I've got a CZ223, should I get a bigger caliber?

BadeaJohn

BadeaJohn

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Greetings,

I have a CZ Varmint in 223 which is very accurate and so far only used for paper punching.

I am considering getting another one in a bigger caliber like 308, 6.5x55, 270 or 30-06 that will be used for the same purpose.

What are your thoughts or suggestions for a rig?

Don't want to go past the $1200 mark.
 
If you're happy with the .223, keep it and spend the cash on ammo or reloading gear. Get all the quality trigger time you can with it. IMHO, you can't get a better target/varmint cartridge for the value. If you've outgrown it to the point that it's holding you back from learning, that's outstanding. By all means, class up to one of the 6 or 6.5 mm's.
 
Both the 308 and 6.5x55 have a good following for paper punching and hunting. Lots of info on both available, 270 and 30-06 are great rounds with a lot of load info. For strictly paper punching the 308 will have a slight edge . Let the flaming begin:cheers:
 
You are going to find that any potential advantages with cartridges is simply not going to show with a factory rifle. You may get a great shooter or you may not. All factory rifles have throats too long for high BC bullets to hit the lands and stay mag-feedable.

as to the 270 and 30-06 for paper punching, well this is why you need to remember what you paid for advice given anonymously on the internet...

270 is a hunting round. It burns lots of powder, has terrible ballistic coefficiency and even the best match bullets are far inferior to the best 22, 243, and 264 bullets out there. Bullet selection sucks, because this is simply not a practical target caliber or load.

The 30-06 is in the same boat, except if you reload there are better 30 cal bullets, but tons of recoil. The 308 does everything that the 30-06 does, and with less recoil, better barrel life, and the option of factory match ammo.

Take your shooting to the next level and begin reloading. You will never achieve true precision with factory ammo. Once you have gotten the hang of reloading, re-barrel the gun you have with a custom, and you won't even want to look at another factory gun.
 
I've got all the stuff to reload, but I haven't started yet. Soon

My club only has a 150 yard range, so I'm limited.
 
OK,

now the "important" question... what do you want to achieve with the "new" gun/caliber?


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By the way, just trying something new is an acceptable answer :D

If you're looking for better accuracy (smaller groups), starting to reload and experiment with different bullets/weight/powder would be your best option.

A heavier bullet (wetter you stick to the 223 move on to something in 6.5) will do a better job at bucking the wind.
 
definitely get into precision reloading. The bits and pieces to do that properly are seldom considered by those who want to jump into precision shooting on a budget.
 
I have started reloading with classic lee loaders for both 22-250 and 270. My clubs range goes out to 200 yards so were are in a pretty similar situation except that these are both hunting and paper punching rifles.

If you only intend to shoot targets and you want to try another larger caliber I would go with the .243 or 7-08 or 308. Long action calibers are really only effective when hunting or at long range (400+) so for your purposes its a waste of powder plus extra recoil with no advantages.
 
if you are only going to shoot out to 150 you have way more rifle then you will ever need
22lr will teach you more about making corrections at that range, if you want to poke one hole start reloading your own rounds, one hole all day long with the right load and projectile. if you just want a bigger bang the CZ or a Savage F-TR in a .308 will do a single hole at 150 easy and will go out to 1000 no problem and is very easy to get componets for, and it easy on barrels, recoil is light. I have the Savage F-TR in the .308 and it is just sick, I shoot flys at 100 so easily that its not fun any more. I have .338 lapua that I shoot coffee cans at 1760 yards quite easily but if you really want to learn to shoot well a good CZ 22 lr at 200 to 300 will save you tons $$ and teach you more about wind and eye-hand.
 
No you shouldn't you should get a smaller caliber like a thompson center R55 all weather with a match barrel ($650. or so) then buy a used Leupold scope on the EE for another $600, then buy two bricks of CCI minimags to break it in $120, then buy a case of Eley Sport or some other very accurate rimfire, another $600-1200 depending what you buy, and spend a lot of time on the trigger (5000 rounds), 25 yards, 50 yards, 100 yards and even 200 yards, THEN sell the gun on the EE for a little less than what you paid for it, sell the scope for what you paid for it or keep it and buy your larger caliber then, at that point you will be able to shoot the lights out of things easily at 200 Yards, and beyond, will have had an absolute blast with the 22 and stayed easily within your budget and will have become not a good shot but a great shot along the way. That 22 is almost as accurate as the $2000 anschutz's and is more accurate than the cz bolt line.
 
I would stay with the .223, you'll be amazed at how much tighter your groups will be once you start reloading. Reloading is a great hobby too.

What are you using for a scope, seems you have a good budget to upgrade the glass if that is an option, or needed.

Or, go buy a .308 so you have something to compare to your .223. Then you can set the record straight that .223 is as good or better than .308 on paper;).

Whatever you choose, get that press going.
peace...
 
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