my 1st budget bolt rifle, lefty shooter, 7.62x39 or .308 advice welcomed

blasted_saber said:
Winner right here
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I just came back to this thread to post that ad link... and see that someone beat me to it... OP, I would jump on that, it is a quality rifle... although the ad details will be amended shortly, no functional difference in the value though...
 
x2 on that ruger on the ee, I would have bought it but just picked up a remmy 700 bdl 30-06 left hand a few weeks ago
 
Ardent said:
Your budget’s fair and I’m glad to see it get you above the junk entry level plastic stuff. The CZ527 is the highest quality rifle in your consideration there and the Ruger likely the best fit seeing as you’re a lefty, and they’re tough and well made. I’d opt for the left handed Ruger in your case.

The CZ527 is a heck of a lot of rifle for the price, and the detachable mags are excellent. Just too bad there’s no lefty option.

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These are my favorite rifles of all of the ones I have ever used so far. A light, quick compact bolt action that has a smooth action and magazines in a calibre that I own most of. Plus it shoot nearly everything I have put in it pretty much equally as well. I get about 1.5 inch group avg at 100meters with it and about 2" with Can-Am reloads and less than 1" with S&B and Winchester 7.62x39 brass SP. I carry one for deer for most drives and many sits given the ranges i'm shooting at and ease of carrying. For a few sits of longer distances I do break out the .308 or 8mm. A warning though, since I have started carrying a CZ527 the deer have been so afraid to come near it that I haven't seen a deer with it in my hands lol.... It does attract moose though but I never get tags for those other than calfs.

The CZ 557 is a very nice 308 rifle as well, its not a 527 though as the bolt release is a real PITA on those where the 527 is the standard mauser bolt release system. Still a CZ 557 in synthetic or wood can be had for about 850-950, I am not sure if there is a left handed option or not.

For a bonus have you ever considered Lever Actions as a lefty? a 30-30 is always a nice deer gun and a 45-70 will drop dinosaurs.
 
As a fellow lefty, I agree finding a nice left handed rifle that is handy for carrying, shooting and hunting with can be difficult to find.
I agree with those above that recommend the 308 Win as the better choice for an all around cartridge for hunting and target practice as compared to the 7.62x39. Especially if you decide to chase moose, elk, bear or other bigger game at some point down the road. Ammo is also available in a wide selection of bullet weights and types and also varied power loads from reduced to Superformance.

Ruger does offer their Scout rifle in a LH 308. They also offer the LH Hawkeye Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor, which would also be a good option to consider. While the 6.5x55 Swede is a great cartridge and my all-time favourite, the 6.5 CM is also a good performer and is virtually a ballistic twin to the Swede, ammunition is fairly inexpensive compared to some other ammo.
Ruger also makes the American in left hand, and it is a lesser price, but not of the same quality, fit and finish as the Hawkeye. The ones I have shot do shoot well (MOA and better with preferred loads). Not a rifle I will ever own, but an option for those on a restricted budget. And I have to say, I would have one of these before I ever went with the Savage Axis or Rem 783.
Tikka offers the T3 in left hand versions, and in the 308 and other cartridges you may consider incl/ the 6.5x55.
CZ makes the 557 in left hand and is available in the 308. Too bad they do not make their little LH 527 in 6.5 Grendel!
Savage makes left handed rifles too, and as I am not much of a Savage fan, they do shoot well. The LH 110 Tactical in 6.5 CM may appeal to you.


And congrats to the proud new owner of that LH Ruger 77 in 308! Wish I had seen it sooner! LOL
Should serve you well in the Yukon!
And let me know if you do not want to keep it! ;)
 
Because the OP lives in SW Ontario, with the caliber restriction for small game, one rifle in 243 or 270 will do double duty. A lot of hunters in this area opt for the smaller calibers because they can use the rifle all fall and winter. (one rifle for all your hunting, syndrome). My deer hunt camp, near Huntsville, is full of 243's and 223's because of this silly restriction. Guys don't want a rifle they use for one week a year------they choose something they can use for small game and deer. Are these calibers ideal for deer----probably not-----but will certainly take deer easily. Bullet construction and proper placement. Our camp has been sucessful for almost 40 years with "light calibers".
 
6.5x55swm said:
hands down the 308, you would be able to hunt anything in Ont. with it, I did have a M85 left hand in 7.62x39 for about 2 days, it was crap, for under a $1000 budget I would keep an eye on the EE and local gun shops, I would really try for a pre 2004 Remington 700, I am down to 3 firearms and that all in need, remmy 700 30-06, lakefield 22lr and a single shot 16ga
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Thanks for steering me away from the zastava! I'll have to lookup what remington changed in 2004, because i really like the idea of the 700 CP and it would be cool if you could buy any used 700 and install a short factory barrell.

I am by Kawarthas or N. of Barrie and will do most hunting upland/waterfowl until i get in with a few farmers and private land. I Got my hunters Ed this Nov. and came up on more deer than anything else with all the early snow! They are everywhere and blind as bats sometimes.
 
I’ll offer a dissenting opinion on the Remington 700, you can do better for the same money. The 700 is generally very accurate and works but was the first budget / manufacturing simplification rifle for mass production and that comes with baggage well addressed in other threads. You should be aware of the safety lawsuit if shopping a used Remington and be sure the recall was addressed on any you shop. M700 owners will scoff at this as a non-issue but it isn’t.

They clearly do well for their owners with the numbers of them out there, I’m just of the opinion having gone through literally every rifle type on the current market the M700 isn’t the top pick for the money. That Ruger left hand posted here is an utterly ideal first rifle for a lefty, and if you want a shorter barrel, just get it trimmed will cost less than sourcing a different barrel and headspacing it. If you are limited to .270 or less as a new shooter I’d recommend the .243 or 6.5 creed (Yea... gotta accept it’s caught on) for lighter recoil, good reach, and good all around capability for what you’re likely to hunt in the future.
 
Ardent said:
Your budget’s fair and I’m glad to see it get you above the junk entry level plastic stuff. The CZ527 is the highest quality rifle in your consideration there and the Ruger likely the best fit seeing as you’re a lefty, and they’re tough and well made. I’d opt for the left handed Ruger in your case.

The CZ527 is a heck of a lot of rifle for the price, and the detachable mags are excellent. Just too bad there’s no lefty option.

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*droolz*
 
Thx again for all the quality posts everyone.
Going to have to really give some thought to lever actions & .243 as a bush gun caliber... You never know what you will stumble upon!

In the meantime i'm going to start keeping my eyes peeled for a LH GSR/M77 .308
 
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