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Window Shopping - 223 Bolt Action

CheapBasterd

CheapBasterd

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 12, 2023
124
149
California
#1
I slapped together my first centerfire BA a few months ago with the goal to handload rounds, put down sub MOA and bang steel over and over and over and over at 850 yards. Thats done. Goal achieved.

I want to build another but chambered in .223 for the same reason but at most 500 yards. This is to satisfy and keep it cost effective compared to the 6.5.
Budget is $1500 (without optics, trigger, chassis).

.223 because I already have the components but im sure i'll be buying match grade dies and other specific for accurate consistent loads.

Right now im eyeballing a Mack Bros Evo II SA Single Shot + Preferred Prefit
My understanding is the Mack Bros is an R700 clone so chassis selection should match, right?

At the same time I had really good luck with the Howa 1500 SA. I really have no complaints about it.
So im also looking at another Brownells Barreled Howa 1500 Mini action. This is obviously the cheaper route and will leave some funds for whatever else...

What would you do?
 
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#2
Evo actions have a trigger hanger, depending on the chassis, may need relieved in front of rear action screw. Personally I'd take an origin over an evo, I had a couple and moved em.
 
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#3
I didn’t know proof made prefits for the Mac actions.

Proof is supposed to be coming out with Kelbly prefits in the next few months.

I would look at origin or Kelbly atlas tactical and a proof prefit.

Or just buy a tikka that’s ready to go right out of the gate under that price range.
 
#5
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#6
Kadams1563 said:
Spend $1500 on 6.5 components.

Thought you said 6.5 somewhere in your post. Regardless I’d just buy more stuff for the rifle you built.
Click to expand...

I can do that but I got enough components for 6.5 to last me a while.

The thing is once I started hitting those longer ranges I kind of felt like it was not as oooh ahhh fun pinging under that distance with the 6.5. I went through 100 rounds just blasting around at different distances. I guess what im looking for is a cheaper "trainer"?
After the 100 rounds I didn't feel like just sending more 6.5 down range at shorter distances but I still wanted to shoot. I think a lower cost .223 BA would fit...kind of like desert.

I have a safe full of semi-auto's but BA's seem to be just more fun...

1709780592785.png
 
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#9
noremorse92 said:
A tikka ctr is the obvious answer here. Here is mine. Its not a factory ctr it just has the ctr barrel. You can leave it stock or you can go crazy like i did. Shoots most loads pretty well but loves the 52gr smk and pounds them 3/4moa or better quite consistently
Click to expand...
Nice stock. What is it? Looks like Bob Ross had a seizure on it. I like it.
 
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#10
CheapBasterd said:
I can do that but I got enough components for 6.5 to last me a while.

The thing is once I started hitting those longer ranges I kind of felt like it was not as oooh ahhh fun pinging under that distance with the 6.5. I went through 100 rounds just blasting around at different distances. I guess what im looking for is a cheaper "trainer"?
After the 100 rounds I didn't feel like just sending more 6.5 down range at shorter distances but I still wanted to shoot. I think a lower cost .223 BA would fit...kind of like desert.

I have a safe full of semi-auto's but BA's seem to be just more fun...

View attachment 8366614
Click to expand...
You’re gonna get the same feeling with .223. I shoot my .223 AI out past 1000 pretty regular. My first shots are usually starting at 600.

If you want “cheap”, fun, easy get a precision .22. You can shoot them to 400 lol.
 
#11
I have bolt guns in 22LR, 223, and 6x47L. The 223 gets shot the most with the 22LR coming in second. They are a ton of fun and you'll be surprised at how far you can go with a good bullet.

Your choice of the Mack Bros and prefit are good. The Zermatt Origin gets a lot of good reviews but I have never tried one.
 
#13
CheapBasterd said:
I can do that but I got enough components for 6.5 to last me a while.

The thing is once I started hitting those longer ranges I kind of felt like it was not as oooh ahhh fun pinging under that distance with the 6.5. I went through 100 rounds just blasting around at different distances. I guess what im looking for is a cheaper "trainer"?
After the 100 rounds I didn't feel like just sending more 6.5 down range at shorter distances but I still wanted to shoot. I think a lower cost .223 BA would fit...kind of like desert.

I have a safe full of semi-auto's but BA's seem to be just more fun...

View attachment 8366614
Click to expand...
It’s not that much cheaper than loading your 6.5 if you plan on using quality brass and bullets. Primers still cost the same you save a bit on powder that’s really about it. Unless you just want another rifle then it’s fine but I don’t think it’s much cheaper until you put a ton of rounds down range. By the time you buy another rifle, scope, and reloading components.
 
#15
Get an Origin. You can change the bolt face easily and have it be something else later if you wanted. Not much more than the McBros and offers more and you will still stay under $1500.

