05-16-2022, 04:00 PM
I went down cz american, howa lightweight and standard, and ruger american ranch route.
I kept the ruger, it took the least to get right, like nothing required, sold the rest, bought two more for the kids.
2nd place goes to the cz, pretty nice rifle takes a bit of effort and cost to get right, and the howa is the biggest money pit to get right as the only thing good is the barrelled action...the trigger downward has to go.
I was obsessed with this cartridge from shortly after it came around, I'm obsessive gear junky that will try it all. Hope that helps.
cz will want action polishing, the trigger can be set at 2 3/4-3lb almost creep free but dab a little loctite on the one screw so it can't back out and creep comes back, some models need to be pillar/glass bedded (my american did) and the scopes for these tend to be a bit fussier to get eye relief right, action so short on back end etc. that short eye relief scopes are your huckleberry.
howa you need new trigger, new stock and completely different bottom metal and magazine system, get the flush hinged floor plate kits or the cz mag conversion.
done right between cz/howa the cz is still a different level rifle imo, the howa can almost get to a decent rem 700 level but not really, no soul, no class...just a waste of money imo, the cz is a pretty awesome piece when done and lots of pride of ownership the howa could never offer
the ruger is the ultimate working mans rig that earned it's respect with me for needing nothing, no smithing, put it together on the kitchen table, shoots tight, and reliable for least amount of effort or money, max versatility with aftermarket(chassis/AR mags etc.), just set your goals and see which one hits all the boxes
I kept the ruger, it took the least to get right, like nothing required, sold the rest, bought two more for the kids.
2nd place goes to the cz, pretty nice rifle takes a bit of effort and cost to get right, and the howa is the biggest money pit to get right as the only thing good is the barrelled action...the trigger downward has to go.
I was obsessed with this cartridge from shortly after it came around, I'm obsessive gear junky that will try it all. Hope that helps.
cz will want action polishing, the trigger can be set at 2 3/4-3lb almost creep free but dab a little loctite on the one screw so it can't back out and creep comes back, some models need to be pillar/glass bedded (my american did) and the scopes for these tend to be a bit fussier to get eye relief right, action so short on back end etc. that short eye relief scopes are your huckleberry.
howa you need new trigger, new stock and completely different bottom metal and magazine system, get the flush hinged floor plate kits or the cz mag conversion.
done right between cz/howa the cz is still a different level rifle imo, the howa can almost get to a decent rem 700 level but not really, no soul, no class...just a waste of money imo, the cz is a pretty awesome piece when done and lots of pride of ownership the howa could never offer
the ruger is the ultimate working mans rig that earned it's respect with me for needing nothing, no smithing, put it together on the kitchen table, shoots tight, and reliable for least amount of effort or money, max versatility with aftermarket(chassis/AR mags etc.), just set your goals and see which one hits all the boxes