Best value base rifle for a “build”?

[Leveraction35]

I’d like to “build” a new coyote/bobcat rifle for next year. I use the term lightly… a trigger swap and stock of choice are in the plans. I’ve had very good luck with my current 223 using 55gr Frontier HP Match being easy in fur. It would be hard for me to leave the 223 because of that…my current rifle is a Savage Axis which is phenomenally accurate but there is very little aftermarket support for triggers and stock upgrades, so it’ll be a gun for the kids now

My list of “requirements…
—Bolt Action
— ~ $500 gun budget, used is ok too
—decent aftermarket support so I can swap triggers and stocks
—60° bolt for clearance between optic and gloves
—threaded barrel is preferred but not a deal breaker

Some guns on the list are
—Howa 1500 and Mini
—Ruger American series
—Tikka T3 and T3X (little over budget but that’s ok)
—Weatherby Vanguard
—recommend some others too

I’m sure they are all just fine. Ultimately I’m looking for feedback on bad experiences with any of these so I can narrow my list

 

[stanley_white]

Howa and Weatherby Vanguard have 90 degree bolts.

-Stan

 

[Leveraction35]

Howa and Weatherby Vanguard have 90 degree bolts.

-Stan

Thank you! I must have gotten incorrect info. Just cut my list in half lol

 

[hafejd30]

Here’s my Ruger ranch 556. Top and bottom groups at 100 yards using hornady 55 hp steel match

 

[Leveraction35]

Here’s my Ruger ranch 556. Top and bottom groups at 100 yards using hornady 55 hp steel match
View attachment 8331116

The Ruger is the easy choice for me, I have 3 American Predators in other calibers and they are all great. I kind of want something else just for the hell of it… but I wouldn’t be surprised if I end up back in the Ruger camp

 

[stanley_white]

Thank you! I must have gotten incorrect info. Just cut my list in half lol

I own, love, and advocate the Howa. If you add an extended bolt knob, this might solve your glove problem at 90 degrees.

https://www.tacticalworks.com/https://www.tacticalworks.com/howa-tactical-bolt-knob.html

-Stan

 

[Leveraction35]

I own, love, and advocate the Howa. If you add an extended bolt knob, this might solve your glove problem at 90 degrees.

https://www.tacticalworks.com/https://www.tacticalworks.com/howa-tactical-bolt-knob.html

-Stan

Link don’t work, but I never thought about that idea. Good thinking!

 

[stanley_white]

Link don’t work, but I never thought about that idea. Good thinking!

This should work:

https://www.legacysports.com/product/bolt-knob/

-Stan

 

[Ty21]

I know this isn’t in your budget but I recommend the aero precision solus barreled action from pva arms for $1000 it has a 60 degree bolt throw yeah it more money but in the long run you can swap barrels easily so say this season you want to run 223 then next you can run 223ai.

 

[Leveraction35]

I know this isn’t in your budget but I recommend the aero precision solus barreled action from pva arms for $1000 it has a 60 degree bolt throw yeah it more money but in the long run you can swap barrels easily so say this season you want to run 223 then next you can run 223ai.

I’m always open to suggestions, thank you

 

[TheBigCountry]

Here’s my Ruger ranch 556. Top and bottom groups at 100 yards using hornady 55 hp steel match
View attachment 8331116

You poked holes in those targets with a pen we know them Rugers don’t shoot

 

[Ty21]

I’m always open to suggestions, thank you

The reason I recommend that is because all the other ones on your list aren’t 60 degrees the ruger is 75 and the tikka is 45 so technically the solus is the only one that meets your requirement.

 

[hafejd30]

You poked holes in those targets with a pen we know them Rugers don’t shoot

It shoots awesome. However it sounds like a zipper when you operate the action. But it does take ar mags. So theoretically you can run a Magpul D60 if you want

 

[TheBigCountry]

It shoots awesome. However it sounds like a zipper when you operate the action. But it does take ar mags. So theoretically you can run a Magpul D60 if you want

I gotta play with one my kid brother has the 300blk version and it’s a great farm rifle

 

[Ty21]

It shoots awesome. However it sounds like a zipper when you operate the action. But it does take ar mags. So theoretically you can run a Magpul D60 if you want

That was one of the reasons I never bought a ruger I just couldn’t get past the zipper sound of the action it bugged the shit out of me.

 

[Leveraction35]

The reason I recommend that is because all the other ones on your list aren’t 60 degrees the ruger is 75 and the tikka is 45 so technically the solus is the only one that meets your requirement.

Bad wording on my part, I should have said 60° or less. That would be ideal…Then I was told about the Bolt knob extenders so I put the Ruger, howa and Weatherby back on the list too.

 

[TheBigCountry]

I’d like to “build” a new coyote/bobcat rifle for next year. I use the term lightly… a trigger swap and stock of choice are in the plans. I’ve had very good luck with my current 223 using 55gr Frontier HP Match being easy in fur. It would be hard for me to leave the 223 because of that…my current rifle is a Savage Axis which is phenomenally accurate but there is very little aftermarket support for triggers and stock upgrades, so it’ll be a gun for the kids now

My list of “requirements…
—Bolt Action
— ~ $500 gun budget, used is ok too
—decent aftermarket support so I can swap triggers and stocks
—60° bolt for clearance between optic and gloves
—threaded barrel is preferred but not a deal breaker

Some guns on the list are
—Howa 1500 and Mini
—Ruger American series
—Tikka T3 and T3X (little over budget but that’s ok)
—Weatherby Vanguard
—recommend some others too

I’m sure they are all just fine. Ultimately I’m looking for feedback on bad experiences with any of these so I can narrow my list

There’s a guy in the Px selling the Solus actions for a hair over the $500 budget

Save a little more and start there and build.

