SmallCaliberCentral

I have a dillema. I need a new 204. I have two heavy savages right now and am looking for a lighter one to be used as my calling rifle for yotes. My problem is i've been spoiled with the out of the box accuracy of my heavy savages and don't want to sacrifice accuracy with a lighter version.
I've come up with a list of possibilities.
Remington 700 VTR. 7.5 lbs, Shoulders really nice. Not sure about the triangular barrel. Probably will need a trigger and bedding. $700

Savage M10 Predator. 7.25 lbs. May get this one in a 243 as well. $700

Tikka T3 laminated stainless. 6 5/8 lb. $970
T3 lite synthetic. 6 3/8 lbs. $600
T3 super varmint. 6 lbs. Probably my #1 preference but most expensive at $1500.00
Not to sure about the weight in the super varmint. I've seen it listed from 6 to over 8 lbs.

CZ-527 American. 6.34 lbs. Shoulders really nice but don't know how well that skinny barrel will hold up for accuracy. $870

CZ-527 Varmint (walnut). 7.21 lbs. $770

I have a Leupold scope that is getting quite lonely and needs to be placed on a yote rig.
Any suggestions? (prices are quite a bit higher out here in Canada).

have you looked at the Howa's

My light Savage shoots the same load as my heavey Savages into .5 and .6 groups consistantly.

If it's a dedicated calling rig will barrel heat be a factor? IMO I would find a load for it the same way I expect to use it which would be a 5 shot string over a 30 minute period. Each shot will be coming from a cold/cool barrel when predator hunting.

These are just my thoughts & having said that I would buy the CZ American & top it with a 4-14 or thereabouts & call some critters to it.

I have one that you haven't listed that is pretty impressive. It's a Ruger Ultralight. It shoots factory loads into a 1/2" and my recent handload of 27.2gr. of H4895, Rem. brass and Primer, and a 35gr. Berger right at that or less. In testing, I shoot 5 rounds at a time without letting the barrel cool and that is the groups it consistantly shoots. This is a factory stock rifle that I lightened the trigger to 2.5lbs.
I'm sure I could get my handloads under a 1/2", but with just a 2x7 scope on it and older eyes, why try. Who knowns what a bedding job and free floating the barrel would do, but I'm happy right where it is.
This rifle is a nice light handling Coyote rig that handles and carries a bit better than my Rem. Model 7 in 17Rem. I would recommend this one for a light weight hunting rig.

I agree with futuretrades, Take a look at the Howa 1500, with the Hogue Overmoulded stock, Mine is a great coyote calling rifle. I get 1/2to3/4 groups, depending on how steady im holding on any particular day.

Have you looked at the Savage 11BTH? I just got one and it shoots 3 bullet holes touching each other at 100 yards. It weighs 6.75 pounds. I am very happy with mine. It shoots that same load as my Savage VLP in 204.

Gube, I'm very happy with my CZ 527 American.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. Still not sure what I'm gonna get, but I'll be sure to let everyone know what I end up with.

Varmintcaller wrote:I agree with futuretrades, Take a look at the Howa 1500, with the Hogue Overmoulded stock, Mine is a great coyote calling rifle. I get 1/2to3/4 groups, depending on how steady im holding on any particular day.

I have the same gun but in 300WSM. I love it. It's light and easy to handle and the rubber stock doesn't get cold at all. I've been sitting in a tree for the last week or so at 20 degrees and the stainless is the only part of the gun that get's cold.

I went with a Remington LVSF for my lightweight, but they are discontinued. I think if I owned Savages in the same caliber, I'd be inclined to have another and cross my fingers that the loads overlapped as someone mentioned earlier.

I'm not too crazy about sending my money out of Country with these days, but if I did, it would be to the Finn's before any other.

My Savage Predator in 204 hits exactly the same with the same load as my Savage modle 12 VLP at the same ranges. The poly stock keeps the weight down, and the all camo makes it almost invisible to the coyotes I've shot. I have to be careful not to lean it up against a tree or bush bcause I'm lible to loose it. I'm not sorry I got mine. I had a Ruger 77 MK 11 and could'nt waite to get rid of it. Had alot of trouble with it's inconsistant accuracy. That's my vote......

Gube,
I picked up a CZ 527 American Carbine (only in .223) and the quality appears to be first rate. I haven't had the chance to check accuracy yet.
Gary

Unless you are just looking to get away from Savage, take a look at their 16FSS (Weather Warrior) series... 7.5# and it shoots as well as I can, as long as I don't heat up the barrel... For a calling/field rifle it's a great rifle for accuracy.

I've had one for several years and it's nailed a lot of Prairie Dogs when using it as an "in between" rifle while my ARs are cooling off..

It gave me the 3rd place in the last postal shoot in the Factory/Factory class and would have done better if I had been able to pace my shots to keep the barrel reasonably cool..