My wife's walking buddy came in with her this morning and wanted to ask what bolt action 223 I would suggest for her to buy for her husband for his birthday. My wife had already told her how she HATED the VTR we had bought for her.

So what would it be? I kind of like the CZ with the 3 round magazine. I believe he is more into the normal weight not a heavy barrel.

Factory rifles are no something I really keep up with.

Rem 700's are tough to beat and they come in many flavors.

Sounds like the VTR was not your wife's favorite one though.

quote:

But, If its hard for you to like a VTR, I don't know that any 700 will "work" for you...

I have nothing against the 700s. My wife saw the VTR at a show thought it looked cool. She HATED the brake plus it would not shoot. Let me restate that. After trying numerous loads 5 or 6 different bullets. As many different powders it just wouldn't shoot. We couldn't get it to shoot. Nothing would repeat. My wife had no faith in it and it set in the safe. She took my light barreled interarms 22-250. It shot rings around the VTR and that is how I lost my 22-250. So we sold the VTR. Besides this rilfe is for the guy next door. I putting together another 22-250 for myself.

I'd vote for CZ despite the backwards safety. Nephew bought his son one and it is accurate. Got a buck with it the day we sighted in scope.

Why angst? get a 700 and you'll get an accurate rifle that doesn't look like something you'd see in a video parlour.

For a factory .223 walking rifle for around here targeting coyotes and wolves I like light weight and a fast twist enough to shot the 75 grain Amax..
(Actually for here a custom 1:8 twisted 22-250 weighing in no more than 6.75 lbs scoped would be better yet..)

Number one .223 choice would be a Kimber Montana with the second choice being a Tikka T3 lite in stainless..
In both cases you would have to extend the mag. boxes to accommodate the longer OAL of a .223 round loaded with the Amax or fire it as a single shot..

The things I don't like about the Tikka is their use of a loong action for a short round and and it's detachable mag.
So I bought a Kimber instead..

If the main purpose for the rifle is to shoot prairie dogs then I would look at a Remington 700 or Savage in a medium to heavy weight barrel..

Problem is we don't have a clue as to rather the guy likes wood blued over stainless synthetic, if he reloads, and what the use for the rifle will be ..

The .223 teaches you to be a better shooter because you can see your impacts thru the scope, and it is fun, easy and cheap round to shoot!

+1 on the Kimber montana

SAKO A1

I really like the Cz but also think the Zastava "mini-Mausers" are a good deal.

Eric

Crud I thought only the CZ RF had the backwards safety.

As to reloading I "THINK" at the current time he is a factory ammo guy. Last summer he was over asking about equipment and was pricing some kits. But since last SEPT when my heart left me sitting on the couch I have really talked to him.

As to wood or syn. I know he likes the look of my wood stocks that I have built. However that said I know his main hunting rifle has a syn stock on it.

For this I see him with a nice basic carry weight 223. Probably syn and leaning towards factory ammo. I would have to price the Kimber but I'm GUESSING that is out of her price range.

OK just caught the wife. He isn't into PD hunting. This is a rifle to carry on the ATV or pickup at his families ranch for coyote or other plinking. He as not started reloading. She said a magazine might be nice for quicker grab and go. Not a show piece because it will get beat up.

I know I will get some dumb looks for suggesting this but I would buy a Savage Axis. I just bought one in a 223 Rem.
This rifle is sweet. After lightening the trigger from a terrible 6 lb. pull to a crisp 4 lb., the rifle is a tack driver.... and all for $304.47.
Yes, the stock is plastic but the action is smooth, the barrel is free floated, and the stock has steel bushings or sleeves that act as pillars for the screws to tighten against.
The action is similar in design to the Tikka T3. The rifle is a joy to carry.
I am planning on getting a 308 Win. In the same rifle.

I would find a mini-mauser or go with a Savage. I have never seen a Savage that did not shoot well.

Another vote for the CZ-527. Mine has been great and with a bit of handloading well under MOA at 100yds with 50-55 gr pills. They make a varmit version with a faster twist for heavier pills should that be a requirement. Comes with the barrel free floated, which can be a plus. Only drawback is the safety on backwards.

Price is right for an inexpensive shooter.

Don

Savage, Howa or Tikka; all 3 great basic rifle at solid price and you'll get all with a hunting weight barrel & synthetic stock, too.

Mini-Mausers are a good choice, too 'cept the inletting has been pretty shabby on the wooden stocked rifles I've handled. CZ is a good choice if your neighbor can live with a backwards safety.

For driving around on a quad and plinking here and there I'd get a Vanguard. Inexpensive,quick handling, smooth operating and they come with a 1" guarantee these days.The old ones had a lousy trigger-pull that can be fixed for nothing, and the new ones have a 2-stage trigger that doesn't need anything.

There is a certain appeal to rifles that perform all out of proportion to their price tag.

Looking for a light weight 223, the Remington Model Seven is a good choice. Light, handy, accurate, and good looking to boot.

Well decision was made. She actually went into town yesterday with simply getting an Axis. Figuring it was going to get beat to heck anyway. She came home with an ordered Howa. They are bringing it in from another store. She bought the youth. Figured that for the next couple of years her husband would use it. Then about the time he was tired of it wanting a new toy her daughter and son would be ready to move up from the 22LR chipmunk they were shooting.

Woman has a head on her shoulders. Anyone know what the twist rate on the Howa is? I looked on their site but didn't see it.

Is varmint accuracy a requirement, or is the possibility of accuracy good enough?
If it HAS to be varmint accurate, get a Cooper.

SAKO, Kimber, Cooper or CZ depending on the budget. I have a CZ in .204 and I love the action.

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340: Anyone know what the twist rate on the Howa is? I looked on their site but didn't see it.

They list it as 12".

Same as my cz527. My Stevens 200 is 9", and my Ruger 77 Mk II SS is 14". All 3 are crazy accurate with the right load.

The youth comes with 2 stocks, doesn't it? The kids may never see it, lol.

If it's not too late I'd vote for the Rock River Coyote. Great trigger, fast twist, very handy, and reasonably priced.

I've owned quite a few .223 rifles.....bar none...the favorite (if you can find one used) is the push feed M-70 lightweight rifle...it's heads and tails the best rifle in .223 I've ever owned.....and I've had two of them!

I have always wanted a CZ 527 but not in a .223. The 1 in 12" twist is a deal breaker for me. IMO a 1 in 9" twist minimum and a 1 in 8" twist barrel being ideal. I find they shoot light bullets just fine and with the 1 in 9" you can shoot 69gn bullets and 77gn bullets out of the 1 in 8" barrels. I just like the faster twist barrels are just a better choice in .223.

TC1 ! For your info the CZ 527 Varmint in .223 has 1-9 twist http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-527-varmint/

quote:

Originally posted by Ingvar J. Kristjansson:
TC1 ! For your info the CZ 527 Varmint in .223 has 1-9 twist http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-527-varmint/

And out of the box mine was BETTER than MOA! roger

Cool. Every time I look at the CZ527's I go straight to the full stock model and that one only comes in a slow twist for some reason.

Tikka T3 Synthetic or Hunter. 1-8" twist will be an excellent rifle for many uses.

I bought a Savage 'Hog Hunter' and have been quite pleasantly happy with it. Has a short heavy barrel,accu-trigger and nice synthetic stock. Easily shoots 1/2" with anything put thru it (for me that's anything I can find that's cheap). For me a good bargain I can reccomend.

If no AR15-type rifle, get that first, some are very accurate, like my Remington R15.
Finest bolt IMO is the Sako L-461.
Also like my Mini Mauser and Brno ZKK601.