Posted on 06/11/2012 8:27:39 AM PDT by Lowell1775
Well the Big Brown Truck of happiness, dropped off the scope and rings I ordered a while ago. This is what I settled on for the Hard times rifle in the optics department, based on the following Philosophy of the Modern Longhunter and anticipated uses/needs.
Function and Feature priority
A manual action rifle, capable of engaging small game up to White Tailed Deer sized medium game at 25-500 yards.
Magazine or stripper clip fed
Mid range optic capable
Back up Iron sights standard
An easily procurable caliber with lots of reload data
Under 8lb with optic and magazine
Low recoil
Proven action design
Capable of homestead defense in a pinch
What we settled on for the platform was the outstanding CZ 550 rifle, in the FS or Mannlicher Stock variant. The caliber is .243 Winchester.
The optic choice took me several months, trying to decide in the end between Burris, Leupold and Nikon. The Leupold scope won out, the VX-3 1.5-5x to be exact. Its small size fits the rifles profile and shape well. The scope is typical of Leupold in being extremely clear and bright. On 1.5x it is most suitable for close quarters defense if needed and the 5x gives me enough confidence to engage marauding Coyotes out to 500M. I chose the German #4 reticule, having not used one in the past, time at the range this weekend will determine if I like it as much as I think I will.
I mounted the Leupold in Talley CZ specific quick release rings (This was not an outwardly frugal choice, but given the old world quality of rifle and the amount spent on glass I decided to “Buy once, Cry once”). These rings give me the ability to remove the scope in about 15 seconds and go to Irons.
All up weight with sling and 4 rounds of .243 s 8lbs / 1 oz! This is the same as the Ruger Gunsite with sling and empty magazine with no optic or rail! This is an accurate, fast and reliable practical rifle that won’t wear you down. It hits harder and further than the average 5.56 “assault rifle”, and with more magnification would be keeping up with most .308win bolt guns out to 800M.
If your survival plans are concerned more with having multiple use tools than fighting pitched gun battles with hordes of mutant biker zombie U.N Troops, then I highly recommend looking at CZ rifles and Leupold scopes to build your Hard-Times-Rifle.
It has a very thin coating on the wood. It’s not bare, but just barely not.
I've got just a bit over $400 spent in the build of my most recent *black rifle,* actually more of a green rifle, since it's a pretty close dupilcate of a Canadian Army C8A1 carbine. And so far as looking like Darth vader at a Cub Scout meeting, I'd rather look like Porky Pig in a mosque.
.243 is a fantastic caliber. Savage rifles can take an aftermarket Choate folding stock, producing a 700 yard sniper rifle that can fit into a backpack or valise.
In my experience, .243 is available anywhere you can buy the other common rounds such as 30-06, 308, .223, 30-30 etc.
Don’t know if you sit in the rain, have the gun in and out of a safe, etc, but I know mine wasn’t a great stock and suspect that’s why someone sold it...couldn’t get it to zero. Free-floating it fixed that, but it was still visible for miles if it moved. Mine looks so good now that I’m tempted to make a multi-city loop looking for cheap Winchesters I can doll up.
Yes.
They’re the size of big dogs...
BTW, I don't know what they're using these days, but the day of the lead wheel weight is about over. For the environment, don'cha know.
Excuse the late post; I’m googling my account on FR and this came up.
I went through hell trying to zero my scope on the Ranger. Turns out the cheap stock was warped pretty hard to one side. Sanded it to get free-float and it worked fine. I’ve since bought a walnut stock, but might throw the beater back on there for hunting.
Thought it might be a repeat. Still have the rifle?
Wow. An oldy of a thread.
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How did you find it? Lurking? I got to poking around on Google.
I should go search the archives for some of SWAMPSNIPER’s stuff.
Remember a Freeper called DWSUWF?
“How did you find it?“
I click on almost all of the gun related threads. I noticed this one was from 2012. Swampsniper is missed, that’s for sure.
And sorry, I don’t remember DWSUWF. There have been so many over the years. I particularly miss Harpseal and Coyote, myself.
L
Divided We Stand.... He was fun to read. I think he’d find current events quite interesting, assuming that he’s no longer with us.
We’ve lost lots of good Freepers over the years, one way or another. I can’t believe I’ve been annoying folks here for over 20 years.
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From Clinton to Trump. And nearly from Clinton to Rodham-Clinton.
Which rifle ?
I’ve lost track...
Winchester 70 Ranger in .243
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