Which compact "carbine" would you choose?

there are very few rifles made today, in large quantities, that can come close to the fit, finish, trigger, and accuracy of any cz, and that includes pistols as well.
The late jeff cooper once said of the cz 75, that it may be the best 9mm pistol ever made. he handled a lot of pistols in his time.
go with the cz, you will never be dissapointed.

I'd go with the Ruger, but I sure as heck would not go with 6.8...

My money is on the CZ. I have four in my safe and they are all first class rifles.

Two completely differently different caliber choices .

To my way of thinking, in a turnbolt rifle for hunting anything larger than pests/varmints, there's no reason to go to a smaller case capacity than a .308-based case, unless you're really really recoil-sensitive. You can, certainly, and it will work fine, but I'd rather have the added oomph (max PBR) of something like a .260 rem or 7mm-08 or .308.

7.62 and 6.8 spc. I'd reserve those strictly for trying to get a *lightweight* gun when you just HAVE to have a semi-auto. A turnbolt can still be made very lightweight with bigger chamberings.

Having said that, if you're just stuck on that choice, it's a tough call. I like the 6.8 spc round a lot better, but like the CZ rifle better. To my own surprise, I'd probably say the Ruger here, because I don't like detachable mags on a hunting gun, and I like the 6.8 spc better.

I would have to agree with the good DR. Tad,in that,for the most part,a bolt gun smaller than the .308Win. parrent case is not for me...Unless it is purely target or varmint in build. However I can easily see the advantage if a very light weight carbine for packing all over BFE,and I can also see the benifits of a detatchable magazine in a common military caliber.In wich case the 7.62x39 wins it for me,tho' I do think the 6.8spc has an edge on it ballisticaly.

Well, the reason I don't like the 6.8 is ammo availability, and the fact that just because these are short-barreled rifles, don't make the mistake of thinking they must be short-range rifles as well. You can get the Ruger in great long-range, low-recoil calibers like .260rem. You're gonna feel mighty sheepish if you go to Upper Duckwater, Montana on a once-in-a-lifetime elk hunt, and find you lost or forgot your ammo, and the toothless old bugger at the local emporium says "6.8 what?".

And the time you hunt your cousin's place with a 7.62X39 and find the blinds are all overlooking a pasture, and all the deer are 250 yards or more away (ask me about personal experience).

I'd advise going with a easy to find caliber, that gives good range and a performance envelope that will cover the unexpected opportunity.

You're gonna feel mighty sheepish if you go to Upper Duckwater, Montana on a once-in-a-lifetime elk hunt, and find you lost or forgot your ammo, and the toothless old bugger at the local emporium says "6.8 what?".

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Who are these people that are supposedly constantly going on once in a lifetime hunts and NOT BRINGING THEIR AMMO? I hear this tossed around all the time, but who actually does that? It seems packing your ammo for a hunt would come before packing your boots!

I suppose I can see maybe having an airline lose your baggage or something...

To my way of thinking, in a turnbolt rifle for hunting anything larger than pests/varmints, there's no reason to go to a smaller case capacity than a .308-based case, unless you're really really recoil-sensitive. You can, certainly, and it will work fine, but I'd rather have the added oomph (max PBR) of something like a .260 rem or 7mm-08 or .308.

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Right on.

There is exactly ONE reason the 6.8 exists: it fits in a standard AR-15, without taking up too much space in a standard-length magazine. Its ballistics plain suck, when compared to run-of-the-mill short-action bolt cartridges.

I think Elmer Keith still has some good points about the rifle you want. He preferred a double rifle, or a lever gun, in larger, heavier calibers that would not be turned aside or blown up by a tiny twig.

I have owned a few Rugers and they are a good work rifle , but not terribly accurate unless you put a bunch of money / work into them. Plus the 6.8mm SPC (270 short) is a much shorter round than the Ruger short action can handle.
For the Ruger compact or lightweight Haweye, you might as well get a 243win , 260 rem, 7mm-08, 308, 338 Federal or 358 Win if you are going to get that size rifle. (mine is a 350 Rem Mag)

The mini action length of the CZ more closely matches the cartridge length of the 7.62x39mm round. Plus the CZs are generally pretty accurate rifles right out of the box. Although you will have to hand load the 7.62x39mm in order to achieve any sort of accuracy.

Of course any the the cartridges mentioned in the line about Rugers, has more potential than either the 6.8SPC or 7.62x39.