Kalif. July 9 buy--Varmint or carbine?

L

Ledbetter

New member
Since July 9 is U.N. International Small Arms Destruction and Disarmament Day, or whatever they call it:mad:, I need to buy a new gun. I live here in Kalifornia.

Long gunwise, I am covered in the shotgun, M1A, and .22 departments. However, I've got no varmint rifle and no carbine, :(

My top candidates are a CZ 550 bolt action in 22-250, a Mini-14, or a Winchester levergun in .357 magnum.

Help me, experienced riflemen, varmint-hunters and caribiniers.

What should I do?

Regards and thanks.
 
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Varmint rifles are great fun both in the field and at the range. I'd never be without at least one, too bad I have to go out of state most of the time for good, no fee, accessible areas. Are there many varmint hunting opportunities in coastal SoCal? If not the Mini or the carbine would be a lot more fun for plinking and general fooling around. The 357 carbine sounds interesting, should be like shooting a "pop" gun.
 
i dono the cali rules for "assault rifles" (-bill) but if you can i would suggest getting a HK G3/91 Carbine or a Olympic Arms shorty pre ban AR-15. those are very suave, i dont know what kind of guns u like. Look at my post under Heckler Koch G3 in The Art Of The Rifle. We found a company that sells ak's, ar's, g3's, fn fals, etc.. all under $600!!! it is a very cool place. look at my post or email me and ill give u the number.
 
Thanks for the replies and keep'm coming

Greetings,

I should have made clear that California is not a free state and sales of "assault rifles" are banned here behind the Orange Curtain. So unless someone can come up with another idea, my understanding is that if you want a .223 auto carbine in Kalifornia, it's gonna be a Mini-14.:rolleyes:

Varmint hunting is also scarce here, and I've never been yet, but the lure of the CZ in 22-250 is that I've heard it's really accurate and really hard hitting. Like you say at the range and in the field, it does the job. I wouldn't mind winning the 200 yard match once in a while.

As for the .357 lever gun, anyone have any experience with one? A short lever gun in .357 just sounds handy to me, and I don't own a lever gun. (Added for Bob Locke, below) I do have a S&W .357 revolver.

Any more ideas? I'm leaning toward the CZ 550 at this point.

Regards.
 
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A lever gun in .357 magnum (.44 magnum, or .45 LC) would be a sweet little addition IF you already have (or plan to get) a handgun chambered for the same caliber. If you're not going that route, then I'd get a nice Marlin chambered in .30-.30 instead. It's not intimidating in the looks department, but it's plenty good out to about 200 yards.
 
I'd vote for the .357 lever action too. From previous posts on Marlin vs Winchester the general consensus seems to be that the Marlin is put together a bit better and more reliable.

Out of the lever action carbine, the .357 will have over 1000 ft-lbs of energy.
 
Are you sure you mean the CZ 550 ? I thought only the 527 was chambered in 22-250 ? Maybe your talking about their new heavy barrelled varmint gun they're offering ? If you are, buy it, test, it and tell me what you think ;), I haven't been able to locate one yet.
 
So unless someone can come up with another idea, my understanding is that if you want a .223 auto carbine in Kalifornia, it's gonna be a Mini-14 :rolleyes: .
Click to expand...

Yeah, ain't it a *&^%$! I am not at all fond of the Mini14, but like you say, it's the only game in town. My favorite, all-around varmint rig is a Colt MT6700 with a variable 4x12 on B-square mounts. When I want to do precision shooting the scope stays on, but when I want to chase jackrabbits I love to pop on the open-sighted carry handle. Too bad I have to leave CA most of the time to enjoy varminting with the little Colt, SB23 you know. I have a couple of acquaintances with private acreage in NorCal, but it's not always possible to visit with them.

You know, even with all the Mini's faults, if you want a semiauto .223, if it was me and I wasn't going to leave CA, I'd buy the Mini. They supposedly can be made reliable and relatively accurate. It's not going to be too long before the Mini is outlawed here in CA too. It's a get what you can while you can situation here in CA.
 
Me back again.

Thanks for the replies and keep'em coming.

These are the CZ 550's in 22-250:

http://www.cz-usa.com/pro/detail.php?P=26

http://www.cz-usa.com/pro/detail.php?P=24

The one I handled (the "American") didn't have a particularly heavy barrel. It was beautiful and well-balanced, with a set trigger.

The Kalifornia "get it while you can" argument is only fully understood here in this stupid state where anything can happen and double or triple the value of the gun overnight.

Regards.
 
Hey Ledbetter - Take a look at a Ruger in .22-250. The one I shot had a dull gray heavy barrel with a laminated stock. Really nice looking rifle and very accurate. I think the model was R77.

If you want to handle the Winchester and Marlin in .30-30, let me know the next time we schedule a range visit. I have both.

Noban
 
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