-- How about a Sako 223 bolt gun ??

[Bungi]

I am hoping to purchase a 223 bolt gun in the next few months. It will strictly be for punching paper and striking steel out to about 500 yards (I usually go to Angeles shooting range).

Intend to get a heavy barrel since it will likely remain on the bench.

I was leaning pretty strong toward a Cooper. However, I have recently had people suggest either a Sako Varmint, or the Tikka Sporter.

So, does anyone have experience with these?

Or, any other suggestions?

Thanks

[russ69]

Get a 243...hear me out. I love the 223 with long bullets but you'll need good reloading skills and the right barrel to get it working out to 500/600 yards. The 243 does it all and rings steel a lot better than a 223.

[JonS]

Take a look at the cz with set trigger.

[Bungi]

Funny you should say that. I was at the range today and another fellow was suggesting the 243 over the 223. I am intrigued by the 243, but i am concerned about the ammo and reloading costs.

I looked on Cabelas today and 243 brass seems to be among the most expensive.

Also, I have a 308 and I was thinking the 243 would be too similar.

However, I am open to it.

[dfletcher]

I am hoping to purchase a 223 bolt gun in the next few months. It will strictly be for punching paper and striking steel out to about 500 yards (I usually go to Angeles shooting range).

Intend to get a heavy barrel since it will likely remain on the bench.

I was leaning pretty strong toward a Cooper. However, I have recently had people suggest either a Sako Varmint, or the Tikka Sporter.

So, does anyone have experience with these?

Or, any other suggestions?

Thanks

I have a Cooper 21 in 222, it's a much different rifle than something like the Tikka Sporter - "Sporter" isn't exactly what comes to mind when I look at that rifle.

The Cooper is barrel heavy and has a conventional stock. Much as I like it, it doesn't compare to the Sporter which is much more comfortable. Just an opinion, but for 500 yds I think I'd do a 260 Remington instead of the 223.

[milotrain]

Bungi, I'm going to recommend something a-typical (but typical for me to recommend). If you shoot around ASR there are several regularly attended matches in the area that you should shoot. This is to figure out if you like shooting with other people in a casual match environment. If you do, then you should build a gun to shoot one of those competitions, because that sort of practice will make you very good very fast. Additionally those communities will support you as a shooter in reloading materials and rifles for less than the market typically allows.

PM me if you are interested. I shoot the national match course around the LA area, and we shoot the .223 to 600 yards with the AR. Russ69 also shoots this match, and his recommendation is very good, especially if you find that shooting a bolt gun is more your style. But come shoot some matches and find out what you want to shoot so that you don't buy the wrong gun.

[Wrangler John]

Bungi, I'm going to recommend something a-typical (but typical for me to recommend). If you shoot around ASR there are several regularly attended matches in the area that you should shoot. This is to figure out if you like shooting with other people in a casual match environment. If you do, then you should build a gun to shoot one of those competitions, because that sort of practice will make you very good very fast. Additionally those communities will support you as a shooter in reloading materials and rifles for less than the market typically allows.

PM me if you are interested. I shoot the national match course around the LA area, and we shoot the .223 to 600 yards with the AR. Russ69 also shoots this match, and his recommendation is very good, especially if you find that shooting a bolt gun is more your style. But come shoot some matches and find out what you want to shoot so that you don't buy the wrong gun.

^^ That's the way to do it. I learned more shooting in competition with some of the finest people there are than guessing by myself, and I am prone to be a recluse. In fact I had fun at the same time.

[B!ngo]

I have two Tikka T3's (a Lite in .223 and a Sporter in 308). Both are amazing rifles. Great stock action and triggers, excellent out of the box accuracy, well made with no apparent flaws all at an excellent price.
I don't think, for your described needs, that the Sako will be worth the incremental price. Tikka and Sako are made by Sako which is owned by Beretta but seems to operate at arms length. The Sako's are a bit 'finer' in their choice of materials and the quality of their finish (a little pun there). But the operation of the action, the triggers, the accuracy are very similar.
For the money I don't think you can go wrong with a Tikka .223.
B

[JMP]

I am hoping to purchase a 223 bolt gun in the next few months. It will strictly be for punching paper and striking steel out to about 500 yards (I usually go to Angeles shooting range).

Intend to get a heavy barrel since it will likely remain on the bench.

I was leaning pretty strong toward a Cooper. However, I have recently had people suggest either a Sako Varmint, or the Tikka Sporter.

So, does anyone have experience with these?

Or, any other suggestions?

