.223 Varmint gun?

[Gobblergetter2.1]

Anyone know of any .223 long range bolt action guns for $450 or under? Not looking to buy right now, just overlooking my options.

[raktrakr]

I think Savage has a good price on their rifles,and they're not too shabby in the accuracy dept.

[shogan]

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y239/kyhogan/223.jpg

The Stainless winchester isn't a bad deal for the price.

[lab]

Are you dead set on a bolt action? I picked up a New England in .223 caliber a few years ago and it is indeed a tack driver. My gun has a full bull barrel instead of the normal semi-bull. It is a little on the heavy side, but very easy to get around. If you are not against a single shot, give them a look.

[Buk Bust'r]

Take a look at the Savage Model 10's, they offer it in the heavy barrel w/a 1-9" twist. These rifles shoot exceptionally well.....I shot the older model (w/o Accu-trigger) and a close friend of mine is shooting the newer Accu-trigger Model 10. These rifles will shoot well under 1/2" groups with good ammo and are close to your price range. In short....excellent rifle-well worth the money.

[KYVarminthunter]

Buds Gun shop has the Savage 12fv .223 for $425.26.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/78357

[killer]

I have a Savage model 11 in a 270wsm and I love it. I'm going to get a .223 also, for predators and varmits. I'm going to look at the stevens 200. Its same gun as savage 110 but no accutrigger. Here is the link. http://www.savagearms.com/st_200short.htm if I don't get that one the NEF lab was talking about is my second option.

[Gobblergetter2.1]

I like the stevens. How bad is the recoil on a .308?? Ive never shot one. Would a .308 be a better long-range gun than a .223? Any help at all on this is much appreciated!

[shogan]

You really need to go here and start reading.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/index2.guns.htm

Ok recoil of .223

Cartridge (Wb@MV) Rifle Weight Recoil energy Recoil velocity
.223 WSSM (55 at 3850) 7.5 6.4 7.4


.308 Win. (150 at 2800) 7.5 15.8 11.7

Cartridge (Wb@MV) Bullet BC 100 yds. 200 yds. MRT@yds. MPBR (yds.)
223 Rem. (55 SP at 3240) .235 +1.4 +/- 0" 1.5"@120 230
308 Win. (150 BT at 2800) .435 + 2.7" +1.7" 3"@135 275

Different guns for different purpose your .223 is really more of varmint rifle

where the .308 is really more of a larger game rifle (IMO) the .308 will kick less than your 30-06 and .270 but more than your .243 and 30-30

Maybe the .243 is the inbetween cartrige your looking for (though I love the .308)

[Eagle85]

What are you planning to use it for? The .223 is great for varmits, but if you are wanting to hunt larger game, opt for a larger caliber. If you are looking for long range, you may want to look at .270 or 7mm. Mid-range, and you're wide open on calibers.

It really depends on what you want to use it for and the distances you plan on shooting it. Give us a better idea and we can offer better opinions. Shogun gave a great link with a lot of good info and articles. Another good source of info is to look at the balistic comparison data from ammo manufacturers.

[Auk1124]

Don't t overlook the Howa/Weatherby Vanguard. Can be bought new for 350 or so if you scrounge around, has an action slick as butter, trigger sucks but Timney makes a great drop-in replacement, capable of very accurate groups with the right loads, takes Remington 700 scope bases.

Only drawback in my eyes is the 1/12 twist limits it to 40-52 grain bullets but if you are varminting that shouldn't be a problem.

[Gobblergetter2.1]

I want something i can shoot long range. I wont be hunting large game with it. I would mainly use it for targets and varmints. I have a rem. 700 ADL in .270, but i want a gun with low recoil. I hear the 7mm has some pretty harsh recoil. Ill be shooting 100-300 yards starting off, but i would like to be able to shoot out to at least 500 yards. I get a thrill out of watching guys on t.v shooting game at over 500 yards. I saw a guy on t.v that shot a yote at 1043 yards. :eek: I would love to practice and be able to shoot long distances.

[shogan]

I would say the .243 I believe most all of these would meet your requirements but as you move up the food chain you also move up the recoil so I would stick with the .243. I think most .223 loads would lack the needed punch at these super long range because it's not carrying the needed energy.

