picking a new groundhog gun - VTR .223?
- Thread starter baum9260
- Start date
Why is there 2 pages of people selling their beloved T3's in the EE, but not one WTB ad?
For the ranges you're looking at shooting, the .223 is an ideal choice. Cheap to feed and more than adequate at those ranges.
I love the Remington 700 and currently have 5-6 in my rack. I've yet to find a stock 700 that won't break MOA using quality ammo. Shooting my own loads I've got a VS and an LTR consistently agging in the .2s. They're capable of even better, but I'm not!
That said, there has been some QC issues with Remington over the past few years. I guess I've lucked out and haven't come across any of those. As for the VTR, I see it as a marketing gimmick, nothing more.
If you like the VTR, by all means buy it. If you're looking for a heavy barrel .223, a more economical choice would be the 700 SPS Varmint or SPS Tactical. The factory synthetic stock certainly isn't as nice as the HS Precision stocks of the higher end VS, VSSF II, LTR and Sendero lines, but it is adequate and you can always upgrade to better as finances allow if you so desire.
Savage and Tikka both make some very accurate rifles. The new Tikka T3 really don't appeal to me. Way too much plastic and they have a cheap "feel" to them that earlier steel and wood models do not have. Savages are great rifles for those who see beauty in function over form. They can shoot like an SOB, but esthetically, they aren't an appealing rifle. I've never been able to warm up to the cheesy Indian Head logo on the bolt, the Savage bolt handle and the slop I always feel when cycling one.
I'm not knocking Savage though! I own a couple, along with a couple of their rimfire rifles, but for centerfire, I think the 700 is a better rifle. The new Savage trigger is great, but I've never had a problem adjusting the stock 700 trigger to break just as crisp as any Jewel.
Again, rifle choice is a very personal decision. Best thing you can do is go to a store and handle your short list of rifles and buy the one that is most appealing to you and best fits your body's ergonomics.
What's a groundhog? Haven't seen one in years...
My thoughts exactly. Used to be plenty of them around when I was a youngster, now I rarely see one. I have heard many explanations for their demise, but most don't make much sense. Time to start a trap & transfer program from Ottawa
George
