Thread: Some advice please on a new .223

I looked at everything when I was in the market for a new 223. Not many stock a good variety of rifles anymore to be able to touch and feel when comparing.

Tikka are a good package out of the box, but the mag capacity is absolutely shit! There are aftermarket mags available, just not cheap.
Howa aren't light but are a good package also. Nice 3 position safety. Hogue stocks are crap. I had 1 in 7m08 and it hated shooting off a bipod. Double grouped terribly. if I got another I'd put it in some different furniture for sure.
Savage are light. Felt good to shoulder. Barrels in the lightweight rifles are very thin and won't handle a good ol bomb up.
Ruger precision felt very agricultural and rough. I've felt better Norinco actions. Heavy as well.
Sauer were nice but out of your price range. (I bought a Sauer in 308 the deal was too good to not)
Remingtons I was able to check out all felt crap and very cheap/plasticy. No one, at the time I was shopping, stocked a 700 tac for me to try.

For me it came down to the Savage Lightweight Hunter and a Tikka.
I ended up getting a Tikka t3X Carbine in 223.
Plan is to get a Waters Rifleman mag for when I need 10rnds. In the meantime a couple of 3rnd mags does the trick