243 Win. (80 Sp at 3350) .255 +1.3" +0.2" 1.5"@125 237
.243 Win. (100 Sp at 2960) .351 +2.6" +1.9" 3"@140 283
6mm Rem. (100 Sp at 3100) .351 +2.5" +2.2" 3"@150 296
.243 WSSM (100 Sp at 3100) .351 +2.5" +2.2" 3"@150 296
6x62mm Freres (100 Sp at 3300) .351 +2.4" +2.5" 3"@150 312
.240 Wby. Mag. (100 Sp at 3400) .351 +2.4" +2.6" 3"@160 322
.257 Roberts (120 Sp at 2780) .391 +2.7" +1.6" 3"@125 271
.25 WSSM (120 Sp at 2990) .391 +2.5" +2.0" 3"@145 291
.25-06 Rem. (120 Sp at 2990) .391 +2.5" +2.0" 3"@145 291
.257 Wby. Mag. (120 Sp at 3305) .391 +2.4" +2.5" 3"@155 317

The middle number is lbs of energy i.e. .223 =2.6 lbs thats low man but a .243is only 7.2-8.2 for a reference point a 30-30 is 10
.223 Rem. (45 at 3500) 8.5 2.6 4.5
.223 Rem. (55 at 3200) 8.0 3.2 5.1
.22-250 Rem. (55 at 3600) 8.5 4.7 6.0
.220 Swift (55 at 3800) 8.5 5.3 6.4
.223 WSSM (55 at 3850) 7.5 6.4 7.4
.243 Win. (75 at 3400) 8.5 7.2 7.4
.243 Win. (100 at 2960) 7.5 8.8 8.7
6mm Rem. (100 at 3100) 8.0 10.0 9.0
.243 WSSM (100 at 3100) 7.5 10.1 9.3
.240 Wby. Mag. (100 at 3406) 8.0 17.9 n/a
.257 Roberts (117 at 2650) 8.0 9.0 n/a
.25 WSSM (120 at 2990) 7.25 13.8 11.1
.25-06 Rem. (120 at 3000) 8.0 12.5 10.0
.257 Wby. Mag. (120 at 3300) 9.25 15.1 10.3
6.5x55 Swede (140 at 2650) 9.0 10.6 8.7
.260 Rem. (140 at 2750) 7.5 13.6 10.8
6.5mm Rem. Mag. (120 at 3100) 8.0 13.1 10.3
6.5x68 S (140 at 2990) 8.5 16.8 11.3
.264 Win. Mag. (140 at 3200) 8.5 19.2 12.1
.270 Win. (130 at 3140) 8.0 16.5 n/a
.270 Win. (150 at 2900) 8.0 17.0 11.7
.270 WSM (150 at 3000) 8.0 18.9 12.3
.270 Wby. Mag. (150 at 3000) 9.25 17.8 11.1
7x57 Mauser (139 at 2800) 8.0 14.0 10.6
7mm-08 Rem. (140 at 2860) 8.0 12.6 10.1
.280 Rem. (140 at 3000) 8.0 17.2 11.8
7mm Rem. SAUM (160 at 2931) 8.0 21.5 13.2
7mm WSM (160 at 3000) 8.0 21.9 13.3
7mm Rem. Mag. (140 at 3150) 8.0 19.1 12.4
7mm Rem. Mag. (150 at 3100) 8.5 19.2 12.1
7mm Wby. Mag. (140 at 3300) 9.25 19.5 11.7
7mm Ultra Mag. (160 at 3200) 8.5 29.4 n/a
.30 Carbine (110 at 1990) 7.0 3.5 5.7
.30-30 Win. (150 at 2400) 7.5 10.6 9.5
.30-30 Win. (170 at 2200) 7.5 11.0 9.7

I'm telling you chuck hawk has all this information
http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

And if super accurate you might look at a CZ

[Auk1124]

Hmm, if you are wanting a low-recoil round for serious long range varmint sniping I personally don't think a 223 would do it either. I'm thinking a custom 6mm/06 with match quality bullets would do a good job but now we are into big bucks. I honestly don't know if you could find a 500-1000 yard sniping stick with low recoil and a low price tag. Maybe a 243 wssm, 25-06, or something along those lines, with a good heavy barrel and the best bullets you can find. Good luck.

[shogan]

You see the problem is this. Weight of a heavier bullet is by it's nature carrying more energy down range.

But to push that weight at speeds fast enough to creat flat trajectory you get massive kick.

How about a .308 in semi auto AR-10