Help me pick a rifle

[Iowashooter]

I’ve canned the idea of building a bolt action

I think I’ve narrowed my search down to buying one of these 3 (all in .223 rem)

projected use- target shooting and fun at the range. I’ll put a 6-24x44 or thereabouts rifle scope on it


Howa 1500
Savage Axis II
Ruger American Gen II


- triggers are supposed to be good on all three (from my online research) - - all are capable of shooting MOA with factory ammo (again, per my online research)
- all have removable magazines
- all (the one I will buy) have threaded barrels

anyone have thoughts?

 

[Txhighlander]

View attachment 440778 View attachment 440779 View attachment 440780 I’ve canned the idea of building a bolt action

I think I’ve narrowed my search down to buying one of these 3 (all in .223 rem)

projected use- target shooting and fun at the range. I’ll put a 6-24x44 or thereabouts rifle scope on it


Howa 1500
Savage Axis II
Ruger American Gen II


triggers are supposed to be good on all three (from my online research) and all are capable of shooting MOA with factory ammo (again, per my online research)

anyone have thoughts?

Howa 1500 is hard to beat, to me they shoulder better than the other 2 but that is just me. A friend has the Ruger and it is sub moa performer.

 

[V-Tach]

Howa.............

 

[Iowashooter]

Forgot one… also considering this CZ

CZ 600 AL1 Alpha Rifle .223 Rem.​

 

[glenbo]

CZ

 

[Vaquero]

Any of them will perform well.

 

[TreyG-20]

I am on the exact same hunt as you and have researched all these rifles. I'm going with the Howa. I had one before and let it go. Very nice rifles for the price tag. I like CZ, but not as big of a fan of 600 series as I was the 527. The Howa has what I want a 1-8 twist 20" barrel in a Walnut stock. I'm sold on it.

 

[tekiwap]

None of those. Tikka T3 any model. Out of the box one of the best rifles for the money and performance. Smooth as glass action and trigger and all sub MOA.

 

[Lonesome Dove]

1=CZ
2=Howa
3=Ruger
4=Savage

 

[V-Tach]

Still Howa.........

 

[baboon]

I’d be more likely to find an old Sako in .222 with a Bofors barrel. And it came with an old 70’s Weaver or Bushell scope that was accurate I’d call it good .

 

[Iowashooter]

Any of them will perform well.

Better than I will perform for sure!

 

[Vaquero]

Better than I will perform for sure!

I didn't say it out loud, but yes.

 

[Txhillbilly]

If you can find a Tikka in your budget, That would be my #1 choice.
I love CZ rimfire rifle's, don't know much about their center fire rifles.
The Howa is a good choice, plus there is some aftermarket items available for them.
Never been a big Ruger center fire rifle fan, and you couldn't give a Savage Axis series rifle. The 10/110 series are great.

 

[Sam7sf]

Howa.............

This.

 

[Moonpie]

This one.

 

[TX OMFS]

Guess who the 1911 guy is...

 

[robertc1024]

From the ones you listed, I'd pick the CZ or the Howa. Good luck trying to find extra mags for the Howa though - getting them is really spotty.

I've had 4-5 bolt actions .223's and the Savage 10/11/12's were the best of them for shooting small groups though. I just looked at the Savage website and it seems like they are now their higher priced variants though.

 

[Fishkiller]

Howa

 

[Iowashooter]

Headed out to the gun show in Cedar Rapids… hope to be able to examine and shoulder at least two or three of the four I’m considering

called all my LGSs and no one has one

my choice is ordering online or seeing if I can find one at the gun show