.223 PD Rifle

[Bart Solo]

My brother works with a guy who is a big time PD hunter.  They are pretty good friends.  The PD hunter has asked my brother to go with him on his annual hunt next year.  My brother has said yes.  Here is my question, what rifle should my brother buy?  He has asked me for a recommendation. I want him to get the best value for the buck. I have already suggested he consider a Remington 700 VLS.  Is there a better choice?  I have decided that a .223 makes most sense because my brother doesn't reload.  Here is a second question, what scope? 

[Swampman]

I would agree with the gun and caliber selection.

Bushnell 3200 Elite 4-12X40

Natchez has them for $309.00 and you get a free camo jacket

[sachel.45]

i would go with a weatherby vanguard or a howa 1500 (you can get them both with heavy barrels if you want) if you want the best bang for the buck IMO. my weatheby vanguard .223 shoots fantastic three shots touching at 100 yards

[Graybeard]

Remington 700 SPS Varmint is your best buy. I picked up a couple this year at $550 each out the door. I have Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24s on both. One is the newer one with side focus which is more expensive and actually costs as much as the rifle.

I think he'll want more than 12X for maximum magnification but 16X should be plenty. If he wants to go low cost on scope he should look at the Mueller line. I have their APV 4.5-14 on one of my varmint rifles. It is about the lowest power range I'd consider.

I really like the Bushnell Elite 3200 7-21 and it will be on a couple of my rifles at the next PD shoot. It was on my Model Seven Predator .17 Fireball this last one and will likely ride the Predator in .204 next time as well.

My SPS Varmints are in .223 and .22-250. For a single rifle for the chore a .223 is likely the best choice.

[trotterlg]

My guess is that he is not a highly experienced shooter.  Go find a nice new Stevens 200 in .223, probably about $300 or a little less.  It is a Savage without the accutrigger, but they are very accurate out of the box, and don't take much to get them shooting good.  For a Scope, take a look at a Swift, somethig like a 4-12X40 or close to that, just about right and the price is good for a reasonable quality scope that doesn't cost you an arm and a leg.  You should be able to have the whole parkage, rifle scope rings and scope base running for under $500.00.  Find some winchester 45gr white box ammo at Walmart and you are all set.  Larry

[Bart Solo]

Graybeard,

I love your suggestions.  If the Remington 700 SPS Varmint weren't so ugly.  Only a mother could love the SPS stock and the bed liner fit and finish.  When will Remington learn that low end doesn't have to look it?  I still like Remington.  Your optics suggestions are dead on target.

 

[Swampman]

There's nothing low end about the SPS.

[bigjeepman]

I agree the .223 is the caliber he needs but it would be a great benefit to him if he can take more than one rifle as barrels can heat up pretty fast if there is a lot of shooting. Friends of mine even take 17HMR rifles for the closer shots to let the other barrels cool down. Maybe he could borrow another rifle or two to go along with his new setup.

I agree with GB on the Elite line of scopes. I have one of the Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24s and it is an awesome scope but not cheap. Here is a picture of my .223 with the 4200 scope.


bjm

[Bart Solo]

There's nothing low end about the SPS.

If it isn't low end  then it really doesn't need to look low end. 

[Graybeard]

Graybeard,

I love your suggestions.  If the Remington 700 SPS Varmint weren't so ugly.  Only a mother could love the SPS stock and the bed liner fit and finish.  When will Remington learn that low end doesn't have to look it?  I still like Remington.  Your optics suggestions are dead on target.

 

They are ugly to many eyes no doubt about it. I happen to kinda like the utilitarian look of them personally tho I am planning to replace the stock on at least my .22-250 with a Hogue over molded with the full aluminum bedding block. If I like it as well as I think I will then the .223 will also get one. I much prefer the dull matte type finish on them to high polish blue but again that's a personal thing.

I kinda wish I'd gotten the stainless versions but when I bought them cost was a factor as I still had to get them set up fully and ready to shoot in a short time for the GBO Prairie Dog shoot this year.

My .223 was first up and at first wore the Mueller APV 4.5-14 but then I later decided I wanted more magnification so I switched the Mueller to another rifle that went on the trip and picked up an Elite 4200 6-24 SF scope for it. I had already mounted an Elite 4200 6-24 on the .22-250 and while that's the rifle I really wanted the SF scope on my time was running out so it wasn't swapped out.

For the next trip the SF will be on the .22-250 as it's my current long range rifle. I'll just switch them around unless of course I break down and buy an Elite 6500 for it.

[Bart Solo]

I don't have any experience with the SPS stock.  How does it hold up? 

[Graybeard]

I have no complaints about mine really I just want to try a Hogue. I like the feel of the rubber over moulding on the one I have on a Magnum Research rimfire and think I'd like it on my varmint rifles. I think the aluminum bedding block from what I've read might also help things a bit altho there is nothing wrong with the bedding on either of mine. Both easily shoot tiny groups.

I've not yet worked up any loads for the .223 but the ammo I had on hand functions thru it well and shoots sub inch groups even if not by a whole lot. I'm sure when I work up loads for it that like all other R700 Varmint rifles I've owned it's capable of half inch groups or better.

The .22-250 has also not had any load development work but factory loads from Hornady are pushing right at half inch groups consistently so I didn't take the time and just used factory ammo. I have no clue how accurate this rifle can be with loads worked up for it.

[Badnews Bob]

The CZ 527 Varmiter is a good choice, as is the Savage's, One of the new PD guns of choice is a heavy barreled AR 15s, I think I'd give the .204 ruger a look also.

[Bart Solo]

My brother knows how to shoot, well he did forty years ago.  He is just looking for a new hobby to replace golf which he has had to give up because his back has given out. He started off talking about a heavy barreled AR-15.  He looked at the prices and decided he didn't want to lay out the jack for one until he is sure he wants to shoot regularly.  I told him he might want to start with a bolt action.

On reflection the Remington 700 SPS Varmint Graybeard suggested seems a good choice, as does the CZ527.  Of course Savage has a great reputation for accuracy. 

In fact a Remington 700 SPS Varmint with the Bushnell 4200 scope Graybeard recommended might follow me home some day when I am not worrying about my daughter's college tuition.