The .223 is a great caliber. The Vangaurds seem like nice rifles, but I've never had the opportunity to shoot one. I've shoot a Browning and a Winchester, and have also shot guns from Remington, Ruger, Howa, and Tikka. If the barrels are floated correctly, they will all shoot good. The Howa .223 I shot was not floated correctly and the groups showed. Take a dollar bill, and see how far down you can run the dollar bill between the stock and the barrel. If it makes it to the recoil lug, it will probably get the job done.