Posted: 6/25/2016 1:01:38 PM EDT
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So I am thinking of picking up a .223. I had been seriously considering the Ruger American Ranch but decided to expand my options a little further. I just saw the Howa mini and that is looking pretty interesting the lack of aftermarket stocks is the downfall with it, but I have access to a machinist who likes doing one off type projects. Then there is the remington ADL varmint. Don't really like the marlins or mossbergs and have an unexplained aversion to savages.
Prices Ruger American $430 Howa $350 on sale Remington $450 after rebate |
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Of the three that you listed, my only experience is the Howa 1500. Mine is one of the .223 Remington combo packages sold a few years ago with the Hogue over-molded stock and Nikko-Sterling scope. I figured that I would have to replace the scope after a couple of hundred rounds but so far it has held up well and is very clear with repeatable adjustments.
The only addition that I made was the sling and Harris bipod. It came with a hinged floor plate bottom metal that I replaced with the plastic 10 round detachable mag that also came with the combo package. I did buy one extra mag ($40!!!) because I figured that the plastic feed lips would wear quickly; they haven't. It's a very accurate rifle and I can regularly shoot 0.5" and under (best was 0.37") groups at 100 yards off a bench or prone with Hodgdon H-335 and 55 grain "Dog Town" bullets. 
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Cabela's special Savage 12FV for $349 - $100 rebate = $249.
26" bull barrel Recessed crown Metal trigger guard Oversized bolt handle Jeweled bolt Accutrigger Seems like a solid rifle for the money. I know you said you don't like Savage rifles, but you may want to look at it. |
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Quoted:
Cabela's special Savage 12FV for $349 - $100 rebate = $249. 26" bull barrel Recessed crown Metal trigger guard Oversized bolt handle Jeweled bolt Accutrigger Seems like a solid rifle for the money. I know you said you don't like Savage rifles, but you may want to look at it. I want this as well, but my local Cabela's doesn't have any in stock. When I go by this evening to check out the Howa I'm asking about it and if they can get me one. I think it's $419 though before the $100 rebate |
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Quoted:
I want this as well, but my local Cabela's doesn't have any in stock. When I go by this evening to check out the Howa I'm asking about it and if they can get me one. I think it's $419 though before the $100 rebate Quoted:
Quoted:
Cabela's special Savage 12FV for $349 - $100 rebate = $249. 26" bull barrel Recessed crown Metal trigger guard Oversized bolt handle Jeweled bolt Accutrigger Seems like a solid rifle for the money. I know you said you don't like Savage rifles, but you may want to look at it. I want this as well, but my local Cabela's doesn't have any in stock. When I go by this evening to check out the Howa I'm asking about it and if they can get me one. I think it's $419 though before the $100 rebate There is one in 22-250 here for $349. Cabelas in Maine. |
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My experience-
Remington 700VS - This is a late 90's gun with the old fully adjustable trigger in the HS Precision stock. The gun is an amazing shooter and I have shot many 1/2" groups with it. It has a 1:12 twist so it really likes bullets between 40-55 grains. It is the gun that made me a Remington fan. Remington 5R milspec- A friend bought this gun and spent a lot of money for it. It came with the HS Precision stock but the newer X Mark trigger. The trigger was terrible and so was the accuracy. We could barely squeeze 1.5" groups out of it. He ended up having the action trued and a Bartlein barrel put on it with a Jewell trigger. It now shoots amazing. After that I turned my back on Remington and tried these- Mossberg MVP Predator - Fairly accurate, sub MOA 5 shot groups, but had a funky cold bore shot. Bolt was sloppy, trigger was okay, the AR mag feature is nice but it limits you to the short AR-15 overall length. Sold it. Ruger American Ranch - I have mentioned this on here before. Accuracy was not that great, bolt is super smooth and solid, trigger is decent, magazines are cheesy but they work. Stock was awful. Sold it. Then I discovered Tikka- Tikka T3 Sporter - This is not an inexpensive 223 rifle but shoots great. While doing some load development I shot a .735" average of five 5-shot groups. The 1:8 twist stabilizes the 75 Amax which is a great bullet if you want to shoot longer range, and I have shot mine out to 1010 yards. The stock kind of limits use to being a precision/benchrest rifle. Recently Remington had the $100 rebate on their "Tactical" models and I was looking for a suppressor host. Ended up with the 16.5" model and a friend bought one as well. Both guns are shooting great out of the box. I adjusted the trigger on mine down to 2.7 lbs and put a Primary Arms 4-14 on it. It is a 1:9 twist and so far I have had success with 75 BTHP Hornady bullets with 8208XBR. Last week, on a low wind day, I put 10 shots on a 5x5 inch square at 500 yards with that load. One cool thing my friend did with his was put the new Magpul stock on it with their bottom metal, and picked up a $13 223 AI pattern magazine off Brownells that fits perfectly. I plan on putting their bottom metal on the factory stock and using that 223 mag. Howa makes a nice rifle that is very similar to a Remington. The aftermarket support is not nearly as big as what is for Remington but out of the box they are good shooters with good trigger packs. |
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Thanks for the replies. I think I am going to go in a completely different direction. Instead of getting a new rifle I have a win model 70 carbine in 223 I might either get a new stock or chassis for and possibly rebarrel.
With that solving my .223 issue I am thinking about picking up a Tikka t3 in 308 and throwing it in a krg xray or xlr element. |
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Quoted:
The winny will be for predators/varmint hunting. The tikka will be for paper and steel. It it were me, I would put a 1:8 twist 22" barrel on the Winchester and you can shoot the 53 V-max all the way to the heavy 223 bullets such as the 82 Berger or 75 A-max. Varmint, paper, and steel capable. |