Budget .223 Bolt Action

[BigBL87]

I've been going back and forth on what I want my next purchase to be. Was thinking a .308 but being in Illinois there's not much I could use it on hunting that .223 isn't plenty for (deer is shotgun/muzzleloader only) plus there aren't many ranges nearby that are longer than 100 yards.

Also, I've recently found my AR to not be quite as accurate as I want it to be for coyote hunting especially with the scope I have on it at the moment (Bushnell AR Optics 4.5-18). With that in mind, I'm thinking of going with a bolt action .223, shifting the Bushnell over to said bolt gun, and either just using irons for my AR or getting a lower magnification optic for it.

I want to stay below $400, the less the better, and it will be at least a few months before I purchase. Have to sell a few things and build up the cash. The ones I have in mind are (all are currently under $400 shipped in some form per gun.deals):

Savage Axis/Axis II
Howa 1500
Ruger America
Thompson Center Compass

I did look at the Remington 783 as well but I'm not a fan of the molded in studs as I want to mount a bipod. Any opinions or additional options are appreciated. I do own a Savage Mark II FV and LOVE the Accutrigger, but I'm not married to it. I would probably lean towards heavy barrel models if they are available, I like the way my Mark II balances with one.

 

[entropy]

Put that AR Optics on an Axis II, there's you coyote gun. Then shop for a decent red dot or 1-5ish scope for your AR.

 

[jmr40]

Ruger American. Either the Predator with 22" barrel or the Ranch with 16" barrel. Both can be had for $395 shipped. Be sure you get the newer version that takes AR magazines.

https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/26965.html

https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/26944.html

 

[cdb1]

I prefer the Howa.

 

[BigBL87]

Put that AR Optics on an Axis II, there's you coyote gun. Then shop for a decent red dot or 1-5ish scope for your AR.

One of the reasons I'm kind of liking the Axis II is I can get one with a Weaver Kaspa or Bushnell Banner scope that I can resell and put towards a low power variable for my AR.

Ruger American. Either the Predator with 22" barrel or the Ranch with 16" barrel. Both can be had for $395 shipped. Be sure you get the newer version that takes AR magazines.

https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/26965.html

https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/26944.html

Thanks, wasn't aware of the models that took AR mags, that's a big plus for me.

 

[Varminterror]

Remington 700 ADL
Savage 10/11/12 Trophy
Ruger American
Howa 1500

In that order. I wouldn’t really be excited to buy an Axis II. New stock on any of the above, and some trigger work, or a new trigger.

 

[swampcrawler]

Ruger Americans are fantastic value guns.

I’m actually adding a boydes At-One stock, decent scope and brake to my predator in 6.5 Creed for my wife’s long range rig. Very accurate, the action is pretty good, and trigger is pretty good. Both can be improved with minor tinkering.

 

[cdb1]

For me it would be 700 ADL and then Howa 1500. I can’t warm up to the Axis and RAR.

 

[wbbh]

My Thompson Center Compass in .223 is tack driver, it's hard to figure out how they get such great performance for so little money. I would add a spring kit from MCARBO to lighten the trigger. I also have two Howa rifles in 6.5 Grendel and 7mm-08, they are excellent too, though a little more money.

 

[CptnAwesome]

Ruger American
Howa 1500
TC Compass
Savage axis

*The Ruger American is the best bang for the buck in that group in my book. Looks, accuracy, weight etc.
*The Howa is a little on the heavy side but probably the best built of the group and just as accurate.
*The Compass and the axis is neck and neck in my book, I give the Compass the nod because it's also an accurate rifle and I never really cared for the looks of the axis but you can't argue with its performance.

 

[ontarget]

Howa 1500 in the Mini Action. I am getting consistent .75 or less 5 shot groups with Federal Gold Medal match ammo. Just mounted a Vortex Viper on it tonight so hope to see some more improvement.

 

[JeeperCreeper]

I like the Howas and Rugers for .223

Another rifle to look at.... 7.62x39 Ruger American or Howa 1500. I've heard reports of people getting great groups at medium ranges with crappy steel ammo with both rifles. Cheap to buy, cheap to shoot, and by all reports, very accurate at under 300 yards (I wanna say I read one review where a guy took a Howa to 600 or 800 yards, but hey, it was on the internet)

 

[LoonWulf]

Howa mini, (700adl would go here for me, if that's an option) RAP or RAR, Compass, and then Axis.

I don't particularly like actions too large for the cartridge, which makes the Howa Mini my primary pick.
But the minis are usually 450+, so I'm guessing your looking at a Howa 1500 lightening? If so I'd still chose it just because I like certain aspects of the action better than the others, but I'd do that knowing it's gonna be heavy, and may not be as accurate as some of the other options.

The RA's would honestly be my recommendation, everyone Ive seen has shot well, from the Ranch, and Standard, to my Magnum. They have some quirks, like the finish on the bolt body, but nothing that can't quickly and easily be cleaned up. Stocks really don't fit me well also, too thin in the wrong spots, but we'll enough that I generally shoot them well.

I have no personal experience with the Compass but generally they get good reviews.

I just can't like the Axis, it's ugly even for a Savage, and just dosent feel the way I want a rifle to feel. Again just me, most people who own them really like them. They also generally get a good accuracy report.

