Help me pick my new small predator gun

Bronco Boy

Bronco Boy

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Maple Ridge, BC
I am going order a small predator (I don’t say coyote because bobcat, lynx and wolverine may get hunted with this gun) rig next week from Wholesale, SIR or Epps. I have is narrowed down to a few but I’m really struggling with a final decision. Your comments and help would be greatly appreciated. I’m a lefty so my options are relatively limited.

In no particular order:

#1

Tikka T3 LITE SYNTHETIC • Stainless - Left Hand Caliber: 22-250 Rem.

Pros:

• 22-250 is my preferred caliber
• Stainless!
• Lightweight and easy to carry
• In stock right now at Wholesale Sports

Cons:

• I hate the stocks on Tikkas, they look like cheap plastic to me and, sadly, the left handed Tikkas are not available in walnut in Canada
• Plastic parts
• Feels like a “toy” to me and it’s not something that gets my adrenaline going when I hold it

#2

CZ527 AMERICAN - WALNUT • Left Hand Caliber: 223 Rem.

Pros:

• Awesome looking! I would be a proud to own and show this puppy off
• Well made and accurate
• A little “exotic”; not every Joe Blow has one
• In stock now at Wholesale Sports

Cons:

• I really REALLY want a .22-250 and not a .223
• Could be hard to get parts or repairs if something goes wrong
• The most expensive of the 4




#3

Remington 700 CDL CUSTOM DELUXE • Left Hand Caliber : 223 Rem

Pros:

• A quality well made firearm
• I like the stock and overall looks of this gun almost as much as the CZ
• Easy to get repaired and parts
• In stock now at Wholesale Sports

Cons:

• Again, I really REALLY want a .22-250 and not a .223


#4

Savage 16FLHSS - SHORT ACTION LEFT HAND • Caliber: 22-250 Rem

Pros:

• Again, the .22-250 is my preferred caliber
• I like the Accu-trigger
• Love the stainless
• Over $200 cheaper than the others
• In stock now at Wholesale Sports


Cons:

• A "cheaper" gun; in my opinion a Savage is a lower quality firearm than the others I have short listed
• The stock; I just plain like walnut stocks more than synthetic cheap looking black ones – I’m a bit of a traditionalist I guess

My perfect gun would be a stainless Remington CDL chambered in .22-250 but no such gun exists and being a lefty I often have to accept some compromises. What one would you go with?
 
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Tough call. Their all good, but this is going to be your personal decision. Of the four, I put the Tikka at the bottom of the list. (Flame suit on) I never really like the feel of these rifles. The CZ is beautiful, and a set trigger is nice. The Remington feels good, looks good, and I'm sure will shoot good too. But if your going to get a varmint rifle, consider the Savage. It's cheaper feeling, but they shoot very well. Everyone raves about the accu-trigger, and even with the best of intentions, varmint guns get knocked around too. Synthetic is really the way to go. As for the .223, it's almost as good as the 250 speed wise. In the end, 1-2 inches difference downrange means nothing once you know wher your rifle shoots. I see your only looking at light weight sporter rifles. I'm assuming your going to walk alot. All good choices, and you'll probably be happy with any of the four. Good luck.
 
from SIR?
Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .223.

stainless, excellent all-round small game caliber, nice ruger fit & finish, excellent trigger, controlled round feed mauser-style action. also comes with excellent ruger rings so you are saving around $100 over another rifle, or $160 over the Tikka (Optilock isnt cheap, you can get cheaper ones or ringmounts from the US but LeBaron sells the rings and bases for $80 each, plus tax and shipping).

$731 at SIR for the Ruger Hawkeye. or if you factor in the rings its more like $650 compared to most other rifles, or $570 compared to the Tikka.
 
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pharaoh2 said:
I see your only looking at light weight sporter rifles. I'm assuming your going to walk alot.
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Small predator hunting involves a lot more walking and requires a different choice of firearm than varmint hunting in my opinion. I love thick barreled varmint rigs but I don’t think for this particular purpose they would be a good option. Small predator hunting and varmint hunting are two different things I think. I agree that a synthetic stock makes a lot sense because of the potential abuse a well used hunting gun can endure; I tend to be insanely anal about making sure I never set my gun on a rock and I carry a gun sock at all times.

Thanks for your feedback!
 
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manbearpig said:
from SIR?
Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .223.

stainless, excellent all-round small game caliber, nice ruger fit & finish, excellent trigger, controlled round feed mauser-style action. also comes with excellent ruger rings so you are saving around $100 over another rifle, or $160 over the Tikka (Optilock isnt cheap, you can get cheaper ones or ringmounts from the US but LeBaron sells the rings and bases for $80 each, plus tax and shipping).

$731 at SIR for the Ruger Hawkeye. or if you factor in the rings its more like $650 compared to most other rifles, or $570 compared to the Tikka.
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I think a Ruger M77 Hawkeye would be an excellent choice but they are not offered in left handed versions unfortunately. I have done my homework.
 
I seems like you have your heart set on the 22-250. But if you also want a wood stock, get the Savage and use the money you saved to buy an after market stock.
 
ah, a southpaw - didnt know you were handicapped, sorry :)
cant help you much then as i have no clue what is offered in lefthand models. its really a shame ruger doesnt make LH models, theyre a great gun.

i highly recommend the .223 over the .22-250 though, you take a slight ballistic hit but gain longer barrel life, more ammo choices and availability (including surplus), much cheaper ammo, etc.

