.223 Bolt Action Rifle
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Re: .223 Bolt Action Rifle
After some more looking on the usual sites and taking everyones advise on board I think I am going to go for a HOWA. From what I can see they are a better quality than the Remington 700 and looking at the prices on 2nd hand ones a little bit cheaper as well.
I was originally looking for something a bit more "Tacticool" but after thinking about what it is that I need, I have found a lovely looking HOWA 1500 Varmint Thumbhole 20" for a very reasonable price. Chambered in .223 I think 20" will be ideal out to 300yds. Its a 1:9 twist which again should be ideal.
The reality is if I ever want to push 1000yds, I would look at a larger caliber. The whole point of me having a .223 was to keep costs down and as they are lower recoil, it makes an ideal 1st rifle.
Fingers crossed the one I enquired about its still available
I was originally looking for something a bit more "Tacticool" but after thinking about what it is that I need, I have found a lovely looking HOWA 1500 Varmint Thumbhole 20" for a very reasonable price. Chambered in .223 I think 20" will be ideal out to 300yds. Its a 1:9 twist which again should be ideal.
The reality is if I ever want to push 1000yds, I would look at a larger caliber. The whole point of me having a .223 was to keep costs down and as they are lower recoil, it makes an ideal 1st rifle.
Fingers crossed the one I enquired about its still available
Re: .223 Bolt Action Rifle
Before you make the enquiry, have you considered the CZ527 Varmint laminated version? I have just had my hands on a .223 version with a dark grey laminate stock and screwcut out of the box. Being a CZ it is going to shoot as well as looking pretty and it is a Mauser controlled feed type bolt. About the only downside is the magazine capacity at 5 rounds.
Re: .223 Bolt Action Rifle
Couldn't agree more. I picked up my .223 CZ Varmint well used for £400 a couple of years ago, really as a bit of a cross over occasional fox/casual club short range target rifle. I always take a bit of good natured stick when I use my Savage 6br for these club comps so thought I would try and level the playing field a bit. Although I do hand load for it I find it shoots military 62gn GGG just as well.Ovenpaa wrote:Before you make the enquiry, have you considered the CZ527 Varmint laminated version? I have just had my hands on a .223 version with a dark grey laminate stock and screwcut out of the box. Being a CZ it is going to shoot as well as looking pretty and it is a Mauser controlled feed type bolt. About the only downside is the magazine capacity at 5 rounds.
I've also has a Howa TH Varmint but in .243 - accuracy was only so-so and I passed it on after about a year.
Last outing at 600 yds before the lockdown produced these targets (GGG 62gn ammo):
Re: .223 Bolt Action Rifle
What is not to like about a CZ, in fact this has set me thinking about just how much factory .223Rem ammunition we have here right now, mostly handed in and gathering dust :)
- kennyc
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Re: .223 Bolt Action Rifle
they got the safety the wrong way aroundOvenpaa wrote:What is not to like about a CZ, in fact this has set me thinking about just how much factory .223Rem ammunition we have here right now, mostly handed in and gathering dust :)
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Re: .223 Bolt Action Rifle
I didn't rule the CZ out, however it always seems 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. The mag capacity on the CZ isn't to off putting for me as I won't be hunting. I could always get extra mags if reloading becomes a PITA.
The Howa I enquired about is a thumbhole laminate with a fluted and screwcut barrel. It was well priced so gives me an extra couple of quid to put towards a scope etc.
The Howa I enquired about is a thumbhole laminate with a fluted and screwcut barrel. It was well priced so gives me an extra couple of quid to put towards a scope etc.
- kennyc
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Re: .223 Bolt Action Rifle
actually round capacity is more of a competition thing than a hunting thing, the most rounds I've ever shot from a centrefire in one session hunting was 4 and thats for 3 Roe and has only happened twice, most times its 1 round and everything legs it, except the targetSteve Cole wrote:I didn't rule the CZ out, however it always seems 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. The mag capacity on the CZ isn't to off putting for me as I won't be hunting. I could always get extra mags if reloading becomes a PITA.
The Howa I enquired about is a thumbhole laminate with a fluted and screwcut barrel. It was well priced so gives me an extra couple of quid to put towards a scope etc.
- DaveB
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Re: .223 Bolt Action Rifle
I have rifles from Savage, Howa and Remington.
Remington 700 used to be top of the heap, but sadly their quality control has suffered a great deal of bad press lately. I still quite like my SPS Tactical, but I have had to make a few changes to get it to that point. I abandoned the original trigger for a TriggerTech (cannot recommend them highly enough) and replaced that Hogue over-moulded stock with a chassis system. Too much 'give' in the fore-end of the Hogue stock - let the stock contact the barrel when shooting off a bipod. Even filling with epoxy did not fully fix that issue.
Howa 1500 Mini barreled action is good-to-go right out of the box, and it comes with a number of optional stock choices. The Oryx chassis option would be my first choice for a longer-range target rifle. Some of the available stocks are OK, but you cannot beat a chassis for accuracy.
I still have an old Savage 110FP, circa 1994 (the first year they introduced 1-in-9 twist barrels in .223), and I would agree with all the comments about barrel twist I have read here - nothing slower than 1-in-9 and 1-in-8 may be even a better choice. You can never go wrong with a Savage.
Most recent purchase was Mossberg MVP Predator in 5.56mm, however with the lock-down I have not been able to spend enough time with it to really get to know it yet.
Remington 700 used to be top of the heap, but sadly their quality control has suffered a great deal of bad press lately. I still quite like my SPS Tactical, but I have had to make a few changes to get it to that point. I abandoned the original trigger for a TriggerTech (cannot recommend them highly enough) and replaced that Hogue over-moulded stock with a chassis system. Too much 'give' in the fore-end of the Hogue stock - let the stock contact the barrel when shooting off a bipod. Even filling with epoxy did not fully fix that issue.
Howa 1500 Mini barreled action is good-to-go right out of the box, and it comes with a number of optional stock choices. The Oryx chassis option would be my first choice for a longer-range target rifle. Some of the available stocks are OK, but you cannot beat a chassis for accuracy.
I still have an old Savage 110FP, circa 1994 (the first year they introduced 1-in-9 twist barrels in .223), and I would agree with all the comments about barrel twist I have read here - nothing slower than 1-in-9 and 1-in-8 may be even a better choice. You can never go wrong with a Savage.
Most recent purchase was Mossberg MVP Predator in 5.56mm, however with the lock-down I have not been able to spend enough time with it to really get to know it yet.
Re: .223 Bolt Action Rifle
Options -> Number the hits: Uncheck!1066 wrote:Last outing at 600 yds before the lockdown produced these targets (GGG 62gn ammo):
Re: .223 Bolt Action Rifle
Need to study the handbook. :)rox wrote:Options -> Number the hits: Uncheck!1066 wrote:Last outing at 600 yds before the lockdown produced these targets (GGG 62gn ammo):
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