Starter Rifle Recommendations

[hogpatrol]

What are your accuracy expectations?

I do not currently handload so something that has available factory loads would be best. If I really enjoy the shooting and decide to take up reloading, I would like a cartridge that is fairly easy and economical to reload. i plan on shooting for fun at my local club on the 200 yard range. Hunting or competition are not in the plans, but I certainly don’t oppose them.

The OP says factory ammo so a 6BR isn't going to work. Stick with the .223. Having said that, what are your accuracy expectations? If it's BR accuracy, handloading will be a must. The alternative is going through many iterations of factory ammo to find the most accurate, an expensive proposition in today's market.

 

[Lance21]

What are your accuracy expectations?

The OP says factory ammo so a 6BR isn't going to work. Stick with the .223. Having said that, what are your accuracy expectations? If it's BR accuracy, handloading will be a must. The alternative is going through many iterations of factory ammo to find the most accurate, an expensive proposition in today's market.

Lapua makes factory ammo in 6 br.

 

[joshb]

Buy a good 223, then learn to reload. A Tikka would be my choice, under $1200. Once you learn to reload, build a 6ppc or 6br, depending on the distances you have access to shoot. Stop there because you’ll be teetering on the edge of the rabbit hole!

 

[hogpatrol]

Lapua makes factory ammo in 6 br.

Agree but for all intents and purposes, at $3.60 a round plus shipping, is it a viable choice for the OP?

Lapua 6mm Norma BR (Bench Rest) Ammo 105 Grain Lapua Scenar-L Jacketed

Lapua ammunition is world renowned for accuracy and performance, making use of high quality components and adhering to the strictest of tolerances. This...

www.midwayusa.com

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Buy a good 223, then learn to reload. A Tikka would be my choice, under $1200. Once you learn to reload, build a 6ppc or 6br, depending on the distances you have access to shoot. Stop there because you’ll be teetering on the edge of the rabbit hole!

How do you stop?

 

[skywag]

Here's a Tikka .223

 

[Kittitas George]

I would suggest a Rem 700 in 223, not sure of factory ammo availability, but, it is probably better than other calibers. If you find one with the heavier varmint barrel so much the better. The guns are usually available some where on the computer. Get a decent trigger and scope (used is OK) as funds become available. Play with it, tune it up, discover how you use it. Start looking for used reloading equipment, press, scale, powder measure etc. Watch this site and others, gun shows and Craigslist. Stay with the more popular brands, you don't need Sinclair and other higher priced equipment to learn, I got by for many years with RCBS equipment. Don't make WORK out of your hobby, learn to use the tools and enjoy loading and shooting. The members of this site have an extensive amount of knowledge and are willing to share it. Don't be afraid to ask questions. You don't need super expensive equipment to enjoy shooting. I wish you enjoyment on your new journey, be safe and tite groups.

 

[joshb]

How do you stop?

I haven’t figured that out, yet.

 

[robbor]

Hello, I am a new poster to this forum, but have been looking around for a little while now. I am a rimfire shooter, and have not even fired a centerfire rifle since I last hunted more than 20 years ago. I have been shooting rimfire benchrest for the past few years, and that is likely to remain my main passion for a while. However, the desire for a centerfire rifle has been building and I think I am ready to try one again.

I have been hoping to come across a nice Varmint style bolt rifle for a while, but have not had any luck. So if I want one I will have to go out and get one, but I need some advice on what direction to take. I love the accuracy of my benchrest rifles, and love the lack of recoil and low noise that Rimfire provides, so very accurate and comparatively smaller rounds would be most appealing to me.

I do not currently handload so something that has available factory loads would be best. If I really enjoy the shooting and decide to take up reloading, I would like a cartridge that is fairly easy and economical to reload. i plan on shooting for fun at my local club on the 200 yard range. Hunting or competition are not in the plans, but I certainly don’t oppose them.