JeffR said:
I seems like you have your heart set on the 22-250. But if you also want a wood stock, get the Savage and use the money you saved to buy an after market stock.
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unfortunately Richards Microfit just quoted me a 4 month lead time on a Savage stock :(
i think i will stick with my synthetic, at least i wont mind if it gets all dinged up to hell.
 
Good points on the ammo pricing and availability and barrel life manbearpig. If I take the 22-250 out of the equation then it becomes a clear Remington VS CZ battle; can't go wrong either way I know. What are your thoughts on those two specifically?
 
i own a couple remington 700s but neither was made in the last 15 years. i went to buy a new 700P and the guy at the gunstore took it out of the box and i couldnt believe i was looking at a remington, the quality seems to have gone downhill. the finish was crappy, it was rusting in its brand new factory box, etc.
keep in mind thats the 700P, a pretty spartan and utilitarian gun - i havent looked at any of their BDL/CDL types lately so for all i know those havent been affected by the decline in quality.

honestly the only remington that has piqued my interest lately is their 798, but much of that interest has waned after reading a lot of threads here and elsewhere, and if i wanted a mauser style rifle i would buy a Ruger or CZ.

i like the CZs a lot, gorgeous and well-made guns, but... a CZ almost seems too nice for a predator rifle... and a bit on the expensive side. you are slugging these things through the bush, through snow, etc... i would get something light & accurate but utilitarian and durable. like a cheaper synthetic Savage, with a very good scope and mounts.
the Savage is also a switchbarrel so you could get it in .223 and if you get tired of it or want something different you can change it to another caliber later on.

its a shame they dont offer their predator hunter in a LH model... but perhaps the 16FLSS wouldnt be a bad start.

can lefties fire right-hand semi-autos with no problems? or is the RH cocking a big issue? how about spent casing ejection?
 
JeffR said:
I seems like you have your heart set on the 22-250. But if you also want a wood stock, get the Savage and use the money you saved to buy an after market stock.
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I agree on the calibre, and the Savage. I have a 112BVSS, great 'bang for the buck'. Stay with the wood stock and take the money saved and spent it on a good quality scope. I settled on a Leupold VX-III, 6.5x20 with Varmint reticle.
 
IMHO go with the tikka, i like the action best, you really have to go to a major store with all of the models and try them

of course the tikka stock is "plastic" and wood feels better. for really cold days, you may want to thick about getting a rubber stick on sheet for the stock, if you want to keep your cheek on the stock for any significant time. looks aside, the plastic is cold !!!

i think the tikka has a good trigger, smoothest slickest action, but as for accuracy compared to the other models, you'll have to rely on the other cgn's experience. good luck, fun is sometimes in the shopping!
 
Just some food for thought...have you ever watched any of those exploding gopher vid's? Cats are very thin skinned. They are typically called in, treed with dogs or otherwise encountered at close range. Unless you don't mind picking up all the scattered pieces and stiching the pelt together, a high velocity .22 centerfire is generally a poor choice for cats unless you don't mind decapitating them with head shots.
 
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I am in almost the same boat as you but I think I will go with an 1885 low wall in 22 hornet. I like the cdl but have heard good things about the cz, personally I don't care for the Tikka at all. I have a lh 243 bdl that I am thinking of rebarreling to 22-250 but I already have a 223 and two would be silly. Of course I have 2 28 guages and am looking for a third so maybe silly is the wrong word. If you really want the 22-250 go with the 22-250. The savage with the accutrigger would seem to be your best bet. You can always sell it if something better comes along. Good luck
 
BC Bigbore said:
Just some food for thought...have you ever watched any of those exploding gopher vid's? Cats are very thin skinned. They are typically called in, treed with dogs or otherwise encountered at close range. Unless you don't mind picking up all the scattered pieces and stiching the pelt together, a high velocity .22 centerfire is generally a poor choice for cats unless you don't mind decapitating them with head shots.
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I have seen the exploding gopher vids.

This begs the question.....in your opinion, what is a suitable round for hunting small predators if pelt preservation is a concern?
 
jed said:
I am in almost the same boat as you but I think I will go with an 1885 low wall in 22 hornet. I like the cdl but have heard good things about the cz, personally I don't care for the Tikka at all. I have a lh 243 bdl that I am thinking of rebarreling to 22-250 but I already have a 223 and two would be silly. Of course I have 2 28 guages and am looking for a third so maybe silly is the wrong word. If you really want the 22-250 go with the 22-250. The savage with the accutrigger would seem to be your best bet. You can always sell it if something better comes along. Good luck
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What is a 1885 low wall?
 
Winchester 1885 low wall. It is a singleshot, originaly designed by J Browning. In my case I am looking at a reproduction. I am looking for a 100 yard gopher, coyote, bobcat gun in an appropriate round and am considering the 22 hornet, 22k hornet and the 218 bee. This will be a walking around gun and I like the lines of these old guns. They balance well and are easy to load and unload. I will be using iron sights as I am looking at distances to fill the gap between the 22 lr and the 223. Like you I prefer wood over synthetic and am not really impressed with the choices available for left handers so I am considering going outside the box as it were.
 
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