I'm looking to blow my Christmas bonus on another bolt action rifle. I'm looking for something I can spend an afternoon shooting comfortably, so low recoil as well as economy is important. I do my own handloading so I don't want anything exotic either, I want a common caliber that I can easily find components and load info for. I plan on doing mostly bench shooting and would like something accurate out to 200-300 yards if possible.
I have a Remington 700 in .270 and I love it, so another 700 or possibly a Ruger 77 would be one of my first choices, although I'm wide open to any suggestions. What would you recommend based on what I'm looking for? I would like to keep the price under $500 for the rifle if possible. I was leaning toward a .223, maybe a .22/.250? I'm not sure how the accuracy of either round holds up at longer ranges though.

Faced with the same "need", I bought a Savage 12fv in 223. It shoots $15/40 Winchester 45g hp into less than one inch at 100. Handloads with the winchester brass and a Lee collet die average around .5". Yes, average for my best load combination.

The savage has a 1 in 9" twist and shoots 69grain Sierra MatchKings well.

I don't own a 700, but they sure are prettier than the Savage.

For longer shooting, look into the twist rates for heavier bullets. Again, I have no Remington experience, and don't own a 22-250, so I can't say much about either,

I have kind of been looking into the same thing right now.

I currently have a Ruger 77 target in 25-06 and it shoots great. First group shot with it was about .5 inch at 100 yards with factory 120 gr Hornady interlock. You can of course get it in .223. Since you stated your worried about recoil and economy. Although the 25-06 doesn't bother me at all recoil wise.

I have been thinking about a new rifle and have narrowed it down to a cz527 varmint or Tikka T3 varmint either in .204 or .223. I'm leaning toward the .223/.556 since I learned to love that round from being in the Marines. It's a shooter and you can't go wrong.

I myself would use the fact that I handload to get something a like more exotic. No offense to you though thats just me. Sometimes I have to make excuses to get what I want. I'm sure I am probably the only one here that would do something like that.

I've been doing some looking. I live near a Cabela's retail store and looked at their clearance flyer online. They have advertised a Remington 700 ADL synthetic stock in either .223 or .22-250 with a Cabela's Pine Ridge 6-18x44 scope for $439. I don't know how much the scope is worth, I would guess about $100 or so. That doesn't seem like too bad of a deal, I might see if they will split the combo so I can buy the rifle alone for less money and put some better glass on it. I would rather have a wood stock but for the price this doesn't seem like a bad deal. I can't even find the ADL listed on Remington's website, is it still a current model, and does anyone know if its avalible with a wood stock?

RRN, I would strongly suggest that you consider the 6 PPC, or a .223 in a heavy barreled configuration. The Rem 700 VSSF's have been capable of quite fine accuracy wit quality reloads and target bullets.

I've read good things about the 6, but I don't have a lot of load info on it and components like brass arent as common either. I would rather stick with the more common .223 and fine tune my hand loads for accuracy.

I have a 223 in an ADL, among others... mine is very accurate....

If you shoot a lot, the barrel might heat up a lot tho...on extended shooting times..

Also I would look at a Savage Heavy Barrel model or for economy... look at the Stevens 200... they are available for $270.00 around here.. and are very very accurate rifles...

At that price, maybe you could pick up two different calibers instead of just one....

With Minimal mechanical skill Stevens and Savages are also easily made into a switch barrel rifle also....adding to the fun and utility of them...

cheers
seafire

Not too many years ago the replies would have rang the bell of the Remington .222.....today it still does but the case has changed a bit. Today it's the .223 and fit's your need perfectly.

It's not a 22-250 but it so close you'll never know!.....it's one surprising little round and occupies my highest praise.

Thanks everyone. I'm pretty much sold on the .223 right now after doing more research. I love the beauty and accuracy of the 700 so its still at the top of my list. One of the heavy barrel models would be nice, but I'm afraid they would be a little out of my budget. Does anyone know if the 700 ADL is still in current production and if its available with a wood stock? I can't find any mention of it on Remington's website.

quote:

Originally posted by seafire/B17G:
or for economy... look at the Stevens 200... they are available for $270.00 around here.. and are very very accurate rifles...

With Minimal mechanical skill Stevens and Savages are also easily made into a switch barrel rifle also....adding to the fun and utility of them...cheersseafire

roger

ADLs are out of production as far as I know, but I wouldn't worry over that....

The Barrel and action are still here in the Model 700... ADL< BDL< CDL... are all marketing names and denote a different stock in reality...

If the ADL is totally "out of production"... all they have done is put a new stock on it and call it an SPS....

So ADL< SPS... you have the same rig...

If your budget is low, try looking at some of the pawn shops this time of year.... some good bargains can be available on their racks....I've swapped off a few rifles doing that route over the years and have turned out well...

good luck..
seafire

Look to the 223 in Howa/Vanguard rifles.

ADL = SPS...from what I read on Remington's website the SPS has a hinged floor plate similar to the BDL. If I buy the SPS and decide later to swap stocks for a hardwood, which type of stock do I need to look for?
Also, whats the typical price range for an SPS in .223? The one I was looking at on Cabelas is advertised as an ADL but from the picture it looks to me like an SPS. It comes as a combo with a 6-18x44 scope priced at $439. I'm not sure if they would split the combo since I don't really like the scope thats included.

