Twist rate is certainly something to think about. Having owned a Remington SPS varmint I would not own another one. It wasn't a bad rifle accuracy wise it just didn't do anything right. It wasn't a great target rifle because the twist rate was too slow. It wasn't a great hunting rifle because the barrel was too heavy. Don't let anyone tell you that a hunting rifle should have a heavy barrel (unless you are doing high volume varmint shooting like sitting in a gopher field). Heavy barrels belong on target rifles and not in the field. This comes from a 22 year old guy who spends his summers and winters climbing all that the Canadian Rockies have to offer. Heavy barrels are just a PITA in the field and unneccesary.
Saving for a .223, help me pick one worth waiting for...
- Thread starter .22LRGUY
- Start date
I am in the same boat as you my friend only I still have not decided between the 204 , 223 or the 220 swift. With the allowance my wife gives me I have been saving ( I know I am a little b@#ch lol ) I have around 800 stashed all ready lol. She handles the money other wise I would have one of everything lol. I cheaped out on my hunting rifle a little and went with the Stevens 200 which is a dam accurate gun, but likes to rust darn quick. So I am going to get a Stainless rifle, not sure which yet. I handled a few and the Tikka light felt really nice. Just a little pricey. But hey a good investment in my eyes. 
I am in the same boat as you my friend only I still have not decided between the 204 , 223 or the 220 swift. With the allowance my wife gives me I have been saving ( I know I am a little b@#ch lol ) I have around 800 stashed all ready lol. She handles the money other wise I would have one of everything lol. I cheaped out on my hunting rifle a little and went with the Stevens 200 which is a dam accurate gun, but likes to rust darn quick. So I am going to get a Stainless rifle, not sure which yet. I handled a few and the Tikka light felt really nice. Just a little pricey. But hey a good investment in my eyes.
They are a fairly new model. You gotta wonder why there are so many used ones for sale?????
I reload so 223 makes the most sense to me. Huge variety of bullets to load, brass is cheap as well as plentiful. I recycle the brass for a large club and 223 is far and above the most common CF case in the buckets. About as common as 9mm on the pistol range. No recoil and accurate with factory ammos so reloading only improves on that.Doesnt use a lot of powder to get the job done either. I can shoot reloads for almost what some are paying for high end 22lr ammo. Everybody sells it. Saw it in a display at the Kamloops gun show many years ago and it called my name. Weird that but I love the cal. I dont care if everyone else has one either.
This is why I troll the forums to get info tell me more. Do you have first hand experience with this gun. Why would they be up for sale more then the average gun? Thx
Get yourself a Blaser,worth the wait,accurate,high quality,and no need to upgrade to another gun just buy another barrel in different cal.I have one with real nice wood in 7mm08 and 22mag and will soon be adding a 223 barrelfor it.Oh ya straight pull very fast action.
I own a Stevens 200 in .223 and am very happy with it. It occasionally failed to feed from the mag, but I've found out from these forums that the issue was common on the earlier production runs (Savage/Stevens will provide a new mag spring for them) and the has since been fixed in newer rifles. I was happy enough to mail order another one in .308 before the ON HST kicked in, which will be my standard big game rifle whenever I don't feel like using a favourite milsurp or M14 clone.
While I'm satisfied with my .223, and can comfortably hit a target the size of a coyote's vitals from field positions at te 200m range using just a cheap Tasco scope (I'll blame the choice of optics on excessive frugality or stubborn ignorance), I can appreciate why someone would want to spend a bit more for a Savage version of the same action with Accutrigger, whether in standard or heavy barrel (as per posts above). I tried a friend's Savage 110FP in .308 once and really liked it, and it's also made in .223, though it's a heavy barrel version. In short, the Savage platform with the proper specifications for your purposes, along with a quality scope would be good value for the money spent.
Regards,
Frank
While I'm satisfied with my .223, and can comfortably hit a target the size of a coyote's vitals from field positions at te 200m range using just a cheap Tasco scope (I'll blame the choice of optics on excessive frugality or stubborn ignorance), I can appreciate why someone would want to spend a bit more for a Savage version of the same action with Accutrigger, whether in standard or heavy barrel (as per posts above). I tried a friend's Savage 110FP in .308 once and really liked it, and it's also made in .223, though it's a heavy barrel version. In short, the Savage platform with the proper specifications for your purposes, along with a quality scope would be good value for the money spent.
Regards,
Frank
I don't know why, that's why I wonder. I just know that there seems to be a lot of t3's for sale. Unhappy owners maybe? Too much "plastic"??
I own a 223 Rem 700 VTR in the Desert Recon. It's a little bit of a step up from the SPS, which is another Rem I own.
The VTR is a good gun. Mine has the 1:9 twist and is a very good shooter. I love how short and maneuvrable the gun is.
One thing I didn't like was the LOUD muzzle brake. I had this removed and it still shoots great. It's a very good coyote hunting rifle.
The VTR is a good gun. Mine has the 1:9 twist and is a very good shooter. I love how short and maneuvrable the gun is.
One thing I didn't like was the LOUD muzzle brake. I had this removed and it still shoots great. It's a very good coyote hunting rifle.
- Location
- Halifax, NS
Yup that describes me too.
Just picked up my Savae 12 VLP DBM today. It's .223 with a 7" twist. Very happy with the wood, looks and feels amazing. Scopes a Sightron 8-32x56mm. Total package costs anywhere from $2000-$2500 after taxes and shipping. Ellwood Epps and Mystic Precision are the only two dealers you need.
I'd recommend the Rem. 700 first, then the Savage, then the CZ unless you want to shell out more money for a Cooper. You kinda gotta go to a store that has them all and just see which fits and feels the best. You all have to sort out whether you want a Varmint gun with a 1-12 or so twist or a long range target gun with 1-8 or so twist. Most of the long range bullets of 70 or more grains are not so good on varmints, whereas the 55-75gr. bullets are tops for varmints.
Gotta be new?
Look for a used Sako Vixen. L461, or A1. Smooth! Not so much for the heavy bullet/fast twist crowd, without a rebarrel, but for regular 45/50/55 grain ammo, great shooters.
A bud picked up a Stevens 200 last year. It ain't pretty, but it shoots!
Cheers
Trev
Look for a used Sako Vixen. L461, or A1. Smooth! Not so much for the heavy bullet/fast twist crowd, without a rebarrel, but for regular 45/50/55 grain ammo, great shooters.
A bud picked up a Stevens 200 last year. It ain't pretty, but it shoots!
Cheers
Trev
Hey guys, really appreciate the input so far. Question for you~how might a rifle like this be for varmints?
Savage Model 10 Precision Carbine
I suspect there must be reasons NOT to choose this (twist 1 in 9") as I haven't seen anyone suggest this...or even discuss this in a hunting role. A friend of mine uses 45-55 grain ammo. in his .223 (Savage heavy barrel, can't remember the model) Would accuracy/velocity be affected by a slightly shorter barrel? Report greater? Most shots I'd be taking would be 200 yards or less.
Savage Model 10 Precision Carbine
I suspect there must be reasons NOT to choose this (twist 1 in 9") as I haven't seen anyone suggest this...or even discuss this in a hunting role. A friend of mine uses 45-55 grain ammo. in his .223 (Savage heavy barrel, can't remember the model) Would accuracy/velocity be affected by a slightly shorter barrel? Report greater? Most shots I'd be taking would be 200 yards or less.