This was my .223 that I swapped a bolt face and barrel on my 6 Creed to put together. Different stck and scope now but same barreled action.

IMG_2713(2).jpg
 
#19
CheapBasterd said:
I can do that but I got enough components for 6.5 to last me a while.

The thing is once I started hitting those longer ranges I kind of felt like it was not as oooh ahhh fun pinging under that distance with the 6.5. I went through 100 rounds just blasting around at different distances. I guess what im looking for is a cheaper "trainer"?
After the 100 rounds I didn't feel like just sending more 6.5 down range at shorter distances but I still wanted to shoot. I think a lower cost .223 BA would fit...kind of like desert.

I have a safe full of semi-auto's but BA's seem to be just more fun...

View attachment 8366614
Click to expand...
Shoot smaller targets.
 
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#20
moosemeat said:
Shoot smaller targets.
Click to expand...
I did. super small targets that were super far. Don't ask me for exact numbers, Im gunna lie. Like the time I was aiming at 4 inch knockdown target @ 500 yards and a horsefly landed on top of it. I changed my POA to the horsefly. The target was untouched but that fly was 100% gone after that shot. You had to be there.
 
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#21
03machstock said:
Another origin with pva prefit here. I’ll get a 6br or 6.5 creed for it soon, but I’ll always have a .223 barrel for it. Cheap(er) and fun.
Click to expand...

Patriot Valley Arms does great work! All the prefits I have now for my TL3s were done by Josh @bohem and now with the new shop they should be able to get them out faster too. Their Osprey barrels are very accurate! I’d highly recommend them.
 
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#31
If I may ask, what barrel lengths are you guys using? I’m going to put a .223 trainer together but I plan to suppress it and don’t want something super unwieldy. Would a 22” barrel be reasonable for a 1/7 twist with 77gr-ish bullets?
 
#32
SolidCopper said:
If I may ask, what barrel lengths are you guys using? I’m going to put a .223 trainer together but I plan to suppress it and don’t want something super unwieldy. Would a 22” barrel be reasonable for a 1/7 twist with 77gr-ish bullets?
Click to expand...
I have several lengths with different twists, for different purposes. 22" is a nice, all around length. My current trainer is running a 24" 1:7 Krieger, and it shoots the 75 and 80 ELD, 77 SMK, and 85 RDF very well. Two more inches wouldn't be that big of a difference to matter until you are getting out to 1000 yards or more.
 
#34
Baron85 said:
I didn’t know proof made prefits for the Mac actions.

...
Click to expand...

FWIW, I just got in a Mack Bros Element and the tenon print for it lives inside the tolerance window for an Impact 737 print. I test fit an impact prefit and it screws in with no interference but my action is .378 bolt face and it was a creedmoor prefit so couldn't check headspace.
 
#35
For suppressed .223 work I recommend a 18" Light Palma Contour Barrel (about .750 @ the muzzle) Twisted 1-7.7 for 77 grain bullets. If you plan to go heavier then 77 grain pills then a 1-7 or even 1-6.5 twist barrels might be more attractive.

1-7.7 twisted 18" .750 barrels work great and are effective in suppressed Mk12 style AR's and clones, and should work as well in a bolt gun without being unwieldy for field work.

For range or comp use going longer and heavier are not bad trade-offs.
 
#36
I jumped on a 8 twist Tikka T3 Superlite 223 stainless, swapped the factory stock for a Manner's EH1-TK, permanently bedded a titanium Murphy Precision 0 MOA rail, TPM swept bolt handle and bought the High Desert bottom metal(just arrived) with their screws and shims. Original owner had it threaded 1/2-28 and the bolt fluted at the same time. I am the third owner, 2nd owner stated he never fired it and previous owner 20 or so rounds, It looks the part. Problem is, it just doesn't twist my knobs. I wanted a 8 twist Browning X-Bolt, could not find the one I wanted, sure enough, get the Tikka, the discontinued X-Bolt surfaces multiple times. Now I have a nice Tikka that will probably sit in the safe alot and there is no way to recover the amount of money I invested.

My point is, buy exactly what you want versus buying to fill the slot. Most guys would have been happy with the Tikka and have stopped the search, but being a long diehard Browning nerd, I do ignorant stuff all the time. Curious to see which one does it better at the bench. I doubt I ever sell the Tikka, it is a nice little package, just don't know if it's $2250 nice.

full-25419-426614-img_4660.jpeg


Browning from the website

IMG_4613.png


Both 22" barrels, Browning has a dedicated mini action for their 204/223 rifles, was already threaded 1/2-28, already had aluminum bottom metal. There is tons of aftermarket support for the Tikka, non-existant for the SSA X-Bolt, aside from a trigger spring. No stocks that I am aware of.
 
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