus, single shot if that bothers you, for me it's a non-issue - paper punching range gun only, or maybe stationary on a bipod over a gopher field. I shoot 80gr Bergers over 23.7gr Varget.

The Tikka gives you a decent mag system, good but not as light trigger, and cheek riser on the Varmint, for around the same money - I wouldn't hesitate to buy one.

Side note, I've had 6 Savages now and they've all been great shooters. Just picked up my first Tikka (T3 Light 7-08) and it looks like it's going to be a shooter too. 2 of the first 5 'load development' 5 shot groups went into 1 hole.
 
You got a lot of fun choices!
The business Ian is in I'm sure his advice is as informed as anyones. If you want to tinker later then lean toward Savage otherwise take your pic from the list.
The one thing I have realised is make sure you have a comfortable and solid stock that your going to be able to work with in the future. Or at least find a readily available after market stock. I found once I put a heavy after market barrel on my stevens that I could no longer shoot it consistantly. I just cannot get comfortable and balanced on the bags. I'm sure some guys can shoot any stock well though.

You could also add a Savage LVP 7" twist to that list. I know one guy that shoots the 223 heavies into one hole at 100 yards with one.

Just to add the importance of stock fit. I recently bought a BVSS, I already knew for some time I liked the fit, and it felt absolutely marvellous after shooting my stevens. First time out and I had very little of that "Oh I just pulled that shot" feeling.
 
I have a Savage in .223. For a bone stock factory gun it is accurate. As mentioned the barrels are easily changed so if the factory one doesn't suit than swap it out. I have only bedded mine and its a tack driver with 50gr. Varmint grenades. Maybe in the future there is a precision stock, only time and money will tell.
 
Swiss arms in 1/7 will do what you want, a few $$ though. Savage are clubs but dang they shoot, tikka may serve you well, may be easier to sell. I would suggest buying from the EE most guns there are hardly used and you get more for your money.
 
A few years ago while on a visit to AB, after seeing how well a pair of 112 Savages in 22-250 shot for my Daughter and Son In Law, I convinced myself perhaps I 'needed' something along that line. They seemed to perform very well with any ammo put through them and considering the cost factor and accuracy results, good bang for the buck I thought. I opted for one that would reach out a little further and picked up one in 25-06 from Bashaw Sports. I did put decent glass on it, a Leupold VX III, 6.5-20 long range with Varmint reticle.

Model112BVSSSavage25-06.jpg


On my customary shopping trip to P&d while in the Edmonton, I picked up a 'selection' of bullets for load testing and development. I got as far as the first bullet, the Sierra 117gr SBT.

25-06Test-1.jpg


Again, the rifle. Good bang for the buck in my estimation:D.
 
todbartell said:
have you shot that load again since the 185 yard target? I see it posted many many times but no other info. Was it a fluke? :D 1/4moa is a hell of a group but we all get lucky once and a while!
Click to expand...

Yes I have and with some very similar group results, at that same range. The first results or cartridges I tested were loaded to the suggested C.O.A.L. as listed in the Sierra manual. Encouraged by the initial results, the only significant change I made with the next batch was to seat the bullet out further to minimize the freebore. This result was prior to getting and using the Hornady Concentricity Tool.

I've scanned and posted that particular, 'lucky' target because it was witnessed by hs4570 but I do have two more, at that range, under 1/2". In addition, there were a couple more 'lucky' targets, shot at 100 yds that measured 0.354" and 0.367".
 
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