223 build options

[Fast14riot]

I put together a 24" free floated heavy barrel 1:8 AR a number of years ago, but never had the opportunity to really wring it out. Recently, I bought some Barnes 85 gr match Burners and started to play around with VV-N530. With a little work, I was producing 1/4 MOA groups with mag length cartridges. Unfortunately I have no idea who's barrel it is other than having purchased it from Shurlucks at Camp Perry.

As much as I like the AR15 platform, my NMA2 rifle in 5.56 is about as accurate as I can be with iron sights. Love the gun, but want a bolt action this time.

As I previously posted, I've got a R700 223 action on deck for this project. Just need to work out which way I want to go with a barrel, once the action is in hand. My smith has reamers, I can pick up a Wilson button blank for $200, or I can get a Mullerworks cut rifled for $400. I have spare triggers, stocks, scopes, scope bases in inventory already. So its a matter of just barrel choice now.

 

[Dfish1247]

If you’re considering a mullerworks blank, look at brux and bartlein as well. I’ve never had a mullerworks, but read nothing but positive results. The other two work excellent, I know firsthand, lol.

 

[karrarararararar]

My service rifle and match rifle are both Mullerworks. Their both hammers.

 

[bobcat93]

I’ve been enjoying my tikka 1/8 twist. Very accurate and it didn’t break the bank, quite a few aftermarket parts available now days too. It’ll out shoot my Sako and CZ 527, they are all accurate but that little Tikka wins.

How did you ever find a 223 tikka..man soon as I stumbled across them on the internet they were sold out all over..I love the looks of the tikka CTR pretty cool rifle

 

[bobcat93]

I think we all tried this...and for me the only gun I've built that wasnt alot of money by the time it was done. Was one I've assembled from parts I happen to have already., even then It usually requires sacrifices, and canablizing parts off others guns to complete then upgrades the parts that were stolen and were back to a custom price rifle..hahaha...its like home audio you can't have one part with out the other to make it even more sweet!..hahaha..
I wish you the best of luck, and financial savings in your endeavor..
I find it interesting the (lack) of 223 and or any varmint bolt action rifles on the market.
It's like the gods said only 4 kinds of reamers will be used for the next 5 years , let it be written!, so let it be done!
243
6.5 creed
7mm-08
308
Every place I look the market is completely saturated with these calibers..and its kind of lame.

 

[JB10]

I wanted a muller 20 cal barrel but could not get one in contour i wanted, so i went with a wilson. I now have 2 wilson barrels and they both shoot good.

 

[Fast14riot]

I think we all tried this...and for me the only gun I've built that wasnt alot of money by the time it was done. Was one I've assembled from parts I happen to have already., even then It usually requires sacrifices, and canablizing parts off others guns to complete then upgrades the parts that were stolen and were back to a custom price rifle..hahaha...its like home audio you can't have one part with out the other to make it even more sweet!..hahaha..
I wish you the best of luck, and financial savings in your endeavor..
I find it interesting the (lack) of 223 and or any varmint bolt action rifles on the market.
It's like the gods said only 4 kinds of reamers will be used for the next 5 years , let it be written!, so let it be done!
243
6.5 creed
7mm-08
308
Every place I look the market is completely saturated with these calibers..and its kind of lame.

Lol, I know what you mean. My main F/O LR rig started that way. Its a Ship of Theseus. This new rig is to replace it, just in 223. I really enjoyed that gun, CBI remage barrel, 40xb rimfire stock, jewell trigger, Sightron scope. Made HM at mid range with that gun from a Harris bipod.

Fortunately, I have a mid range gun, long range gun, any/any gun, service rifle, and match grade ARs. So this will be the Sunday driver, loaner, new shooter rifle that isn't a rimfire.

I wanted a muller 20 cal barrel but could not get one in contour i wanted, so i went with a wilson. I now have 2 wilson barrels and they both shoot good.

