Best budget .223 rifle?
- Thread starter 45C
- Start date
Is this for plinking or target shooting?
If you're shooting casually off the deck, yea, get whatever - cause it doesn't really matter much.
If you're actually target shooting, spending some real time behind a rifle, you might want to invest more time in deciding.
If you're shooting casually off the deck, yea, get whatever - cause it doesn't really matter much.
If you're actually target shooting, spending some real time behind a rifle, you might want to invest more time in deciding.
Honestly,accuracy has to be there.
My plan is to get the Savage, then I plan on getting a trigger from Brownells, a chassis from MDT and eventually a barrel.
So I’m basically buying the Savage for the action.
It will cost me $575 all in after I use my points.
I can probably get $150 for the Crossfire and maybe another $100 for the barrel.
Thing is, I’m in no rush as I can shoot it now,right out of the box.
Edited to add.
I do like the wood stock though
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You may be surprised by the factory barrel, give it 100 rounds or so to settle in, load up some 68/69gr BTHP over varget and it may be a ragged hole shooter.
I have 3 HB Savage's, 308, 6.5CM, and a recently picked up 6CM.
The 308 is around 1000 rounds through it and it shoots really tight, the 6.5CM is just broken in and has started to really impress me, the 6mm I haven't shot enough yet to get it figured out, but results are pretty decent so far.
They all still have the OEM accutriggers in them, they are a decent trigger once adjusted, I haven't felt the need to improve them.
The OEM plastic stocks, even the accustocks are the weak link, just super light making them very front heavy. On my 6.5CM I beeded it, filled the hollow butt with wheel weights and caulking, stiffened the forend by bedding in a long piece of thread all, stock alone weighs about 6lbs now, but is good and solid and shoots fine.
Top is load development for the 6.5, bottom is typical 308 groups.
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If that is your mid to long term plan, you may or may not want to consider resale value.
I had a Savage VLS that shot like a house on fire, but sold it at considerable loss with very little use. I don't think they hold their value.
With a plan like that I'd start with a short action 700. There were a couple of 700Ps in .223 in the EE not long ago, so they are floating out there. ymmv
If you reload and get something in a 9twist barrel, you can shoot up to a good 70 grain bullet. I shoot the 69gr TMKs in my 9twist and they shoot great, ALSO if you ever want to try shooting come coyotes anytime, them are my favorite for them too. You can also save some money and for for the older gens if you dont. Any of those bullets will do you good for the rages you are looking at and beyond. I still say you are on the right track with the 223 for sure.
When I got into shooting the older savages like the stevens 200's were very abundant, so I have a few of those now and Im happy with em. I dont know anything of the newer generations and if you can still buy after market parts for them if you get into it more and want to upgrade as you progress. Like we always do in this sport.
- Location
- Steel Town
Grab a new CZ600... I suspect they'll be big winners (much like the T3's) and prices will eventually go up. Alternatively, find a nice used 527.
So after much much thinking, I stumbled across a Tikka T3, new and even though it don’t have a HB , I think that’s my best option as I don’t really need to upgrade anything,in a hurry.
Plus , it’s only $100 more than the Savage/ Crossfire.
Plus , it’s only $100 more than the Savage/ Crossfire.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
I'd go Rem 783 HB as me 1st choice and the Ruger American Ranch as 2nd, only because of the protruding magazine setup.
New 783's are coming, but arrival be hard to say.
https://www.remarms.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-783/model-783-synthetic-heavy-barrel
New 783's are coming, but arrival be hard to say.
https://www.remarms.com/rifles/bolt-action/model-783/model-783-synthetic-heavy-barrel
Now I’m back to square one.. haha
Thoughts again on the Howa?
Maybe a barreled action and an aftermarket Stock.
I think there’s a good bit of aftermarket support for these.
It appears every make was mentioned here, by all people who make good points and for sure know more than me ,about these things.
I don’t think I want to go down the rabbit hole again lol.
I’m thinking maybe a grand total.
The only upgrades I would need is something with a pistol grip ( because I find them comfortable).
And 2 ,2 1/2 pound trigger pull.
If the Howa comes with an adjustable trigger Capable of that , I’m good.
And at minimum a medium to Heavy barrel.
Thoughts again on the Howa?
Maybe a barreled action and an aftermarket Stock.
I think there’s a good bit of aftermarket support for these.
It appears every make was mentioned here, by all people who make good points and for sure know more than me ,about these things.
I don’t think I want to go down the rabbit hole again lol.
I’m thinking maybe a grand total.
The only upgrades I would need is something with a pistol grip ( because I find them comfortable).
And 2 ,2 1/2 pound trigger pull.
If the Howa comes with an adjustable trigger Capable of that , I’m good.
And at minimum a medium to Heavy barrel.
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223 is a short action cartridge yes.
Tikka only has one action length, and they use it for everything from 223 to 300 Win mag, so you end up with a long action receiver for everything they make.
It's a cost cutting measure, companies use to do that in the 70's and 80's, I mean it works, it's just kind of silly. The only new production rifle I can think of that still does that is the savage axis...and Tikka even uses the same recoil lug system as the axis with the lug embedded in the stock, not attached to the receiver. It works fine, but a savage axis is $400, and a Tikka is $1000. I just think they are grossly overpriced for what they are the way they are made. Tikka fans will comment on how smooth the action is and how well they shoot...savage axis is smooth as well and shoots way above its price point, so I dunno how much value there is in that.
But now you are looking at lightweight hunting rifles and not heavy barrel target rifles, so we can start again with recommendations if you want.
You can get a heavy barrel Howa in an MDT ORYX stock from a few dealers, the Howa comes with a 2 stage trigger, not sure the lowest pull weight, but I've never seen the need to upgrade one.
They look like this if it is up your alley, Bullseye had them for $1150 but currently out of stock.
I don’t want a light weight hunter.
I like the Tikka as a future donor action, but that’s it.
I guess I’m looking for a cheap but half decent action, half decent adjustable trigger, preferably single stage.
A medium to Heavy barrel,that’s sub MOA capable.
The Howa action /barrel combo seems to be it.
I have a nice bit of ,223 components kicking around that I’d like to shoot.
At paper, not for hunter.
I would probably shoot 100 rnds per range session, testing powder, bullets, speed,etc.
