SmallCaliberCentral

I am looking for something lighter than my Savage 12FV(204). I saw a Ruger MKII 223 at one of the local gunshops. 22" barrel, but I like it. It is "used" but never fired, and at a used price.

Check out a CZ 527 American at 6 1/2 pounds. Great trigger and accurate. The Varmint version is about a pound heavier.

I like the overall package of the CZ varmint. Regular sized forend and a lite contour on the varmint barrel. The only problem is the loal CZ guy is really overpriced.

Just saw the Tikka T3 Lite. I like the looks of that as well. The price as well as I am on a budget.

I would STRONGLY consider building your own.

Buy the cheapest, new Savage action you can find and then buy a quality aftermarket barrel.

If you have a local gunsmith, hire them to do the smith work. If not, buy a barrel that is already chambered and threaded for a Savage action (you WILL need to know if you have a large or small shank action).

I purchased a 30" stainless Shilen 224 caliber and 1:8 twist..but in a sporter taper so that I could use it as a walk around rifle.

Plan on using a factory synthetic stock that has been bedded to the action and the floppy forend fixed.

New rifle should be in the $350 range. Threaded/chambered QUALITY barrel in the $300 range. $650 is cheap for a custom rifle that YOU designed and built.

I second the idea of the CZ 527 Varmit. I have had mine for about a year now. It isn't to heavy and is quite accurate. I also like the beaustiful wood stock on mine.

Went to the local Sportsman's Warehouse today and saw what I think is my next rifle. Remmy 700 SPS 223. $455 and with the 24" barrel I want. I looked at the CZ's but they didn't have a 527 varminter. The American was $597 and the Synthetic varminter was $690. I plan on getting it Monday night, can anyone give me some info. on it before I buy it?

I didn't get the Remmy. I just could not pull the trigger. I agree with ACLOCO about building one. I have asked a friend at work if he wanted to sell his sav. 223. he said yes. Now I don't know if I want to keep it a 223 or change it to a 204. What advantage if any does the 223 have over the 204? And I do reload.

You might try Bud's Gun Shop, or Whittaker's, for a reasonably priced CZ, if you have a decent FFL guy you can trust and won't eat up the savings in "transfer fees".

http://www.budsgunshop.com
http://www.whittakerguns.com

I bought both my CZs at Whittaker's shop, since it's a very nice place to visit and drool in. Bud's is actually closer, but I haven't gotten round to visiting their place, since they usually set up at the local gun shows. Both are in Kentucky, a contiguous state to VA, although that won't matter unless you actually visit the shops.
Whittaker's is a spectacular place, he stocks 4000+ guns at any one time, usually a lot more. Nothing fancy at all, just a LOT of choices to drool over. I get sensory overload if I stay in there too long. He stocks danged near everything, Coopers, CZs, Kimbers, Savages and Remingtons, Winchesters, Sako, Tikka, Rugers, you name it, he carries it.
Bud's isn't as well stocked, but he does have excellent prices on what he carries.

I love my CZ's, but for an inexpensive Coyote gun I really like my Savage 22-250 with the AccuTrigger. Mine is set at
26oz and I've nailed them out to 414 yds, no problem. Shoots 1/4" @ 100yd and .40" @ 200 ys.I bought the cheap
Model 11, then added a boyd's Laminate thumbhole stock. This pic shows Bushnell 10X40 MilDot, but now is wears a
6-24X40 Bushnell Banner Mil Dot.

VA Varminter, I have bought three guns from Budsgunshop in the past year. Fast, great service, and the best prices I could find. My local FFL guy charges ten bucks for a transfer. Living in a small rural town, Buds makes it easy for me to acquire a nice gun.

The CZ 527 Varmint in 204 I bought from them is beautiful and verrrry accurate, and a nice walkabout gun. The CZ, or "rolling you own" might be the best two options for you to get an excellent lighter gun and keep the cost lower. Good luck.