Based on these criteria, I am leaning towards a .223. I would certainly welcome any other caliber suggestions, though. As for rifles, I have always liked Remington, but it looks like that is probably a “No Go” now. I have had Howas in the past that I liked, and would certainly consider a Savage. I do love pretty guns, too, and would love to have another chance at a gun like the Cooper I unfortunately passed up right before the pandemic started. If I was an experienced reloader with tons of equipment, I would not be scared off by a used benchrest rig, but in my situation a factory or semi-custom is probably best.

I hope this post is not too long, but I wanted to include enough information to help some of the extremely experienced and knowledgeable shooters here provide me with some good advice. Thanks in advance for any suggestions provided.

What ever u buy, get STAINLESS STEEL!!!

 

[Riflecat]

I appreciate all of the suggestions so far. I will try to comment on a few of the points made.

First, I do want a bolt action. Although I am sure the AR-type rifles can be built to shoot very accurately now, I prefer the simplicity and aesthetics of a nice bolt action.

Second, I noticed very strong support for the Tikkas. I looked up the current offerings and I am sure one could work very well for me, but I didn’t really like the looks of the stocks on the Varmint models I saw. Again, they may be perfectly satisfactory, and I have not seen them in person. I did really like the looks of the Tikka sporter that was pictured, and if I found a heavy barreled version of that, I would be tempted.

I checked on Coopers and was shocked at their current MSRP. I definitely won’t be going that route, unless I luck into a nice used one at this point.

I checked out the Savage F/TR and that looks like a lot of rifle, although not at the old stereotypical Savage bargain price.

Please keep the recommendations coming.

 

[Riflecat]

For those who recommended a Remington or clone, those would be easy for me to take if I found the right one. When I think Varmint rifle, those are the images that usually pop into my head, from am old BDL Varmint Special to a VSSF.

I also appreciate the ease of finding aftermarket parts like triggers and stocks for these rifles.

 

[Riflecat]

As for the question of accuracy, I really want 1/2 MOA with the potential to do better. For better, I realize that would almost certainly require handloading. I know finding good factory ammo can be a challenging process, but it is all we can do when shooting .22 Rimfire, so I understand those challenges. Is 1/2 MOA even realistic with factory .223 or some other factory rounds?

I was leaning .223 because it’s about the only caliber with semi-decent ammo availability right now, in the 50-55 grain range.

As for rifles, the largest dealer in my area carries 6.5 Creedmoor, and that’s about it. I don’t know if it is like that elsewhere, but I have never seen anything like it. For at least the past 2-3 years, if they have 60 bolt actions on display at any time, then 40-45 are 6.5 CM. I have seen one .223 bolt action in two years, a basic Savage sporter. So if I want something other than a 6.5 CM, I will have to order it or buy it from a gun show or forum.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I checked on Coopers and was shocked at their current MSRP. I definitely won’t be going that route, unless I luck into a nice used one at this point.

That’s why I said check with a Cooper dealer, they used to be way under MSRP.

 

[Brians356]

For those who recommended a Remington or clone, those would be easy for me to take if I found the right one. When I think Varmint rifle, those are the images that usually pop into my head, from am old BDL Varmint Special to a VSSF.

I also appreciate the ease of finding aftermarket parts like triggers and stocks for these rifles.

My first varmint rifle, bought new in about 1995, was a Rem 700 VS in 223 Rem. That's with the HR Precision composite stock, 26" bull barrel. I put a decent but not pricey Leupold Varix-X II 4-12x40 AO on it. It shot several factory loads at around 3/4 MOA. I had a good veteran local gunsmith tune up the factory trigger, set to a smooth, crisp 1.5 lbs.

At about the same time I bought an RCBS Master Reloading Kit for (I still recall) $245. The rangemaster at our county facility suggested I start with the fired Winchester factory cases I had accumulated (neck sized), H335 powder, Rem 7-1/2 primers, and Sierra 53-gr MatchKing bullets nearly touching the lands. Lo and behold, soon I was often shooting ragged cloverleaf holes and averaging less than half inch groups, off a Harris bipod and a rear bunny-ear bag. Now the local ground squirrels and more distant coyotes were in real trouble, and I was hooked.

