Getting ready to buy a heavy barrel varmint rifle in 223. Recommendations?

[charlie b]

I agree. As a kid I always thought of Savage's as the cheap, ugly guns and would not waste my time on them.

Now it takes a lot to make me buy another brand of rifle. Next one for me will be a 10 HB in .308

[catboat]

Howa 1500, or the “ off label” brands it sold as :

S&W 1500
Mossberg 1500
Weatherby Vanguard

A Savage 11x series could be good.

Get at least a 1-12” twist, to handle 55 grain bullets, or a 1-9” twist if you are looking for less wind drift, which handles 69 grain bullets.

[charlie b]

Yes on the twist rate. I'd not go any more than 1:9 if you are going to shoot longer ranges. My Savage has a 1:9 and handles 69gn bullets well. At 600m there is still significant wind drift, but, much less than the 50 or 55gn bullets.

If you ever consider shooting heavier bullets then try and find a 1:7 twist barrel.

[N21911S]

To me, it would be down to The Ruger American Predator (the model that uses AR magazines) or one of the many Howa 1500 models. Having a 9" twist would be important. Not having the Ruger plastic rotary magazine is also important. Timney make triggers for both, so that's covered if necessary. My latest Howa (7mm-08) is shooting 3 shot less than 1" groups and I'm still in the break in process. Maybe you buy both?