inexpensive beginner rifle in .223

Mr. Friendly

Mr. Friendly

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
EE Expired
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British Canuckistan
I have a friend that wants to plink .223 out to 300 yards. his budget is $1200 for both rifle and scope.

any recommendations or advice you can provide to help me get him started would be appreciated.

for some reason he's being silly and won't sign up to the CGN forums, so...I'm trying to aide him. :p

thank you!
 
Nothing screams precision like plinking at 300 ;).

$1200 should buy a Rem700 and $300 worth of glass.
Suggest he shop used, less $ on the rifle more on glass.
 
Were it me I would go either for a Rem 700 SPS tac or a Savage 10 heavy bbl. I'm not a huge Savage fan but there's no denying the out of box performance without immediately needing upgrades. Both are popular so if he decides to sell, and doesn't try one of those "package deals" with all his accessories that he bought and didn't like then he can flip it quick. Make sure he avoids all the "feature packed" cheap optics and gets something worth using. A Bushnell 10x40 isn't the greatest for tight groups especially at 300 but it is passable. Great scope for steel though. Ultimately for $200 you can't beat the glass, turrets or tracking. Almost anything else worth owning won't leave enough for scope base(s) and rings.
 
I'd get the Savage and then spend the rest on the best scope you can afford, I'm betting you will keep the scope if it's good and add another rifle....
 
$1200 is a pretty decent and realistic budget. What he wants to do with it makes some difference. Target shoot, varmint hunt, etc?
Wouldn't go Axis or SPS myself. I'd look at slightly higher end kit with that budget. Isn't about the maker, though. Both the SPS and Axis are entry level hunting rifles. Barrels aren't made for target accuracy. Your buddy's budget lets him look higher.
Higher end Remington's are almost out of budget. About a grand with no sights. Higher end Savages are not.
A Savage Model 12FCV Varmint(heavy barreled, adjustable trigger, detachable mag) runs $769.50 at Epps. No iron sights, but it's D&T'd for a scope. A Model 10 is $60 less.
Epp's is listing a Ruger American at $523 that might be worth a look. Rotary detachable mag that won't be easy to find though.
 
Used Bushnell fixed 10x at the ORA Intro Day last weekend.
Similar, if not the same as, this ht tp://www.amazon.ca/Bushnell-Elite-Multi-X-Riflescope-Matte/dp/B004NKY6DA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438363187&sr=8-1&keywords=bushnell+elite
Worked well.

Savage ht tp://www.cabelas.ca/product/5019/savage-model-25-lightweight-varminter-bolt-action-rifle-w-accutrigger if you can find a .223

Or this? ht tp://www.cabelas.ca/product/69923/savage-10-xp-predator-hunter-bolt-action-rifle-w-scope
 
Not going to read all the posts, but stumbled onto a Savage 11 6.5 CM today located in B.C. Used. $750?

While that doesn't leave you much for a scope, you could easily put a reasonably good quality Bushnell fixed 10x on it and have a great time. Reasonably cheap to shoot and easily capable of much, much further.
 
I can say that i am very happy with the accuracy out of my savage 10PC not crazy about all the features of the gun like the acutrigger and stock. I picked it up off the EE for $650. i shoot it in .308 but they are available in .223. I was at the range the other day and saw a guy shooting a mossberg HB in .223 and was achieving sub moa 10 shot groups at 100 yards. not too sure what the cost on those is but i would think its reasonable.

for glass look at fixed power scopes, maybe 9 or 10 power should be good for shooting steel out to 300 and groups on paper at 100. I have had people recommend the Falcon scopes as a good entry level scope....i have never used one and can't vouch for their quality but from what i have read they are OK quality and an entry level scope
 
I miss my Savage 10PC. I'd recommend it for sure. I couldn't pass up on a Mossberg MVP varmint and it turned out to shoot under a one MOA to my surprise. On a budget it is something to consider. The biggest factor to consider for me when buying a rifle is to confirm exactly what type of shooting will I be doing with it.
 
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