Intermediate cartridge compact bolt actions

I have a Mossberg MVP thunder ranch in 223, suppressed. It is a great rifle and very accurate with 75 gr Hornady BTHP. I have killed deer and turkey with it. I also have a Ruger American Ranch in 300 B-O, also suppressed. Very quiet and accurate, but ballistically it is a lawn dart with subsonic ammo between 50 and 100 yards (6.5" drop). I intend to use it in thick woods with the Hornady 190 grain sub-x this deer season. So far I killed 1 fox with it.

My brother started with the CZ, then the Howa and was not satisfied with either. He ended up with the Ruger American Ranch with 16" barrel in 5.56/223 and is very pleased with it. I bought one of the American Compacts with an 18" barrel when they 1st came out and bought a full size stock for it from Ruger. This was long before the Ranch rifle. I have a BIL with the Predator with 22" barrel. All are more accurate than we can shoot them and none cost over $400. I'd buy the newer versions that take AR magazines if buying today.

I still think 5.56/223 is the most versatile round. The wide range of bullets from 40-90 gr covers a lot of ground. The heavier bullets are a much better option for deer size game than lots of folks give it credit for. I've killed deer with 223, and I have better options so I don't use it a lot. And deer is about biggest game I'd hunt with it. But if it were legal where I hunt, and it is in most places, I'd use it if it were what I had.

The 6.5 Grendel is the only option that I see as an improvement over 223. It is still an accurate long range target round and offers much better performance on big game. I'd use it on game larger than deer at close to moderate range. That would be a contender for you. Ammo is harder to find than 223 and more expensive and if you're not going to hunt does nothing 223 won't do. So consider that.

The 300 BO is a step in backwards IMO. A great option for shooting suppressed and viable for deer size game at close range. But other than shooting quiet a 223 loaded with heavier bullets does everything better including big game hunting. The 7.62X39 can be loaded to be a decent deer hunting cartridge at close range, but wouldn't be a good choice for future longer range target shooting.

For me, the 5.56/.223 is hard to beat as far as ammo selection and abundance. I have two bolt actions in .223, a Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact and a Savage Model 10 Precision Carbine. I like the Savage for plinking of the bench or a bipod, but even with the barrel cut down to 16” it is hefty for what it is and carries all of it’s weight in the barrel. The installed brake also makes it too loud for my taste, unless I am at the range. The Ruger on the other hand is pretty handy. It also sports a 16” barrel, but it’s weight comes from the wood stock, so it is better balanced.

I don’t have any experience with the other cartridges in a bolt action. I use a shortened SKS from time to time and love the rugged versatitly of it, but I will never reload for it. 7.62x39 seems like it does fine in cheap steel cased form, and the brass is just as expensive as .308. I don’t have any experience whatsoever with 300 BLK or 6.5 Grendel. Of the two, the 300 would be my choice, simply for reloading components. I already have a bunch of 5.56 brass and plenty of light .308 projectiles. Also, I noticed the 6.5 Grendel is in the Predator platform, where the Creedmoor is also available. Unless, the smaller cartridge is desired for economy of components (probably a wash), I’d go with the Creedmoor.

I use my rifles sort of like how you describe your intended use, at the range and for varmint control at the farm. For this I love a short barrel, so when I’m at the back of a field and need to take a shot, I have the option of shooting out the window (might not be best practice). The short barrel just makes handling the rifle around a vehicle easier in all regards. For this reason I would personally be looking for a compact, or something with a shorter barrel.

I don’t know if I’ve helped, I feel like I’m rambling now. Long story short, I’d try to find a deal on a used .223 and make it what you want. Remember heavy barrels aren’t needed for plinking and pest control rifles.

I have the CZ and it is nice. The 7.62x39 round can be loaded with heavier bullets than the stuff you buy off the shelf. (21-2200 fps with 150 grain bullets) It is also lightweight somewhere between 5-6 pounds, with an easy to adjust set trigger.

Of the cartridge options you listed, I would do 7.62 x 39 because I believe in diversity. There was an article on a scoped Howa getting about 1000 yards accurately with 7.62 x 39. (https://www.gunsamerica.com/blog/perfect-training-rifle-howa-mini-action-7-62x39-full-review/)

Overall, all the bolt guns seem like fun, and the Ruger would be tempting with the much cheaper mags. The CZ is a hunting/target heirloom rifle, the Howa a hunting rifle, and the Ruger a nice mini scout do-all rifle.

