I have a .223 single shot (not a Savage) and also a M11 that started in a Trophy Hunter XP box. The .223 Rem is a nice caliber for paper punching. If I was going for bench in .223 I'd look for a heavier barrel than the Trophy Hunter series. They are GREAT for deer hunting (I use a .260 Rem and love it) but for tweaking out the most from a bench a heavier barrel, like the Varmint series, will be favored for much shooting. I spend much more time letting my light sporter weight M11 cool after two or three shots than is convenient for bench work. Not a concern in the woods.