Seeking advice for "starter" varmint rifle

Can't go wrong with a CZ. I have two CZ's and LOVE them. My Savage rifles haven't been out of the safe since I've made the plunge towards CZ. The CZ 527 American 204 that I have is a perfect calling rifle for me. The CZ 550 Varmint Kevlar 22-250 that I have is perfect for long range shots. Mauser action, Single Set Trigger...can't go wrong.
 
you know i love my hmr 17 but i just bought a howa 223 with scope package for 400 bucks , all i needed was a harris bipod 75$ and some bulk 223 and away i have been for a week i love my new gun, bought mine at the local big R ..
 
Tuna....That's one BIG chuck! Nice rifle.

Having started this thread, and gotten lots of excellent advice, I thought I'd pass along my decision.

I guess I can't really get 1 rifle and expect it to be both a long range PD killer AND an eastern coyote hunter. I've been around long enough to know there is no such thing as "1 gun does it all". If I'm going to get into PD hunting as an east coaster, guns will be the least part of the investment. Travel, lodging and meals will far exceed the cost of the gun for just 1 trip. Besides, if I get into a good dog town I'll need multiple guns to let the barrells cool. Then there is the cost of ammunition. In a good town, even using cheapo .223 ammo, 3 days ammo costs could easily equal the cost of a gun.

So there really is no way to "inexpensively" test these waters. Its either get halfway serious or don't bother at all. And that "gopher safari" a few years ago in Bozeman made "don't bother at all" NOT an option.

So here's what I have tentatively decided on as a starting varmint/predator arsenal. .22 WMR (already have that). Savage model 10 Predator in .223 (eastern yotes and chucks) and backup PD gun. And a Savage 12 BVSS .223 (pretty much a dedicated PD gun.

That said, has anyone got any pressing arguments against the 2 choices of rifles/calibres? If not, its time I called my local FFL.
 
I think that will get ya started, make the mans phone ring!

ETA,
Save that brass so you can start reloading, it helps offset the costs.
 
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or you can get one of these...

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Tex.....Nice rifle. Is that the 12 lb version? Nice looking rifle! Have you blooded her yet? Is that a specialist
rifle-field mice at 750 meters? VERY nice. What calibre is it in? What glass did you put on her?
 
2FEW, you are from Connecticut, I am from Milford and I used to shoot at Lyman's Blue Trails in Walingford, I now live in the Bethlehem-Easton area in Pa. I don't know if you are a handloader but I would recomend it to explore the accuracy potential of any rifle. My Savage Predator is the most accurate rifle that I own. One of my pet loads shoots the 75 gr Hornady Amax bullet at 2850 fps .350-.450 five shots at 100 yards. My favorite Hog load is Lapua brass Win SRP Vit N130 25.0 gr 36 gr Barnes Varmint Grenade at 3830 fps it shoots about .300 five shots at 100 yds. I won't describe the particulars of this bullet but you can go to www.banesbullets.com check out the videos.
 
I have Savage .17 HMR and a Savage 308, both with Bull barrel. I like them both real well, but today I bought a Howa .223, bull barrel overmold synthetic stock. Accuract was great out of the box, and the action is much slicker than either of my Savage guns. I really like it. $406.00 plus tax.
 
I own a .204, 2-.223's and a .22-250. They all have their uses. I reload for all of them, but if I were not reloading I would have to agree with previous posts the .223 would be my choice. And if I could only own one of my .223's it would be my mini-14 target. It is dialed in for dead on at 200yds. Have only had it a couple months so I don't know my full potential, but wouldn't hesitate on 300yd shots at prairie dogs.
 
To me i fell in love wth the savage predator when they first came out and could have bought one for $475 new when i worked at a gun store in college but didnt have the money. Roughly a year later i ran across a CZ 527 varmint kevlar and glad i didnt but the Predator. Yes its a nice trigger and a very good balance to it for a day on a dog town and a carry rifle. but under that overpriced camo its still a tupperware stock. I would have bought one if at least they came w/o the camo option and roughly hundred bcks cheaper. Back to the cz 527 love the SST its not overly heavy, a quality solid stock and oh yeah
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They also shoot.
 
No one has mentioned the ruger??? They have a heavy barrel laminated stock...fully floated. With adjustable trigger.My cousin has one and is deadly accurate with factory ammo although his is 22-250 they do chamber that in the 223

I have the Rem 700 vs sf II although you'll be hard to find one for under 1000 but its a shooter and it has all the bells and whistles!!! Check it out on their website.

Jeremy
 
Can't go wrong with a 223..but I love my 204's!!!! Any of the usual makers of rifles...choose the one that best fits you and fits your wallet or simply looks the prettiest.

Have fun.
 
I'd second chris112's recommendation to also look at the Howas. You've been given great recommendations on CZ and Savage. They were on my list when I was looking in October. I couldn't pass up the deal on the Howa that I had at the time. I'm real happy with it. My 2 bits.
 
For what youll be shooting Id look hard at the remington .17 (fireball) not to be confused with the .17hmr, which IS a nice little round also. The fireball shoots nearly twice as fast and also shoots further with more killing power, however it will also be more expensive because it is a center fire round and not a rim fire. From what I understand the fireball is the best for being fur friendly and will make internal jello out of varmints and predators. The .204 ruger is a very nice round but there again, for what your intending on doing and the quarry available to you, Id say the one of the .17s. howlooooooooooooooooooo!
 
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