Help a beginner pick a kit.

I will toss my $.02 in.

for the ranges you will shoot and the fact that your starting off this is what I would do.

Buy a savage model 12 FV in .223 ($600 ish)
I love remington and own many but would recomend this one

The weakest point of all the budget tactical rifles is the stock. Buying the savage lets you talk to north shore barrels (site sponser) and get a choate tactical stock. They are $495 ish loaded up with tons of adjustment and they get cheaper if you don't need all the adjustments. This will help alot with accuracy and consistancy and it will give you that really cool look that Iam sure you will like over any factory rifle in your budget.

Heres the snag. the choate takes the new detachable bottom metal that savage has and the 12 FV comes with an internal box magazine. I have the parts to convert over to the factory detachable magazine I paid over 250 to get the parts from savage but then went with the V-bull kit. Because your starting out I will sell you the bottom metal and the magazine for .223 for 100 shipped to help out (the magazine was 80 after tax) its the stainless but can be painted black. The only thing you might need is new action screws (about $3 from savage)

Rings and bases are simple for what you want. Use the weaver bases that come with the rifle and get a set of burris signature rings the height you need for $40-$50 bucks

For the scope I would recomend the Bushnell Elite 3200 10X fixed. It's all the magnification you need for out to 300, It has good glass, and by all reports tracks well. I have seen them as low as $200 brand new in store. In my opinion you don't need better glass for your ranges and won't find better glass without spending alot more.

The accutrigger is actually pretty nice and plenty light enough and user adjustable. If you go with the remington you will most likely have to or want to replace the trigger. All my reminmgtons have a timney or shilen now.

So if you shop around and get your best prices you should come in around your 1300 budget (you said you would spend a little more than your 1000 for a a better scope) Might come in cheaper if you shop the EE for lightly used

This will give you.
A savage .223 with heavy barrel and accutrigger not to mention a "tactical knob" :)
Nice tactical style stock
detachable bottom metal
rings and bases
scope with adjustable turrets.

The above rifle will give you the look you want. perform great for what you want to do. I will always say buy the best glass you can afford but the bushnell keeps you on budget and is a good scope.

This was just another option for you. If you decide to go with the remington and use the factory stock (a nice rifle and will perform) The falcon's are nice scopes as are the Vortex. I have a Viper 6.5-20x44 on my coyote rifle and it tracks perfect and the glass is good.

Try out some of the budget ammo for the .223 I found that American Eagle .223 (red box) Hovered around MOA out of my savage all the way to 325 yards if I did my part and I paid 12.50 a box of 20. You never know what your rifle might like. And when your ready to start reloading you can really make the rifle perform.

best of luck

Jason

Heres a google image of what your gun would look similar too (this is the cheaper non adjustable stock)

p-16325.jpg


Things to make sure if you go this way
Make sure your action is spaced 4.4
Make sure the rifle has the accutrigger and 1-9 twist barrel
Try to find the place with as much as you can so you avoid shipping charges for each item buying from different stores.
Buy local if you can but don't be affraid to shop around; Canada has alot of great gun stores and you can usually find really good prices or sales.
 
Last edited:
Wow so much good useful info! Jayph, I will SERIOUSLY consider that offer. I did have my "sights" set on the R700, mostly because of its military history (not that I want a rifle that kills people, but because I believe in the "tried and true" philosophy). I may be buying the gun on Friday (if SFRC has a good sale ;) ) and then Will be following up the next week with a scope. However all is still undecided on that. I know Bushnell is "tried and true" but I was also looking for the next level.

So much info to absorb in the time that I have to do so in. Still don't understand alot of the technical terms and lingo being tossed at me, but I'm sure once I am around here for a few months and go to that intro day (if anyone ever responds to me...) I will be much more educated. Getting a few books on order and after shooting for a while I will dabbing into the reloading (already got some rough prices on gear from Jerry over at Mystic Precision).
 
Hey MS

First off, great to hear another person getting into the sport.

I would recommend going into a store and getting the sales people to hand you each rifle that you like from looking online, and see which one feels the best in your hands.

Even better is to actually get out and shoot one. If possible, go to your local club and talk to the directors, they would probably point you in the direction of someone who has one or more of the rifles you are looking at, and then you can see which one you like after shooting it.

I find that I spend time looking on the net and find something I really like. The appeal builds as I think about it at work etc, and before I know it I'm totally sold. Often, the appeal lasts until I've used it, and then I'm wishing I had tried it first. It's hard to do because shopping is fun, but if you can try stuff out you'll probably make a better purchasing decision in the end.

All that being said, why own a gun if it doesn't appeal to you? Any of the starter guns out there will teach you lots. Most important thing (for me anyway) is to spend money on ammo once you have the rifle, and not buy more rifles. :)

Best of luck,

Barry

P.S. My vote would be go for that Savage.
 
