best bolt action .223 at any price

[Walter Haas]

Guys, what is the best high end bolt action .223 at any price? I'm thinking the Steyr Scout in .223. But what the f**k do I know? Close to zip, maybe not quite but very close to zip. My gut tells me the question itself reveals my ignorance, but since its my gut that doesn't amount to shit either.

 

[jbuck88]

AI with a 223 conversion?

 

[Kadams1563]

.223 custom

 

[Niles Coyote]

A wise man once said, "Factory rifles are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get."

 

[goosed]

A wise man once said, "Factory rifles are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get."

He clearly wasn't that wise... cause he would know better if he had ever shot an AI ?


To the OP:
Lots of good options... AI or Desert Tech with 223 conversion on the high end. Tikka CTR on the low end.

Lots of options in between... Price doesn't mean it fits your intended use best. Choose accordingly

 

[Dthomas3523]

Gradous built rifle

Terry Cross/kmw built

AI w/223 conversion

Those would be my top picks personally.

 

[7WSMShooter]

figure out what you wanna do with it and go from there. Tikka thrown in a Krg Bravo might be what you want or build a full custom.
All the three choices above are good.

 

[jbuck88]

I had a cooper that would shoot amazing, might not tactical enough though.

 

[Travis224]

Bighorn

 

[m1match]

If I were going to spend the money a 223 built on a custom action by a top smith would be my choice. It depends on what you want to do with it. I wanted a 223 training rifle and a friend had given me a Stiller Spectre with 223 bolt face, so I bought a Criterion prefit barrel from NSS, a Bix N Andy trigger from Bullet Central, and an MPA Hybrid chassis from someone on the PX and put it together myself. I had an extra Vortex AMG so I put that on the rifle The gun runs great and shoots lights out, it does what I wanted and because the action was given to me and I had the scope already, I spent around $1,500.

The Steyr Scout is a very nice higher end production rifle, I have two of them in 308. But they are not long range precision rifles, they are short/medium range hunting rifles and they have some quirks. Steyr says the rail machined into the receiver is NATO Stanag spec, but it's not. I found out when I got rings for them that Picatinny std rings will not fit because the cross bolt slots on the Steyr are too narrow. I had to buy Weaver spec rings from TPS that fit. Other disadvantages are aftermarket parts support is non existent and although they can be rebarreled, not many smiths do it and the cost is the same as a new rifle.

 

[Kickin45]

I really prefer Howa personally over Tikka. Just my personal preference.
my 1500 in 223 has been a fantastic trainer and very accurate.

 

[Brazo]

Jon Beanland custom anything

 

[kentuckyMarksman]

If money were not an object, I'd build a 223 around the TL3 action.

In reality, money is an object, so I bought a used Tikka t3x 223 barreled action, and put it in a blem MDT ACC chassis.

 

[Vinootz]

Naturally a custom build would be your best bet. Find a good gunsmith. I think GA Precision makes a .223(Squire model). Anschutz is supposed to make accurate rifles too. I bought a Steyr hunting rifle in 30-06 in the 90s. Fine and beautiful rifle, but not overly impressive. I heard the Scouts are supposed to be accurate, but I have no personal experience with that model to give you a first hand account. It’s seems like it is quite functional(built in bipod), and Steyr makes good quality, but it’s an ugly looking rifle- lol. I wish I could be more help. I’m looking at the Sako 85 and Anschutz for a quality .223. I may just do a custom build by a
local gunsmith that built .223 rifles for others I’ve seen. They were all happy customers and shot bugholes regularly.

 

[danbar54]

Guys, what is the best high end bolt action .223 at any price? I'm thinking the Steyr Scout in .223. But what the f**k do I know? Close to zip, maybe not quite but very close to zip. My gut tells me the question itself reveals my ignorance, but since its my gut that doesn't amount to shit either.

Bergara Custom Shop whipped me up a very sweet .233!! MDT ACC with weights, TriggerTech Diamond,26”, 1” bull barrel....no recoil, near 0 MOA at 100yards

 

[pnorris]

Masterpiece arms has a nice 223 Wylde rifle.

 

[BigJimFish]

The best rifles are custom smithed rifles from top smiths like my Kelbly Atlas. There are many good smiths out there (and also many bad.) The folks above mentioned several other smiths who have a great reputation and there are many more as well as those that also have top tier reputations.

You can buy a full rifle from any of these smiths or you can buy what is called a barreled action. This has all the stuff a smith typically does done and you can easily add a drop in stock / chassis and trigger. Any of the smiths mentioned can walk you thorough good components, action choices, and barrel details. The important thing is a good smith building a rifle to the 700 footprint so that it fits in the most popular ecosystem when it comes to stocks, triggers, and magazine systems.

A good custom smithed rifle starts at $1,999 complete and, if you are really trying to run up the cost, can land over $5k. I would say most first rate custom rigs end up landing at $2.5-$3.5k.

 

[stello1001]

m70

 

[Millionaire]

Check out Short Action Customs.

 

[mark5pt56]

Mark Built a 6.5cm some time ago, thing was an absolute laser and a pleasure to shoot. I had it in a Manners stock with standard magazine-was just using it for 1k matches. I will have him build another in the near future. I also did the melanite on the barrel, don't recall the action(I did a new 700 donor)

While I have a nice Tikka Varmint, I want to build another .223 off a custom action-nothing but money and time!

 

[B-P-UU]

Determine your requirements for the rifle and its use case and start collecting parts. Send those parts to a competent gunsmith.