Thanks

Sako makes superb rifles. However, their lines are geared more toward hunting, except for the TRGs. The TRG would be a much better rifle for target shooting from a bench. The TRG doesn't come in .223, and I'd advise against .223 if you are going to spend that much on a factory bolt action.

Funny you should say that. I was at the range today and another fellow was suggesting the 243 over the 223. I am intrigued by the 243, but i am concerned about the ammo and reloading costs.

I looked on Cabelas today and 243 brass seems to be among the most expensive.

Also, I have a 308 and I was thinking the 243 would be too similar.

However, I am open to it.

There's no comparison between a .243 and a .223 or .308. The .243 is a higher velocity cartridge, that when shot with longer heavier bullets will provide for a significantly longer range. The only think similar about a .243 and .308 is the body of the case.

For brass, you get what you pay for. I'd recommend using Lapua brass in .243, and that will last you quite some time if you don't over-work it. The brass is much cheaper than brass for large cartridges.

The potential cost is that .243 doesn't have a long barrel life if you are shooting it for precision.

[Click Boom]

Can get a tikka t3 varmint, that would be really nice.

If you got the jack, sure, get a sako, but tikka's are very nice.

[ar15barrels]

The .243 is a higher velocity cartridge, that when shot with longer heavier bullets will provide for a significantly longer range.

Most factory 243 barrels don't have the necessary twist rates to shoot the long 6mm bullets that are commonly used for longrange shooting.
For example, the Tikka T3 varmint recommended above has a 1:10 twist which is no good for any of the longrange bullets.
The 1:9 twist remington barrels will shoot the 105's and usually 107 SMK's, but not 115 Dtacs.

[Coyotegunner]

I like my Tikkas and really like my Sakos.
Worth the extra Sakos cost?Not really.
Cooper.Nice rifle.Wish I would want to afford one.
Pay attention to what AR15 is saying.Barrel twist rate is really important when going for a dedicated long range gun.
Most of my stuff is hunting related.I like 223 and 243 for coyotes.I reload and want 1/2"moa/100yds in my rifles.
I like the 6.5 caliber.Long,stable bullet.6.5x284.I think I need one of those.
7mm.What is not to like.I get along pretty well with a 7mm-08.Actually have bought/own a few of them.
30 caliber same thing.
Anyway back to the 223.I shoot in the wind a lot.Thank you High Desert.Heavy/long bullets buck wind better.For a reloader some times bullets are hard to find.Maybe it is just me.
I would prefer any 30 caliber over a 223 if it was going to be a dedicated long range gun.

[vliberatore]

Most factory 243 barrels don't have the necessary twist rates to shoot the long 6mm bullets that are commonly used for longrange shooting.
For example, the Tikka T3 varmint recommended above has a 1:10 twist which is no good for any of the longrange bullets.
The 1:9 twist remington barrels will shoot the 105's and usually 107 SMK's, but not 115 Dtacs.

Yep. I can get decent groups in 100gr Interlock SPs but they really tighten up with 80s.

[JMP]

Most factory 243 barrels don't have the necessary twist rates to shoot the long 6mm bullets that are commonly used for longrange shooting.
For example, the Tikka T3 varmint recommended above has a 1:10 twist which is no good for any of the longrange bullets.
The 1:9 twist remington barrels will shoot the 105's and usually 107 SMK's, but not 115 Dtacs.

For performance at longer ranges, the only factory .243 that I would buy comes standard with a Bartlein 5r with a 1:8" twist.

[ddestruel]

my .223 is solid to 300 yards on dog towns. at 400-500 I’m rain bowing in and correcting for wind but still a blast and i have no problem still hitting em. that said I’ve scattered prairie dogs at 500 yards with my .223 bull barrel Remington 700. i prefer to play with critters at that range with my 220 swift. but either way it can be done and if you’re plinking .223 ammo hands down cheapest to do the job. the way i have things now i have a large supply of 50, 52 grain and 55 grain .224 bullets i load them in my swift cases, my 223 cases and my 22-250 cases. my .243 spends a lot of time in the gun cabinet, it burns more powder, cases cost me significantly more and ...... at that point id bypass .243 and be looking at .260 or another favorite odd ball i have is my .284 win. my 223 1:12 sure likes the 52’s but does just vince with vmax 50 grains.

heck 1000 rounds of .223 loaded at with 50 grain v-max rounds from various vendors are $325-350. I’m not sure about you guys but at .32-.35 a shot i still have yet to see .243 drop down to that price. you’ll be able to learn a lot about your gun at a much lower cost and teach yourself quite a bit about shooting without breaking the bank