I had an hour to kill before a Dr's appt today and wanted to spend my time wisely. So where else should I end up but the biggest gunstore in San Antonio.

While there I had a few revelations.

I've been toying with the idea of purchasing a used 30/30 just for playing with cast bullets; something a 30/30 does very well.

What I discovered was used Marlins outnumber Win 94s about 3 to 1. Hmmmmmm. Why is that? What I also discovered is the used Marlins are twice as SMOOTH as the used Winchester 94s. In fact, there didn't seem to be a SMOOTH bone in the 94s body. Hmmmm. Decisions. Decisions. And I'm no expert on either of these rifles. I'm a bolt fanatic.

Next I asked if they handled CZ's. "Yes," they said and I told them I wanted to look at one.

What they handed me was a short bolt action carbine with detachable magazine, scope rings, and chambered for the 7.62x39.

I've read comments from you members here praising the CZ to the point of nausia but I confess I had never PHYSICALLY inspected a CZ.

I was tremendously impressed with this rifle. The blue was beautiful. The stock was perfectly fitted and finished. In fact, it was a NICE chunk of wood! (Something almost unheard of on an American rifle unless you want to pay for it.)

The set trigger was a neat twist. When set...buddy you better be careful! One touch and it's gone down range...or thru the roof. The standard trigger seemed a little creepy but I swear just playing with it in the store and it seemed to be smoothing up into something better than anything on an American rifle.

Cost? About $150 LESS than a good American bolt.

Now I'm tormenting myself about going back for this little rifle or letting them order me a CZ American in .308. The .308 I'm mighty familiar with and have tons of stuff for already. And it CAN be a good lead bullet rifle as well as a good medium power rifle.

Still I really have a soft spot in my heart for "runts of the litter." I can't see the average American shooter snatching the little 7.62x39 off the shelf and it was a beauty. Way too nice a gun to sit there and rust away on a shelf.

What do I need? 2 aspirin and forget about the whole thing.

When will I grow up and accept I'm an old fart whose days of terrorizing the hills are over?

Go get that rifle, sight it in and find a good solid tree stand to sit in this fall! Being old and wise shouldn't slow you down. My wife's grandfather did it till he couldn't see'm well enough to shoot anymore. I ask him oneday how much longer he was going to hunt, His answer was "When I see one and the hair on the back of my neck doesn't rise up, Then I'll give it up" The old fella was a true rifleman and a hunter.

Terry

I just picked up ome of those CZ carbines not long ago. It is a dandy cast bullet rifle. Using either a 130 or 150 grain GC it'll shoot about an inch. If you cst your own, this is a great gun. If not, there are more pre-casr bullets available sized correctly for the .308 bore of the .30-30.

Not sure why used Marlins outnumber used Winchesters but evryone I know, almost, that competes with leverguns uses a Marlin. Either for CAS or cowboy silhouette. CAs might account for the large number of used guns. People get into the sport then drop out. Or they trade up when Marlin comes out with a NEW cowboy rifle.

Good advice TC and I feel my knees starting to weaken already. I was just REALLY impressed with the whole CZ experience of that little gun. I'd love to look at more of their rifles as I've heard so many guys on the forums talk about them it seems almost like a cult thing.

But I'm still torn. Even when I find something I like...then I find I have too many decisions about it. Do I want to play with the little 7.62/39.....or do I want to get a super fine .308, or do I want to go crazy and get something wild like the CZ in the 9.3x62...even though the wildest thing I'm likely to need it for is a Texas Whitetail.

Decisions. Decisions.
I'm afraid to ask God for a sign for fear the sign will be a big aspirin bottle in the sky, telling me to take two and forget it.

Gun fever just eats on my raggedy butt all the time. Woe is me.

Z1 - What caliber did you get your CZ in and if it was the 7.62x39, what bore size cast bullet do you find best. I always like oversized, but if cz is using .311 for that cartridge, then my traditional .311 that I like for the .30 caliber isn't oversized.

Pecos,

head down the cz path and your buggered mate...I have my 6th cz on layaway and will probably begin doubling up on calibres soon....I do need a second .416 Rigby don't I

Pecos45,

I got the 7.62x39. It slugs out at .311" just like CZ said it would. I have sized mine to either .312" or 313", had some of each lying around. I'd like a 140 GCWFN that drops at .312". That would be a fine all purpose bullet.

Another real nice choice is the 115 Grain GCFN for the .32-20. Dandy little bullet. I'm thinking either just enough Unique or Bluedot to propel these little pills at 2000 fps would be a great samll game rifle. I use the same boolit in my .32 H&R mag rifle launched right at 2000 fps. Sweet!

Part of the reason I went with the 7.62x39 is the abundance of cheap plinking mmo. I sup[pose you could say the same for the .223 too. But most of the cheap .223 is FMJ whereas the cheap 7.62x39 is available in soft & hollow points.

I have to agree with PC. I started earlier this year with no CZ's. then I got a CZ550 in.416 Rigby, then the model 527 carbine in 7.62x39, then the 452 in .22LR. I'm really torn between the .22 Hornet next or the 9.3x62. Don't really need either but would likely use the Hornet more and have always wanted a K-Hornet..

Go back and see what other CZs he has !
Mine is the 550 FS in 7X57. (fs is Full stock) Mine is 7mm mauser and they don't catalog that chambering any more in the FS. Its a real sweet hart. The manual shows yu how to adjust the trigger and it is excelent. To me, the CZ American is an awfully big rifle for the .308. I bet it would drive tacks, but if I am going to haul around a 23.5 inch 7 and a half pound rifle I want a little more cartridge. The FS would be a great .308 and the 6.5 sweed would be cool as hell too. There is also a model called the Batu (I think) that would be a little lighter and easier to pack around and would probably make a great .308. Hell you might be pleased as punch with a CZ american in .308 but I would prefer a 270 or a .30,06. Wish they would come out with a 300 win...tj3006

I'd love to see the performance of the fs in 9.3x62. I have a ruger rsi in 06 and have been bugging ruger to bring it out in whelen. They ain't listening and I'm thinking of the fs in 9.3. Problem is; nobody in my area handles cz, less the fs model.

turfman