 

[jmorris]

I've recently found my AR to not be quite as accurate as I want it to be for coyote hunting especially with the scope I have on it at the moment (Bushnell AR Optics 4.5-18). With that in mind, I'm thinking of going with a bolt action .223, shifting the Bushnell over to said bolt gun

I kind of read this as you didn’t like the scope but uncertain because you want to switch it over.?

In any case for $400 you could likely get an AR barrel for your gun that would outshoot a $400 bolt action rifle.

 

[cdb1]

Well I’m gonna open up a can of worms. The scope you are using is a sub $200.00 scope. Nothing wrong with that. I’ve never seen a scope in that price range with a 4-18 zoom I thought was any good though. I think a decent 3-9, maybe a 4-12 can be had for $200.00 but not a scope with a top end of 18x. I’m also not saying there is anything wrong with it but I don’t know anyone that hunts coyotes using that much magnification. I’m sure there are though.

How accurate is your AR?

 

[BigBL87]

I kind of read this as you didn’t like the scope but uncertain because you want to switch it over.?

In any case for $400 you could likely get an AR barrel for your gun that would outshoot a $400 bolt action rifle.

The scope is ok, don't really love or hate it. Eye box is a bit picky but that's my biggest complaint. My previous scope on the AR was a Mueller MultiShot 2-7, and accuracy seemed adequate. I figured more magnification would help me see if the group sizes were due to me just not being steady enough since I don't have the best bench rest setup, but it looks like I just have a 2-3 moa gun at least with 55gr FMJ which is ok for a $600 "build."

I've thought about buying a barrel, but I like the concept of having the AR with a low power variable for shorter range work and a bolt gun for longer range shots, depending on which situation is more likely when my father-in-law and I start hunting coyote on his property.

 

[jmorris]

You know what you want better than me but it’s only two pins to swap out one upper for another but that too raises the price over just a barrel.

FWIW you might try some “premium” ammunition in what you already have. Might be a substantial difference between it and the cheapest 55g fmj you can find.

I’d also rather have a good low power scope than a cheap one with a lot of magnification.

 

[cdb1]

I’d also rather have a good low power scope than a cheap one with a lot of magnification.

This.

 

[BigBL87]

FWIW you might try some “premium” ammunition in what you already have. Might be a substantial difference between it and the cheapest 55g fmj you can find.

I’d also rather have a good low power scope than a cheap one with a lot of magnification.

Valid points. I have no illusions about being a competitive long distance shooter or anything, I just like being able to have the higher magnification if I "need" it. Part of it is probably being spoiled by the accuracy of my Savage Mark II, with just a new stock and adjusting the trigger to my liking it's to the point of shooting about .6 moa with CCI SV.

 

[FL-NC]

I would choose the RAR from what you listed. I have one in 308 and another in 300 B-O, and I am happy with both. I also have a Mossberg MVP in 223 which is an excellent rifle, not sure if this goes over your $400 limit though.

 

[Varminterror]

I’ve never seen a scope in that price range with a 4-18 zoom I thought was any good though.

I’ll echo this - and I’ll extend my reach with the statement:

I’ve never seen a scope with Bushnell AR Optics on the sticker I thought was any good.

I’m a huge Bushnell fan, run their optics on most of my rifles, and have owned most of the AR Optics line - the AR line is a divergence from their normal paradigm of “great glass without bells and whistles to lower cost.” They threw a bunch of popular features at the AR line and slapped together sub-par glass compared to their other products even at lower price points.

 

[milemaker13]

BigBL87- I'm in IL as well and have not found a range longer than 100 either. That would be buffalo range in Ottawa. Where abouts are you? Im in the west suburbs, about 20 min from the city depending on traffic of course

Ive also started looking at a .223 bolt action rifle like you. I like the savage 10 trophy offered at buds, however its a bit over budget. Comes with a scope that a few guys said is decent. I may ask santa for that or something similar.

 

[cdb1]

I’ll echo this - and I’ll extend my reach with the statement:

I’ve never seen a scope with Bushnell AR Optics on the sticker I thought was any good.

I’m a huge Bushnell fan, run their optics on most of my rifles, and have owned most of the AR Optics line - the AR line is a divergence from their normal paradigm of “great glass without bells and whistles to lower cost.” They threw a bunch of popular features at the AR line and slapped together sub-par glass compared to their other products even at lower price points.

I’ve never looked through the Bushnell AR line. My thinking was with a 4-18 zoom at that cost it would be along the likes of a Vortex Crossfire. The only Bushnell I own is an Elite 4200. I’ve had it for a number of years and have been happy with it.

 

[RussellC]

For the price I got it, on sale and rebate on top through Cabela's, the Savage 12 FV certainly fulfilled the budget criteria. Varmint barrel, accutrigger, I added a 12 x 42 SWFA SS..... its a one ragged hole gun at 100 yards. A little under 250 out the door, plus scope @ 299.00

Well, also rings, Burris extreme signature, and Base, Nightforce, added a little, but whatever.

Russellc

 

[BigBL87]

BigBL87- I'm in IL as well and have not found a range longer than 100 either. That would be buffalo range in Ottawa. Where abouts are you? Im in the west suburbs, about 20 min from the city depending on traffic of course.

Buffalo is where I go if I need a 100 yard range. That's actually where I did my CCL class too.

I'm about a 20 minute drive southwest of Buffalo Range. I usually shoot at my in-laws' place as they live out in the country and my father-in-law built up a small backstop, but 50 yards is about the max I can do out there.