Thread: Scope mounts for 223 (also sighting in & scope advice.....)

I bought a Howa mini action .223 scoped (Nikko Stirling Panamax) package from a store. Today I thought I'd Loctite the screws etc as I've always done and found one of the screws that close the rings had a totally stripped thread! I have had the rifle for over 12-months and have never used it due to getting crook with a bad case of lepto last year.

So it will be hard to prove to them that I didn't do it, but I am going to hit them up for a decent discount on a good grade of rings. Now for the advice..... What are the best value rings (hopefully they stock them)? I was going to upgrade the rings and scope eventually as $ssssss allowed. I don't want to go el-cheapo, but can't afford much more than $100 for a set of rings.

I just want to get set up with a good solid dependable rig for goats and the occasional fallow. I have been looking at the Nikon ProStaff 3-9x40 Matte BDC and a Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 BDC; both about the same price....

I've bought Outback 55gr, Buffalo River (55gr Gameking), H&F brand (55gr Hornady Sp) and Federal Powershok 64gr to test in it. I have been researching sighting in distances. My 7mm-o8 and .303 (and other similar rifles I've owned over the years!) I've always done 3" high at 100-yard, so smack on at 200-250yds (depending on the calibre).

Most sighting in info on the net seems to be varmint oriented to shoot out to 400-yards etc. Whereas I'm looking at out to 200m max on goats and 100-metre-ish for the occasional fallow (mostly use the 7mm-08 and .303 for deer). Going by the ballistic charts I decided at either 2" high at 100-yds; does that seem sensible?

Sorry for the lengthy post; but thanks in advance for any info

Can't go wrong with burris Z rings, I have them and a vortex crossfire II on my 223 and it shoots like a frickin laser. If your looking at the vortex consider the v bright reticle it's like a leupy fire dot and bloody good for goats

2" high is pretty much the go, warne rings are very good but somewhat expensive, the burris or leupold steels take a lot of beating.

Well; I went to the shop and told them what happened (knowing I couldn't prove that I wasn't the one who did it) and was offered no discount on any mount and was recommended to buy a shitty $55 set of ring or $150+ for other rings.... I didn't ask for a discount because after spending many years in retail I know I would have offered one if I was in their position... I have shopped there for about 5-years (2 rifles and odds and sods in that time) and had just bought $160 of ammo the day before....

The reason I haven't shop locally for 5-years was after my mate's son (17-years old at the time) wanted to buy a Tikka package and asked my local store if they could match it as he preferred to buy locally (a good attitude for someone so young). He had worked fencing all year on school holidays to get the money together. Instead of saying "No sorry; but thanks for giving us the opportunity" or offering a similar package; he told the boy that the Burris scope that came with the package was rubbish etc. Once he found out that the Burris was a good scope he went to H&F where they gave him a bag and pack of ammo on top of the deal. I have shopped there too ever since then.

I haven't shopped at the local shop since, but it has changed hands recently so will go back to them. So bye bye H&F...... And hello to my local shop again and Wilsons in Whanganui when I'm down there.... Oh; and H&F also said to just use it without that screw!

Rings are way overpriced in New Zealand I get 2 or 3 sets at a time from Natchez or the optic zone or whoever is your favourite on line retailer. Get them all sent in one box and attracts no duty as well under threshold.

Leupold PRW steel rings or Burris Zee rings are both strong and simple designs.

Hopefully the Federal Powershok 64 shoots well in your rifle, it's a great round for fallow and goats.

Originally Posted by rockland

Leupold PRW steel rings or Burris Zee rings are both strong and simple designs.

Hopefully the Federal Powershok 64 shoots well in your rifle, it's a great round for fallow and goats.

Yeah I thought I'd try it for that reason. Hopefully I'll get back to handloading in the not too distant future.

Thanks everyone for your input

I ended up getting a set of steel Weaver rings from my local store as they were waiting for more Burris rings to arrive but they weren't sure of the exact time frame. Anyway, Weavers have a good rep so I'm happy. All fitted; just waiting til the Loctite sets and then it's sighting in time :-) Again; thanks for the input :-)