CZ527 end of story...the set trigger (i think they still come with them) is fantastic, Just great rifle that IMHO will punch above its weight.

As to bullets, remember the twist rate will really tell you what weight you need to hang around...makes no difference if they make 55-90 grain bullets if your gun will only stabilize a fist full of them, so who cares if they make them in a million different weights.

Your stated uses you should be good...going to 500 yards with light bullets is not ideal, but the rest of your plan seems good.

Get the CZ and smile all the way to the bank...fantastic gun.

I have the CZ527 in 7.62x39. I am extremely happy with it. Light weight, Excellent wood, trigger, and fit and finish. Accuracy is also nice. Hate the price of rings and getting the bolt to nicely open and close with the scope versus ring height. Price of mags is also on my do not like list. Lastly the excellent wood makes one feel guilty for taking out to shoot. Don't want to scratch it.

I have a Model 7 Remington in 300 BLK. I like this model as well. Light weight, trigger isn't bad. Its a shooter. Can't overlook the model 7.

I have an MVP Patrol in .223. Its ok, bolt isn't the smoothest. Mag removal and insertion is clunky. Price is excellent and it feels nice in the hand. Seems to like lighter bullets.

There are many rifles to choose from. We each like what we like on each model. Example while I love the accutrigger with the Savage, the bolt always feels loosey goosey. Not saying the bolt isn't reliable, just don't like the feel. I can write about different models/brands and describe what I like and don't, but that's missing the point. You have to find what you like.

The Ruger in 7.62x39 is a good choice for an all around rifle. My cousin has one and it’s very accurate, even with Russian Ammo. It has an adjustable trigger, and the stock is marked in sections so it can be cut to your length of pull.

The new CZ 527 Varmint MTR in 6.5 Grendel would be my pick, far and away.

Howa in 7mm-08

.223 for the economy of scale

6.5 Grendel if you have the desire to add another caliber to your reloading repertoire

After spending some time with my buddies Ruger American Ranch in 7.62x39 that'd be my choice given what you're looking for.

I was going to say 7.62x39 until you mentioned coyote and prairie dog hunting. I’ve come to really like the 7.62x39. I have an AR15 I built in it that shoots sub moa with wolf ammo and it’s just plain fun. 7.62x39 is cheaper to buy ammo than to reload it unless you cast your own bullets. $4.20 a box for sub moa ammo, I’ll take that any day of the week.

With varmint hunting in mind my choice would be the 6.5 Grendel or 223. 6.5 ammo is expensive but won’t be bad to handload. 223 fills your requirement of being economical and having good factory ammo available. The 75-77 grain bullets do okay out to 600+ yards. I’ve always been a reloader only but recently I’ve been shooting Hornady Steel Match 75gr. They shoot great and cost only a couple cents a round more than what it costs me to handload the same bullet. I think I paid $22 per box of 50.

I love the 300 blackout but unless you plan to get a suppressor it really doesn’t have any advantage in a bolt action over 7.62x39.

I really like the 6.5g for added range and power advantage for hunting.

Wolf makes steel cased 6.5g for around 28 cents/round

https://www.sportsmansguide.com/pro...65-grendel-fmj-100-grain-500-rounds?a=1870109

I have and use frequently, a nice russian sks, 7.62x39. With a Lyman 130 gr .310 cast in some inexpensive Hansen cartridge company reloadable brass full of 3031I get great accuriate cheap loads and the ability to run the steel case ammunition too. I would assume, that in a quality bolt rifle that the results would be outstanding with a cast bullet.

I have the Howa mini action in .223. Great shooter with Federal Gold Medal Match. Just starting down the handloading road so can't say anything there. Great rifle though.

I reload for 223, 300 blk and 7.62x39, and the effort to produce accurate, affordable ammo is about equal across them all, 223 being slightly cheaper component wise. I also have a cz527 in7.62x39, and as the others have said, it really hits above its weight class. The ruger or howa would do the same, since they share the.310 bore of the cz. 150 grn bullets in the cz make it a legit deer gun.
The blackout is tons of fun, but ballistically it is the weakest of the bunch.
I want a Grendel in the howa for a lightweight target/hunting rifle, since x39 is limited to about 250 yards for clean kills while hunting.
My $0.02

Everyone should have at least one bolt-action .223 for range use. There...I said it, and I'm glad!

That said; I like to carry/shoot my Tikka T3 Lite in .243 Win when going down back to the family fields. It's light, super-accurate, and has a great action/trigger and barrel. The composite stock fits really well and the palm swell feels great. The next one I get may be stainless, though the blued one never caused me any problems.

