I already have an AR-15 because I think every household should have one, but I don't really enjoy shooting it. As such, I have an itch to pick up a Ruger American Gen II in 5.56 and throw an Aimpoint Micro or PRO on it just to have something handy and lightweight. Anyone here done this?

Also, if I were to do this, what kind of mount would be best for the application?

no, not in a bolt action. A .243win is the sweet spot. Enough, but not too much. Most are enamored withe 6.5 creed. But no on the .223 While a good round. I would do the 22-250 if wanting a 22 cal cartridge. Ymmv.

I'm not really looking to add any additional calibers and I have a .308 bolt action for anything that would require more power than a 5.56. This would be more of a fun/varmint rifle since I have a decent stockpile of ammo for it.

Based on what you’ve explained, I believe a bolt gun in 223 Remington would be a good addition to what you have. I have two 223 bolt actions, and the first is basically a hold-over from when I wanted a less-powerful and less-expensive to shoot semiclone of a rifle in 308.

As a step up, or at least sideways from your AR that I assume probably already has a nonmagnifying optical sight, though, I personally would choose something other than a red dot for the bolt gun. I don’t know what specifically you have in mind for it, but for virtually any purpose I can think of, a conventional scope sight would be better.

For hunting small animals that wouldn’t warrant using the 308, a nonmagnifying dot reticle sight would work at close distances, but not really as well as a magnifying optic, both for aiming precision and target identification. If it’s to practice with a cartridge that’s less expensive and less punishing than the 308, then it would be better to have a similar sight (and I assume your 308 doesn’t have a red dot; if it does, then I’m off base ).

Although I enjoy shooting my 223 rifles just for the sake of shooting them, both were intentionally set up to somewhat closely resemble other rifles I have in 308 and 6.5 Creedmoor. The more precise 223 of the two is in a chassis similar to two rifles in 308 and 6.5, and has a 5-25× scope just as they do. The older 223 has a Leupold 2-10×30mm scope just as my Tikka T3x Compact Tactical Rifle (CTR) in 308 does. Those setups allow me to switch among different rifles and still feel as though I’m developing and maintaining similar marksmanship and gun-handling skills while shooting ammunition that’s more fun and less expensive. Shooting the more precise 223 rifle has, I believe, helped significantly improve my abilities with the 308s and 6.5.

I short, I am very happy with my two 223 bolt action rifles, but would not limit them with a red dot sight.

Added: One last thing to keep in mind (if you haven’t already thought of it) is the 223 Remington / 5.56mm NATO incompatibility issue. If your ammunition stockpile is actually 5.56 and not 223, then be careful to ensure that whatever bolt action rifle you choose will fire 5.56 safely. Both of mine are Tikkas specifically marked for 223, but with some cautious experimentation I’ve found that they handle certain ammunition that’s labeled as 5.56 with no problem. I haven’t, however, shot any M193 or M855 in either because I don’t need to. I suspect those loads wouldn’t cause any problem, but it’s just an assumption at this point.

Some questions:
- What don't you enjoy about shooting your AR15?
- What do you expect that a bolt action would do that your AR15 does not?
- What distances to target are you expecting? What type of varmints?
- What types of 5.56 ammo do you stock?

Red dots work really on ARs for shorter distance targets. Bolt actions are almost always better suited for some type of magnified optic.

There have been at least a couple of CZ 527s that had me thinking the same way. I wound up opting for bolt-action 7.62x39s, but a .223 still sounds like it would be fun to shoot.

Scopes are good, but a red dot mated to a relatively light, compact and handy bolt action might do a better job of keeping the rifle light, compact and handy without really limiting the range of the .223 too much. Not all bolt rifles have to be long-range precision instruments so long as they are reasonably good hunting and plinking rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by Il Cattivo:
There have been at least a couple of CZ 527s that had me thinking the same way. I wound up opting for bolt-action 7.62x39s, but a .223 still sounds like it would be fun to shoot.

Scopes are good, but a red dot mated to a relatively light, compact and handy bolt action might do a better job of keeping the rifle light, compact and handy without really limiting the range of the .223 too much. Not all bolt rifles have to be long-range precision instruments so long as they are reasonably good hunting and plinking rifles.

This right here is my line of thinking. I most likely wouldn't be using the rifle beyond 100-200 yards.

As for why I don't really enjoy shooting my AR-15, I think it's more so the mechanical nature of it. I don't get out to shoot very often so I find more joy in working a bolt after every shot.

