Hi everyone. I am looking to get a multi purpose varmint/target gun.One of the guns I was looking at was the browning X-bolt varmint stalker in 223cal medium heavy 24"barrel with a 1in12 twist. The other gun was a browning A-bolt Target in 223cal 28" heavy bull barrel with a 1in8 twist.I will probly shoot 200-300 yrd's max. If anyone could tell me what my best option is for what I want to do I would appreciate it. I would also try a differant cal like 243 Or if you have a better gun choice Im open for ideas. Thank's
Varmint/Target Gun
- Thread starter shaner72
- Start date
If your going to max at 300 or so I'd go with the 24" 1-12,
,and start loading for it. The 1-12 will handle bullets up too 55grns quite well.
The 223 is an easy one to learn loading for, and with hand loaded ammo 1/2 moa at 300 is very easy to do. Once your pratcied at shooting and loading the combo above should get 1" groups at 300
,and start loading for it. The 1-12 will handle bullets up too 55grns quite well.
The 223 is an easy one to learn loading for, and with hand loaded ammo 1/2 moa at 300 is very easy to do. Once your pratcied at shooting and loading the combo above should get 1" groups at 300
Agreed a 223 would be an easy gun to learn to reload for and shoot. Shooting the lighter 50 or 55 grain slugs will teach you to read the wind at 300 yards to git to the 1 inch groups.
Hillbilly
Hillbilly
jonbearman
I live in new york state,how unfortunate !
Why not get the 1 in 8 or at least 1 in 9 twist as they will stabilize every thing up to 75 grains. Why buy a barrel that is limited.Also if you want to be able to change your mind down the road,I would go savage and buy an upgraded barrel and install it right away and peddle the original and you have a tack driver with limitless options down the road.And it is a switch barrel right from the factory.You need a barrel vice and barrel nut wrench and a go gage and you can change a bolt head and one other part and convert to any medium sized cartridge on the market including the .243.I know this is alittle off post from your question but it is good imfo from someone who has wasted to much money buying 2 or 3 of the same gun to get different calibers.
I have a Browning X Bolt Stalker in 223 (22" sporter weight barrel) and a Browning A Bolt in the Varmint Stalker in 223 (24" semi-bull barrel). Both have 1:12 twists.
The X Bolt is a big improvement over the A Bolt. It's slimmer, the magazine is better, and the trigger is much better. Mine shoots close to 1/2 MOA with 25 grains of Benchmark, 50 grain Nosler, and Federal 205 match primers. Not too bad for a sporter weight barrel. I like it a lot and highly recommend it. It's a joy to carry.
The A Bolt Varmint Stalker (heavier barrel) is very accurate, shoots under 1/2 moa with 26.0 grains of Varget, 55 Nosler, Federal 205 match primers. My only compliant with the A Bolt is the trigger is not very good. I had timmey springs install, it helped but it's still not ideal. Unforturately, I can't find an after market trigger for this model. Even so, it's one of the most accurate rifles I've ever owned. I image the X Bolt version of this model is superb since it had a much better trigger.
The 223 is capable of handling 300 yard shots on varmints if you purchase a high quality scope. With the 1:12 twists you'll get the best performance from 50 and 55 grain bullets.
The 243 is a much superior long range varmint cartridge at the cost of more noise and more expense, but if you keep your shots under 300 yards you'll be fine with the 223.
The X Bolt is a big improvement over the A Bolt. It's slimmer, the magazine is better, and the trigger is much better. Mine shoots close to 1/2 MOA with 25 grains of Benchmark, 50 grain Nosler, and Federal 205 match primers. Not too bad for a sporter weight barrel. I like it a lot and highly recommend it. It's a joy to carry.
The A Bolt Varmint Stalker (heavier barrel) is very accurate, shoots under 1/2 moa with 26.0 grains of Varget, 55 Nosler, Federal 205 match primers. My only compliant with the A Bolt is the trigger is not very good. I had timmey springs install, it helped but it's still not ideal. Unforturately, I can't find an after market trigger for this model. Even so, it's one of the most accurate rifles I've ever owned. I image the X Bolt version of this model is superb since it had a much better trigger.
The 223 is capable of handling 300 yard shots on varmints if you purchase a high quality scope. With the 1:12 twists you'll get the best performance from 50 and 55 grain bullets.
