I already have the CZ 527 in the same cartridge, so it doesn’t make a lot of sense. I saw a slight sale & ended up on the Buds website, easy ship to the local FFL.

I do like that the Howa ‘mini-action’ is threaded for a suppressor I already have. I’m looking at options to reload, maybe some shorter range hunting. I have most of the setup to reload, more .310” bullets inbound.

For most of what I do, a bolt action is plenty to get it done.

I have a Ruger Ranch in 7.62x39. Put a Leupold FX-II 6x36 on it. Lotsa fun. Minute of whitetail accurate. I'm an AK guy so a 7.62x39 bolt gun made perfect sense.

Nothing wrong with a 7.62x39 bolt gun for the typical hunter. Ballistically similar to the venerable .30-30, and a great medium game cartridge out to a couple hundred yards, but especially for closer ranges in thicker brush, like where I usually hunt.

I've taken a few deer and a bunch of hogs with 7.62x39, though mine have been in semiautos. I use either some of my dwindling stockpile of old 8m3 Russian hollowpoints or else modern Hornady SST.

I had toyed with getting a CZ 527 back in the day, but dragged my feet long enough for them to get discontinued.

I picked up a Howa some time ago. Your post reminded me that I need to shoot it more. That being said, I've never found anything better than the 527 carbine, which is probably why I keep shooting it when I'm in the mood.

quote:

Originally posted by RogueJSK:
I had toyed with getting a CZ 527 back in the day, but dragged my feet long enough for them to get discontinued.

CZ finally came up with a slightly modernized-ish version. Haven't shot one yet, but it might be a good alternative. That said, their Alpha isn't bad.

http://www.czfirearms.com/en-u...cz-600-plus-carbine/

I've had the same rifle in the same caliber about a month now. With Norma Tactical 124-grain FMJ I shot some groups less than 2 inches at 100 yards with the front rested.

quote:

I do like that the Howa ‘mini-action’ is threaded for a suppressor I already have.

Hornady and PPU make 255- and 182-grain, respectively, subsonic loads. Maybe someday. The short action, proportionately sized to the cartridge length, is very smooth.

Doing some research I think I could make some quiet loads, less than 1100 FPS, 150-180 grain bullets I already have, suppressed. These would just be for plinking, I see the 125 grain Pro-Hunter Sierra bullet gets good reviews for hunting.

This weekend I go to IL to assist on the youth deer hunt. A friend is bringing his son. I checked the zero on my 22-250, I think I’ll set up out of the way for coyotes. That will be just the 45 minutes at first light.

I think I’ll try a Hawke scope I have not being used. It’s mounted on an air rifle someone gave me. Yes it’s made for an air rifle, but even the company says it’s suitable for a modest recoiling centerfire. The scope is rather clear, ok quality.

I encountered something odd with mine, nothing to do with the gun itself. The warranty card and copy of the receipt that I mailed to Legacy Sports (the importer) came back undeliverable. I tried to register it online, also including a PDF of the receipt as required. When I hit send, the site kicked me back to the original page, no acknowledgement of whether the attempt was successful or its receipt. I haven't tried calling any of the phone numbers. Also, there was no way to order an extra magazine off Legacy Sports site. I did get one from a Tactical Works in CO. PSA also carries them. None of this bodes well for customer service should it be needed.

I think I was able to get the warranty details accepted, online. It’s a rather low likelihood that I would ever use it anyway.

I got things setup, did an initial sight in with mild IMR-4227 loads, plated 30 Carbine bullets. That’s just to get me on cardboard.

I bought 2 lbs of CFE BLK powder, Scheels, loaded some 125 grn Sierra ‘pro hunter’ bullets. If I use the gun for deer it would be with that load. This year I already have deer tags in WI, IL, and MI. Of course IL has cartridge restrictions.

I may just take my CZ 557 in 6.5 Swede to use a bit. Some guy gave me some high end factory ammo for it, already have a scope mounted, just need to check the zero.

My neighbor is disabled, but has some great, local hunting spots. I often help him with recovery. He was bugging me to just get a license so I can be hunting on site, plus WI is generous with anterless tags. On top of that the farmer wants the deer numbers down.

I’m careful to not butt in on another’s permission to hunt a property. At least with this one, not anything to fret over.