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.
