Target .223

Navy Gunner

Navy Gunner

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Eastern Passage NS
Hi, I am in the process of deciding on a stock 700P or a Savage in .223 full stock. I'm probally going to use a picatinny rail for the scope and keep the barrel. I would like to get the rifle upgraded with some aftermarket parts and accuracy work etc. I would like to get some advice on what sort of upgrades that I should get. I'm also looking for a good gunsmith that can do these mods for me, hopefully in the Atlantic provinces.
Any advice would be welcome.

Navy Gunner
 
You can trick it up with all the aftermarket gadgets you want, but the accuracy is in the barrel.
First things to do would be bedding and trigger then worry about the barrel once you burn the first one out.
 
Navy Gunner,

Buy the Remington before the Savage. It'll be better money spent in the long run, including resale value in the future. The HS Precision stock is far superior to anything Savage has on its .223 offerings.

I'd see how the rifle shot first before spending the money to accurize the action and re-chamber the barrel. Could be throwing money out the window before giving the rifle a chance. You may get away with just a simple trigger job and possibly bedding.

Regarding gunsmithing in Nova Scotia. You're in great luck. There's a fantastic gunsmith who lives in Truro by the name of Sam Adams. He does excellent work. I've had a number of rifles up to him including a .243 Win. build I have on the go now. His prices are more than fair and you won't have to wait long to have the work done.

In case you need references, ask Andy Webber (Armament Technology), Navy Shooter, or Peter Dobson regarding the quality of his work. If it's good enough for these guys, it'll be good enough for you.
 
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I personally like my Savage BTVSS in 223. Very accurate and comfortable to shoot. Load: 25.8 gr Varget, 69 gr Sierra Matchking, CCI SR benchrest primers.
BTVSS223.jpg
 
For 2008, Savage will be offering D mags in several rifles in 223. They are also offering various LE models with HS or McM or Choate stocks. Visit their website for all the options. Savage is less money to buy then the Rem. Less money to update and modify in the future.

Both have lots of aftermarket support. Everything can be done at home. You don't need to true and machine a Savage action to get them shooting match quality groups.

The Savage 223's will not need a new trigger group if you want to go to 1.5lbs and adj can be made at home. A barrel swap is a 10 min job. Most Savage barrels are shooting 1/2 min with handloads. Will stabilize the 75gr Amax for some 1000m fun.

If you can find the bolt heads, that savage action can be used for ANY common head cartridge (223, PPC, 308, magnum). Just swap in the right bolt head and barrel, mag box or single feed. Changing takes about 30mins.

As for resale, just have a look at our EE and see how long Savage's, that are properly priced, stay on there. I bet a Stevens in 223 would sell in under 1 hour.

I started building rifles using Rem actions. I only own Savage/Stevens now.

Jerry
 
I started building rifles using Rem actions. I only own Savage/Stevens now.

Jerry
Click to expand...

Really? Who would have thought...;)

Has the "Great Canadian Savage Famine" straightend itself out yet?

For 2008, Savage will be offering D mags in several rifles in 223. They are also offering various LE models with HS or McM or Choate stocks.
Click to expand...

Where is it listed that .223 will now be offered in HS or McMillan sotcks? Their 2008 online catalogue certainly doesn't reflect that assertion.

The Choate is a poor 3rd. choice - unescessarily big and heavy for such a small cartridge. Sometimes "less" is "more".
 
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Savage is of course the way to go...:D I just bought a 12FVSS in .223 (off the exchange, of course) and I have high hopes to reach a mile with it!

AS Jerry say's the Savages are easy to turn into switch barrel rifles and the accuracy is second to none!

Troutseeker
 
The Savage/Remington argument will go on forever, for me it is a personal preference for Remington, I own several, have modified many and have lots of parts to swap.

But I agree, you must shoot the rifle first, then decide if/what you want to do with it.

I have a Rem700P in .223, with my hand loads it shoots .25 inch groups at 100 yards, as far as I am concerned there is little that needs to be done to this rifle, so I have not touched it since it came out of the box.
 
Bed it, accurize it, match barrel it, put on quality glass. I don't care if you use Carcano or Weatherby, the shortcomings of mass produced rifle are basically the same and so are the fixes.
 
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