It must have a 1:8 or 1:7 twist to handle the heavies. A pal swears by his 1:8 Tikkas with 24-inch barrels. Any other contenders in this price segment?

Plus one on the tikka

The Tikka is terrific, no doubt about that.

Savage did offer a couple of their models, including the VLP, with a 1:7 twist, but I have not seen a price on one of those in a long while. A friend near Kerrville, TX has one and shoots tiny, cloverleaf groups with monotonous regularity. The only bullet that he has been running through it is the 75 grain Hornady A-Max. He uses that rifle for everything from punching paper and ringing steel gongs to whitetail, coyotes and a variety of Hill Country exotics.

The Ruger American Predator features a 1:8 and has a good reputation for accuracy.

Might look around for a slightly used or NIB Savage Axis. A buddy has one that shoots lights out, don't recall the twist, 1-9 maybe? I have one in 6.5CM that shoots very well. Savage has discontinued them.

quote:

Savage did offer a couple of their models, including the VLP, with a 1:7 twist

I have a savage tactical the shoots lights out with a 1 in 7.

52gr Sierra's mk 's many thousands of dead PDogs.

1st generation Ruger American Predator 223. Uses AR mags. It has 1:8” twist.
The load-
Brass: Lapua (neck turned to knock off high spots)
Bullet: 55g Sierra BK
Primer: Fed 205M
Powder: Varget
O.A.L: 1.26”

I won’t tell you the powder charge. Just start at a safe book minimum and work up. Our charge uses a drop tube to stuff in as much Varget as my rifle can possibly stand. Primers pucker a little in my gun. Originally developed by a friend for a 22” 1:8” White oak armament 223 Wylde barrel in an AR. My gun could compete well in Hunter Class 100 & 200 BR matches, on calm days. I haven’t worked up a load for heavies yet. Probably won’t bother, as the mentioned load is a Coyote and pasture poodle slayer.

Thanks fellas. Leaning Tikka, but had a Ruger American in 6.5 Grendel that was just amazingly accurate.

I shoot two Savage 110's that put five shoots in a ragged hole at 100 yards when I do my part pulling the trigger. My go to bullet is 52 grains Sierra HPBT. 27 grains of CFE-223 or Varget. 6.5 X 20 Ziess Conquest scopes on both. Good Shooting.

Not a bolt action and a little more than $1000, but a Rock River ASR varmint model with 1:8 twist will handle any bullet from 50-80 grains, and shoot groups competitive with the bolt rifles.

I had fun with a Savage 12BVSS many years ago with the 52-grain Sierra HPBT and Varget, getting don into the .3s, but never a bughole -- but that was obviously me. This was just before the Accutrigger was released and I replaced the factory trigger with a Rifle Basix.
ClaMar, I have tried to like the AR platform but I prefer a bolt.
Just ran across the weird little CZ600 Alpha. The stock gets poor marks for being too flexible, but the trigger and the accuracy get solid A's. May try this one for both the 1:7 twist and the price point.

I think the Howa’s are generally sleepers. Well made, good barrels and quite accurate. A full size 1500 heavy barrel in 223 would be an excellent choice IMO. Possibly 1/2 price of the tikka also.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill/Oregon:
Thanks fellas. Leaning Tikka, but had a Ruger American in 6.5 Grendel that was just amazingly accurate.

My 71 year old coyote hunting buddy recently picked up a T3X Lite SS in 22-250. It is an absolute tac driver with his 55, and 69gr hand loads. I won’t be trading in my Ruger American, but the TIKKA is a higher quality rifle, and SS is a plus. The actions of the Ruger American, and the tikka are amazingly similar. Both actions are also extremely stiff, which certainly cannot hurt accuracy. if I had to choose all over again, I would certainly go with the Tika just for the stainless.