Most accurate Bolt for around $1000?

[dkyser]

I am new hear but have read many post when googling firearms questions.

I will make this as specific as possible since this subject is asked many MANY times I know.

I am looking for a quality rifle in .223 or .204 (I want to see the impact)

I will shoot paper, woodchucks, crows and a coyote once in a while, and in that order.
I will almost always drive, or ride the wheeler close to where I shoot with this rifle so a heavy gun may help keep the muzzle jump down.

Here in Pa we can not use semi autos so the AR's are out of the equations..

I may never shoot over 300 yards, and I reload so that does make a difference.

Savage keeps showing up in everything I search, and although accuracy is most important, looks is up there too.

I like stainless, but not sure thats a pro or con and not a deal breaker.

Looking for accurate dependable guns, I love the looks of the Ruger M77 Mark II but read over and over its not as accurate as a savage.

I know many others have researched this and hoping you guys can chime in and give me some words of wisdom.

 

[dkyser]

One more question, specifically about Savage 12 FV.
My local shop has this gun in stock in both calibers, its very reasonably priced but also very plain. If I go with a Savage 12, would you stay away from this base model or go with it and upgrade to a good stock later.

I do not want to get it and say I wish I had got a fluted barrel, or removable magazine etc.

 

[firearmnut]

i have a savage in 223 and it is the most accurate gun i own. Right now im think about getting few more for my collection. so i would not hesitate if i were you to by a savage rifle.

 

[dkyser]

Would you buy the Model 12 FV version, or order one of the nicer versions of the Model 12? I do not see a detailed comparison of the models, like fluted barrel etc.

 

[Buzzkill69]

If i had a $1000 to spend on a .223 MAYBE this:
http://www.midwesthuntersoutlet.com/item.aspx?PID=56503&w=PQ+JDyOLrQE=

I've always liked Weatherby's! Have you considered a .243 Win?
Either way good luck with your search!

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

any reason you're not considering .22-250?

i recently got a savage 12 fvss in .22-250 and i love it.

 

[blackops]

I would get an Rem SPS "26 and put the rest into bedding and truing the action.

 

[wingman]

I recently went through this process looking for a .204 Ruger less then $900

rifles looked at,

Remington Varmint
Howa 1500
Tikka
Weatherby sub moa
Savage 12
Thompson Center Icon precision hunter
CZ
I picked the T/C Icon mostly on quality control fit and finish and the design of the stock bedding. It shot .375 out of the box with commercial ammo normally I need to work up loads to get to that point.

I have a Savage 12 BTVS in 223 it shoots a consistent .500 with my reloads sometimes better if I do my part.

Trigger on both rifles are excellent I do prefer the accu-trigger feel but that may be simply I'm more use to it.

The only plastic stock rifle I looked at that I would consider is the Weatherby
sub moa, seemed solid very little flex like others.

Both the Savage and T/C are fairly heavy rifles more suited to bench which
is how I use them.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Nearly 15 years ago, I worked up a load for this Ruger MK II Target in .22-250. It's about as accurate as they get. At 100 yards, it shoots tiny groups with all the shots touching. I've been loading that same load all this time with the same results.

 

[pdawg.shooter]

If I had a thousand to spend on a rifle I would just buy TWO Savages.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Buy a good, inexpensive rifle, like a Savage, then do some work on it or have the work done (trigger, glass bed receiver, floating barrel). Then put about the same amount of $$$ you have into the gun to purchase a decent scope and mounts and you will have a rifle BETTER than a $1,000 rifle IMO.

 

[ricehombre]

The best rifles for your money would be he Tikka Varmint or the Thompson Icon. Both very accurate out of the box.

 

[Water-Man]

Tikka T3 or Savage for accuracy and a reasonable price.

 

[Geno]

I would likely look into Weatherby's new Vanguard line, the S2. It is not offered in.204 Ruger, but then, the .223 Rem is less expensive anyhow. At a projected $450.00, that leaves you $550.00 for rings, bases and a scope.

http://www.weatherby.com/vanguards2/

Geno

 

[GuysModel94]

Another vote for the Weatherby SubMOA!

