The CZ is the better value if the two. Outstanding rifles. I would get one in 223/5.56.
Which center fire rifle would you buy?
- Thread starter m41
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The CZ is the better value if the two. Outstanding rifles. I would get one in 223/5.56.
Given that information but still not knowing what use you intend for it, I will recommend a bolt action 243. Very accurate and even in lighter rifles recoil is mild but is very capable of clean kills on deer and black bear sized animals to 300 yards. If varmint shooting is in the mix it's still usable there. Look at the Remington 700 or Weatherby Vangard.
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Plenty of good bolt actions for lefties - Remington 700s, Ruger 77s, Savage 110s. Don’t know if any of the newer synthetic stocked guns are for lefties but they would be good too. Lever actions that eject up (Winchester 94) also.
Some idea of your intended use(s) would be good but for lower recoil something in the 6 - 7 mm (.243 - .284) size sounds about right. The 6.5 Creedmoor is the current round du jour but there are a bunch of others.
Some idea of your intended use(s) would be good but for lower recoil something in the 6 - 7 mm (.243 - .284) size sounds about right. The 6.5 Creedmoor is the current round du jour but there are a bunch of others.
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CZ 527 Left Hand.
CZ-USA CZ 527 American Left-Hand - CZ-USA
CZ-USA CZ 527 American Left-Hand - CZ-USA
amazingflapjack
US Veteran
Check out Savage
one eye joe
US Veteran
WHAT YOU MIGHT NEED A CENTERFIRE RIFLE FOR, WOULD PROBABLY DIFFER WIDELY FROM ANY OF US WHO DON'T RESIDE IN YOUR NECK O' THE WOODS......
PERHAPS A MORE PRODUCTIVE APPROACH WOULD BE TO STATE WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE, AND WE COULD MAKE SUGGESTIONS BASED ON THOSE STATED NEEDS......
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jimbo728
Member
If I did not know better I would not even think Savage. But I have learned that a Savage is hard to beat.
I cant know what you intend to use your selected rifle for. I am just target shooting with mine and the accuracy is excellent.
Have one in .223 Rem and one in .308 and they are both keepers.
Jim
hkcavalier
US Veteran
I chose a Tikka T3, stainless, in .308. Lefty gun.
Magazine fed, slick bolt, Sako barrel, won't rust, great trigger.
I too love the Savage brand but they didn't make a magazine fed .308 rifle at the time. I still don't think they make a stainless sporting rifle like that, unless you count their Scout.
If I was a righty I might get a Ruger 77 series or a CZ. Something about a controlled feed Mauser style action gives comfort...
Magazine fed, slick bolt, Sako barrel, won't rust, great trigger.
I too love the Savage brand but they didn't make a magazine fed .308 rifle at the time. I still don't think they make a stainless sporting rifle like that, unless you count their Scout.
If I was a righty I might get a Ruger 77 series or a CZ. Something about a controlled feed Mauser style action gives comfort...
chiefbob81
US Veteran
Go to LGS, hug a bunch, hem and haw, try some again, pick the one you like the most!
Of all the bolt action rifles I have owned, my Salvage 25-06 has been the best and taken more game then my 308's, 30-06, 7mm, 30-30 LA.
Just MHOP....
Just MHOP....
Frank46
US Veteran
Getting a 30-06 is never a mistake. I own about 6 or so, so maybe I'm biased. Seriously you can shoot 125 Sierra spitzers at 2600 feet for informal target practise, or 3000 feet per second for woodchucks. 150,168,175, 180, 190 and even some 200 grain matchkings for target or match shooting. Bullet weights from 125 up to 200 grains for hunting. And cast bullets from about 1200-1400 for low powered target type shooting and with a little work even 2000 feet per second for hunting. Frank
Ribwizzard
Member
I'll tell my story. Started with a 700 in 30-06. Fine rifle and a freaking tack driver. But beat up my shoulder after 20 rounds or so. Traded it for a handgun I had to have at the time.
Next up was a Winchester model 70 featherweight in .308.. Beautiful gun, but I couldn't hit a darn thing with it. Recoil was very heavy and barrel heat up fast.
Sold it and got a M&P 10 in .308, put magpul SL stock and pistol grip, Gieselle SSE trigger and precision arm muzzle break on it. Freaking thing is amazing accurate. Splitting holes at 300 yards. Recoil feels same as my .556 if not less. Got about 500 rounds through it so far and has never had a single hiccup. And its light, still under 10 lbs with scope , ready to hunt.
