Opinions on New Rifle

[bogeybill55]

Looking for opinions on purchasing a target rifle for the wife to join me at the range as a couples activity. We are both now retired and I'm looking to get back into reloading as a hobby. I have reloaded only for my hunting rifles and a .44 mag handgun, a Ruger Red Hawk. The rifles are a Remington Model 760 pump in 30-06 and the other is a Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08. Both are topped with Leupold variable scopes.
The wife is learning to shoot with a scoped Henry Lever in .22 LR and a scoped Browning bolt .22 LR. The .22 LR just doesn't cut it with accuracy at 100 yards so I would like to get a bolt action rifle in .223 caliber. Should be easy on the shoulder and I can play with it at the loading bench. And if I ever get the opportunity I can use it a varmint field gun.
So, after lot's of research I thought a Marlin XS7 in .223 with a 3X9 or 4X12 scope might fit the bill. The rifle is probably in the $330 range and I would like to keep the optics around the $250 range including mounts.
I'm also open to a used rifle in .223 as again this is for the wife to range shoot not to go to Wyoming or Alaska for a big game hunt.
You personal experiences with various low cost (not junk) scope brands and rifles is appreciated. Not looking to be cheap, just thrifty. Thanks in advance.

[Huffmanite]

Good choice on the Marlin X rifle, have two of them in other cartridges and they shoot well. As to a scope. Check www.natchezss.com for a Weaver 40/44 3.8-12x44 A.O. scope. Its about a $200 scope that Natchez is selling for $120 or $130 depending on reticle. This is an aspherical lens design scope (heritage is 35mm lens camera design), made in Philippines and has excellent optics. Owned one for a few years now and quite happy with it.

[Ricklin]

The higher end Japanese Bushnell's are nice scopes, and reasonably priced.
My 3X9 Bushnell is outstanding, and was very reasonable. It's the brightest scope I own. The good Bushnell's are made in Japan and very nice quality, the low end Chinese Bushnell's are fine on a .22 plinker, and that's about it. No comparison in the quality, you can feel the difference.

[4runnerman]

First off I would look at The Savage line of rifles. Best out of the box accuracy. As for a scope,Being a 223 is capable of shooting much farther than you are talking here i would get a good quality scope for when the day comes that you want to shoot well beyond 100 yards. 223's will do 400 plus with ease. You looking at a MIl dot scope?. I just got a Muller 8-32 x 44 for my 243. $240.00 and it is one nice little set up.Passed the box test very well.
I am one for more power on my scope for those tiny targets you might shoot.
You mentioned for target shooting also. I would go with a 24 power at the lowest, Myself i put at 32 power on my 223.

[solocam72]

I would get the rifle in either a howa 1500 or a weatherby vangaurd S2, both are made by howa. I own 2 of them and both shoot EXTREMELY well! The howa 1500 in 7mm-08 and a weatherby vangaurd S2 in .257 weatherby, a good friend of mine just bought a .223 in the vangaurd S2 and it shoots a dime at 100 yrds! I would also look at tikka, I have yet to see one of them NOT shoot, both my S2 weatherby vangaurd and howa 1500 are gauranteed to shoot an inch group at 100 yrds with premium ammo. I handload and found loads for for both rifles without any hassle that shot 1" and better at 100 yrds

[oneoldsap]

Check out OpticsPlanet.com , they have your scope , whatever it may be !

[solocam72]

As for a scope I would definately look at the redfields as they are part of leupold & stevens now, they have 2 different models out, the revolution is there top of the line made here in the US OF A by leupold I believe? And the revenge being the lower end which is made in the philipines, I have both and have nothing but good to say about them! I also own a pair of their binos and really like them as well

[10-96]

For a scope, I too would give a hearty thumbs up for the Mueller brand. I have several, two of which have been on varmint/truck rifles that haven't received what you would call the gentlest of care.

For a rifle- it may be a little above what you were looking to spend maybe. But the CZ 527 line is an outstanding rifle. It's main shining point, I would think, for you and your wife's goals is the single-set trigger.