Recommend me a Mag fed bolt action .223 with 1:8/7 twist

[Quinc]

Looking for a bolt action .223 that I can use standing sitting and prone. Plan is to be able to use it appleseeds once in a while so 8rd+ magazines would be a huge plus, under 9lbs and capable of sub moa groups at 400m+ would be ideal. (Mag fed hand loads).

Ruger Scout looks like exactly what I am looking for, but I can't find any reviews on accuracy, what kind of loads it likes etc.

Tikka t3 Sporter looks great, but I am not sure if it would be too heavy standing with only a GI sling. No gun shops around carry tikka.

And the Savage 12 VLP DBM is another one I am looking at but not sure on the magazine.

 

[Thauglor]

That Tikka is a 10 lb and few ounce gun, with no optics or sights. Also, in 223 the mag only holds 6. You can get AICS bottom metal and use their 10 rounders.

Mine is sub moa at 100, hope it helps. I am using mine for XTC matches but I also have a tube gun stock on order.

 

[2dogs]

The Tikka is also available in a tactical version. Synthetic stock, adj LOP, cheekpiece, and wide forend. Heavy barrel with a threaded muzzle. Comes with a oversize bolt handle and a picatinny scope rail.

We have sold quite a few of them in our shop. All reports are quite positive.

 

[bheadboy]

Mossberg MVP is a possibility , have read some interesting things about it, my son just got one, but first shooting is this weekend.

Bob

 

[Quinc]

I am leaning toward the Tikka Sporter. Problem I am having now is finding an ffl that can get one. MVP looks great but 1:9 twist.

 

[XTR]

Get a Remington 700 of some flavor and change the bottom metal to use AICS / Accurate mags.

 

[amlevin]

Get a Remington 700 of some flavor and change the bottom metal to use AICS / Accurate mags.

Agree on the Rem 700. If your loads are longer than std .223 mag length just remove or modify the spacer in the internal box magazine so you can load the longer rounds. The SA will allow up to 2.800" although the longest .223 rounds with heavy bullets will be in the 2.400"-2.600" range.

Want more in the mag, just add a floor plate extender for about $25. They work great. Replaces the std BDL floorplate with a "box" that holds a couple more cartridges.

 

[Thauglor]

I am leaning toward the Tikka Sporter. Problem I am having now is finding an ffl that can get one. MVP looks great but 1:9 twist.

If you are still going to get the Tikka, Eurooptic had the lowest price when I bought mine. You can order from them and just ship it your FFL. That is what I did as any other FFL wanted a few hundred more $ or just didn't carry it.

 

[Quinc]

I am leaning toward the Tikka Sporter. Problem I am having now is finding an ffl that can get one. MVP looks great but 1:9 twist.

If you are still going to get the Tikka, Eurooptic had the lowest price when I bought mine. You can order from them and just ship it your FFL. That is what I did as any other FFL wanted a few hundred more $ or just didn't carry it.

How do you like your Sporter? Was it ready to go out of the box?

 

[Thauglor]

There are no include scope rings, this was fine for me because I was planning on iron sights from the get go. I ordered a Tikka Performance 20MOA rail so I can switch between irons and the scope. I didn't like the included sling stop but I already had my own.

I first bought a 6.5x55 in 2013 and bought a 223 a couple months ago, both have been very accurate.

Eurooptic had them for $1448 both times, but there is a gunbroker dealer that is listing them for $1295 buy it now, not sure if he has the 223 version or not (but he is hurting my resale price!! lol). Never dealt with them cuz Eurooptic was great both times. Shipping was like $25 and a $25 transfer fee at my FFL and it was mine.

 

[Quinc]

There are no include scope rings, this was fine for me because I was planning on iron sights from the get go. I ordered a Tikka Performance 20MOA rail so I can switch between irons and the scope. I didn't like the included sling stop but I already had my own.

I first bought a 6.5x55 in 2013 and bought a 223 a couple months ago, both have been very accurate.

Eurooptic had them for $1448 both times, but there is a gunbroker dealer that is listing them for $1295 buy it now, not sure if he has the 223 version or not (but he is hurting my resale price!! lol). Never dealt with them cuz Eurooptic was great both times. Shipping was like $25 and a $25 transfer fee at my FFL and it was mine.

Can you shoot me a link to the iron sights that you are using! Also did you have to take the gun to a smith to get the front site put on?

 

[Thauglor]

Quinc

I use a Stallings Machine Rightsight for the front, and use a Medesha bloop tube to extend the sight. I had Medesha make the bloop adapter the same as the barrel diameter (0.867" on both rifles ). This was the cheaper and faster method for me as I wanted to extend the sight radius anyway. I was able to get a good deal on a Centra rear sight from Sinclair a couple of years ago as they were being clearanced out. The Rightsight can also come with a 0.875" base that will fit with no modification.

I also have an Elisio tube gun stock on order, more to help me with the sitting position than any thing really wrong with the the stock. The butt plate moves up/down/left/right, and the cheek piece can also adjust left/right about 1/2 inch either way (looking towards the muzzle ).

http://www.stallingsmachine.com
http://www.medeshafirearms.com/Extension%20Tubes.htm

I have a picture of the sights on the 6.5 on the site here.

On another note, as no shops really carry the Sporter version, go and feel a regular T3 action, any will do as they are all the same for all calibers. Feel the trigger, see if you like it. I don't own any other factory bolt guns but I hear the Tikka is one of the better triggers. I upgraded to a Barnard trigger as I prefer two stages.

 

[bheadboy]

Report on shooting the MVP, Mossberg,

this weekend my son and I took it for a spin, YUUUUK,

the thing gave groups 1/2" high and 6" right to left, scope, bases, action screws all checked out.

came home and took a look at the bedding, ridiculous, the action is sitting on two round pillars the front hitting a round action and the rear a flat surface, the durn thing was moving right/left on recoil. no contact any where else!

my son wants me to bed it and I will start 1" in front of the recoil lug and make sure the action is contacted and the tang is supported -not hanging in the air.

I will let you know what it does next outing. it just may shoot if the vertical is any indication.

Bob

 

[mac86951]

What bullets do you intend to shoot out of the 1-7/1-8 twist? Just about anything over the 77gr conventional is going to be more than 2.260" COL and most VLDs over 70gr are also loaded over 2.260"

I believe the AICS magazines for a short action bolt will handle 2.550" COL which is plenty of length, but be sure to check magazine cartridge length if you plan on heavier bullets.

-Mac