Rem vs Savage vs Ruger

[RMikeL]

Wife wants a bolt action .223 for 200 meter bench shooting. My only exposure to to bolt guns is shooting the .50 BMG at Cordova, so I'm not much help to her. Budget is about $1K including bipod. Leaning toward the Rem VTR with a Nikon once they start showing up in stores (when will that be?). But maybe a Savage AXIS or Ruger American? They offer models with 22 inch stainless barrels which seems like a good way to go to me. Some models include scopes, but I'm not confident about their quality (image quality, robust construction). But what do I know?

Any advice?

Mike

[Timdacan]

Remington 700 is always a great gun and available everywhere

[riftol]

Wife wants a bolt action .223 for 200 meter bench shooting. My only exposure to to bolt guns is shooting the .50 BMG at Cordova, so I'm not much help to her. Budget is about $1K including bipod. Leaning toward the Rem VTR with a Nikon once they start showing up in stores (when will that be?). But maybe a Savage AXIS or Ruger American? They offer models with 22 inch stainless barrels which seems like a good way to go to me. Some models include scopes, but I'm not confident about their quality (image quality, robust construction). But what do I know?

Any advice?

Mike

I think the Ruger American's barrel is too skinny for shooting from the bench.

[WyattandDoc]

I have been doing research for quite some time on a bolt action. I always keep coming back to the Tikka Lite.

[Divernhunter]

The American and Tikka T3 are great hunting rifles but a poor choice for shooting long strings from the bench. They are too light and with too thin a barrel.
Get a heavier rifle for target shooting and save those 2 for hunting and minor bench shooting.
I have shot several Ruger American rifles and own to Tikka T3 rifles. I do quite a bit of shooting.

[MoBait]

I think the Ruger American's barrel is too skinny for shooting from the bench.

This, and same goes for the Axis.

I don't know much about the Remington 700 VTR, other than it's about the same price as a 700 SPS Tactical, SPS Varmint, and Savage 10FP-SR and they all have 1:9" twist (except the Varmint with a 1:12" ratio). The Accustock on the 10FP-SR is rigid enough to prevent barrel contact under bipod load and firing, not the case with most budget 700's. The action is quite a bit easier to manipulate on the 700 but Savage wins in the trigger department. Just a heads up, the 10FP-SR is discontinued, replaced by the 10PC, but it should be easier to find than a 700...

With the options I have mentioned, you're looking at $700-$750 out the door for just a rifle. Throw in a decent scope, rings, and base, you're right around $1100. If you forgo a bipod and sew up some shooting bags with a junk pair of pants and rice, you'll be near your budget.

[MagicalWisps]

My Setup (Also note that I wear eye correcting glasses for my vision.)

Savage .223 11/111 Trophy Hunter XP $529
(Decent quality for value pretty darn accurate even with my newbie marksmanship and average ammo quality. it Comes with a nikon scope 3-9X40, which isn't horrible, but I wanted a little more out of my optics.)

Optics SWFA 16x50 $300
(While not super clear at max, you can still see fine detail in objects past 600yrds. The eye relief lacks some, but if you mount it right you can bypass this. Yeah I know pointless for a .223, but I eventually want to move up in calibre and I want the scope to move up to those rifles.)

Ring Mounts $30
(Weaver 30mm mounts for my optics, so far no loosening)

UGT Tactical Bipod $25
(Not the most amazing, but stays steady and hasn't caused any issues)

Ammo PMC 20rd box $6.99
(I have a small budget for ammo and shooting, but this brand is quality for the price. Not much sense in reloading .223 unless you care about ballistics and such.)

Around $950, add tax on the gun and you get about $1000. I am a novice and I find these to work just fine for me with no real complaints.

[riftol]

I have been doing research for quite some time on a bolt action. I always keep coming back to the Tikka Lite.

I've handled them in stores; I like them.

[JMP]

If it is just going to be for shooting .223 @ 200 meters from a bench, just go with a cheap rifle, cheap scope, cheap bipod. An R770 or Savage and Baraska will do fine for that application.

If you plan on advancing, as someone that hates the R700 with every bone in my body, I would recommend the R700 in .223 since it's the only platform in .223 that will be easily rechambered and barreled with relative ease due to aftermarket accessories into a different short action rifle.

[angrypeccary]

how about thompson center, weatherby, and howa as inexpensive alternatives. if its just bench shooting the howa is nice and heavy with rubber overmold stock and rail. thompson center dimension is modular so you can transform it into a different gun. weatherby vanguard s2 is nice, 7.5 lb weight 2 stage trigger and vented bolt for handloaders.

[ar15barrels]

If someone comes out with a good stock, the Ruger American Predator models would be worth looking at too...

http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/models.html

[RMikeL]

Where'd Toby go?

[Bubba_Leon]

Savage Hog Hunter, accu trigger and heavier barrel than than the 11/111 Trophy Hunter

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/11HOGHUNTER

[TMB 1]

Just get her a Mossberg MVP

[BadMatt]

As someone who today packed up his 700 and sent it back to New York for the recall, I am not psyched about Remington's quality control. My rifle had other issues too hopefully that Remington will take care of on warranty. I've owned it only 6 months. I also think Remington is ethically challenged; they furiously denied a trigger defect for years. It makes me question what else is wrong. While the rifle has been good, I don't think a quality rifle should be rife with so many problems. I would not purchase it again.