.223 Ackley but you get the idea. Mine's a truck gun setup to be suppressed all the time with 16" barrel and manners compact stock so my kids can comfortably shoot it as well.

 

[1moaoff]

You could go custom old school action fully engraved walnut stock with a tactical action.....

 

[acudaowner]

there's one for you ha ha ha it even has a scope and a bi pod you just know its going to cost a lot all that special alloy plastic

 

[RTH1800]

I owned/had built several top end .223’s. GAP on Templar action, GreTan on fully tuned 700 R action,
Surgeon/LRI and a few others. My current favorite is a Lone Peak titanium, Proof CF, LRI .223 AI in an AGI CF stock with a NF 2.5-10x24 on top. Most of the others are gone.

 

[pnorris]

I have been doing the same search. I have seen recommendations as to some good builders in this thread. Let's keep them coming, as I have reached out to a few, however, it is best to have a good recommendation.

 

[B-P-UU]

I have been doing the same search. I have seen recommendations as to some good builders in this thread. Let's keep them coming, as I have reached out to a few, however, it is best to have a good recommendation.

TS Customs

 

[Pre-64]

John Bolliger rifles,

 

[Moose]

Have a custom rifle built that is what I did and love my 223AI that TS customs built for me.

 

[pnorris]

Do you mind sharing the specs and cost?

 

[beenjammin]

If money was not an option: Tikka T3 rebarreled prefit, chassis of choice
If money was an option: Tikka T3 rebarreled prefit, chassis of choice

 

[Moose]

Do you mind sharing the specs and cost?

Lone Peak Ti Fusion action, Benchmark #4 1&8 barrel at 20" with micro bastard break.Mcmillan game scout carbon fiber stock,Hawkins Precision BM,Jewell Trigger.

 

[Brazo]

thanks looks great

 

[DairyDictator]

there's one for you ha ha ha it even has a scope and a bi pod you just know its going to cost a lot all that special alloy plastic

It's NERF OR NOTHIN

 

[DairyDictator]

I'd run a bighorn and a criterion prefit. Got the barrel for $400, headspace gauges for $60, and the invisinut system for $120. That puts me a hundred bucks or so below what a cut blank and smith install would cost me, and it shoots half MOA very consistently. Dropped it in a mini chassis and the thing just runs. Then later if you wanted a different caliber, swap a bolt head and barrel and you're good.

 

[Kadams1563]

C’mon people.

impact action -1350
Foundation 1000-1200
Trigger tech 240
Proof chambered barrel 550

be done and have a slick .223.

 

[viking78]

Tikka T3 and KRG Bravo is a nice choice.
CTR like mine or go varmint and get even thicker barrel, if you need it heavy.

 

[bd28]

Determine your requirements for the rifle and its use case and start collecting parts. Send those parts to a competent gunsmith.

.223 Ackley but you get the idea. Mine's a truck gun setup to be suppressed all the time with 16" barrel and manners compact stock so my kids can comfortably shoot it as well.

View attachment 7294710

What barrel is that. Im looking to build a similar setup.


Thanks

 

[roostercogburn98]

This thread is 5 years old, but I’m strangely interested in it today

 

[Moose]

Custom 223 rifles are a whole lot of fun to shoot with and hand loading for them makes it even better.

 

[Chili47]

The MPA rifles at $3k are really hard to beat. i know of 3 that all shoot lights out.

Vanquish PMR Rifle - MasterPiece Arms, Inc.

Masterpiece Arms builds World Class Rifles. We start with our industry leading Chassis System, utilize the Best Actions and Triggers produced, and our MPA/Spencer 416R Handlapped Barrels provide some the best shooting, most accurate rifles in existence. Designed, Built and Enhanced by Long Range...

masterpiecearms.com

I get mine today hard to beat for the money.

 

[Hawk in WY]

Best at any price?

Custom or I’m going to say Blaser unless you want to shot heavy bullets and need a faster twist.

Good luck.

 

[fdkay]

Best at any price?

Custom or I’m going to say Blaser unless you want to shot heavy bullets and need a faster twist.

Good luck.

Since this thread is 5 years old, it is likely he has either moved on to something else or made his decision.
Although, you can't be certain, I have been afflicted with analysis paralysis on more than one occassion and it sometimes take a very long while to make that final decision.

 

[B-P-UU]

What barrel is that. Im looking to build a similar setup.


Thanks

Proof Sendero contour.

 

[TheBigCountry]

I’m partial to my Tikka CTR in 223. Shame they stopped bringing them in; it’s a hammer with 75 ELD

 

[TheBigCountry]

The MPA rifles at $3k are really hard to beat. i know of 3 that all shoot lights out.

Vanquish PMR Rifle - MasterPiece Arms, Inc.

Masterpiece Arms builds World Class Rifles. We start with our industry leading Chassis System, utilize the Best Actions and Triggers produced, and our MPA/Spencer 416R Handlapped Barrels provide some the best shooting, most accurate rifles in existence. Designed, Built and Enhanced by Long Range...

masterpiecearms.com

I get mine today hard to beat for the money.

What action are they running?

 

[Chili47]

What action are they running?

Coupe de grace.

 

[x462290]

L3 Rifles LLC built: .223 Wylde Krieger barrel (#4, #5, or #6 contour) 6.5-8tw on a Lone Peak Razor Ti. Stock or Chassis of your choice and get ready for some fun. Bullets from 50gr. to 90 gr. John Slagle was schooled by the late Robert Gradous, and his work exemplifies what he was taught by the master gun smith. The best was not good enough and attention to detail was of the utmost importance. John has a following of competition shooters who can attest to his ability.