Bighorn Prefit from the Px
Trigger from the Px
Bravo Chassis from Px

It’s doable if you are smart and watch the Px and can up the budget

 

[hafejd30]

I gotta play with one my kid brother has the 300blk version and it’s a great farm rifle

It’s a great coyote rifle. If you’re after lightweight, short and quiet when suppressed it’s awesome. It’s not a tikka by any means but not priced as one either.

I heard the Gen 2 models went up a decent amount though. I don’t remember what I paid for this one but I felt it was a steal when I shot it

 

[Leveraction35]

There’s a guy in the Px selling the Solus actions for a hair over the $500 budget

Save a little more and start there and build.

Bighorn Prefit from the Px
Trigger from the Px
Bravo Chassis from Px

It’s doable if you are smart and watch the Px and can up the budget

What’s Px? Sorry I’m new here lol.

 

[hafejd30]

What’s Px? Sorry I’m new here lol.

It’s the sale section here

 

[Ty21]

Bad wording on my part, I should have said 60° or less. That would be ideal…Then I was told about the Bolt knob extenders so I put the Ruger, howa and Weatherby back on the list too.

All good man I was just being technical lol and I do agree with @TheBigCountry about watching px because there is always deals going on. And maybe save a little more and up the budget a little.

 

[TheBigCountry]

What’s Px? Sorry I’m new here lol.

The for sale section

 

[Leveraction35]

I had a feeling the Ruger and Tikka would get the most love

 

[bbhank]

I bought donor guns several times for builds. I would highly recommend just buying an action and build off of that!

 

[hafejd30]

I had a feeling the Ruger and Tikka would get the most love

Ruger is what I’d go with for cheap. If you’re willing to spend more the tikka is my next recommendation

 

[Leveraction35]

Ruger is what I’d go with for cheap. If you’re willing to spend more the tikka is my next recommendation

I have zero issues spending the money for a tikka if the quality is that much different

 

[Leveraction35]

I bought donor guns several times for builds. I would highly recommend just buying an action and build off of that!

If this was a long range gun I’d likely do that. But I’ve never taken a shot at a predator past 200 yards, and only 1 shot past 125 or so.

 

[hafejd30]

I have zero issues spending the money for a tikka if the quality is that much different

Tikka is higher quality. How much the $$ difference is though I’m not sure. I know the Gen 2 rugers took a price jump and haven’t tried on of those

 

[beetroot]

I have a hard time getting anything cheaper than a Tikka.
I’d maybe buy a CZ or Howa (90º bolt though) but every other rifle feels horrible in comparison, especially the plastic stocks and mags.

 

[Lost_Phil]

I have zero issues spending the money for a tikka if the quality is that much different

The Tikka would be your best bet since their quality is high and they have allot of aftermarket support for stocks/chassis and barrels. Ruger is ok for the price as they are a budget rifle that does shoot well, but they do not have the aftermarket support that Tikka has.

For 60 degree bolt throws, there are few rifle manufactures out there and most are expensive. So, I would look at some of the aftermarket actions out there and see who has one with a .384 (223) bolt face and use that as the base for a new rifle build.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

I have zero issues spending the money for a tikka if the quality is that much different

It is. Tikka would be my first recommendation.
They have much more aftermarket support.

 

[Leveraction35]

I’ve added Bergara to the list now too… as you can see, I have a tough time making gun purchase decisions

 

[Grim's Reapers]

A Weatherby Vanguard is made by Howa and is identical to the Howa 1500. Only difference is Weatherby has the option of their own very high quality wooden stock. I own one and absolutely love it.

Here's why I think it would be a great barreled action to put together what you want well within your price range.

*The barreled action only with no stock is available everywhere (Brownell's, etc...) for around 400 bucks in a wide variety of chambers.

*No need to purchase an aftermarket trigger. The one that comes with it is stellar on purpose. It's two stage and adjustable to 2.5 lbs of pull. I have mine set at 1.2 lbs by simply cutting one coil turn off of the tension spring in the trigger. It took me all of 30 minutes to do (plenty of YouTube videos to help out) and it doesn't affect the trigger sear engagement so it's not unsafe.

*I highly highly highly recommend the 22-250 chambered option for Coyotes (I can't emphasize this enough. LOL). It is a tack driver from hell. If you're going to take the coyote's hide, don't run a V-Max bullet through this rifle. Soft point or hollow point only. The V-Max with blow that coyote apart as 22-250's run in the 3900-4100 fps range. This also gives you the option of long range stuff (out to 500 yards easily) that the .223 or 5.56 can't handle. A 22-250 shoots crazy flat.

*The Howa 1500 22-250 barreled action has an option with a factory threaded muzzle at no extra upcharge.

*If you reload, you already have the .224 bullets on hand from your other rifle and if factory ammo is your thing, 22-250 is readily available everywhere with any bullet type you prefer.

I handled the 90 degree bolt throw by simply buying a 40 dollar aluminum bolt extension that bolts right onto the knob in 1 minute.

*A ton of aftermarket stocks and all kinds of other shit are available for the Howa 1500 action as it is very popular with people building rifles due to the factory trigger quality and overall quality of the barrel and bolt. It's top notch.

So basically, all you're going to need for your build is whatever stock you like to run and the bolt extension.

Did I mention make sure you get a 22-250? I'm telling you that cartridge is an absolute nightmare showstopper for Coyotes around the Globe. Groundhogs and Prairie dogs get turned inside out, no suffering involved.