Hey MS

First off, great to hear another person getting into the sport.

I would recommend going into a store and getting the sales people to hand you each rifle that you like from looking online, and see which one feels the best in your hands.

Even better is to actually get out and shoot one. If possible, go to your local club and talk to the directors, they would probably point you in the direction of someone who has one or more of the rifles you are looking at, and then you can see which one you like after shooting it.

I find that I spend time looking on the net and find something I really like. The appeal builds as I think about it at work etc, and before I know it I'm totally sold. Often, the appeal lasts until I've used it, and then I'm wishing I had tried it first. It's hard to do because shopping is fun, but if you can try stuff out you'll probably make a better purchasing decision in the end.


All that being said, why own a gun if it doesn't appeal to you? Any of the starter guns out there will teach you lots. Most important thing (for me anyway) is to spend money on ammo once you have the rifle, and not buy more rifles. :)

Best of luck,

Barry

P.S. My vote would be go for that Savage.

This happens to me. My dad always tells me to wait another pay check to think about it. Every time I wait it turns out better in the end.

My advice is wait and read and think some more about what rifle to choose.

I'm a Savage guy but there is nothing wrong with Remington.

As for tried and true I don't think you have to worry about Savage. You can get a dud at either company. Savage has a great warranty. My girl friend had to test it.

I shoot with a guy that has a Savage M12 FCV in 22-250. It shoots very honest 1 MOA groups with factory ammo. I mean almost every shot out of the rifle goes into a 1MOA group. Not talking about the best 3 shot group shot by the rifle. 3 shot groups smaller then 1/2" at 100 yards happen from time to time.
 
Ok,,, one more (foreseeable) annoying question about a scope....

The Millet LRS (Long Range Scope)

Anyone have trigger time with it or other info a newb may not yet be privy to?
MilletLRS.jpg
 
Buy your self a Vortex Viper 6.5-20. Its proven to be a solid scope for the price.

I haven't heard anything about millet scopes.
 
So I just bought a Precision "starter" kit from a fellow Gunnut, and I pick it up from him on Sunday.

It is a Remington 700 SPS Tactical with a Vortex Crossfire 4-16x50 Mil-Dot Illuminated with sunshade extension, Rem Low rings, Harris Bi-pod, and a Carrying case to boot! For all less then 1200. I realize the scope is not the best one, but it will serve its purpose until I can upgrade it.
IMG_1005.jpg

IMG_1001.jpg


So I was gonna pickup some MFS 223 55gr FMJ, (240 Rounds for 100 bucks) just to start me off, I know its not the most precise ammo, but its enough rounds at a savings, that maybe I can get some reloading gear together, while still being able to have my fun and practice shooting as well. Sound like a good idea?
 
That's a nice kit and a good price IMO. Eventually if you ever start slinging the really heavy 223 rounds you'll need to upgrade the barrel to something with faster twist, but that will serve you a long time and might even keep you happy as it is forever.

You were obviously bitten hard by the bug and felt the need to act. I'm glad you bought the used rig. I find if you know what to look for and buy used, you can recoup most of your purchase price if it turns out you don't like the rifle.
 
Thanks SoBoard. I wasn't really bitten hard, I've always wanted a precision rifle (even before I ever heard of the term "F-Class"), and since I recently got my PAL (March) and just picked up one of those CT %50 off 10 gun cabinet specials, I want to see if its limit really is 10 guns. ;)

So, your saying that for me to shoot the 80grain projectiles, I would need a twist of 1:8? The one I have is a 1:9, which from my research is good to about 75grains.

also, I probably won't be doing too much to this one, this is just something to get me by until, I am a confident enough shooter to move up to the .308 weight class and start my serious loading then! :D
 
I have a CT 10 gun cabinet and so far it's at 13 long guns and 4 handguns. :redface: Gun socks on my best ones and I'll not ashamed to say that every other one is in upside down to fit in.

I don't have a 223, (wish I did), but Mystic precision's site says that the 1-9 twist will do to 70 grains and recommends 1-8 or 1-7 for heavier than 80 grains.http://www.shilen.com/calibersAndTwists.html

When researching I also like going to the Sierra Bullet webpage and looking under the Matchking section. The heavier bullets have an "Important Info" link in red that will tell you what twist rate is recommended to run that bullet.
http://www.sierrabullets.com/index.cfm?section=bullets&page=bc&stock_num=9390&bullettype=0

Anyway, you've bought the rifle now and it's a nice rig. Get out and shoot it, be safe and have fun. When I first got a high powered scope I was surprised to see that my heartbeat can move the crosshair about .75 MOA. Work on things like breath and trigger control and consistent hold, (pressure on the stock, grip and with your cheek weld), and you will find that you will be able to do lots of things with that rifle that many shooters can't.
 
