Opinions on new 223 and scope

[300 RUM]

I finally got the $ to buy a new rifle. I want to get a inepensive fun gun to shoot. Lately all my rifles have become too expensive to shoot much, 300rum, 7 mag etc.

I want it for shooting coyotes, prairie dogs, rabbits etc. an just to ride around in my truck. So I am not looking for an expensive rifle. I kept thinking I wanted a heavy barreled varmint rifle but after borrowing my Bro- inlaws VLS I decided I am going to be shooting off hand alot and walking with it and changed my mind.

I have decided I want a synthetic rifle in 223. Here are my options I have.

1- Weatherby- Felt much better than the Savage in hand, trigger pull was great about 4 lbs, target with rifle had a great group all 3 shots touching.

2- Savage- Accutrigger very appealing, did not like the stock or the "feel" of it, reputation of good accuracy but no target

3- Remington SPS- Tied with feel to Weatherby, trigger pull was bad but should be able to get it adjusted. My last Remington shot OK had to do a lot of work to get acccuracy.

So far The Weatherby is my #1 choice with the SPS as #2, The SPS is also $55.00 more than the Weatherby. I usually try to support Remington and other US mfr's but this is a tough one. If I have to pay an extra $55.00 for it and it shoolts like crap I will have to put at least $100 in it for a trigger job and bedding.

What do you guys think???

I am going to put a cheap scope on it for now until I can get some better glass. It is a Tasco Varmint 2.5-10X42 anyone have any experience with this scope? I usually try to avoid cheap scopes but no choice on this one cheap or none.

[rem 700]

Well, sounds like the weatherby shoots and feels good, so I'd go with it. It's got a good price tag, too; another plus.

[hofts]

i've never been around a weatherby that wasn't twice the gun of any rem,ruger, winchester. don't have to glass bed it, don't have to mess with the trigger, don't have to free float the barrel, don't have to find special hand loads for them to shoot 1 inch moa.
just buy it, and shoot it accurately. mostly lightweight with great stocks to boot.........need i say more. if someone knocks a weatherby.....well they just don't know much about anything in my experience.

[Ol` Joe]

Personally I`d think harder about the Savage and the money saved on paying for a factory "group" shot with a unknown bullet, weight, brand and lot # and how it I could put it toward a better glass, and enjoy a real nice trigger that can be safely adjusted by a layman. - And the rifle likely will shoot just as tight a group once its prefered load is found, as should the Remington.

This is just my opinion, as you asked for, and no I don`t own either rifle:)

[hofts]

i think the leupold vx 11 is a great scope for the money. i had a leupold vx11 leupold dot reticle on a rem 221 fireball and it was a great fit. if only the trigger would of been better on the rifle...he he.

[gregarat]

I vote for the Savage myself. My .22-250 shot very tight grps, and the trigger is another great point.


It is a Tasco Varmint 2.5-10X42 anyone have any experience with this scope?
I have an older Tasco Tactical/Varmint 2.5-10x 42mm, on my 10/22. It was made in China, who has a rep. for horible quality control. The newer ones are made in Japan.
It has been on my .22 for 4yrs. It never had a problem holding its zero (keep in mind it was only used with a .22lr). The sight picture is good. The only drawback is that its mil-dot rectical isnt correct.
I think it was a great deal for my rimfire. I have no clue how it will stand up for a .223?

[Evan03]

id rather have good glass in my underware drawer and no rifle to mount it on then to have a rifle that had marginal at best optics on it.

the 3-9 vxII in my opion is very good glass isnt gona kill you at the check out counter but may chip into the rifle funds alittle. im ruger guy and have done this and when on a budget i look to the used gun racks for like new rifles at about a 100 dollar saveings over new.

[Catfish]

I`m right with Evan on that one. If your wanting a good beater gun get a NEF Handy rifle and put a Leupold on it. You can always get a bettet gun later and you will already have a scope for it. If your going to get a better gun up frount I would recomand the CZ 527, American. Comes with a set trigger, mine was 12 oz. when set. I`ve never seen a new barrel that was so smooth. So little copper fouling I couldn`t believe it. Get the Handy rifle and the Leuopld and save for the CZ.

[300 RUM]

Well I went over my budget so the gun is on lay-away. I bought a Burris Fullfield 2 3-9X40 ballistic plex,that came with a free set of 8x32 binoculars. It ran me $200.00 so I didnt have enough to get the gun out. I decided on the Weatherby Vanguard it was a tough choice since I liked the 1in 9 twist of the Savage but it just didnt "feel" as good. The Weatherby has a 1 in 12 which most of the 223's seem to have. Since it is a varmint and play gun I will just stick with lighter bullets.

[Evan03]

you shoulda asked first.

howa wouldnt have been a bad choice still isnt , heck you bought howa and didnt know it.

howa builds wetherbys vanguard. wetherby slaps there name on it and marks the price up on the howa.

[Evan03]

http://www.legacysports.com/newproducts/index.htm


teaser
leo howa packages

[300 RUM]

I knew Howa made it, I have a friend who is a dealer and he had a few Howa's and a couple Vanguards in stock. I went to compare them side by side. The Howa stock is terrible, very cheap "feel" and design not to mention ugly IMHO. You could feel and see the cast marks from its manufacturing process and had an ugly design down the side. The Vanguard just "felt" better in my hands no rough edges and felt heavier and stiffer. The trigger pull on all 3 Howa rifles he showed me were terrible. Both Vanguards he had the triggers were noticeably smoother and lighter. It is the same trigger, but the pull was very hard and rough with alot of creep on the Howas, not as much time put into adjustment I guess. He also said yes it is a Howa action but the barrel, trigger and stock have totaly different spec'd levels of quality. As for the barrel, who knows, but the stock and trigger were totally different in quality. The Howas are only $50.00 less than the Vanguard and a new stock and trigger work would be 3 times that.

I guess there is no way to know whats true, but he has been in the gun business his whole life and has yet to steer me wrong.

And handling the guns side by side the "feel" and apparent quality of them were a night and day difference. If you ever have a chance to see them side by side I think you would agree.

When I started out to buy this rifle I was set on a heavy barreled varmint model. My first choise was actually the heavy barreled Howa with the thumbhole laminate stock. Then I realized after borrowing my inlaws heavy barreled rig, that I am going to walk alot with this thing and the standard barrel won me over quick:D

[Evan03]

seeing as how the vanguard feels better to you means you made the right choice.

the action in the vanguard is a howa barreld action. im not positive but i think they have adjustable triggers. so all being equal the vanguard must just be adjusted difrent than the howas you felt.

one good thing about howa is we can by barreld actions. and kinda build a rig to suit us.


ive just never cared for weatherby anything. the few ive handled arent any better than my rugers. at least to me.

good luck and let us know how everything goes

Evan