Thread: Which bolt 223 to look out for

I have one too, its great

Originally Posted by Konev

Good luck. Next shipment in 3 months already sold out. Waiting to hear back from guncity as they parallel import them. Heavy barrel 223 is damn near impossible to get at the moment unless you get the 18 inch model.

If anyone really wants a heavy barrel 223 Howa SS with a suppressor I know someone who is considering parting with their varmint rig @Tertle this may or may not be something you will be interested in....It is a slower twist 1:12 I think, and really likes 50gr or less, some 55 shoot well in it but 35gr Vmaxs are nearly lasers.....The Tikka will be in a better condition with less use, but the howa still has quite some life in her yet....

Originally Posted by 57jl

Hi I i stopped in at the Taihape Sports to see if i could find a L/H 223 didn't have anything but the owner Giles Stanford showed me a stainless with wooden stock Browning x bolt R/H action bloody nice rifles rotary mag and his prices are very sharp ph 06 388 1762 hope that helps. Remington yer-na CZ are good savage are good tikka are ok I just brought a cz 204 L/h action nice I like it

Yep, Am bloody pleased Giles has his sports shop in my home town!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Macca

I'm personally looking at a Howa 1500 in a regular or mini action and #6 contour stainless barrel/action depending on availability to pair it up with one of these chassis

MDT HS3 chassis $900-$1100
MDT Oryx $700
MDT LSS $900-$1000
MDT LSS XL Gen 2 (not here yet?)
GRS Berserk $800
GRS BiFrost $1000
KRG Bravo $1000
KRG Xray $1100+?

The Howa is guaranteed 1 MOA and is a much nicer rifle than the Ruger American which is sold at the same price here in NZ, but in the US the Howa is the more expensive rifle. Once in the chassis it's going to be even more of a tack driver for varmints, plinking, and precision rifle comps.

Slap on a Vortex Diamondback tactical 4-18/6-24 or Strike Eagle 3-18 and it'll be a sub $3000 build that'll likely shoot 0.5 MOA all day.

Probably gonna try one of the new Greystone Guns K baffle suppressors in either the 4k or 6k lengths.

The Ruger American Ranch is a factory 16" and screw cut when you buy it.

In my opinion the Ruger American also has a better stock and action interface.

I await my chassis and mags as I type this for my Ruger American Ranch

So .223 is all good for deer hunting? How about hogs?

I can't decide whether to go for a .308, .223 or 7.62x39 Howa 1500. .223 would be cheaper to shoot but I don't know if it's ethical to hunt deer and pigs with it, .308 is just expensive, x39 seems like a good middle ground but I think it has accuracy issues with the cheap steel case stuff.

Originally Posted by TheWuce

I can't decide whether to go for a .308, .223 or 7.62x39 Howa 1500. .223 would be cheaper to shoot but I don't know if it's ethical to hunt pigs with it, .308 is just expensive, x39 seems like a good middle ground but I think it has accuracy issues with the cheap steel case stuff.

Contact "The Bomb" as he has extensive knowledge hunting deer with that calibre!

I love the .223 on deer... either a good 55 or 63 gr Sierra and you won't look back

Originally Posted by TheWuce

I can't decide whether to go for a .308, .223 or 7.62x39 Howa 1500. .223 would be cheaper to shoot but I don't know if it's ethical to hunt deer and pigs with it, .308 is just expensive, x39 seems like a good middle ground but I think it has accuracy issues with the cheap steel case stuff.

308 not really that expensive....Try Ammo direct ($140 per 100 rounds) or Belmont $108 per 100 with SP. 308 is a fairly decent choice and has more legs than the x39. I would use x39 on hogs before I used 223 but would usually take the 308 because it covers all.

Originally Posted by timattalon

308 not really that expensive....Try Ammo direct ($140 per 100 rounds) or Belmont $108 per 100 with SP. 308 is a fairly decent choice and has more legs than the x39. I would use x39 on hogs before I used 223 but would usually take the 308 because it covers all.

Completely agree. .308 is one of thr cheapest centrefire to run (along with. 223 and 7.63x39) and in my view the most versatile.
The Belmont ammo, has to be the best deal out there in terms of quality vs price.

