What to buy?

[blackthorn]

Thinking of buying a 223 bolt rifle. Purpose will be to shoot cast as well as jacketed. Sort of thinking of this rifle as an "instead of" replacement for .22LR plinking. Would also likely use it to shoot Grouse (head shots) , which is what I use my .22LR for now. I was looking at a Weatherby Vanguard and a Remington 700, also a Rugger. At this point I am open to suggestions. Also, does anyone have an opinion on a Scorpion variable power scope? Thanks in advance for any/all opinions.

[MaryB]

Savage Axis kit with scope. Around $300 and very accurate. This was 100 yards, I forgot my spotting scope so 2 shots then moved over an inch for 2 more so I could see the hit. Came with a Bushnell Banner 3-9x40 scope. 50 grain v-max over CFE-223 hand loads.

http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd248/maryalanab/2014-01-06_23-08-01_101_zps8cd7af2b.jpg

[runfiverun]

look for a normal twist rate rifle instead of the faster twist 1-8 or 1-9 ones.
it makes accuracy with cast easier with less work [yeah I said it]
be prepared to do some boolit weighing and ruthless culling of flawed boolits.

to match 22 lr speeds the rcbs-055s cast with a soft alloy and pushed along with about 3-4 grs of bout anything up to unique speed is right there, except for the heavier weight boolit.

it will limit your jacketed bullet choices to 45-55grs but that isn't really much of a handi-cap with a 250 yd rifle anyway.

[SSGOldfart]

I'd go with the Remington 700, yep a little heavier than your 22LR they are great in 223, but you night want to look at the 22-250 as well. Same bullets/Boolits

[JimmyTheDentist]

can't really go too far wrong with the 700 but there are plenty of other nifty alternatives.

i'm sentimentally attached to the Browning A-Bolt Medallion in 223REM . . . light. accurate. gorgeous. under $800.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=467021883

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/itemdetails-historic.asp?item=035035208&cid=035&tid=035

was my first "real" gun and i had to let it go a few years ago . . . i've been looking for another almost ever since. getting tougher to find as they've been out of production for a little while now.

the Sako 85 Varmint is quite a neat way to go too . . . but it'll set you back nearly $2k:

http://www.sako.fi/rifles/sako-85/85-varmint

i'd think that anything you pick out in this range won't compare very well to a .22LR plinker.

fwiw

Jimmy

[robg]

tikka t3 shoot well adjustable trigger set mine down to 2.5 lbs

[geargnasher]

I know you said "bolt action", but a Remington 7615 seems neat to me. Or a high-quality single shot like a Ruger. Might also consider the H&R if you can still get one, though they aren't known for the best chambers.

Gear

[BruceB]

My light .223 is a Zastava-made "Whitworth" mini-Mauser.

With JACKETED bullets, it has delivered 100-yard groups down to the one-inch area, for TEN rounds. This took considerable experimenting, but it finally got there.

It's a touchy rifle on the benchrest, due to very light weight and a round-bottom on the fore-end..... but what a svelte outfit to carry! Trigger is excellent right out of the box.

Medical problems have prevented cast-bullet work so far, but I see no reason why it shouldn't do well with our favored boolits. The rifle's physical size is no larger than many .22 Long Rifle sporters. With good cast loads it would be an fine replacement for .22LR uses.

[Certaindeaf]

Amen. Get a "dedicated" action length and rifling rate for your particular wishes. In the old days, I had a Savage bolt .223 magazine fed that was the same length/bolt action as a .375 H&H long action. It worked pretty good but come on.

[Certaindeaf]

I've a stainless Model 7 with around 300 rounds through it that I won't get rid of for just carrying around and plinking the odd critter.

[Kent Fowler]

I have the CZ 527 American. Great little rifle with a 1 in 9 twist barrel. Handles the heavier bullets.

[Certaindeaf]

I have the CZ 527 American. Great little rifle with a 1 in 9 twist barrel. Handles the heavier bullets.

I sure wouldn't mind a walnut stocked and blued one a those.. but alas, I live in the wetlunds.

[Plate plinker]

I like my ruger. New Remington's not so much.

[crowbuster]

+1 on the ruger

[blackthorn]

Thanks to all who have replied so far. Any body know the twist rater in a Weatherby Vanguard? Also any comments on the Scorpion scopes?

[crawfobj]

Ruger american!