Thanks SoBoard. I wasn't really bitten hard, I've always wanted a precision rifle (even before I ever heard of the term "F-Class"), and since I recently got my PAL (March) and just picked up one of those CT %50 off 10 gun cabinet specials, I want to see if its limit really is 10 guns. ;)

So, your saying that for me to shoot the 80grain projectiles, I would need a twist of 1:8? The one I have is a 1:9, which from my research is good to about 75grains.

also, I probably won't be doing too much to this one, this is just something to get me by until, I am a confident enough shooter to move up to the .308 weight class and start my serious loading then! :D

Nice rifle. I think you will be happy with that scope. You just have to watch out for gear lash in the turrets. If you want precise elevation adjustments then you will always want to arrive at the desired number going the same direction. You can choose up or down. I use the up way. What you do is when you dial in your elevation adjustment you go straight to the number you want. When you go back to zero your rifle. You go down to zero and then past zero about 4 MOA, then back to zero. This way you will have consistent elevation adjustments.

Why is it that you need a 308 to get serious into loading? In my opinion 308’s are garbage. Buy something cooler like a 6.5 creedmoor or a 243 win or a 6BR or a 22BR.

But you can use your 223 to get “serious” into loading.
 
.223, .308, and .50 don't belong in the precision section? Esplain? :confused:

Military ball ammo shouldn’t be here. Sure a .223 rem is awesome. .308win is great. I have no idea about a 50BMG but I wouldn’t choose one for a target rifle.

Some people have different ideas of precision. Lots of people judge their rifles with a 3 shot group.
 
6.5 Creedmore just bought one in TC Icon Precision Hunter, it is still in the box now being a very very passionate 308 shooter, i will be able to compare those 2 calibers for extreme precision, i doubt the Creedmore will be as accurate than my 308 but i will make load devellopement and it will be topped with one of my S&B 5X25X56 11 P-4 reticule... I will give the Creedmore every chance i give to my best 308 rifles after i will see if i am wrong i wil be honest to tell... keep you posted gentlemans... Cheers. JP.
 
Military ball ammo shouldn’t be here. Sure a .223 rem is awesome. .308win is great. I have no idea about a 50BMG but I wouldn’t choose one for a target rifle.

Some people have different ideas of precision. Lots of people judge their rifles with a 3 shot group.

... you do realize there's match grade military ball ammo too, right? And a bolt action rifle won't care very much what's stamped on the case head once the brass is fireformed...
 
That rifle should work just fine. One thing to look out fir however is flexing in the stock. The bipod may cause flexing in the forend. If the stock touches the barrel this can cause shifts in point of impact. Later on you might want to upgrade the stock. I would shoot this rifle off a front bag not too far out on the forend before using the bipod.

I've never used the Vortex scopes but they seem to be well received.

Some recommendations: Get a firearm torque screwdriver. Make sure all the scope screws, bases and the stock are set to the right torque. You'd be surprised how many accuracy issues can be solved with this simple tool.

You'll need some ammo for this rifle. The only non match factory ammo in 223 Ive found not to be a waste of money is 55 grain pmc. It's fairly inexpensive.

When you go to the range set up the rifle at your target with the scope at the bullseye. Take out the bolt and check through the bore that you're on paper. It's a poor mans bore sighting that will save you from wasting $10 getting your shots on paper.

I'm sure you'll have lots of fun with that rifle.
 
Just came from picking up the rifle, the Gunnut was a super awesome guy, gave me the gun and all the accessories, ran over some of the details of the gear, shook my hand, and we parted ways! Great deal! :D Just as he described (and I saw since his original bill of sale was in all the paperwork) he only had the gun a few weeks and there had only been like 20-40 rounds down the barrel and it was almost as clean as new. Can't wait to get and start shooting. Due to the fact of it being Sunday, and was hoping to get out to the range today... I stopped by wallmart and picked up some cheap ammo.... oh, well, will have to send it down range as sighters... :D Will keep adding updates and new questions in this thread as I go along and learn, and be humbled by your suggestions and advice :)

Poor picture, but it will have to do..
My new gun, in its new home.
IMG_0912.jpg

Major S~
 
Congrats on your new toy!

and a support the WTF for the bellow!

Originally Posted by K0na_stinky
Military ball ammo shouldn’t be here. Sure a .223 rem is awesome. .308win is great. I have no idea about a 50BMG but I wouldn’t choose one for a target rifle.

Some people have different ideas of precision. Lots of people judge their rifles with a 3 shot group.
 
Back
Top Bottom