New hunting rifle, 223, 243, 270?

AK_Stick · 07-30-2012, 00:03

So I've pretty much settled on the CZ 550 FS as my next rifle.
http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-550-fs/

Now the question is caliber

Rifle is intended for deer-caribou, and smaller game. Possible occasional use for bagging the occasional fox, wolf, or black bear.

Calibers I'm considering now are 223, 243, and 270. The 223 is in the smaller 527 FS http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-527-fs/

Which would you choose, and why?

fgutie35 · 07-30-2012, 00:08

The 270 case will offer you the same versatility as the 30-06 when it comes to different bullet weights for different game. You can load heavy bullets for big game, and light bullets for varmint.

RedHaze · 07-30-2012, 00:38

.243 Win

Lots of options. Excellent for varmints. Anchors deer just fine with the higher bullet weights. Great low recoil, flat shooting, accurate round. Whats not to like?

ZombieJoe · 07-30-2012, 01:30

My vote goes to the 270. Its is a great round that helped me grab my first deer. I was using a Remington 770, man do I miss that rifle.

Red Haze, where did you find that chart?

74_sharps · 07-30-2012, 01:48

I use my AR15 (.223) for everything from yotes to deer with great success.

vafish · 07-30-2012, 04:42

I'd say .243, until you threw bear into the mix. I'd much rather have a .270 on bear.

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***faawrenchbndr*** · 07-30-2012, 05:40

243 gets my vote........

rhino673 · 07-30-2012, 06:07

The 243 and 270 are both excellent and very versatile cartridges. But I would tend to side with the 270 from experience .

Brucev · 07-30-2012, 07:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK_Stick

So I've pretty much settled on the CZ 550 FS as my next rifle.
http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-550-fs/

Now the question is caliber

Rifle is intended for deer-caribou, and smaller game. Possible occasional use for bagging the occasional fox, wolf, or black bear.

Calibers I'm considering now are 223, 243, and 270. The 223 is in the smaller 527 FS http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-527-fs/

Which would you choose, and why?

For the game animals you list, buy the rifle in .270 Winchester. Shoot everything with 130 gr. ammo... unless you really just have to have a heavier bullet in which case use the 150 gr. load.

rayetter · 07-30-2012, 07:36

.270 will be take just about anything in the U.S. Not bad on the recoil either.

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Bill Keith · 07-30-2012, 08:50

You are talking a w i d e diversity of game. You are in Alaska where there are critters that will eat you. I personally would not go smaller than the good old 30'06. Plain varmint gun....I love my CZ 527 in .223, I have it mounted with a Leupold VariX II in 2-7X.

bmoore · 07-30-2012, 08:57

243 for sure.

SigFTW · 07-30-2012, 09:48

270 would be my choice out of what you listed. Find the right grain bullet for the biggest game you will hunt and stick with it, unless you don't mind re-zeroing your rife every time you change your ammo for the type of game you are hunting. I'm lazy so with my rifle, 7mm Mag, I stick with the same load, a 139 gr Hornady InterBond bullet for everything I hunt, mostly deer and hogs.

I am very interested in the CZ rifles and would like to know more about the quality. When you get it can you please let us know?

Mr Wasabi · 07-30-2012, 10:42

Out of those I'd say .270 but take a look at the 7mm-08 if the rifle you want comes in that caliber.

AK_Stick · 07-30-2012, 11:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Keith

You are talking a w i d e diversity of game. You are in Alaska where there are critters that will eat you. I personally would not go smaller than the good old 30'06. Plain varmint gun....I love my CZ 527 in .223, I have it mounted with a Leupold VariX II in 2-7X.

I'm not worried about bear, or moose, I've got plenty of bigger guns, 30-06, 300 WSM, 338, 375, 9.3, 45-70, 416 etc. I'm looking for a deer and caribou, and light medium game gun.

AK_Stick · 07-30-2012, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by SigFTW

I am very interested in the CZ rifles and would like to know more about the quality. When you get it can you please let us know?

I own 3 CZs currently, a 550 Safari magnum in 416 Rigby, a 452 Lux, in 22 and an older CZ VZ.24.

With the accuracy you get, I think the CZ is currently the best deal you can find on a CRF action. That it's built on a simplified (for production) Mauser action it's quite a selling point to me.

Victoriagotagun · 07-30-2012, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK_Stick

I'm not worried about bear, or moose, I've got plenty of bigger guns, 30-06, 300 WSM, 338, 375, 9.3, 45-70, 416 etc. I'm looking for a deer and caribou, and light medium game gun.

If you already have a 30-06 then I wouldn't go with the .270. I would lean more towards the .243

SigFTW · 07-30-2012, 12:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK_Stick

I own 3 CZs currently, a 550 Safari magnum in 416 Rigby, a 452 Lux, in 22 and an older CZ VZ.24.

With the accuracy you get, I think the CZ is currently the best deal you can find on a CRF action. That it's built on a simplified (for production) Mauser action it's quite a selling point to me.

Thanks AK,

I have been eyeballing the CZ rifles after I bought my first CZ pistol. Can't wait to find one and see it first hand.

AZ Cat · 07-30-2012, 13:09

.243 for sure for deer and smaller game. Should be fine on black bear too...but I'd want something bigger for their larger cousins!

.243 is a really nice, flat shooting caliber with a lot of ammo options depending on purpose.

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countrygun · 07-30-2012, 13:21

A bad fitting or poorly designed stock will make the .270 kick more than a 30-06 with a good stock, having both calibers around IME a 150 gn bullet in a 30-06 is more comfortable than a 150 in a .270.

If I were looking at a CZ and I am looking seriously at an FS model, I think they still make it in 6.5X55 which is a great all around cartridge in my mind, especially for a handloader.

BuzznRose · 07-30-2012, 13:32

Caribou and black bear would be where I would prefer the 270 or your '06. Otherwise, I'd go with the 243.

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G36's Rule · 07-30-2012, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK_Stick

I'm not worried about bear, or moose, I've got plenty of bigger guns, 30-06, 300 WSM, 338, 375, 9.3, 45-70, 416 etc. I'm looking for a deer and caribou, and light medium game gun.

Given those, the 243 is a great addition.

Berto · 07-30-2012, 14:33

I'd go .243, the original dual purpose round.

3rdgen40 · 07-30-2012, 15:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK_Stick

I'm not worried about bear, or moose, I've got plenty of bigger guns, 30-06, 300 WSM, 338, 375, 9.3, 45-70, 416 etc. I'm looking for a deer and caribou, and light medium game gun.

The .270 will do nicely on deer and caribou.However,if you hunt deer and caribou in Brownie country, I would use the .338 or better yet, the .375,just in case.

K.Kiser · 07-30-2012, 16:24

I vote the .243 to be too light for caribou or a misplaced hit on a large stubborn buck... Of those you mentioned I'd say the .270, but if you're open to options then I'd say a .260 with 140 grainers...

It will be everybit as light and compact as the .243 being they're offered in the same platform, but the .260 is noticeably more capable on tougher game from what my group has seen.. The .260 barrel will also last longer if you're gonna run up a round count over the years...

It has fabulous bullet options for section density and ballistic coefficiency for outstanding penetration and downrange power, and gives up nothing to the 243 with only miniscule drawbacks... If you'd like to stay in a compact rifle, then my next two choices would be a 7mm-08 or the .308...