The 243 is a much superior long range varmint cartridge at the cost of more noise and more expense, but if you keep your shots under 300 yards you'll be fine with the 223.
jonbearman said:
Can't argue with you on that why limint yourself before you even git started. +1 Jon
Hillbilly
Why not look at the Savage 223's. They come with a 1:9 twist and are great shooters and the best buy for the money right now. Rememebr the prices listed by the manufacturer are NOT the "street price". For "street price" look on www.Gunbroker.com
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/allfirearms/
http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/allfirearms/
That unfortunatly shaner, is a roll of the dice.
You'll really hafta try a few brands to find what your rifle likes,
Decide on your twist rate then search for the right weight,
55 and under for the 1-12
55 an over for the 1-9
It's easy now a days to dump over a hundered trying to find something that really works well, or ya might get lucky with the first box or two.
Buying ammo to find a sweet factory load for my son's 7-08 is what finally convinced me to jump into loading with both feet. My only regret is I didn't start years ago.
Once you make your choice and have the gun in hand, try posting back and maybe someone will have your same gun and help with favored ammo, but this IS a reloading forum, many do roll their own.
You'll really hafta try a few brands to find what your rifle likes,
Decide on your twist rate then search for the right weight,
55 and under for the 1-12
55 an over for the 1-9
It's easy now a days to dump over a hundered trying to find something that really works well, or ya might get lucky with the first box or two.
Buying ammo to find a sweet factory load for my son's 7-08 is what finally convinced me to jump into loading with both feet. My only regret is I didn't start years ago.
Once you make your choice and have the gun in hand, try posting back and maybe someone will have your same gun and help with favored ammo, but this IS a reloading forum, many do roll their own.
There is no doubt that the Browning A Bolt Target is the better rifle. Not to be confused with the other A bolt models. It has a 1 in 8.5 twist and shoots 69 SMKs like a dream.
Look at all its features (bedded, set trigger, short throw bolt, adjustable cheek piece, etc) and compare.
I have been shooting an A bolt target in 223 for a year and still can't believe how well it shoots out of the box.
What the stats don't tell is how smoothly it operates. It has a hardened roller on the cocking piece that makes it easy to open the bolt and is much more pleasant to cycle than my Savage 12 target action. The Browning is a better buy at its current street price.
Look at all its features (bedded, set trigger, short throw bolt, adjustable cheek piece, etc) and compare.
I have been shooting an A bolt target in 223 for a year and still can't believe how well it shoots out of the box.
What the stats don't tell is how smoothly it operates. It has a hardened roller on the cocking piece that makes it easy to open the bolt and is much more pleasant to cycle than my Savage 12 target action. The Browning is a better buy at its current street price.
I have had very good luck with Hornady varmint express 55gr vmax ammo in my .223's. it does extremely well in my ar-15 (1/2 inch five shots) and also in my Rem 700 (3/4 inch) and I get good brass out of the deal.
I would be going for a tikka t3 varmint stainless in 1:8. You can still shoot 55gr bullets in it (been done here and they are explosive on varmints but they dont come apart mid flight). Plus you can go to a 75 or 80gr load for targets. T3's are very accurate rifles, with the sub moa guarantee from the box. Trigger is easily adjustable and nice to use. They dont seem to be mentioned much in america but if I was looking for an accurate factory gun, I would chose one of them over the remingtons, brownings and savages. Most brands are usually accurate, but theres never a guarantee with accuracy. With tikka there is.
savage does have an out of box garuntee on accuracy. i know its their lower end but i had a savage stevens model in a 22-250. extremly accurate. i reloaded and was using barnes varmit gernades. VERY VERY nasty on varmit. 22-250 is another caliber you might check into. one of my favorites.
coyoteklr
hard to go wrong with the old 220 swift shooting 52 grain sierra match hpbt....
one hole target and take down any varmit....... ;D
deadly out to 500 without a problem......
one hole target and take down any varmit....... ;D
deadly out to 500 without a problem......
I shoot an AR15 in 223 with a 1-9" twist and it absolutely loved 50gr Vmaxs loaded by cheap Fiocchi, i havent been able to get the half inch groups i was getting with the vmaxs yet with my handloads shooting 69gr.
200-300yards was long for me a year ago and now im shooting 600, Dont limit yourself.
Learning on a small motorcycle sounds good, but a month later youre gonna wish you had more horsepower
200-300yards was long for me a year ago and now im shooting 600, Dont limit yourself.
Learning on a small motorcycle sounds good, but a month later youre gonna wish you had more horsepower
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