i am thinking about another rifle and i am leaning towards a 223 as a varmit and target rifle. looking towards a bolt action as i have never been much of a semi auto loader fan because of maintenance. any thoughts on make and model? i have had good luck with my 700s in the past except for my 338 that i ended up trading for a savage which i am very happy with. i do have a set of base & rings from my 700 that would save a few bucks.

I've only ever owned one rifle chambered in .223, a CZ M527 with sporter weight barrel. The CZ has a single set trigger, which I really liked. On it's very first trip to the range wearing a simple Weaver V9 3-9x38 scope and shooting 55gr SP bulk ammo, it was shooting .5 MOA groups. I ended up selling that rifle to an acquaintence and he has since been able to easily better that .5 MOA with handloads.

Tikka varminter, make sure it's an 8 twist
RR

Good cartridge for your intended use.

More important than the brand of the rifle you choose, will be the quality of the scope you put on it.



Any of these brand name production rifles would be fine;


http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/ruge...-p-127532.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/weat...-p-121954.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/marl...-p-117249.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/ruge...h-p-99578.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/tikk...h-p-90826.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/remi...h-p-86358.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/howa...h-p-99595.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/sava...m-p-86703.html

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/thom...-p-112298.html

http://www.remington.com/product-fam...model-783.aspx

Wait, what did I hear you say?

PS....I agree with RR though...I love my Tikka! That being said, a Savage 10 or 11 would also be a decent choice and it's hard to beat a Rem 700.

The tikka varminter is the only 8 twist production rifle I know about, I have 223's rifled 8,9,10, and 12 twist, the 8 is my fave, though it's not. Tikka, and it's not a bolt. If the tikka varminter was made in LH I would buy one, change the bottom metal, rechamber to 22x47 and kill stuff way out there, so looks like I'm gonna half to build a rem. 700 in 22/6mm AI to have a 1000 yard 224 caliber rifle.
RR

check out this link.

http://ruger.com/products/americanRi...eets/6913.html

I'm flat in love with the Savage 12 Varminter (BVSS). Heavy for calling, but get a good sling, and man up - it's heavy enough to play well on the bench. 100yrd 5 shot groups out of my wife's 12 .223rem are 1/4 to 1/2MOA at 100yrds. I bought the same rifle in 22-250 a year later, great performance out of it as well, ended up selling it and buying another .223rem like my wife's. Very good performance.

The Savage is a 1:9", the longer tube on the Savage 12 gives enough velocity that we've handled up to 70 and 75grn pills with it very well. Usually play with 50, 53, and 55grn V-maxes for coyotes though.

I think the 12 VLP-DBM is an upgrade having removable mags, and a bit lighter stock, but I like the big palm swell and the flat bench style forend on the old BVSS Varminter better. Stick a detachable mag into the BVSS stock and I'd be all over it.

I own a number of .223s, including a CZ527, but mine's the Varmint Laminated version. Pretty much the same experience in the accuracy department. However, it's nowhere near the weight of my other HB Varmint rifle - to the point that I do use it frequently as a "walking" coyote rifle.

I agree, if they made it in left handed I'd own one as well. I also have an 8 twist 223 but mine is probably the same platform as yours. Now a 22/6mm AI....very sexy! But you already have me on the hunt for a long action for my 6.5/06AI ....oh man, to many builds I need...hahaha