Help me decide on a .204

I

ILoveBigRacks

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Have got some $$$ burning a hole in my pocket, and a couple of holes to fill in the safe. Am on the lookout for a .22 Hornet for one thing and think I've decided on a new Savage 25 Walking Varminter. Buddy has one is 17 Hornet and says it shoots bug eyes. Price is right, although I'm not a huge fan of the rifle cosmetically (tupperware stock, etc...). Was thinking of the M40 with the laminate stock, but it is a single shot only and weighs a ton (I was hoping to keep the weight down on this one). Had a CZ, but sold it because the wood was just too nice to carry.

Anyways, to the .204 question. Here I have lots of options and my budget is decent. I've yet to find the one rifle that has everything though.

Have considered the Savage M25 Lightweight Varminter (laminate stock), although just where they get lightweight from is beside me as I think it weighs in around 8.25 lbs. naked. The weight is a con, but the price is reasonable and it has a detachable mag (albeit a cheap plastic one).

Also considering a used Remington 700 LVSF, this would run be about $150 more used than the Savage would new but it has the stainless fluted barrel which is a huge plus. Weight is respectably low, also a bonus. Cons? Stupid azz blind mag, hate these things. Also, it's used from a dealer so I have no idea as to round count or history.

Lastly, so far, would be a new Cooper from Prophet River. Obviously best quality of the three, but you pay for it. Would run me about $1200 more than the Rem LVSF. Only available in the M21, so it's a single shot only. If I want to get the M54 repeater, i have to go into a 22-250. I have yet to own a Cooper that one would consider "lightweight", and their varminter models are no exception. None in stock now either, so would have to wait for inventory.


What others am I forgetting? Not a fan of Ruger bolt actions. Looking for synthetic or laminate stocked only, stainless gets the nod over blued but not a deal breaker. Prefer a detachable mag, second option a floor plate. Ideally under 7.5 lbs bare bones but it's not like I'll be carrying it long distances so again not a deal breaker unless it ends up 10 lbs+ (i.e.: 700 VLS). Would love if the LVSF had at least a floor plate, or the Cooper came in the Phoenix configuration but in a repeater rather than the single shot M21.

Decisions, decisions...
 
Sako is an option if you want to spend a little extra. Tikka is a decent option for the mid budget. TC ventures on the lower end of the price scale. A Cooper is availible in a model 51 in a repeater action with detacthable mag. I have one on order but will not see it until at least Nov. I added a few extra options that will delay production a little.
 
I have a Rem 700 VLS and a CZ 527 American in .204. I've customised the 700, and it spends most of its days at the bench. The CZ is super light, so its easy to carry on extended hikes and spends most of its time in the woods.

I handled a Savage Model 25 at the local gun shop, and didn't really take to it. Felt a bit cheap, not very solid. Subjective, of course. It probably shoots very well.

If I were to buy another .204, it would probably be Sako.
 
I have a model 25 with the laminate thumbhole and it is an awesome rifle for what I paid. Is light enough that I can carry it all day if I have to but still has a heavy enough barrel that I can do a lot more shooting than a normal contoured barrel. I had to do a few things to it to get it just where I wanted it (cut the trigger spring, sand the stock to free float, polish sears, and a little other fine tuning) but now that it is there it is a phenomenal gun. I really like the thumbhole for standing and prone shots but it's a little awkward for me at the bench. Have only really shot it with speers TNT thus far and off a bipod I was getting touching holes no problem. Mag feels kinda cheap as it's plastic but almost all of them are and it hasn't given me any troubles. For what you pay and if you're willing to spend a little time tinkering with it I know you will love it.

edit: The best part is the stock can be replaced easily from boyd's so I don't have to worry about babying it during long hunts.
 
Im a big fan of coopers, Im looking for one in 204 but i want the detachable mag so Ill have to wait for the model 51 to come in. Thats not going to help you out this summer though. Maybe pick up the savage or the remington and use it for this summer then once the 51s get here you could sell it and get the Cooper?
 
jk123 said:
Im a big fan of coopers, Im looking for one in 204 but i want the detachable mag so Ill have to wait for the model 51 to come in. Thats not going to help you out this summer though. Maybe pick up the savage or the remington and use it for this summer then once the 51s get here you could sell it and get the Cooper?
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Thanks for all the input guys. JK123, I like the way you think as that's exactly what I was toying with. Might just go buy that Savage and shoot it for a year, then pick up a M51 when they become available.
 
A solid plan I think. Has anyone heard how many rounds the model 51 mag will hold? It would be nice if it held more than the usual 3.
 
I hadn't even heard of them until this thread. Curious as to what configurations they'll be available in as well? Classic, Custom Classic, stainless or blued, a synthetic or laminate version maybe (i.e.: Phoenix, Excalibur, Jx.Hunter, etc...).
 
i got a browning a bolt medallion a few years back,,a great shooter,,might be hard to find one,as it was a limited edition,,might be something to check into,,if i remember correctly it 6.9 pounds without any hardware
 
ILoveBigRacks said:
I hadn't even heard of them until this thread. Curious as to what configurations they'll be available in as well? Classic, Custom Classic, stainless or blued, a synthetic or laminate version maybe (i.e.: Phoenix, Excalibur, Jx.Hunter, etc...).
Click to expand...

The one I ordered is a Phoenix with a stainless barrel and action. The barrel is a custom 10 twist and fluted. The bolt is will be fluted as well and it will sit in a snow camo synthetic stock. It will also come with a 1.5lb factory trigger. Will do a little more thinking on the optics but am leaning towards a stainless Ziess.
 
I have a savage axis in 204 and dad has a weatherby vanguard in 204. Both shoot great but the weatherby has a much nicer smoother action and trigger. Only downside is its a heavy barrel. Love my axis but I would probably go with the weatherby if I had to do it all over.
 
I bought a 700 SPS stainless in 204, just 'cause I had never had a 204 before and it was cheap and I wanted to play with one. I am a Remington fan to start off with, but this has proved to be quite a little rifle, very light, accurate enough, good trigger. Whats not to like.
 
Just bought my first Cooper. Model 21 .223 Varminter. I'm biased here but it is hard to imagine comparing it to much else. It really is a very very nice rifle. I have no problem with it being single shot as I am shooting it at a range and I don't think I'd mind it if I were varmint hunting either.

I've seen several Coopers come by on EE recently. PR had a nice .204 in consignment as well when I bought mine.

I put a WTB in the EE and got several very decent offers. I found that the guys that have Coopers are never rushing to sell them. They often have several in the safe and if they see a WTB come up they will reach out to you if they've got something that hasn't been used for a while.
 
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