I would support the Howa recommendation, having owned a few that to me showed better workmanship than a Remington by far, you can get a Heavy Barrelled action, and likely a gun if you want it ready to go. It shot circles around a Winchester coyote model that had some bore defects.

Owned years ago a 223 VLS that was chopped to 22.5", handled great then, the 26" was a pain in the field and how I was using it. Thing is that it never shot much below .5-.6 and I tried dozens of loads. Others have had better luck I am sure. If you want a Remington, there is a single shot model with a thumbhole stock-seen one, and it looks like they should shoot well, heard favorable reports on it, but again, I was VERY happy with everything in build quality on the Howa I had, it was a sporter stainless, with an aftermarket stock. Personally I like the 221 and 222 but cannot argue ones choice in 223 due to widespread ammo/brass.

223, cheap to feed, almost no recoil and very accurate in the right rifles with the right loads.

I went out Saturday and this beauty followed me home. Its a brand new Remington 700 SPS .223 which I topped with a Simmons 44 Mag 6.5-20 x 44 A.O. scope. Cabela's was out of the ADL/scope combo by the time I made it over so I ended up with this SPS which I found at another small sports shop. The scope was a closeout deal, the 44 Mag line of scopes has been discontinued so I picked it up for $100. I need to find a set of rings though, I borrowed these off another rifle. I haven't shot it yet, I couldn't find a set of loading dies anywhere so I'll have to order some of those as well as bullets so hopefully I'll be ready to shoot it this coming weekend.

Good deal!

I'd suggest redding dies, and talley lightweight rings.

You've come far Pilgrim!

Nice choice...

YOu will find it will serve you quite well...

ON the scope rings, pick up some Weavers at Walmart...

And then a decent 3 x 9 scope, with weaver rings also...

That way, you will find at times, it is fun to use the Remington as a Walking varminter, and not having to hump that big 6.5 x 20 will be well appreciated...

I do that with my Remington ADL.. I have a 4.5 x 14 scope I use for smaller grained bullets and then a 2.5 x 10 Tasco for walking around.. even tho they are close, the tasco is a lot lighter, as the larger scope has a 50mm objective...

good luck with the new purchase..

cheers
seafire

I actually did end up buying a set of Weaver steel rings. I think I'll just stick with this scope to start with, there aren't many varmints around my area other than possums and my .22 pistols are very effective at dealing with them. I did run into some problems trying to crack a skunk with a 6-18 scope on my .22 rifle last summer. Even at 6X I had trouble finding that bugger at close range on account of the narrow FOV, but that rifle is a custom built 10/22 and was never intended for varminting either when I built it.

RRN,

Nice buy on the new rifle. I like the plain jane look of the Remington 700 SPS. As far as what wood stock to look for, the barreled action should fit the same contour as a 700 BDL in the same caliber. There is plenty of good wood for short action 700's.

Before I go, I feel the need to remind you that you should not be shooting skunks at close range. Here is a skunk shooting formula that has worked well for me.

First, back up, then shoot, then back up some more and check to see if you hit it, repeat as needed.

Good luck with the new rig!

quote:

Originally posted by Kimber.204:
RRN,



Before I go, I feel the need to remind you that you should not be shooting skunks at close range. Here is a skunk shooting formula that has worked well for me.

First, back up, then shoot, then back up some more and check to see if you hit it, repeat as needed.

Good luck with the new rig!

I didn't have much time, he just popped up out of nowhere and in a hurry I grabbed my 10/22 because it was the closest one to me. I got within 10 feet and caught a quick burst as he discharged after the head shot. Looking back now I think the 12 gauge would have been a much better choice, but I had the shells stashed away at the time.

Hello Rowdy I don't post much but since you have the same rifle ... I found a Rem. Classic stock for my SPS and replaced the stock trigger with a Timmney I won at a silhouette shoot. I like the way it shoots alot better now . I am using a Leo 4.5 X 14 in quick release rings I think I will mount my 2 X 8 in the same rings from my .308 and move the scopes back and forth as needed .I get 1 inch groups with Win. and Rem . factory loads . Let us know how yours shoots ..

Just curious, does the BDL use the same magazine latch as the SPS? On my SPS the magazine latch is part of the trigger guard assembly. The door is not an absolute requirement, I'm used to the ADL stock on my .270 so I can live without it. But I don't think an ADL stock would look right or even fit with the latch button sticking out.

Finally I got to shoot it for the first time today. Last weekend was too windy to even think about it but today I finally made it out. I used a laser bore sighter to get it on paper and set my target out at exactly 100 yards. It was rather cold out, in the upper teens so my shooting time was very limited today. I fired a total of nine shots and so far I'm very impressed with this rifle. The first five shots were with Remington bulk bullets and the last four were Hornady V-max 50 grain with 21.5 grains of IMR 4198 and the bullets seated .010" off the lands. I marked the holes after each scope adjustment to eliminate confusion and two of the last three shots landed on the bullseye. I know I can do better than this, I was out of breath from walking back and forth to the target and my fingers were numb and freezing by the time I called it quits. But to get two consecutive shots touching holes at 100 yards the first time out and after only seven shots to adjust the scope, I'm very impressed so far. As soon as the weather warms up I'll be back out.