I’ve never owned a 5.56/.223 in anything other than an AR. I’ve read about the potential issues firing 5.56 in a 223. I also just figured this was more of a theoretical issue than a real one. I have to believe guys have been cross firing these loads forever without blowing anybody up. Probably without even knowing it could be an issue. “Careful experimentation”. What the heck does that actually mean? If it’s a problem then couldn’t the first round blow you up? Excess pressure signs be damned. lol.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
What the heck does that actually mean?

I could explain it to you, but on the one hand it might encourage you to do something dangerous, and we wouldn’t want that, would we?
On the other, because you evidently believe that the 223/5.56 issue is not a legitimate concern, there is no reason for me to explain it.

Either way, then, it’s pointless as you’ve figured out.

For anyone else, though, who may not have figured it out to their satisfaction, there is much online discussion and explanation of why many actual knowledgeable people recommend against firing 5.56mm NATO ammunition in some 223 Remington chambers: not all, obviously, but some. It is obviously unlikely that a problem would result in a catastrophic failure of the gun or we would hear of it all the time, but perhaps other issues that we would like to avoid. To each his own, though, and good luck with whatever we decide.

I agree it is pointless. Careful experimentation aside, I’m sure I wouldn’t understand anyway. Glad you didn’t get hurt.

The Ruger American I’m looking at is chambered for 5.56, not .223, so that’s not an issue for me.

I don’t see the utility in this but I don’t see it in a 223 lever gun either yet Henry has one.

Are you getting a version that takes standard AR mags? That would be cool. Ok, maybe I’m changing my mind. I might NEED this. lol.

quote:

Originally posted by Spiff_P239:
The Ruger American I’m looking at is chambered for 5.56, not .223 ....

I have long wondered whether that would become a trend among manufacturers. It would of course make sense to allow shooters to use their stocks of AR-15 ammunition in their bolt action rifles as well.

And if I were a decision maker at a company like Tikka, I might say, “Let’s chamber our 223 rifles so that they can fire 5.56 ammunition without pressure issues, but we won’t advertise it and scare off the traditional shooters who might think, ‘I want a real 223 rifle, not something that will shoot that crappy milspec stuff!’”
Anyway, just speculation.

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
I don’t see the utility in this but I don’t see it in a 223 lever gun either yet Henry has one.

Are you getting a version that takes standard AR mags? That would be cool. Ok, maybe I’m changing my mind. I might NEED this. lol.

Yep, they take AR mags. Maybe I’ve just earned Ruger another sale?

Well don't pat yourself on the back too hard, I am a pretty easy sale. lol

Not to derail your question, I had a Ruger American rifle in 5.56 but traded it for a Ruger American rifle with a threaded barrel in 300 AAC Blackout and LOVE shooting it. Why you ask?

With suppressors being available without the tax stamp starting in 2026, and since you have an AR now, you might consider purchasing your Ruger bolt action in 300 AAC Blackout. You can switch out the upper on your current AR to a 300 AAC Blackout for around $350 and now if you want to purchase a suppressor, you can shoot both your AR and your Ruger bolt action using super sonic or SUB-Sonic rounds while also still being able to shot your AR in its current 5.56 format.

I currently have a 30 caliber suppressor that I can use on my AR (5.56 or .223 or 300 AAC Blackout) and my Ruger American rifle in 300 AAC Blackout.

I have two Ruger American Ranch Rifles…one in 5.56 and one in .300 Blackout…both take AR mags…I’m in the market (near future) for an American Ranch rifle in 7.62X39 to round out my Ruger bolt action collection…I agree that a red dot on a bolt gun would work but it just doesn’t seem right to me…on both of mine I have 1.5-4 LPVOs which are perfect for the rifles…they both shoot tight groups if I do my part…a suppressor would be the icing on the cake

Update:

Took the advice of a few people and ended up going with a Leupold Mark 3HD 1.5-4x20. Here it is next to its bigger brother in .308.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Spiff_P239,

In addition to what Fritz said, I think for me, if I were going to do a bolt gun 5.56, the draw would be for using a quieter high back pressure suppressor for something like varmint or coyote hunting at longer ranges, but that destroys the light and handy with a red dot thing because in addition to a longer, heavier can, it would have a scope with higher magnification.

In standard AR calibers, for it not to be an AR, I think it needs to do things that an AR isn’t great at. To me, that’s almost exclusively port pop and cartridge OAL concerns.

quote:

Originally posted by Spiff_P239:

quote:

Originally posted by pedropcola:
I don’t see the utility in this but I don’t see it in a 223 lever gun either yet Henry has one.

Are you getting a version that takes standard AR mags? That would be cool. Ok, maybe I’m changing my mind. I might NEED this. lol.

Yep, they take AR mags. Maybe I’ve just earned Ruger another sale?

Reminds me of the abject failure of the Remington 7615.