[Rider47]

Adding bottom metal for a mag to a wood stock is not that difficult. Below are some images of a metal (not plastic!) PTG bottom metal (on sale for $99) that I installed on a 700 stock. Wood removal first with a drill and then with a dremel tool. This was done so this 6.5CM rifle would accept standard 10+ round AICS magazines for PRS competition. If not on your microfit stock, there are lots of reasonably priced M700 capable new and used stocks out there.

 

[Gman47564]

Your probably not interested but I bought a used savage 110 chambered in 223 a few years ago.. and i would put it up against about any factory offering out there.. it's a hammer with my hand loaded 69 grain sierra match kings..

 

[joelmark]

Thanks for the replies so far - Regarding Tikka...
After I posted this I looked into the Tikkas, as a buddy of mine swears they are the slickest and most accurate actions he has found off the shelf.

It looks like the T3x Varmint may not be available, but the Super Varmint is, and they are kinda proud of that thing! I would have to send that stock down the road and then I am going to be north of $2K, but I could start with the factory stock I guess. I will need to see if I can find one locally to check out, because it has my interest.

The standard stocks are very good. I have no issues with my Standard Varmint stock, replacing it would not make it any more accurate.

 

[Davcruz]

Your probably not interested but I bought a used savage 110 chambered in 223 a few years ago.. and i would put it up against about any factory offering out there.. it's a hammer with my hand loaded 69 grain sierra match kings..

I am certainly interested, and the Savage 110 and 12 are high on my list along with the Tikka, for off the shelf. However, I was just looking at the Aero site and it seems the have a full chassis gun on sale and it includes 200 rounds of Nosler, which is some of my favorite loading brass BTW. That may be hard to pass up, but I don't know anything about their barrels.

SOLUS Competition Rifle 22" .223 Wylde, Sendero + 200 Rounds of NOSLER .223 Ammo

The rifle and ammo included in this bundle will ship to your selected FFL dealer in separate packages, which may arrive at different times. Please ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local laws to complete the transfer. NOTE: Please anticipate longer lead times due to the high demand...

www.aeroprecisionusa.com

 

[Davcruz]

I never realized that Ballistic Advantage was a sister company to Aero, but apparently that is the barrel source. I have personally never owned a BA barrel but I have seen them in action on ARs and they are not that impressive.

 

[Gman47564]

If you know who eric cortana is he has some videos out about a solus he got.. claims it to be a great rifle..

 

[ajole]

My "precision" .223 rifle is a Uintah Precision upper on a DIY UP AR lower.
Not exactly what you were looking for, I know. But it shoots well.

 

[Davcruz]

If you know who eric cortana is he has some videos out about a solus he got.. claims it to be a great rifle..

Yes, I do know and have used his barrel tuner on my rimfires. I respect much of what that guy has to say.

 

[ajole]

If you know who eric cortana is he has some videos out about a solus he got.. claims it to be a great rifle..

Erik Cortina.....

 

[GuitarmanNick]

My dad was recently diagnosed with dementia and I have been tasked with selling his benchrest rifles and associated gear. I have looked at them and made some notes, but I still need to clean them up, check twist rates, take pictures, etc...

I may have something that might be of interest to the OP.

A Remington 700 short action, 21" heavy tapered barrel, Jewell trigger in a walnut benchrest stock. It is .223 Remington with a .252" neck. The barrel work and assembly was done by Mr. Bob Green in Pennsylvania. I also have some new Lapua brass, precision dies, a selection of bullets and several very nice scopes available. This rifle does not currently have a scope installed.

If interested, message me for pictures and additional details.

Dad only competed against himself and liked putting all of the bullets into a single hole @ 100 yards. Other calibers available include 6BR, 6PPC, and .22-250. Each rifle is unique. I have been sorting all of his ammo, brass, dies, and components so it can be offered to the buyers of these rifles if desired.

I have not yet listed them anywhere and hope this post is not breaking any of the forum rules. I am still trying to determine the actual value of some items before posting them for sale.

 

[cmj8591]

This is my Savage model 12 Long Range Precision Varmint. It is the most accurate out of the box gun I've ever seen. Mine is a 1 in 9 twist and will routinely shoot 70 grain Burgers into 1/4" groups. The scope is a 36x Weaver and was a cheap setup that I had planned to replace with something better but has done everything I've asked of it.

