I'm ready to get a training rifle. I've settled in on 223/5.56 as the cartridge but still fluid on that. This is a paper punching trainer not a hunting rig but I prefer a heavy barrel. I've been looking at the CZ 527 Varmint and curious what I should be comparing to. There does not appear to be a heavy barrel option with Winchester and Ruger tends not to be a first choice for me. Although, I do like the twist on the Ruger. The Sako 85 Varmint looks nice but is just outside my budget before scope. Not too interested in Remington or Savage. Any ideas?

CZ


Ruger

Tikka varmint rifle, perhaps?

Was exacltly in the same situation as you one month ago. Was looking for a good 223 rifle, walnut, same as your pict.(hate laminate or synth.)and after intense research on the net, I never found something negative on the CZ 527. Should say I was already sold with BRNO's having a ZKW 465 22 hornet and a 21f 7x57. Didn't shoot it yet (waiting for spring )but very very confident. Mounted a Nikon Monarch III 4-16x50 with high leupold rings. Think its a great choice.And don't forget the set trigger on the CZ......

Aren't they hard to find....and at what price??? For what I remember where I'm from they don't seem obvious to get... And the twist, 1:8 I think like or not, you have to take in consideration...

My CZ527 varmint (.204 mind you, not .223) is stupidly accurate out of the box, though the bolt feels like a kid's toy. I also had to heat up the bolt handle and slightly straighten the angle to allow it to clear the ocular lens of a Vari-X II 2-7.

I know you're looking for a target rifle, but I have carried my 527 on a LOT of varmint hunts without issue. It has worked awesome on coyotes, bobcats, badgers, a mature mule deer and all kinds of other crap in temps from the negatives to close to 100 degrees. No issues whatsoever, which is more than I can say for several Rem 700s and Winchester 70s.

Didn't think to look at Tikka. Can the stock be easily swapped for wood?

Both the CZ and Ruger are in the $700 range. The Tikka appears to be a bit more at $800.

That is interesting on the bolt handle. I like the sight line as low as possible so this might be an issue.

Mr. Calhoon in Travistown has replacement bolt handles for the 527s that are intended to take care of scope-clearance issues. I haven't used one, but I like his single-shot mag.

The 527's tend to be very accurate. My .204 was easily the most accurate factory rifle I have owned, beat out a fair number of my custom rigs as well.
Let my friend's boy take it Prairie Dog hunting and he HAD to have it after that trip. Still regret that decision.

Howa; they also sell barreled actions.
Browning.
Kinda hard to beat the CZ, though. Price is good, too.

I've owned several CZ 527s over the years. 2 Americans in 204 & 22 Hornet and 2 Varmint models in 17 Rem & 223 (laminated stock). Honestly the Americans with sporter barrels were more accurate than the heavier barrel Varmint models. Since I use them for a walking varmint predator rifle I kept the Americans and sold the Varminters.

CZ 527s have a couple of quirks that people often complain about.
1. Backward safety
2. Magazines not flush
3. Bolt handles interfere with scopes when using low scope mounts
4. Factory rings tend to be to high, rough (need to be lapped)and have strait slot screw heads instead of allen head screws

I dont have any problem with the quirks and love my 527s. My 204 is the most accurate rifle of any brand and caliber I've owned.

The more I look at the Sako the closer I get to talking myself into buying it. The Tikka would be adequate but I've never liked the erogos of the Tikka. I actually like the "blunted tool" Ruger over the Tikka, and that's saying something...... Besides, restocking the Tikka to wood seems like a pain. I wonder if Tikka ever offered 223 in their older 595.

So, it seems I haven't made it any easier on myself. I am now stuck contemplating all three: Ruger, CZ & Sako. It seems the Ruger would need a trigger right out of the gate and a swap out of the laminate stock. I am concerned about distance to trigger on the CZ as this rifle will be used primarily by people with smaller hands. I absolutely loved the trigger on my CZ550 Safari but it is farther forward, especially in single set. How much surgery is it to barrel a 223 onto a short action Winchester? Would I need to get a drop mag kit or can the internal mag be adjusted? .....not a gun smith.

I never thought about the distance ot the trigger. My son has been shooting my CZ 527 American in .223 since he was 11 or 12. My lightweight American is so accurate it amazes folks. 1/4 to half-inch 3-shot groups are common and I don't think I've found a load yet that groups over an inch. It outshoots my heavy prairie dog guns. This in a package that weighs about as much as full-size .22 rimfire. I know that barrel weight and balance are important to small shooters - just look at a little kid leaning way back to off-set the weight of a heavy barrel and think about how recoil is going to be felt. It's another reason my little CZ American has been great for kids and ladies.

I didn't even think of that. Although the fire seems to hate Browning I like them just fine.

fifth, Take a gander at the ruger predator......

Well, dropped by the LGS today to poke around a bit and see what they had in stock. No Sako, Ruger or CZ in 223 around but they had this Shot Show x-Bolt in 22-250 in stock for 7 bills. I have to admit it was a nice feeling gun. Not a huge fan of "ergo" laminate stocks but for a training rifle it might not be so bad. Only problem is I now need to look at the recoil tables to see if it will be manageable for a noob shooter. With the heavier barrel one would think it would be ok. I've never owned/shot a 22-250 so I have no idea. I'm sure all the standard Browning haters will chime in but anyone with x-bolt experience willing to share?

It appears the Browning is 1-14 twist only? It seems 1-14 is a little slow limiting me to only light weights. Any 22-250 aficionados know how heavy/long a bullet the 1-14 will stabilize?

What's the problem with a synthetic stock if it's just a training tool?



P

Preference.

Nothing nearby. I'll trek over to Cabela's to see what they have. Sounds like the factory trigger is good to go on this model.

You SHOULD be able to use most 55gr. bullets in the 14"twist, but try to keep the bullets short. 55 VMaxes might be trickier to get shooting well in a 14" twist, as would the 60gr. Vmaxes. I always preferred the 50s anyhow, they'll stabilize in most anything. I've only owned one .22/250 with a 14 twist (Winchester), the others had 12" twist barrels (Savages). All shot very well, though the Winchester was a fuzz better with light bullets.

Ok, I've ruled out 22-250 altogether. The Browning 223 twist is too slow. Pharmseller got me thinking about a plastic gun so I contemplated the Ruger American in 223 but, in the end, I think I'd regret it.

It really seems like I'll be going with the Ruger Predator but I am curious about the finish on the gun. Is the Ruger stainless matte a finish or a coating? No one has the gun nearby and I'd be ordering online. Anyone have a ruger with this stainless finish? It appears to be the same finish as the Target matte?