Best .223 for a first owner

[merba10]

Hi There,

I've done a decent amount of shooting in the past. both on range and farm. (223, 222, 270, 308, shotties, .22lr, .22 magnum etc)

My license has just been confirmed, and I have a PTA getting processed now... for a .223

What are people's suggestions for a solid first-time owner in a .223? I'm thinking a Lithgow. but not really sure.

also, would appreciate suggestions of scopes to suit a bit of hunting and targets...

budget would be like $3k for both scope and rifle.

Thanks all, suggestions don't have to be specific, just what to look out for would be appreciated.... i have zero clue what to look for in scopes.

[JohnV]

I would suggest a Howa , Tikka or Sako as a better gun than a Lithgow in my opinion . Get the model type that suits you and your type of shooting .
If you buy a Howa you can spend a bit extra money on a better quality scope .

[Oldbloke]

I would suggest a Howa , Tikka or Sako as a better gun than a Lithgow in my opinion . Get the model type that suits you and your type of shooting .
If you buy a Howa you can spend a bit extra money on a better quality scope .

+1 Howa 1500
A leopold 3-9×40 general purpose or perhaps 4-12 if it's for hunting in open areas.

Or most owners are happy with vortex scopes.

[flashman]

Tikka or Howa both good....

[Lazarus]

G'day Merba

Howa 1500, hands down best bang for your buck.

[deye243]

Having just brought I think my 7th howa a 223 Heavy Barrel I am still impressed so I'm definitely on the howa bandwagon.
7 or so months ago I bought a Tikka Varmint sold it within 2 1/2 months I won't be buying another one .

[bigpete]

Find a second hand cz 557

[yoshie]

I'd get a Howa, actually I have a Weatherby Vanguard (Howa rebranded) and also a Howa. I've been super with both

[bigrich]

i've never had a bad tikka t3 yet . 1-12 twist for varmit/culling 55gn ammo and a loopy scope to top it off . my own t3 shoots .3's with 55 vmax handloads

[Diamond Jim]

I own a CZ, .223 Rem. I love it and am not about to change it. My brother owns a Howa .223 Rem. It cost 1/3 the cost of CZ and he outshoots me every time. If I was buying today I'd save about $1000 and buy a Howa. I can't comment on Sako, Tikka, Browning etc because I've never used them.

[SCJ429]

I think the Howa is the best cheap rifle and have seen several in 223 that shoot very well. I don't have one but I have three Tikka T3. All shot in the low 0.2 inch groups and I couldn't ask for more. I have not owned a T3X and if you are worried about the new model, get the best T3 secondhand that you can find.

[bigrich]

I think the Howa is the best cheap rifle and have seen several in 223 that shoot very well. I don't have one but I have three Tikka T3. All shot in the low 0.2 inch groups and I couldn't ask for more. I have not owned a T3X and if you are worried about the new model, get the best T3 secondhand that you can find.

nuthin wrong with the t3x mind you, the first thing i do is get a bell &carlson stock , fine tune the inletting , and stick a loopy on top . accuracy is more than acceptable for a hunting rifle . i like the vangaurd over the howa , better standard of finish

[bigrich]

Finished load development for my 6.5x55 t3x today. I could chase more accuracy. But this will do. Rifles had 70 rounds through it since new

[northdude]

Finished load development for my 6.5x55 t3x today. I could chase more accuracy. But this will do. Rifles had 70 rounds through it since new

mine shoots the same as that. Dunno what these other guys are expecting from a hunting rifle...

[likeimjohnwayne]

Sorry to hijack, but is a varmint the better choice if it will be shooting targets off a bench or prone?

[Lazarus]

Varmints are a lot heavier so, yes, better off a rest or prone.

I prefer them, many don't like the added weight, but the accuracy and heat dissipation benefits outweigh the bulk in my opinion.

[bigrich]

Finished load development for my 6.5x55 t3x today. I could chase more accuracy. But this will do. Rifles had 70 rounds through it since new

mine shoots the same as that. Dunno what these other guys are expecting from a hunting rifle...

my 223 and my 7-08 T3X's are about the same as well. i'm debating picking up a early sako 222 for my safe as well . it won't do noticably better in the feild, but the smaller case capacity would make it usefull for reduced loads to 22mag velocity, or thereabouts . besides, the triple deuce is a legend.

i still have a 100 yard target with one ragged hole from my old swan barreled model 70 . with 2205 that rifle would do the same with 40vmax on the old worn barrel . it's not as cost effective as 223 , but real easy to get outstanding accuracy

[bigrich]

Sorry to hijack, but is a varmint the better choice if it will be shooting targets off a bench or prone?

so long as you don't ever expect to be mobile their fine

[bladeracer]

Sorry to hijack, but is a varmint the better choice if it will be shooting targets off a bench or prone?