In a way I envy you, because those early rewards were the most thrilling, gained as they were from a modest outlay of funds and applying attainable handloading skills. Of course, I did get lucky in that the factory rifle turned out to be a pretty good one. Otherwise, nothing expensive or exotic.

Today I would probably start with a Tikka in 223.
-

 

[JBT47]

Forgive me if this was covered in above responses, but are you going to be shooting from a fixed position (bench or FClass at known distances) ? or do your shooting aspirations include unknown distance long range shooting prone off bipod? or time pressured PRS style positional, unknown distance?

Hand loading is a never ending learning curve. It is also at the top of the list of the most absolute essentials required for if you Benchrest or FClass type accuracy amd consistency.

That said, i would begin with a good custom (new or used) or semi custom rifle chambered in .223. Very easy to load for and lack of recoil in a Varmint or comp weight rifle will allow you to really work on proper fundamentals required for accuracy. My .223 bolt rifles chambered for the 90gr VLD have become my favorite of all rifle calibers for both practice and competition (F-TR).

If you are the type that has to learn the hard way, then you can try some “good” factory match ammo that may satisfy your accuracy standards. However, going the factory ammo route will prove to be more costly and wasteful in a quest for competitive accuracy and consistency… You mentioned “BenchRest” accuracy…so go ahead and buy good, proven handloading equipment and good components and start handloading. Lots of the best competitive shooters are on this site and are eager to help those new to handloading in pursuit of your accuracy goals.

If you are not interested in trying to achieve competitive accuracy, look for a good factory rifle chambered in .223 with a 1-7” twist, 1-8” tw, or most commonly 1-9” twist. If factory is for you there are good options for factory Match .223 ammo. Black Hills Match 77gr OTM is surprisingly accurate in many .223’s (can’t find it now though)…but in my experience Federal Gold Medal Match .223 69g and 77gr SMK usually shoots better than factory ammo should in most factory Rem 700 Police, R700 LTR’s, R700 5R Rifles, etc. I’ve owned many factory R700 .223’s with 1-9” twist “Varmint” weight barrels which shot better than any factory rifle should shoot using FGMM factory ammo…I cannot say the same about any of the larger caliber R700 factory rifles. assuming barrel has appropriate twist rate for those bullets). For bolt guns, I don’t buy factory anything anymore as my accuracy standards are different than years ago when I did not know better.

 

[marchx]

@Riflecat I shot 110 savage a lot until I sold it. I know a couple of guys who run savage 12. For the money you get a Tikka action which is way smoother than Savage, you get really nice trigger and you get a great barrel. With time you will change the stock anyway. I am not saying that Savage cannot beat Tikka during a match. I just never saw it myself.

 

[JBT47]

I appreciate all of the suggestions so far. I will try to comment on a few of the points made.

First, I do want a bolt action. Although I am sure the AR-type rifles can be built to shoot very accurately now, I prefer the simplicity and aesthetics of a nice bolt action.

Second, I noticed very strong support for the Tikkas. I looked up the current offerings and I am sure one could work very well for me, but I didn’t really like the looks of the stocks on the Varmint models I saw. Again, they may be perfectly satisfactory, and I have not seen them in person. I did really like the looks of the Tikka sporter that was pictured, and if I found a heavy barreled version of that, I would be tempted.

I checked on Coopers and was shocked at their current MSRP. I definitely won’t be going that route, unless I luck into a nice used one at this point.

I checked out the Savage F/TR and that looks like a lot of rifle, although not at the old stereotypical Savage bargain price.

Please keep the recommendations coming.

Again, for some reason there seems to be a good chance of getting an accurate factory rifle if you buy the Rem 700 Varmint weight barreled rifles in .223. IME all other factory 700’s in other/larger calibers there’s a good chance the rifle will not be as accurate as their 223’s. YMMV.

Tikka CTR T3x’s are great if you don’t mind the factory stock, etc…I just prefer most of my bolt guns to be R700 based due to aftermarket options (for instance…so many good aftermarket R700 trigger options).

 

[cptjack]

22 250. will to shoot a 223