 

[Davcruz]

My dad was recently diagnosed with dementia and I have been tasked with selling his benchrest rifles and associated gear. I have looked at them and made some notes, but I still need to clean them up, check twist rates, take pictures, etc...

I may have something that might be of interest to the OP.

A Remington 700 short action, 21" heavy tapered barrel, Jewell trigger in a walnut benchrest stock. It is .223 Remington with a .262" neck. The barrel work and assembly was done by Mr. Bob Green in Pennsylvania. I also have some new Lapua brass, precision dies, a selection of bullets and several very nice scopes available. This rifle does not currently have a scope installed.

If interested, message me for pictures and additional details.

Dad only competed against himself and liked putting all of the bullets into a single hole @ 100 yards. Other calibers available include 6BR, 6PPC, and .22-250. Each rifle is unique. I have been sorting all of his ammo, brass, dies, and components so it can be offered to the buyers of these rifles if desired.

I have not yet listed them anywhere and hope this post is not breaking any of the forum rules. I am still trying to determine the actual value of some items before posting them for sale.

I would enjoy learning more of this .223, particularly the twist rate. I am very sorry to hear of the dementia, it is a terrible disease.

 

[Davcruz]

This is my Savage model 12 Long Range Precision Varmint. It is the most accurate out of the box gun I've ever seen. Mine is a 1 in 9 twist and will routinely shoot 70 grain Burgers into 1/4" groups. The scope is a 36x Weaver and was a cheap setup that I had planned to replace with something better but has done everything I've asked of it.

This is the right hand bolt, left eject model. I see it is available in 1:7 as well as 1:9. Another range buddy mentioned these to me, said the same thing about accuracy.

 

[cmj8591]

This is the right hand bolt, left eject model. I see it is available in 1:7 as well as 1:9. Another range buddy mentioned these to me, said the same thing about accuracy.

Correct. The left feed works great when you're sitting at the bench if you're right handed. I got the 1/9 because I knew that I wouldn't be going over 70 grains. I still can't believe how accurate it is for a non custom rifle.

 

[ky-n]

I still can't believe how accurate it is for a non custom rifle.

That is what Savage rifles do. My 112 bvss-s in 22-250 will easily do one hole groups when I can do my part. I use reduced loads that are equal to the 223 for most shooting but still have the option of barn burners for when needed.

 

[BobSc]

For your budget I would (and have done this) find an older Remington 700 with the proper action, bolt face, and mag if you want it. Strip the barrel off it and order up a stainless barrel from one of the better barrel manufacturers and have it fitted up, chambered, and whatever else you want done to it. You should be able to find an older Rem 700 rifle for around $500-$700 at a gun show or order a new action from Brownells. A barrel will run about $350, depending on who you order it from and you can get it in any twist and taper you desire. Spinning it on with all the needed work- headspace, chamber, crowning , etc... will run around $300-$400. Stainless barrel won't require bluing so you will save that expense. The beauty of this plan is you already have the stock, Rem 700s have tons of aftermarket parts- triggers, scope mounts, etc... available, and you can often get all the parts quickly, including the gunsmithing...

Or you can buy some boring off the shelf rifle and try to get it to shoot....

 

[FuzeDude]

Proof Research or Gunwerks will build you a tack driver. Get yer wallet out.

 

[rtodalen59]

Off shelf...Tikka Super Varmint. 8 twist.
Adjustable cheek piece and solid as a rock.

 

[Rider47]

Interesting . . . BobSc in post #39 describes almost exactly the formula for the two rifles shown in my post #3. And GuitarmanNick in post #30 has what sounds like a sweetheart of a rifle following much the same formula (the Jewell trigger alone is worth investigating). One of the rifles pictured in my post #3 was also chambered by Bob Green of PA, a master gunsmith. It's fun to show up at a range or competition match with a rifle that looks a bit like your Grandpa's huntin' rifle, and kick butt on a host of "Chassis" rifles.

 

[Davcruz]

So much to chew on in this thread and I appreciate all the suggestions and opinions! Seems like I have some research and thinking to do now.

Still very hard to decide between off the rack Tikka or Savage and a build, I see both sides of it and really want to handle those rifles. The Solus complete rifle is out for me, I'm just not ready to spend that amount of money on a rifle with a BA made barrel.

However I like the idea of the PVA barreled Solus action, albeit not available in .223 at the moment. The Solus action seems to get high marks for an affordable 700ish footprint action and it's 3 lug with a changable bolt face with quite a few known companies making a prefit barrel if I want to change down the road.