I'm after a new .223 and would like opinions on these two rifles. Already have a 4.5 - 14 LR VX111 to go on the one I choose.

The only significant differences in specs seem to be the LTR's bbl is 2" shorter and has a 1 in 9 twist verse the Weatherby's 1 in 12.

I won't be shooting projectiles heavier than 55grn.

Your opinions are appreciated.

Cheers'
Boof......

I have had a LTR for 3or 4 years and I like it.Its a handy truck rifle with the short barrel,55,s are all I ever shoot.w/regards

I cannot speak about the Weatherby, but I do have a LTR in 223. I am getting .5" and sub .5" groups from it with an average of .75", it shoots allot better than I thought it would. Most of the re-loads I've tried are 55gr. Heck it even shoots military ammo pretty good! (1" groups)...

Boofhead

I have a 700 VS .223 with Leopold VX III 4.5-14 X50 which seems to shoot Remmington Accutip 50 gr exceptionally well in field conditions - turns rabbits inside out at up to 200m or so. And have taken bunnies out to 480 paces and knock over roos at 400 - both of which are as far as I have tried. I have only had the trigger lightened down to 2.1 pounds.

I am looking at getting the weight of nmy kit down and looking at Blaser switch barrel - but getting a lot of advice to look at doing the Remminton LTR and getting it tuned up by some people who know thier stuff and do a lot of walkabout varminting at long range.

If you drop onto the Australian huntnet and post a question about LTR's - John B will probably reply and he has comprehensive knowledge on LTR's with ballistics modifications etc..... and I suspect good reasons why he has not used weatherbys.

Some people assert that remingtons can be a bit hit or miss of the rack but can be very readily tuned up - though this may be more pointing at the non varmint rifles. Mine is certainly more than fine off the rack

Though I suspect with most rifles after a bit the accuracy is more than you can use in field settings, and it comes down to passion

I can't speak to the Weatherby SVR as I have the SVM. I can attest to its accuracy as I have found a few loads it doesn't like but for the most part, will shoot under 1" all day. It is easy under .5" with some of its favorite handloads. Mine is in a Swift though so the barrel is 1-14 not 1-12. I really like the Weatherby action and with a minimum of trigger work after purchase it is quite nice.

I would buy neither. If you want a lighter varmit rifle get a CZ. If you look at CZ's weights you will find you can get a dandy varmiter that weighs under 8#'s has a 24" barrel. Just get the CZ that has the HS stock and it is only 7.5#'s. I have heard remington used a different barrel source for the LTR and some of them are a little spotty in the accuracy dept. I at one time was looking hard at the LTR but opted for the CZ because of price and I get a longer barrel that has the same weight as the LTR. I couldn't be more happy

I don't know anything about the Weatherby in question, but I have two LTRs (223 & 308). The 223 is a very happy shooter of the 68 gr HPBTs, giving me very small groups. I like it's combination of short/heavy barrel and HS stock. Only mod (on both) has been to the trigger. The 223's was replaced was replaced with a Rifle Basix, and the 308's was adjusted according to the instructions at the Varminthunters website.