Next up was a Winchester model 70 featherweight in .308.. Beautiful gun, but I couldn't hit a darn thing with it. Recoil was very heavy and barrel heat up fast.
Sold it and got a M&P 10 in .308, put magpul SL stock and pistol grip, Gieselle SSE trigger and precision arm muzzle break on it. Freaking thing is amazing accurate. Splitting holes at 300 yards. Recoil feels same as my .556 if not less. Got about 500 rounds through it so far and has never had a single hiccup. And its light, still under 10 lbs with scope , ready to hunt.
one eye joe
US Veteran
kozmic
Member
Lefty guns off the rack are somewhat scarce at most gun shops and big sporting stores. I like to default to lever guns for a bunch of reasons (mostly the hunting conditions in our area). But if you have a 30-30 already perhaps an old Rem 700 in .243 might be the answer. Lighter recoil, great/dependable action, readily available diverse ammo, good knockdown power for most N American game and they are often available for sale. In a new gun with a different round, I'd look at a stainless Tikka T3 in 6.5 Creedmoor.
Good luck M41.
Good luck M41.
I would have said a .30-06 or .308, but since you want less recoil, and really, who doesn't. I would say a .243 or 7-08. In a bolt gun, a Savage or Remington. Man, an old Savage 99 in .250 would sure be sweet and ambidextrous too.
MichiganScott
Member
The problem with trying to decide on one rifle and caliber for whatever you would use a rifle for will mean that it will be inappropriate for almost everything. Personally I feel that it would be easier and that a person would better off to buy four or five purpose built rifles to cover everything you would want to hunt, but that wasn't the question.
Whatever game that you will likely hunt will decide caliber. Caliber is probably secondary to brand and model. You can kill deer sized game with a .223 if you choose your bullets and shots well. A .338 mag would be acceptable if you wanted to hunt mostly elk, moose, and the great bears. Although inappropriate, the .338 could be used on woodchucks because there is no such thing as too dead. Using the .223 on the great bears would be suicidal.
Ammunition availability and bullet availability needs to be considered. 7mm Remington Mags are easier to find than 7mm WSM ammo. Do you handload?
As far as brand and model goes you need to decide if you will be hunting mostly from a stand or walking and what brand you prefer. If you hunt under wet circumstances, you would probably want a stainless steel rifle with a fiberglass stock.
I'd buy a Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather in 300 Win Mag and hunt anything in any weather in North America. Reduced loads with lightweight bullets could be used on ground squirrels, but you could load 180gr Barnes or 200 grain Nosler Partitions for the great bears. The 300 Mag can be downloaded to .300 Savage levels for a woods gun, but can be stuffed to the max with a sleek 168gr bullet for long distance antelope.
Whatever game that you will likely hunt will decide caliber. Caliber is probably secondary to brand and model. You can kill deer sized game with a .223 if you choose your bullets and shots well. A .338 mag would be acceptable if you wanted to hunt mostly elk, moose, and the great bears. Although inappropriate, the .338 could be used on woodchucks because there is no such thing as too dead. Using the .223 on the great bears would be suicidal.
Ammunition availability and bullet availability needs to be considered. 7mm Remington Mags are easier to find than 7mm WSM ammo. Do you handload?
As far as brand and model goes you need to decide if you will be hunting mostly from a stand or walking and what brand you prefer. If you hunt under wet circumstances, you would probably want a stainless steel rifle with a fiberglass stock.
I'd buy a Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather in 300 Win Mag and hunt anything in any weather in North America. Reduced loads with lightweight bullets could be used on ground squirrels, but you could load 180gr Barnes or 200 grain Nosler Partitions for the great bears. The 300 Mag can be downloaded to .300 Savage levels for a woods gun, but can be stuffed to the max with a sleek 168gr bullet for long distance antelope.
Joe in SC
US Veteran
lots of advise here, in my opinion some good and some less than ideal according to your opening remarks. I would suggest the 280 Rem. Hard to beat on hunts in lower 48.
Don't know where the lefty came from. Not in the OP's post. Depends on the budget and the intended varmint. Deer, prairie dogs, turkey, hogs, cats, ETC. Friend from KY says a .357 lever gun will do it all. If that's all that it takes in KY, I would opt for a .41 magnum handgun.
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