Ideas and opinions needed

[ray1970]

Looking for a precision type toy. I don't have plans on shooting it past about five hundred yards or so. Not planning on taking out any bad guys with it either. Could possibly see limited use on coyotes or prairie dogs but doubtful. Also, I have some shoulder issues that make shooting larger calibers unpleasant.

With all of that in mind, I am leaning towards something based off the AR platform and chambered in 223/5.56. Maybe some sort or varmint style setup. I haven't totally ruled out a bolt action rifle though. Or other calibers as long as they are easy on my shoulder.

I'm not looking to spend a fortune but don't want to buy junk either. Hoping to keep it around $2K including optics if I can.

I welcome thoughts and ideas as I've been looking at different stuff and just can't make a decision on what I want to do.

Thanks.

[J]

Savage 223 bolt build, get a better stock and trigger, then put the rest into something like a SWFA SS, or Vortex PST optic.

[J]

Here is what said combination can do:

https://www.ar-15.co/threads/124845-...oter-and-Rifle

[nisils14]

You can easily build another upper in AR Platform with lots of room for a good optic and maybe some other goodies. I have a rifle gassed 18", which is easily my favorite setup to shoot. It's easily low sub-moa with good ammo, It'll get decent accuracy with blaster ammo.

[ray1970]

Thanks, J. The Savage rifles are shooters for sure. I had one years ago. Had the original barrel re-chambered for 223 Ackley with a tighter neck. Would shoot under 1/2" at 100 yards all day with just about any load I fed it.

Kind of looking for something a little "cooler".

If I do a bolt action I might stick it in an XLR chassis or something. And I would want a heavy barrel for sure.

[ray1970]

You can easily build another upper in AR Platform with lots of room for a good optic and maybe some other goodies. I have a rifle gassed 18", which is easily my favorite setup to shoot. It's easily low sub-moa with good ammo, It'll get decent accuracy with blaster ammo.

I don't tend to swap uppers around too much. I'd just build a complete, dedicated rifle. But there are factory rifles cheaper than I can build something right now.

I'm kind of liking the Rock River A4 Varmint model in either the 18" or 20" model.

DPMS offers a good looking rifle in their TRP with a stainless 20"'barrel but I can't find any real good info on it's accuracy potential and not sue I could bring myself to spend $1K on anything DPMS builds.

[Hound]

Suppressed Rem 700 in 308. Mine is built to shoot like a .22 yet is great for long range.

[XC700116]

With an AR, Hands down, no question either buy PREMIUM complete rifle (like a JP, Larue, POF, Seekins, etc) which is well above the $2k budget with optic, or build a decent upper with a great barrel and put it on a lower with a good-great trigger.

Option 2 is the one that can keep you under $2k with an optic. I've built pretty much exactly that rifle and it's currently my only 223/556 AR.

Here's the parts list:
Aero Precision reciever set
pieced together LPK
Geissele HSNM trigger
CTR Stock with Larue RISR on it
18" Rainier Ultra Match 223 wylde intermediate gas barrel. - could save a hundred bucks and get the same performance from a WOA barrel of similar config.
15" Troy Alpha rail
SJC Titan Brake
Topped with a 2.5-10X40 Vortex Viper PST in a Burris PEPR

Now you can shave a few bucks here and there by shopping smart, and going with some less expensive options that don't affect accuracy ie cheaper hand guard like the nordic components units or going with a Rock River NM 2 stage trigger over the Geissele, MOE stock vs the CTR, etc. Lots of ways to save some cash on it without giving up any accuracy.

Now with the rifle build listed above, I reliably shoot well past 500 yds with 75gr BTHP hand loads. For instance the last time I really stretched that rig's legs out, I was shooting a 10" square plate at 780 yds in a 25 mph cross wind, and hitting anywhere from 3-4 out of 5 on average, the first hit came on shot number 3, trying to figure the wind, all other misses were 100% either wind changes I didn't catch, or the loose nut behind the trigger. The gun is sub moa all day every day, the shooter on an AR platform, not so much hahahaha.

[nisils14]

I don't tend to swap uppers around too much. I'd just build a complete, dedicated rifle. But there are factory rifles cheaper than I can build something right now.
I'm kind of liking the Rock River A4 Varmint model in either the 18" or 20" model.
DPMS offers a good looking rifle in their TRP with a stainless 20"'barrel but I can't find any real good info on it's accuracy potential and not sue I could bring myself to spend $1K on anything DPMS builds.

Factor in another lower for 200-500 and you got your complete rifle. I feel companies will always be able to make and market rifles much cheaper then one ever could think of putting it together themselves, especially if its an apples to apples comparison. I think the benefit in DIY, is being able to spec build to your hearts desire. Picking out my favorite parts and wrenching 'em together is probably why I'll choose to build mine over than buying a factory one. That and I get a sense of satisfying my need to tinker. There's some nice bang for your buck barrels out there. White Oak Armament has a rifle 18" that has a good track record. Out of my personal observations, BCM SS410 and Rainer Match barrels have had good results. I think some companies offer a accuracy guarantee on their barrels.

[MarkCO]

.223 Wylde with a good load and a good barrel is certainly 1/2MOA capable to 500 yards.

With the prices in the basement, I would bet you can build a complete upper for no more than $1200 that will give you everything you want and be at least $500 less than a factory built rifle. My Kreiger shot under 1/3MOA out to 600 yards and I built that upper complete for what would have been about $1k retail. If you need help putting one together, let me know.