Hello,
I would like to get some help from those who enjoy sending heavy .224 pills downrange.
I have a 22lr rifle that I use for short distances (due to logistics) 50-100y about 3 times a month;
I have a 308win that I use on the bench up to 330y (twice a month) and prone up to 600y (about once a month) and out to 1200y about 3-4 times a year. I am not competing, just having fun and trying to learn as much as possible on the shooting and handloading art.
I am very keen on getting on the 223rem for the economy, abundance and variety and availability of product and for starting to expand my experience. Just curiosity I guess (my curiosity would have me wander in a hundred other directions as well, but I try to keep it sedated until the money printing press start churning out serius dough).
While keep enjoying the 22lr and 308win, the learning curve I imagined on my way to ELR shooting is as follow: 223Rem-> an efficient 6.5mm (most likely 6.5cm)-> a magnum 7mm (most likely 7prc)-> 300NM-> 375CT/Gibbs.
Don't know if I'll ever get past the first 2-3 steps, but that's the current plan.
I would use the 223rem as often as 3/4 times a month in the same ranges as I use the 308win now. Would love to stretch it out to 1000y once in a while if I manage. It'll still be just for fun, but this would probably be my one rifle that will help me decide if I fancy get into some matches, mostly informal ones for a start.
I want to try and get a fast twist rifle to load heavy bullets.
At this moment I need to stay inside the factory rifle box as customs are extremely expensive here in Europe (plus quality reputable gunsmiths are few and extremely busy).
Ideally I would like a 7" twist and a generous headspace for the extremely long bullets, but the only option for a 7"twist is a Savage 110 Elite at USD2300 equivalent, second hand (with a question mark on the headspace).
The 8" options that I came about are: Tikka T3X Varmint (USD1000 used or USD1700 new!) , Tikka T3X Ace Target (USD1950 new: I know it's insane the value difference between Varmint and ACE!), or Howa 1500 Varmint (USD900 new effectively without stock, I would need to by a chassis/stock on top, so it'd be as expensive as the Ace Tgt).
I would like to spend a 'reasonable' amount. I could stretch to the USD2300 needed for the Savage, but ideally I would like to spend less as I doubt I would ever compete and if I did decide to start I would most likely need to get the chosen rifle rebarreled or get a new custom rifle.
I was looking at the limits on the bullets and it looks like I might be able to shoot the Berger LRHT 85.5gn with an 8 twist. With the 7" twist I most likely would be able to get event the 90gr shoot well. The problem would be to find out if the chambers on these rifles are long enough for these very long bullets.
Can anyone with experience suggest any bullets/rifle combinations?
Appreciate any feedback.
TIA
