Which .223 bolt gun?

[Cofaler]

I have a boat load of .223 and nothing but ARs to shoot it, so I've been thinking about getting a bolt gun for plinking, small game, and ringing steel. I have a Savage Model 11 in .204 and like it, I also have an extra aftermarket stock for that model so finding another short action Savage would be nice.

Looking for a rifle with 20-22" heavy barrel either threaded or with enough material to have it threaded for a can. Detachable mag would be nice but not necessary, internal mag would be ok too.

I've been looking at Savage Model 12, Ruger American and Mossberg MVP, but not really stuck on any of those except the Savage because I already have one and an extra stock.

Thoughts?

 

[hittman]

I went this route. Uses AR mags. Not bolt, I know.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1133352770

https://sportingshooter.com.au/history/history-remington-7615-223-pump-action-rifle/

 

[hittman]

My son has a Ruger American Gen 2 ….. says it’s an excellent shooter.

 

[kentucky yeti]

I’ve had a Mossberg MVP for several years. 223/5.56. Uses AR mags, threaded barrel. Smooth action. Lightweight. It’s been my varmint rifle, and I’d have a hard time replacing it.

 

[M118LR]

A Rem 700 40X or MILSPEC with a 3-15 or 5-25 S&B or Steiner Mil Day scope should do during daylight hours. In the dark I do prefer an AR with an NVS. YMMV.

 

[jimbo1096]

I second the Ruger, American II, the savage is a nice gun and has a really good trigger. I guess it’s just which one is most comfortable to you

 

[Hawk-in-Wi]

Bergara B-14 Ridge , Black Graphite 18 "

maybe like this one , Don't mine just showing what they are

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1133656520​

or maybe a Tikka

again nothing of mine just showing whats out there

https://www.gunbroker.com/bolt-acti...ch-manufacturername=tikka&ch-caliber=.223 Rem.

 

[eveled]

My Dad left me this model 77? It lives in the back of my safe. It is very heavy, and sort of boring at the range.

 

[krw]

Tikka. Great value for the dollar!!

 

[t-reg]

My Gen2 American Ranch .223 is a trooper and quickly became my fave desert and woods stomping gun.

Shoots sub MOA with modedstly priced hunting ammo.

 

[Mobuck]

Won't fit your extra stock but my suggestion is : HOWA "Mini" bolt action. Comes with medium heavy threaded barrel and pretty decent trigger.

 

[DRT]

My two bolt guns in 223/5.56 are rugers. M77 zytel stock 223 & a ruger American gen 1 ranch 5.56 in a magpul stock. Both great shooters! The new gen ii ruger American is packed with better upgrades over the gen 1 at a decent price

 

[xtratoy]

Several years ago I picked up a Stevens 200 .223 bolt action rifle. Sub .5" groups @ 100 yards. And since it is basically a Savage I can change the barrel and bolt head to shoot several different cartridges if I wanted to.

 

[thinckley]

I have an M77 MkII that I had reamed out to .223 Wylde.

My Ruger American's are Rimfire, but they are decent guns.

 

[Busterswoodshop]

I have one of the Ruger Americans that takes the AR magazines.
I am very happy with how it shoots .
Since you already have AR's , you don't have to look around for magazines.

 

[contender]

I was talking to the Ruger executives at SHOT one year,, and Mike Fifer (then CEO) & I were discussing the Ruger American. One other executive was there,, and BOTH took me over to the American,, and said that it had the absolute lowest return rate for Ruger, (we were discussing product return rates,) and was excellent in accuracy & dependability. Mike had taken some game with one in Africa & said it performed flawlessly.

 

[lowhighlander]

Tikka. Great value for the dollar!!

T3X just about impossible to beat for the $$. Their tolerances are good enough to take pre-fit barrels. And loads of aftermarket support. $8 spring and the trigger is as good as any.

 

[thinckley]

I was talking to the Ruger executives at SHOT one year,, and Mike Fifer (then CEO) & I were discussing the Ruger American. One other executive was there,, and BOTH took me over to the American,, and said that it had the absolute lowest return rate for Ruger, (we were discussing product return rates,) and was excellent in accuracy & dependability. Mike had taken some game with one in Africa & said it performed flawlessly.