With the 500 yard shooting. The 7.62x39 is barely supersonic and has a 10ft drop. 300 blackout will have the same issues, as well as the 6.5 (I think on the 6.5).

I have the 7.62x39 in my mini 30. I wouldn't shoot at those ranges. At 200? That's about as far as I'd shoot with my mini. Now a bolt action with that cartridge can do it. But 500? Ehh...

The .223 would suit better for those ranges. Some places don't allow for .223 deer hunting though. I'm also not a fan of the .223 for deer due to 1000lb energy cut off. (Although I will readily admit that a good shot will negate the need to stay at 1000lbs.)

For hunting and 500 yard ranges. Your 30-30 is probably pretty competent (though I cannot speak from experience.)

A .243 would do all with no sweat but I'm not sure if that's in your list.

For your needs, I'd personally stick with the .223 in the action that feels best to you.

Outside of hunting, which doesn't seem like a real driver for this rifle buy, none of the other rounds really do anything you need substantially better than the .223. Most of them, however will cost a bit more to load per round and you'll have to buy dies, plates, components, etc.

In terms of which rifle, I don't have any experience with the micro-actions except the Rem 799, which I wouldn't recommend. I would personally want to go with something that allowed me to load out longer than an AR mag, there are many interesting bullets on the heavy end that are just out of reach if you're stuck with 2.26". On a similar note, I'd also want an 8 twist, which the Rugers and Tikka have, but I'm not sure about other options.

high country said:

Wow, that is a pretty even split on opinions. One thing that I am considering is building a 7.62x39 upper for my AR, and going to .223 for the bolt action. That would give me the added diversity of the 7.62x39, which I have really liked when shooting friends SKS's, and get the bolt in the .223, which I agree is probably the more versatile round particularly at longer ranges.

I looked at a Ruger American Ranch in the 7.62 this afternoon. The bolt feels really nice, and the general fit and finish is quite good for the price. I am not a huge fan of the stock, although it fits/handles nicely. I am just not a huge fan of synthetic stock feel in general, although they sure are nice for a rifle that you use a lot. The shop also had a tikka t3 that I handled, and said they could likely get a good price on one in 223. Talk about a smooth bolt, and the synthetic stock was definitely of higher quality! At any rate, I am leaning towards .223 and building a 7.62 upper (or finding an SKS). I really want to find a CZ to handle, but haven't had any luck around here yet.

I have considered the .243 also, and it is not off the table. Honestly, if I am even considering the grendel, I should look at that because it out performs the 6.5 (I think). I haven't looked specifically, but the factory ammo other than the 6.5 wolf is probably comparable in price, and the cost of reloading is probably similar as well.

Thanks all, and keep the opinions coming, particularly about the various rifles that you have experience with. Am I missing any options that I should be looking at for compact rifles?

Click to expand...

Now your talking! This is my 7.62x39 AR. I love it.



typical 100 yard grouping with wolf hollow points. They shoot really well out to 250 or 300 yards at the max and then the wheels completely fall off.



And I agree, I can't think of any reason I would rather have a 6.5G over a 243 in a bolt gun, though I would still recommend 223 as a long distance plinker/varmint gun as its so much more economical over any other 600 yard capable round and alot of fun to shoot since you can see your impacts in the scope even with a light rifle.

I have 2 Howas, a Mini and a 1500 hbar, both in .223. I don't shoot the mini much anymore. I keep it around in case I ever start shooting varmints. I just put a B&C stock on the hbar for bench rest. I went for the economy. There isn't any CF cheaper to shoot than a .223. 0.07 bullets and free range brass is hard to beat. I think I'm reloading for less than 0.20/rd. 100 rounds is pretty normal for a day at the range.

There isn't much of a bullet selection for 7.62x39 unless you can find a .308 barrel. Grendel Mini would be my second choice.

The 6.5 Grendel isn’t in the same performance class as 243win. BUT - that does come with advantages... a 6.5 Grendel barrel will last about 4x longer than a .243win barrel. It’ll eat about 30% less powder along the way too.

We have a handful of 2.8” cartridges getting compared against a few 2.3” cartridges in this thread, standard short action cartridges being compared against those for mini-actions.

Both have their place, both have their purpose. But the 243win in a 700 isn’t the same type of rifle as a 6.5 Grendel in a 527.

The Ruger American in .223 that takes AR mags. (26944)