My new (first rifle) sub-$1000 tactical/hunter/varmint rifle (56k beware)

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Tosi

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Communist sector of USA aka MA
I was looking for a sub-$1000 (poor college student) long range rifle package that I could also use for hunting and varminting. Living in Ma I also preferred something that looked like a hunting rifle (not a so called "sniper") so it would fly under the radar. The CZ 550 varmint fit that bill pretty well so I picked it up for $595. Then I needed a decent scope with target turrets that wouldn't fall apart on me. I was wandering through a store and they happened to have a NIB leupold VX-II tactical left over from ALONG time ago. I got it for only $288 which I figure is a pretty decent deal. Any way this rifle is definatly a sub MOA rifle with blackhills 168gr. I was able to hit about an eight inch rock at approx. 850 yards away 4/5 times (pic below). Heres a break down of the total cost.
CZ 550 .308 varmint - $595
Leupold VX-II tactical - $288
Harris bipod - $80
Trigger down to 3lbs - $30
Total - $993

After all my rambling I failed to mention caliber its .308

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My 850 yard range (lucky to find that distance around central MA) I was just walking around that field and noticed that small coridor and thought intresting, that ought to work. So I google earthed it and then made sure it was sutible.

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and another story (plus pic through scope) Thanksgiving dinner oblivious to the 168 grain bullets wizzing around decided to stroll right into the field I was shooting only 200 yards away, what are the odds of that. Look below the cross hairs there were about 20 in total. There might be 1 fewer :evil:

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Yup its a .308 I'm running black hills 168gr MHP. I works great and for $20 a box its a hell of alot better on the wallet than $30 for remmy match and $35 for federal.
 
Congrats on the new CZ. If it's anything like my five rimfire CZ's then you'll be a very happy camper.:)

Thanks for sharing the pics. Any target results to report yet?
 
No no target pics yet, I stupidly threw out the targets I used to zero it. However all those groups were under 1.5 inches. With the large majority being under 1 inch. Basically the gun out shoots me which was my goal. Also I should have taken pictures of the rocks I was shooting at 400 yards they were all 3 shoot groups and the chunks of rock missing were all touching each other. Also I went 4 for 5 on a 8inch rock at about 850yds, but I was too lazy to walk all the way out there to check the actual size of the groupings, I was just looking for the dust cloud. When I get some 100yd targets i'll post them.
 
If you plan to shoot 1K, you are probably going to need a 20 MOA base. And you'll want to get into reloading.

The CZ-550 is a great rifle, and as you note, doesn't fall into that 'sniper' category. With a 1:12 twist, you'll want to stay with lighter bullets. If you decide to try reloading, take a look at 155gn Lapua Scenars for 1000 yards shooting.

Good luck and congrats.
 
Thanks for the comments guys. Believe it or not the scope will actually get me out to a thousand. I need almost exactley 45 moa at 1000 with the 168gr, and there is 60 total. But it worked out that when the scope was zeroed at 100 it was 15moa from the bottom giving me the 45moa I needed, not that I realy have to worry theres realy no 1000yard shooting locations in central, MA. I definatley need to start loading but i'm broke right now for obvious reasons, however a reloading set is prob. my next purchase. Geoff now i'll rub it in a bit more, that meadow is 500ft behind my house.
 
I was wandering through a store and they happened to have a NIB leupold VX-II tactical left over from ALONG time ago. I got it for only $288 which I figure is a pretty decent deal.
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Usually, there are good scopes and there are cheap scopes. You got a good scope cheap. YOU done good.

IIRC, David Tubb loaded his long range rounds on a Lee hand press. You could probably get everything you need for maybe $75 if you look around.

I had a friend that gave me a Lyman Turret press. I gave it to a friend that doesn't have a lot of money. If you scrounge around you can find stuff cheap or free. Makes shooting a LOT cheaper and more fun, plus more accurate.

Bullets about 20 cents, powder maybe 10-12 cents, primers 3 cents. For $7-8 a box you can load match grade stuff. If you get into loading, go to Varmint Al's site. It'll give you some ideas that will make accurate ammo and save money.
 
Where did you get that scope for that price? I can't seem to find any good "tactical" scopes save the Bushnell 3200 10x for ANY decent price.
 
I hate you..... alright no I'm just jealous. I'm a poor college student myself. I'm not sure if I'm more poor because of my hobbies or because of college though.
 
That is a sweet set-up. I guess you could call it a...tactical hunter.

Not only do you post pictures of an awesome range,but you claim it's right behind your house! You,sir,are a jerk,and I will hear no more on the matter.
 
If anyone want's to know about my "range" here's the story. I live amongst three large scenic farms (all with in 2 min walking distance) which are all protected land (development rights sold to the state, so the farmers pay no property tax) any way the farmers all have lots of free roaming animals and arent huge fans of the local yote population. So they are happy to let me shoot on their land and it also helps them keep the coyote population down :D. Also thanks for the reloading advice, I'm thinking around christmas I might have the funds to invest in a press. After buying 100rnds of match for $100 and no end to those prices in sight, there is realy no option if I want to get a decent amount of shooting in. On the deer hunting in mass I unfortunatley am aware of that but I commute to school in NH and have some friends that live up in the free state and go hunting so I tag along with them.

P.S. Did anyone notice whats in the last picture of the scope with the crosshairs? They picked a bad time to show themselves considering thanksgiving is in a week.

I wasn't realy planning on going out to a thousand around here but thanks for the advice. May I ask why, I'm still learing about bullets at 800+. Also what bullets would one use, 155 lapua scenars like Guntech suggested?
 
Hey Tosi
Great photos of yor CZ.
It sounds like you enjoy shooting your CZ.
I got my first rifle 3 mouths ago and I love it.
Like you my first rifle is a CZ. I got a CZ 452 Amer .22Lr its the most fun gun
I have ever shoot.
Tosi keep posting photos of your CZ.
Rob
 
Yup, I realy like the CZ very nice quality at a affordable price. I was thinking about savages which are good guns but I couldn't stand the look of the stocks and the CZ was in the same price range plus it has that nice american style stock.
 
I wasn't realy planning on going out to a thousand around here but thanks for the advice. May I ask why, I'm still learing about bullets at 800+. Also what bullets would one use, 155 lapua scenars like Guntech suggested?
Click to expand...

Tosi,

Yes, the 155gr Lapua Scenars are an excellent LR bullet, as are the 175SMK and 178gr Amax. The 168SMK was designed for 300 meter shooting and, what with it's low BC and boattail design, does not perform well in LR shooting. For shooting beyond 600 yards, I would use a different bullet.

Don
 
Okay, thanks that makes sense. I was thinking about getting 175 last time but it ended up being a dollar more per box so I cheaped out, lol. Next time ill go with the 175.
 
They are all an updated mauser action and I'm pretty sure there all there "big bore guns" are long action but i'd ask someone who knows more about it than me. The bolt on mine is pretty long but I dont realy notice or mind.
 
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