I wonder if part of that is expectations. People are much more likely to return a $1k gun that is not perfect than a $500 gun. Not saying that are not good guns, I only have the rimfires, and I like all three of them, any issues they might have are just dealt with.

 

[Cofaler]

Thanks for all the info. I'm a left-handed shooter as I believe Hittman is, and I've never heard of the Remington 7615. I've tried left handed bolt guns and could never get used to them, having shot right handed bolt guns all my life. I did look at what was available in lever guns, all I came up with were Henrys. You guys blew my search field wide open...

 

[rcs9250]

Two summers ago I ordered a Savage Model 12 LRPV stainless fluted barrel in .223. It’s a right bolt, left port single shot with their awesome fully adjustable AccuTrigger. I only have access to a 300 yard range and it is just awesome. Very heavy rifle, muzzle is almost 1” diameter. Obviously a bench gun. It came in a HS Precision fiberglass stock. Just a fun gun. And between the .223 caliber recoil and rifle weight, recoil is negligible with Hornady varmint factory ammo.
I also had a Tikka T3x in .223 that would shoot the tinniest cloverleaf groups with Hornady varmint factory ammo. I don’t reload any more so it’s awesome to find a factory load that is super accurate.

 

[usmc69]

I use a Savage Model 11 with a Nikon 3-9X scope. Bought the rifle from a shooter I know, paid $350.00 for it. The first target is the one that cnvinced me to buy it. The second target is one where I was working up reloads for it. The third target is the same load, just more shots. Need to take it to the range and exercise it a bit.

 

[454Redhawk]

I have a few Howa mini actions in other calibers and intend to add a 223 when I can squeeze it into my budget. They're light, easy handling, the action is smooth and the triggers are adjustable. You can get them with a light contour or heavy contour which is about the size of a heavy magnum contour. They can by had with or without threaded muzzles. Accuracy with my 6.5 Grendel has been hovering around 1" but I haven't done much reloading with it yet

 

[WAYNO]

Ask 20 people and you'll likely get that many suggestions.

The Ruger American Ranch could be a good .223/5.56 host. The barrel is slightly shorter than you suggested, but with a can and/or reduced loads, that 16" barrel is the cats meow.
My experience with multiple American rifles in multiple calibers is they are capable of great accuracy, and the price is quite reasonable, compared to other similar platforms.

 

[RonEgg]

I went looking for a .223 and thought it would be a 700 or a hard to find Ruger 77. Bought a CZ 527 mag fed, single set trigger and shoots 223 and 556. Had trouble with Vortex scope which they replaced, no cost. Beautiful wood, smooth action and shoots better than I can. Has an adaptor on barrel as I rarely shoot anything without a “can.”

 

[jimbo1096]

@usmc69
Kind of an old dime to be carrying around. Hope you didn’t give it away for change when buying your favorite beverage

 

[reuben_j_cogburn]

I have a CZ 527.... in .223.... mini mauser action.... lots of variants as well..... in this age of synthetic it a truly beautiful rifle... light.. handy.... accurate and just a work of art....
I just looked.. this awesome rifle has been discontinued... better grab one while you can!!

 

[mrs50sls56]

Several years ago I picked up a Stevens 200 .223 bolt action rifle. Sub .5" groups @ 100 yards. And since it is basically a Savage I can change the barrel and bolt head to shoot several different cartridges if I wanted to.

Me too! Most accurate rifle I’ve ever owned. Also sub .5 “ consistently.

 

[usmc69]

@usmc69
Kind of an old dime to be carrying around. Hope you didn’t give it away for change when buying your favorite beverage

That is a Barber Dime from 1912, it was my Grandmothers, as that was the year she was born. I use it to help folks judge group sizes. I have some Buffalo Nickels for that purpose also.

 

[eveled]

I have a boat load of .223 and nothing but ARs to shoot it,

Thoughts?

I can think of worse problems to have.

 

[Major E.A. Sterner]

I had a Savage 110 in .223 that would shoot .75 inch groups with military surplus 55 grain Ball ammo, since you already have a spare stock, I would look at the various models from them.