Opinions on a .223 bolt rifle

Klondiker

Klondiker

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Alberta for now, back to the Yukon someday
I'm on the hunt for a nice little factory .223 mostly for plinking, out to 500 meters, and I came across Remington's XCR Compact Tactical. It looks handy but I can't seem to find many reviews on it and from the little I have managed to find it sounds like an accurate little rifle. 20 inch with a 9 twist would fit the bill nicely I think.

Does anyone have any experience with this model? I've got a Savage model 10 PC in .308 so I thought I'd try another brand just to mix it up a little.

Thanks guys!
 
find a 1:7 or a 1:8 so you have a wider array of bullets to choose from. If you reload - you will find that a lot of bullets n the ballpark of 75 and 80 gr are pretty darn good at longer distances. You want a twist rate to stabilize them to keep those options open.

1:7 should even stabilize the Berger 90gr bullets...

My partner in the law games uses a Savage in 223 at all distances with Hornady 75 Amax to great effect. I tease him about not using 308.... but he does quite well.
 
Tikka T3 Varmint... 1-8" twist. Very accurate out of the box, and detachable mag setup is great.

You'll find a lot of 'plas-tikka' haters, but those who have them love them! :)
 
Klondiker said:
Right on. A twist faster than 1:9 is defininetly something to consider. I do reload so that'll help.

What twist is your partner's savage?
Click to expand...

Not sure. I think 1:8... But it was a bastard for CCB shots. It would migrate around until about 10 shots had been fired. Cold or hot didn't matter much -- but clean was terrible. He always had to fire a crapload the day before matches.

I bedded the action for him finally, and now his CCB is bang on his zero. It was always a sub-MOA gun, and it still is -- but now he can clean the heck out of it and still go straight into a match on his zero.

I don't know whether that was particular to that action (Single shot action Savage in stock witha built in aluminum beddign block) or if .223 bolt guns are more prone to this -- but it was the most drastic improvement I have ever seen bedidng make in a "good" gun.

now that I've wandered off about bedding - back to twist. I think 1:8 would be fine for you, 1:7 would be good if you can find one -- I know for a fact that 1:8 won't do if you want to fire 90gr bullets. (My wife had one and we tried them out -- wild and erratic groups that wouldn't hold an 8x10 paper at 100m....) I have a Krieger barrel that has a 1:7.7 twist on a gun somewhere... you might find something like that, which would be good. It likes everythihg from 62 to 80. haven't tried the 90s in it, though.
 
Rem 700 XCR

Klondiker
buy the 26" barrel model 20" won,t give you enough speed to 1000y 20" will be okay to 600 but still won,t be as good as the 26" barrel

mine shoots 69gr sierras & 75gr Bergers with RL 15 very good, varget works well also, little more speed with Rl15

300Yards 1" center bull

rem700XCRLongrangeTactical013.jpg

rem700XCRLongrangeTactical007.jpg
 
I need 40moa at 900 yards with a 16.75" 1-8 barrel and soft loads with a 77gr SMK. Would not worry too much about barrel length just make sure you get a twist rate that matches your bullet choice.
 
Please note that Rems can have a slow 9 twist which will not stabilize 75gr amx or bergers. These are likely the best choice for the Longer distance shooting in a factory rifle.

8 twist is better especially if you can launch the 80's. Even nicer to shoot LR.

My 8 twist 22" shilen Savage has no issues going to 1500yds with the 80gr Amax. Went out to a mile with another Savage before but the drop makes it a pain to deal with.

Jerry
 
manitou210 said:
Klondiker
buy the 26" barrel model 20" won,t give you enough speed to 1000y 20" will be okay to 600 but still won,t be as good as the 26" barrel

mine shoots 69gr sierras & 75gr Bergers with RL 15 very good, varget works well also, little more speed with Rl15

300Yards 1" center bull

rem700XCRLongrangeTactical013.jpg

rem700XCRLongrangeTactical007.jpg
Click to expand...

Nice 4 shot group. Which excuse did you use for that out?

Still a 25 - 4V with a factory rifle at 300m is nothing to complain about.

Jerry
 
Thanks for replies fellas! Right now I'm only looking at 500 meters which is all my range has for the moment, so I don't think I need to worry too much about 1000m or beyond.

Silly question Jerry, but what would a 'slow 9 twist' be? Somewere between 9 and 10? I've haven't heard the term before so I'm just curious.

Am I out to lunch thinking I can get away with a 20" barrel and 1:9 twist at 500m? Would I be looking at bullet weights in the 60's to take me accurately to 500?
 
Slow twist simply means that it is slower then listed. 9.something making it unable to stabilize the 75gr family of bullets.

Faster twist is typical of the Savages which are likely 8.something or a true 9. Stabilize 75's but no 80's.

We have shot Hrn 55gr SP's and Vmax to 1000yds accurately. Problem is the wind.

These get bumped around ALOT in gusty air making it very tough to dope.

The higher the BC, the more forgiving it is in the winds.

For 500m fun and any commercial 9 twist, Hrn 68, Sierra 69's, Nosler 69's, Berger 70's will definitely fly and be a hoot at 500m.
Jerry

Jerry
 
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