Originally Posted by TheWuce

I can't decide whether to go for a .308, .223 or 7.62x39 Howa 1500. .223 would be cheaper to shoot but I don't know if it's ethical to hunt deer and pigs with it, .308 is just expensive, x39 seems like a good middle ground but I think it has accuracy issues with the cheap steel case stuff.

Is recoil an issue for you?.

Originally Posted by TheWuce

I can't decide whether to go for a .308, .223 or 7.62x39 Howa 1500. .223 would be cheaper to shoot but I don't know if it's ethical to hunt deer and pigs with it, .308 is just expensive, x39 seems like a good middle ground but I think it has accuracy issues with the cheap steel case stuff.

Go 308, the 762x39's ok for plinking and under 150m but the 308 will get you to the 300m zone with enough energy left for a good kill. Once you have the 308 you can get the others anyway and a lot of the cheap x39 ammo's drying up. Pretty much only five dollars a box difference now so go the more power option.

Originally Posted by ChrisW

I picked up a .223 1:8 twist Tikka Varmint after the announcement to ban semis.

It is incredibly accurate... I tested 4 loads last time I went out (same powder charge but different seating lengths), and the largest 5 shot group was 0.321inch and the smallest around 0.15inch at 100m. (the .402 and .385 are the same group, just measured from different sides, and the .402 isnt right on the edge of the hole. subtract .223 from total to get group size).

Anyway its bog standard and pushing a 75gr at close to 3000fps and shooting incredibly tiny groups...especially considering the brass is once fired brass that has been shot in other guns and hasn't even been tumbled or anything.
I may be biased but the results speak for themselves... the Tikkas are pretty damn good.

My 2c worth. Have owned four varmint contour Tikkas, a 1:8" .223, a 1:14" .22-250, a 1:12" .204 Ruger (all Aussie rifles) and the current NZ 1:12" .223 Super Varmint.

Every one of these rifles has printed bug holes out of the box with sensible hand loads. Uses were roo culling, thru' foxes and wild dogs, bunnies, and wallabys in TAS, to the current vermin and small deer now. In NZ the current Super Varmint has performed very well on fallow and yearling reds with soft 50-55gr bullets, Z-Max, Berger Varmint, Sierra Blitzking and Nosler Varmaggedon.

If I was to buy another .224 calibre, it would be a Tikka Varmint or Super Varmint every time no question. I do miss the 1:8" twist but in all honesty the 1:12" in the right place with a BllitzKing is deadly. Yes, I headshoot most of them. Because they have always been half MOA rifles from the get go.

Several other manufacturers make fine rifles in .223. CZ micro actions, Sako of course (thou overpriced), the Rugers are deadly accurate but shitty stocks, and others.

But if I could personally guarantee a fantastic out the box winner (I would if I could), it would be a Tikka Varmint or Super Varmint every time.

haha god damn it, I already emailed Broncos last night asking for a custom package deal with a 7.62x39 Howa+Crossfire II + DPT. Now after looking at Belmont ammo I'm convinced I should go for the .308 instead. Now I have to embarrass myself with an "Um actually" follow up email. Thanks guys.

Shopping for guns is so hard, woe is me.

Originally Posted by TheWuce

haha god damn it, I already emailed Broncos last night asking for a custom package deal with a 7.62x39 Howa+Crossfire II + DPT. Now after looking at Belmont ammo I'm convinced I should go for the .308 instead. Now I have to embarrass myself with an "Um actually" follow up email. Thanks guys.

Shopping for guns is so hard, woe is me.

They'd be able to do the same deal on a 308. Just email back. While your at it go up 2 steps and get that deal in 300 winmag or if your unsure of winmag get 30 06, Get the whole 30 cal family. You deserve it!

I took my Tikka Varmint .223 out yesterday to try to back up/confirm my load from the other week was good & stable.
Went pretty well, very consistent gun. Shot at 100m. The numbers are group size in inches. The one with no number is 0.2moa. (only a 3 shot group though)
Not sure im capable of shooting too much better with any consistency without using a better rest. (this was shot off a knock-off harris non-pivoting bipod and a rear bag).