.223 choice.

[kernel gadaffi]

Hi all, I'm in the market for a new .223 over the British side of the pond and after a lot of deliberation got the choice down to either the Browning A-Bolt or X-Bolt, here there's the equivalent of a $400 dollar price difference, so I was wondering if anyone could throw their ideas into the hat on which to pick.
I cannot justify the price of Tikka or Sako, the price of CZ's is almost as prohibitive, the Howa gets good reports, but needs money spending on it to make it work.

Answers on a postcard please.......

Alan

 

[CrazyDonkey]

Re: .223 choice.

Why would you need to spend money on a Howa to make it work?

Are Tikka hunter/lite's that expensive over there? They're like $600 over here.

 

[o0ben0o]

Re: .223 choice.

All the Howas ive seen shoot good out of the box.

 

[cb_tikka]

Re: .223 choice.

Yup, it's much more expensive in the UK. I would still save my money and get the Tikka. The first thing I did with my Howa was to replace the limp stock.

 

[kernel gadaffi]

Re: .223 choice.

Expensive!!!! a Tikka T3 Tactical is over £1,000 here, so probably the equivalent of over $1,500 over your side, (boo, hiss). I have a friend with 3 Howa's and he's had to get after market stocks for all of them as he shoots off a bipod, so the POI was allover with the standard stock, so a good replacement stock here would be in the region of £200/$300 minimum. It all adds up and makes the rifles a lot more expensive to get right.

 

[Ghogs Nightmare]

Re: .223 choice.

You would probably fine with just a standard tikka or tikka varmint don't need to spend the extra for the "tactical" name.
.
Are Rem 700s not a choice?

 

[kernel gadaffi]

Re: .223 choice.

Are Rem 700s not a choice?

I've had 3 Remington shotguns that have been nothing but trouble, so, I'm keeping my powder dry on that option and will not try to go for four in a row as regards to buying a rifle.

 

[3-0-hate]

Re: .223 choice.

What about savage? The 10FP in .223 is a solid choice.

Remington shotguns and rifle are in different categories IMO. I have an 870 that has hard extraction problems no matter what I do, including replacing the barrel. My 700sps has been rock solid though.

 

[CrazyDonkey]

Re: .223 choice.

I would agree, a Lite or Hunter would be fine. Don't need a heavy contour barrel unless you want to have a heavier rifle.

 

[kernel gadaffi]

Re: .223 choice.

I've been looking at a few guns in shops today and must admit I wasn't impressed by the feel of the Browning A-bolt, it did not feel like a quality item to me, the stock spoiled it, the dealer did tell me that the X-bolt Duratouch stock is a million times better, sadly though, I didn't find anywhere that had the X-bolt in stock to get an idea of how they felt, I did get spend a good while mauling a Howa 1500 and apart from the chocolate stock, it wasn't too bad, I don't know if gun dealers over here are only keeping limited stock to keep costs down, but I was not given a lot of choice, if I do go down the Howa route, I can get a friend to bring me a stock ove from the states, so that has to be better than picking one from the Howa "dream it, build it" website, as the stocks on there are £250-300.
Ho hum, looks like I'll have to keep looking then.

 

[5R Milspec]

Re: .223 choice.

yes, a good Remington 700 sps would do ya just right.If money wasn't a problem then I'd say go for a 5R in 223.

 

[kernel gadaffi]

Re: .223 choice.

I've not seen an SPS as the gun shops over here on keep limited stock to keep costs down, what are the stocks like? solid or a bit floppy, but not as bad as the Howa's?
I've found a CZ walnut/blued over here for £595,(about the equivalent of $950 on your side), that price is a good 25% les than I've seen them advertised for, I'd still prefer a synthetic/stainless though. I'll keep looking though!

 

[Magstang1]

Re: .223 choice.

Tikka scout is the same as a tactical with the exception of the threaded barrel, barrel finish and adjustable comb height on the stock.

If I hadn't got such a good deal on my tac, I would either buy a scout or a varmint.

I'm not a remmy fan. Tikka blows them out of the water.

 

[samnev]

Re: .223 choice.

SPS's are getting very hard to find over here.My brother in law has been searching on line for one that is in stock and when he finds a stocking dealer they say the on line adds are not up to date with their actual stock and he will have to back order. This has been going on for 3 weeks. I imagine in the UK it is even worse.

 

[kernel gadaffi]

Re: .223 choice.

Well, things have changed today, I've found a Remington 700VSSF fitted with a Leupold VX III 6.5-20X40 scope, it's fired 200 rounds and is in very good condition, belonged to an elderly target shooter who had to stop because of old age and frailty, the price is £750 (thats $1,200 over your side), the rifle new here is £1,448 ($2,345 over your side), the Leupold scope is £750 here so I reckon if the package is as good as I'm told, it will be a very, very good deal.

Fingers crossed.

 

[Hawk45]

Re: .223 choice.

If that 700 falls through, the CZ is a good rifle.

 

[kernel gadaffi]

Re: .223 choice.

New toy will arrive on Monday.


http://images.gunstar.co.uk/Gun-Images/Remington-223-A114027.jpg

 

[kernel gadaffi]

Re: .223 choice.

My toy arrived today, 4 days late due to a paperwork cockup, it is a close to brand new as it's possible to be, not a mark on it, not had chance to try it yet, tomorrow hopefully, put some test shots through it, then it's off to the gunsmith to be screwcut and the mod fitted. Looking forward to many hours of fun.

 

[338RUM runner]

Re: .223 choice.

I think you did very very good on that Rifle, looks to be a great buy. Enjoy it every time you get to take it out shooting.

 

[kernel gadaffi]

Re: .223 choice.

Ta!