I agree, COAL restrictions in the AR sh!tty at best. My very reason for looking into having a bolt gun done up on a Rem 700 action. I am leaning toward the 700 action just because of its popularity and availability. Are there some other actions in the same price range I should be considering? CZ for example.You also speak very highly of the 1-8 3-groove barrel. can you tell me the advantage of a 3-groove barrel over a conventional barrel. Will 1-8 twist shoot the lighter(50gr) bullets? Can I shoot un-fireformed 223's in an AI chamber with any accuracy? I know, I am asking a lot of questions but I want this build to go right if I follow through with it. Bout 10 years ago I bought a donor 700 short action at the gun show, had my smith do up a 1-8 twist Shilen barrel in 22-243. Barrel was medium weight(.750 at the muzzle) and finished out at 28". I should have had my smith cut me a set of dies when he built it but I was running out of funds and was going to do it later. I never did get to shoot it because I couldnt find dies and really wasnt too sure about the actual chambering(22-243, 22-243middlestead, or some other variation) It sat around for a couple years and I lost interest in it, sold it and bought downriggers.

This go around I am thinking Rem 700 223 action, 21" medium weight barrel chambered in 223AI(likely with a 1-8 twist), H-S stock. I may even go with this 3-groove you mention. What barrel manufacturer would you recommend? Thanks a lot for the input. I like being able to go to the fishing forum to get my gun advice.