I have Wilson barrels now and they do shoot. They clean up nicely, too. No complaints about them from me.

 

[urbanrifleman]

I think we all tried this...and for me the only gun I've built that wasnt alot of money by the time it was done. Was one I've assembled from parts I happen to have already., even then It usually requires sacrifices, and canablizing parts off others guns to complete then upgrades the parts that were stolen and were back to a custom price rifle..hahaha...its like home audio you can't have one part with out the other to make it even more sweet!..hahaha..
I wish you the best of luck, and financial savings in your endeavor..
I find it interesting the (lack) of 223 and or any varmint bolt action rifles on the market.
It's like the gods said only 4 kinds of reamers will be used for the next 5 years , let it be written!, so let it be done!
243
6.5 creed
7mm-08
308
Every place I look the market is completely saturated with these calibers..and its kind of lame.

I haven't made a single one of those in a very long time. Lots of 223 and 22 creed, 6br, 22 bra, 6bra though.

 

[bobcat93]

You guys are on a slippery slope..especially just having an extra barrel..extra..hahahaha...little by little the parts trickle in..Drip, drip,drip..so momma don't get wise..
I just love small cartridges..I went through the magnum craze in my late 20's ..then realized I don't really have a use for large rifles living in the North east..I don't have grizz, or large cats..no cape Buffalo roam my state..then I became obsessed with (the smaller the better cartridges)
I enjoy the reloading process, and shooting little cases with pin point precision try to at least..

Economical minds would probably agree that a nice custom 223 barrel , and a matching switch barrel .20 practical would make sense and cover alot of territory in bullet wieght selection
From light .20 cal (best all around small caliber ever in my opinion) laser beam & the heavy 77gr 223..one do it all bushing neck die set and your off for years of fun..
the .20 practical blew my mind..it was just an awesome AR build I could only imagine the groups possible with a bolt gun..its kind of cheating..haha

 

[Pawnee Bill]

So, as it turns out, the only 223rem I own is my NMA2 AR15 service rifle. I enjoy shooting some fun matches on a silhouette range occasionally, and thankfully with irons I'm still in the running against scoped 24" heavy barrel ARs and can hold my own using thrown charges of RL15 in mixed LC brass with cheap PRVI 75gr bthp bullets.

I'd like a cheap bolt action 223 built into an accurate range toy, not anything specific pertaining to rules, nor anything like a full-on F/TR gun either. An honest half moa to 500m, even if needing careful loading is perfectly fine.

My options include a Howa Mini barreled action, new bolt and remage barrel for one of my 700's, or whatever may be suggested by y'all for an inexpensive build.

I have spare AR15 parts sitting around, but with 3 match grade ARs (2x6.8spc, 1x5.56) and lackluster trigger options, I'd rather go bolt. Yes, my 6.8spc guns outshoot most peoples 5.56 guns, but I'm wanting another 5.56/223.

What say you?

Put a TriggerTech Diamond in your AR15. Definitely not lackluster!

 

[Fast14riot]

Put a TriggerTech Diamond in your AR15. Definitely not lackluster!

It has a jewell 2 stage in it now. But its just the design of the gun, glacial lock times and heavier than BR trigger pull weights. They're fine, just a different animal.

 

[Fast14riot]

And its started! Now just to squirrel away some money for a barrel. Got a Shilen BR trigger sitting in the toolbox to replace the XMP.

 

[swd]

Ah, it arrived!

 

[karrarararararar]

Here's mine. Built off a Tikka T3X action. 30" medium Palma Muellerworks barrel, .219 bore, 1/7. Factory trigger breaks at 15oz with the spring removed. Currently shooting 90 SMK's with Reloder 15.5. It's been excellent so far.

 

[DLT]

The mini-actions are compact, including the stocks. Mine are all in aftermarket stocks, BC or HS Precisions, and the dimensions of the stocks are all sized down. Hence, the overall feeling of shooting a .22lr. These are basically sporter rifles in line with size of Sako L46/L461. Their lighter weight and compact footprint makes them easy to carry in the field and maneuver around small spaces (hunting blinds and golf carts).

