I would agree with the majority of the guys. I use a ruger .223 (m77) With a good scope and a bi-pod I'm sighted in 2" above bulls @ 100yds. and can smoke half inch groups @ 200yds. & have taken critters @ 300yds. with no problem. maybe it's the shells I'm using but I had little if any bullet drop at 300yds. It's a great gun and ammo is cheap, cheap, cheap!!!!!!
My buddie just bought a savage .243 bolt for a pretty reasonable price and it shoots nice and flat also. I don't know how he is at 200+ but I do know that he had 1/2" groups at 100yds using a bench.
Now my brother uses a 25-06 with a tacticle scope (nice!). I think I might pick a scope up like it. I think he paid $140 for the scope but, it has a range finder built in and a bullet drop compensator that you dial in according to the distance. Pretty slick! It has diff. dial rings for a whole list of ammos depending on what you use.
Many, many choices!
Good Luck!!!<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>