Bolt action 5.56/.223 plinker

• Feb 22, 2019

• #1

echo6mike

Ultimate Member

Feb 1, 2013

1,794

Close to DC

Situation: I feel like getting a centerfire bolt action rifle. I usually have a fair amount of 5.56 ammo on hand, so it makes sense to pick up another in that caliber.

I like steel and wood rifles over polymer, and iron sights, so I know this is an oddball. But what is out there that I should look at, either current or used?

The new toy would be entirely for target shooting, just out to maybe 200 yards, and for fun, so I don't need anything fancy. I'm just curious right now, no hurry, but let's see what anyone recommends...

SF

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #2

Uncle Duke

Ultimate Member

MDS Supporter

Feb 2, 2013

11,720

Not Far Enough from the City

CZ’s Model 527 Carbine and Lux are current models that meet your specs.

Savage Hog Hunter will give you the irons, but not the wood. Same with the Scout.

Savage 110 and Weatherby Vanguard can give you the wood stock, but not the iron sights.

Lots of used rifles can potentially fit your requirements. Wood stocks with iron sights were once the norm.

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #3

R

RJRjr

Active Member

Aug 26, 2017

505

cecil county

CZ 527. I will be getting one soon I hope.

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #4

D

dist1646

Ultimate Member

May 1, 2012

8,802

Eldersburg

Remington 700 varmint special. The older models came with wood stocks. I had the last one I owned converted to 6mm Hagar. I still have a Winchester model 70 HV in .223 though. Winchester did make a Model 70 varmint that came in a wood stock. Both can be found on the used market.

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #5

28Shooter

Ultimate Member

MDS Supporter

Sep 19, 2010

8,220

Baltimore, Maryland

The CZs are very nice - walnut and steel - total old school.

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #6

TheOriginalMexicanBob

Ultimate Member

Jul 2, 2017

33,022

Sun City West, AZ

I just purchased this CZ 527FS in .223 two weeks ago but haven't had a chance to shoot it. I have similar CZ rifles in .22LR, 6.5x55 and .308 and they are all excellent...I expect this new one to be be just as fine a rifle as the others. If you buy one of these I don't think you'll be disappointed in any way.

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #7

Uncle Duke

Ultimate Member

MDS Supporter

Feb 2, 2013

11,720

Not Far Enough from the City

TheOriginalMexicanBob said:

I just purchased this CZ 527FS in .223 two weeks ago but haven't had a chance to shoot it. I have similar CZ rifles in .22LR, 6.5x55 and .308 and they are all excellent...I expect this new one to be be just as fine a rifle as the others. If you buy one of these I don't think you'll be disappointed in any way.

Click to expand...

That’s indeed a nice rifle and you were fortunate to get that. They discontinued them last year.

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #8

A

atblis

Ultimate Member

May 23, 2010

2,032

The Zastava mini mausers might work. Howa makes a neat little rifle, but I don't think they make a wood stocked iron sighted version at this point.

http://www.zastava-arms.rs/en/civilianproduct/sporting-rifle-m85

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #9

TheOriginalMexicanBob

Ultimate Member

Jul 2, 2017

33,022

Sun City West, AZ

Another nice rifle in .223...if you can find one...is a Remington 788. They're not that common and not inexpensive when you do find them...but they're a great carbine in any caliber they were available in.

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #10

Racer Doug14

Thread killer

MDS Supporter

Patriot Picket

Feb 22, 2013

8,007

Millers Maryland

Mossberg MVP series. They take AR mags as well. Or, a Ruger Gunsite Scout.

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #11

BuildnBurn

Professional Pyro

Oct 25, 2012

731

Frederick County

I'm happy with my CZ 527 American. The nice thing is it's chambered for both .223 and 5.56mm, I believe some U.S. made rifles aren't.

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #12

echo6mike

Ultimate Member

Feb 1, 2013

1,794

Close to DC

Interesting, the CZ - I have a CZ452 for my “good” 22, and I do like it a lot.

I guess I should start looking at consignments as they show up too...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #13

B

Blkhawk870

Active Member

Nov 15, 2014

370

Baltimore County

If you're looking for something with wood and steel, you may consider the Henry Long Ranger. It's not a bolt action but looks like a fun rifle although likely not cheap.

https://www.henryusa.com/rifles/the-long-ranger/

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #14

jimbobborg

Oddball caliber fan

Aug 2, 2010

17,121

Northern Virginia

Don't shoot 5.56 out of a .223. Aside from the pressure differences, most .223 rifles have too slow twist rate.

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #15

A

Alib94

Member

Jan 20, 2019

75

I have been looking for a ruger precision riffle but cant afford it rn

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #16

Schipperke

Ultimate Member

MDS Supporter

Feb 19, 2013

18,759

If you have a lot of .556 , might as well..

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #17

A

atblis

Ultimate Member

May 23, 2010

2,032

jimbobborg said:

Don't shoot 5.56 out of a .223. Aside from the pressure differences, most .223 rifles have too slow twist rate.

Click to expand...

It's really not that big a deal in most cases

in fact, CZ says this about the 527

Our .223s will happily eat 5.56, since CIP doesn’t differentiate between the two cartridges and just has the higher pressure as its standard. So our .223s will shoot everything from the cheapest Russian steel to match .223 brass ammo.

Click to expand...

Their statement is a bit off though, Russian steel ammo is usually loaded on the light side.

 

• Feb 22, 2019

• #18

M

MeatGrinder

Ultimate Member

Jul 27, 2013

2,427

MoCo, Eastern edge

I have a Remington 788 in .223, it sounds like exactly what you want. (And, no, mine is not for sale.)

 

• Feb 23, 2019

• #19

J

Jimbob2.0

Ultimate Member

Feb 20, 2008

16,600

I have both the CZ527 carbine and the MVP in .223. Both are about the same in accuracy for lightweight loads but my 527 is the old 1:12. The MVP is better with heavy loads and easier to put a scope on. The 527 carbine requires high rings to clear the bolt handle and I tend to just run open sights.

In a beauty contest the 527 is an awesome piece of works manship, functional shooting about the same. To my knowledge they are really both 5.56 which will chamber .223 easily though most commercial ammo is becoming indistinguishable. Its not as big of a pressure gap as 7.62*51 to .308.

Remington 799 or Zastava mini-Mausers are awesome guns, my father has one that is incredible. Id buy one at the right price. I think they are all 1:9 now. They share the same bolt handle/scope clearance issue as the CZ.

 

• Feb 23, 2019

• #20

C

chauncey

Member

Feb 17, 2019

27

I researched this same question and found that the Savage rifles in .223 are Not Recommended for use in 5.56.

Ruger and Mossberg are GTG but I did not research the CZ, so that's good info to have.

In addition to pressure considerations you may run into extraction problems as I believe the 5.56 brass is a little thicker and requires a slightly larger chamber.

The previous thought is based upon my experience using 7.62x51 in .308 bolt rifles.