There are only a few aftermarket stocks offered for these actions and they are all "junior" size. Your option for a standard sized stock is either to custom order a stock from the manufacturer and have them inlet it for the mini-action or maybe a chassis. There are a few chassis options, with MDT coming to mind with most options.

The mini-actions are petite. Running one fast is about finesse, and not brute force. You pop open the bolt with your index finger and you close it with your thumb centered on the rear of the bolt. If you grabbed it hard and try to run it like a Rem 700 at a PRS match then it will bind.

Just food for thought. Based on your desired purpose, I would find someone in your club that has one and try it out to see how well it will fit your intended purpose. If you find yourself in Houston drop me a note and I'll bring a few for you to try.

The mini action I had sounded like a zipper pulling the bolt back from the machining marks. The factory story and bottom plastic is as cheap as you can get. It would shoot ok but that’s it. Probably won’t buy another one

 

[Lefty2506]

Here's mine. Built off a Tikka T3X action. 30" medium Palma Muellerworks barrel, .219 bore, 1/7. Factory trigger breaks at 15oz with the spring removed. Currently shooting 90 SMK's with Reloder 15.5. It's been excellent so far.
View attachment 1567402

I can't seem to find the Tikka action in that pic, but I'm sure its in there somewhere Looks sweet and shoots sweeter!

 

[Lefty2506]

I think we all tried this...and for me the only gun I've built that wasnt alot of money by the time it was done. Was one I've assembled from parts I happen to have already., even then It usually requires sacrifices, and canablizing parts off others guns to complete then upgrades the parts that were stolen and were back to a custom price rifle.

Or the one that you left bone stock, but where's the fun in that? We all have a different threshold for what we consider to be "expensive". For me, by the time you buy a decent factory rifle, add a decent used optic, and drop it in a Boyds stock, you are either standing at the threshold or have already crossed over into the realm of expensive (depending on the brand and model of rifle you started with) and it just becomes a question of how far do you want to go. If I'm going to drop $2k anyway, I might as well drop 3 so I only have to cry one time.

 

[Fast14riot]

As I plan this thing out, I'm now considering chamber specs. Barrel will be 1:7 and I will not shoot anything less than 75gr bullets in it. Would a Wylde chamber with the .062" freebore work for 75-90gr bullets seated above the donut? I currently only load 75s at 2.260" for my NMA2, or should I go for a longer freebore? I do like the neck dimensions and accuracy from the wylde chamber design, never had any issues, but not counting magazine length just purely seating depth, I'm on the fence.

 

[karrarararararar]

Post the other day on the NM forum had quite a few recommendations for the Manson T.15

 

[Todd-67]

I own a few .223's (adult 22lr) in various configurations. I enjoy the mini-actions, such as the CZ527 and Howa Mini-1500, They make great lightweight field guns! However, their smaller size gives them a different feel for shooting precision from the bench or bipod. If you are used to full size rifles then it may feel awkward. They are more comparable to a 22lr rifle (smaller footprint and lighter overall weight).

I love my mini-actions for hunting, but when it comes time to do serious shooting at the range then out comes a 700 size action in a full-sized setup.

For what it is I enjoy the crap out of my Howa mini but you nailed the description. It is more like a really pissed off .22lr in terms of size and performance. For what I have into that gun it shoots remarkably well. .5 MOA with the right ammo is not a stretch for it at all. Mine is in a MDT chassis. The only thing about it that I couldn't come to terms with is the HACT trigger. I tried several mod's on it and finally tossed it for a Jard and have been happy ever since.

I have been lurking on these threads as I am looking to spend a bit more and get into a little more refined .223. I have sort of come to the same conclusions over and over that is starting with a 700 footprint action and custom build.