 

[Sebastian the Ibis]

What about this one:

http://www.snipercentral.com/scriflepackagedetails.phtml?packageid=1

 

[snakeman]

I would go for a Howa or savage. If not that then consider the t/c icon precision hunter or er shaw's mk VII

 

[essayons21]

+1 to the Sniper Central rifles

http://www.snipercentral.com/scriflepackages.phtml

If you are a member there ($10) there are also articles available on how to build your own sub-$900 precision rifles from a savage or remington.

 

[dkyser]

Well just ordered a Savage 12 VLP DBM Left Hand in .204

I will also probably pick up a Savage Model: 10 FLCP-K in 223.

Now to do the research on optics.

 

[TonyAngel]

You can actually put a pretty nice rifle together for $1000. My knee jerk is to say go with a Remington SPS Tactical. I have two. One in .308 and one in .223 and both are very sub MOA shooters. I'm averaging about 1000 rounds a month through the bolt guns and both are very accurate.

If you consider that you can get a used SPS Tactical for $500 or less, that's a good deal. A lot of guys knock the stock and trigger (myself included), but neither really have a negative impact on accuracy.

If I had $1000 to blow on a rifle and wanted a straight shooter I'd get another SPS Tactical. If not that, then I'd just buy a Stevens 200 in .223 (can be had for around $300) and build from there. It's essentially a Savage without the Accu-trigger. At the price that they go for, you could buy one new and have a Krieger barrel fitted to it and still be under $1000. You could pick up a Bergara barrel for that matter. It will already be cut, crowned and chambered for around $300.

Just don't buy into the crap that one rifle is so much more accurate than another or that one rifle is the "most accurate" rifle that someone owns. I hear a lot of that when it comes to Remingtons and Savages. The fact of the matter is that accuracy varies from rifle to rifle, but getting a super accurate rifle isn't a big deal any longer.

I live to shoot. I do it every chance I get. I spend a LOT of time at the range and have shot a lot of rifles. Remingtons, Weatherbys, Tikka, Savages and guess what....they all shoot well. Unless I'm forgetting a particular experience, all of the rifles that I shot with varmint style barrels were sub MOA shooters with my close in target ammunition, which consists of a very standard 168gr SMK over 42gr of RL15.

My point is that there is more than one way to skin a cat, and the deciding factor is likely going to be based on preference, rather than performance.

 

[joed]

For the best accuracy I'd go with Kimber or Tikka. Savage has very good accuracy out of the box and can be had for a lot less money.

I wouldn't include Remington as accurate from the factory. I have more then a few 700's but none shot well out of the box. All needed stock work to make them accurate.

Back in November I bought another 700 VS in .22-250 that was on sale at Cabelas. Nice rifle but for a heavy barrel I can't get excited about 1.5" groups. The stock was the poorest excuse I've ever seen and the trigger broke at 6 lbs.

My complaint with Remington is for all the years they've been in business they haven't figured out how to free float a barrel. Remington believes pressure on the barrel helps, I don't.

I looked at a model 12 in .22-250 a short while ago. The clerk behind the counter explained about the options like a better stock. I would spring for a better stock or get the base model and upgrade it.

Used to own a 10fp in .223. Like someone else mentioned mine was extremely accurate too and the most accurate rifle I owned at the time. But I hated the stock, it was flimsy.

 

[T.R.]

I shot hundreds of South Dakota prairie dogs with my Savage 12V and it always held its zero. For a classier outfit, handle a TIKKA. You won't want to put it down!

TR

 

[BrocLuno]

I'd be trying a bunch of these for fit to shoulder. There are enough makers who can deliver sub-MOA out of the box. Question for me would be fit and motion as in bolt throw? I like a detachable magazine with 5 rounds or more for small caliber shooting off the truck bed or the bench. And, since i have test fitted it, I can say the TIKKA Varmint is on my short list

Of course I have that much into a custom 22-250 on a K98 chassis. So you could go that way too? Lotta options here and a nice budget

 

[center shot]

My little CZ 22 Hornet don't shoot to bad for a rifle in the price range you are looking and a 223 or 204 are easier than the Hornet to find and accurate load for.