Whatever you're doing, if you're shooting several shots fairly rapidly, as in busting bunnies at long range or shooting groups on paper, the more steel you have to soak heat out of the chamber the better your results will be. But you won't enjoy lugging it about paddocks or bush for many hours if it's heavy.

[SCJ429]

I think the Howa is the best cheap rifle and have seen several in 223 that shoot very well. I don't have one but I have three Tikka T3. All shot in the low 0.2 inch groups and I couldn't ask for more. I have not owned a T3X and if you are worried about the new model, get the best T3 secondhand that you can find.

nuthin wrong with the t3x mind you, the first thing i do is get a bell &carlson stock , fine tune the inletting , and stick a loopy on top . accuracy is more than acceptable for a hunting rifle . i like the vangaurd over the howa , better standard of finish

Some people here seem to not have had a good experience with their Tikka, this is not my experience at all. Since all mine are T3, I wonder if the X is not everything that mine have been. There is no way I would swap my Tikka for a Howa but some here have had great experiences.

[Faedy]

Get a tikka t3x and a mepota 4-20 x50 scope.
All up with mounts will be close to your budget, and you will have a great hunting rig

[SCJ429]

Sorry to hijack, but is a varmint the better choice if it will be shooting targets off a bench or prone?

so long as you don't ever expect to be mobile their fine

By the time the guys who bought a Lite put a bipod, sling and ten round magazine on the rifle it weighs around the same as a varmint.

[bladeracer]

Sorry to hijack, but is a varmint the better choice if it will be shooting targets off a bench or prone?

so long as you don't ever expect to be mobile their fine

By the time the guys who bought a Lite put a bipod, sling and ten round magazine on the rifle it weighs around the same as a varmint.

But then when you add the bipod, sling and mag to the varmint it's heavier again...

[bigrich]

Get a tikka t3x and a mepota 4-20 x50 scope.
All up with mounts will be close to your budget, and you will have a great hunting rig

+1

[Oldbloke]

Sorry to hijack, but is a varmint the better choice if it will be shooting targets off a bench or prone?

so long as you don't ever expect to be mobile their fine

By the time the guys who bought a Lite put a bipod, sling and ten round magazine on the rifle it weighs around the same as a varmint.

But then when you add the bipod, sling and mag to the varmint it's heavier again...

Not me,

No bipod
Lightest sling I can get
Alloy mounts
Scope

I'm with bigpete, light as possible. You carry it a lot.

[Diamond Jim]

Plus 1 on avoiding a "Varmint" model if you are walking. My brother's Howa Varmint model is heavy - much heavier than my CZ Varmint but we do most of our shooting from vehicles so weight isn't a factor.

[bladeracer]

Not me,

No bipod
Lightest sling I can get
Alloy mounts
Scope

I'm with bigpete, light as possible. You carry it a lot.

I agree with you, you carry it for several hours, or days, and then spend maybe one minute actually sighting a target and firing a shot or two, then you have to carry it home again. As long as you don't compromise your ability to hit your target with it when required lighter is better by far. But if you walk several hours into your favourite rabbit overlook, get two shots off, then bullets start missing all over the place as the barrel gets hot, perhaps it would have been worth carrying an extra kilo of barrel to make the journey worthwhile. It's all about compromises in the right places.

[Die Judicii]

I think the majority has been well and truly established.
And,,,,, just to add my 2c worth (for 3 firearms make it 3c worth)

+ All Howas
+ All Varmint Barrels
+ All the same Brand Scopes
+ All very successful for my needs

100_6286.JPG (709.73 KiB) Viewed 2276 times

[Oldbloke]

I think the majority has been well and truly established.
And,,,,, just to add my 2c worth (for 3 firearms make it 3c worth)

+ All Howas
+ All Varmint Barrels
+ All the same Brand Scopes
+ All very successful

100_6286.JPG

All Varmint Barrels = all heavy
OK for some, but not if your walking a few kms.
Horses for courses.

[Lazarus]

I think the majority has been well and truly established.
And,,,,, just to add my 2c worth (for 3 firearms make it 3c worth)

+ All Howas
+ All Varmint Barrels
+ All the same Brand Scopes
+ All very successful

100_6286.JPG

All Varmint Barrels = all heavy
OK for some, but not if your walking a few kms.
Horses for courses.

As I think most of us who prefer varmints have said OB, we either shoot from vehicles or prone from a chosen spot so weight for us is not a detraction from the benefits.
It is, as you say, a choice decided on chosen mode.