EV85 wrote:Hi All,
Racking my brain on options for my next long rifle in 223 Remington with set requirements, and hoping someone can recommend options that I may not of considered with the below requirements.
The rifle will be used Target 50% Hunting 50% approx.
Bolt action
Smooth action
1/8 twist or similar
10 shot magazine (standard or factory option)
timber/laminate stock preferred
Stainless Barrel/action preferred, not imperative.
Ghost sights or open sights (if I can get it, not imperative)
Rifles I have considered:
Ruger 77 Scout
Steyer pro hunter
Howa mini action
Remington 700
Appreciate everyone's help in advance.
Evan
Gun-nut wrote:For a nice light weight gun, take a look into the cz 527, ticks a lot of your criteria. Not sure how good it would be as a dedicated target rifle, but if the accuracy is good as all cz's are, then it should do fine. Though I expect it would perform superbly as a hunting rifle.
Mitch wrote:Tikka
Pythonkeeper wrote:Pro hunter is a superb rifle, very accurate, doesn't tick some of your boxes but I don't think you'd be disappointed.......I reckon the Lithgow LA102 would be very nice also and probably ticks all your boxes except for open sights, Tikka T3x, Sako 85...
Apollo wrote:First up. What sort of Target Shooting..?? If it's for 50% of the intended use then that is important, as is how many rounds are required to be fired in what sort of time limit.
Why 10 rounds.
Last I knew a CZ527 was only 1:12 Twist unless it was the Varmint Laminate which is 1:9 Twist. Well, mine is. Very accurate BUT... it's a Mini Mauser Action and it is a fair way from being what I would call a Smooth Action...it's rather clunky and tight. It is not actually a True Varmint Barrel but more like in between a true varmint weight and a hunter weight. Not bad to carry around for a skinny old bloke like me.
A Tikka T3 is smooth but for a .223R it's a long action compared to some others.
Isn't a Ruger Scout a short barrel rifle, don't know. Never owned one nor do I want to.
Steyer, never owned one and don't know other than not all reports are good.
Remington 700, quality control issues. I do own a Remington 700 but it is very, very customised (trued Action) built as a purpose Target Rifle with an expensive Benchrest Trigger. It's accurate with a custom barrel but ends up over three times the price of a factory rifle.
My pick of a Varmint / Target Rifle that I use for competition target shooting and varminting is a Sako 85 Stainless Laminate Varmint that I wanted specifically for it's extra weight in .243W. Lightened trigger. Fully bedded and it's a "Switch Barrel" with two Tikka T3 Barrels I have, one being a rather used barrel that goes varminting. The .223R version in 1:8 Twist could be a good option but a little expensive. Still not a 10 shot mag but they are easily top fed.
When you talk 50% Target 50% Hunting it really complicates things and makes it very hard to do either job properly for a reasonable price.
I did some Load Development for a Forum Member who had a customised Howa 1500 .223R 1:8 Twist and for the money it was very impressive. Very accurate with lighter bullets but a little less impressive with heavier weight target grade bullets. It seems like a good place to start until you go with dedicated rifles for each use. It needed a better scope for target use.
COLLECTOR 1 wrote:Hi all.....
Recently brought a mini Howa in 223. Heavy barrel stainless, 1 in 9. 10 shot mag. Needed something short for the cabin of the ute, and a bit of social target shooting And it shoots like a bloody laser beam out of the box.....get one.....trust me.!!!!!!
Collector 1
COLLECTOR 1 wrote:Haven't had an issue witth the mag release yet, but looking at it I could imagine some people accidentally hitting it and a full mag falling out. Easy and best way to alleviate the problem would be to shorten it a tad, it is definitely to long.
But on the flip side...the riffle in this configuration is a.....cheap laser beam (lol) ....Torqued the action screws,.... sighted it in...puts 5 into a 10 cent piece at 100!!!!!!!....and that was with grotty hand loads for one of my other rifles, just to see how the Howa went. Wait till the load development happens, I'm betting one hole stuff.....never in all my days have I seen an outta the box cheaper ranged rifle shoot so well...cannot recommend them highly enough for those wanting a great little rig.
Collector 1