a quandary... which would you choose???

[magnumwheelman]

so 1st off, I'm a collector... one section of my collection is dedicated to MY FIL, who was Czech, & had several CZ & BRNO rifles & handguns...

I currently have two Czech rifles that shoot 8mm... & am rapidly running out of space... so I'm planning on putting them up against each other this summer for a side by side shoot out... it's not totally an Apples to Apples comparison, one is sporterized with a nicer burl wood stock, & a scope, the other has a sporterized version of the original military stock, & a rear peep sight... makes no difference which I keep, as long as the one I keep shoots most accurately...

The other I'll be putting on my once a year gun show table, & using the funds towards another Czech rifle purchase...

in Czech rifles my calibers are currently

22 LR
22 Magnum
22 Hornet
223
7.62 X 39
(2) 8mm

if I part with one, I'd like to add something between 223 & 7.62, or between 7.62 & 8mm...

I reload for close to 80 calibers, so there is advantage to picking one I already load for... but I'm also not particularly worried about adding something new...

the 2 rifles I'm looking at, are the CZ 557 Sporter in 270 or 6.5 X 55... I currently load for 270, but don't load for 6.5 X 55 ( but like the cartridge )... the 557 Sporter does not have a detachable magazine like several of the other Czech rifles do ( all but the 8mm rifles )

the other is the CZ 557 Sporter Short Action which is available in 243 or 308... both of these I load for, & can one ever have too many 243's or 308's ... the 557 short action uses detachable 4 round magazines

right now I'm wrestling most between the 6.5 X 55 & the 308 in these guns... with the 6.5 X 55 slightly leading... love the cartridge, but don't currently load for it, & have several other calibers that are "similar" in performance... no detach magazine... I do have a couple 308's including a custom Ruger Scout rifle... so I already have a bolt action detach magazine rifle in 308...

here are a couple links showing the rifles... ( BTW... please don't reply buy both... I simply don't have the room... or I'd keep both 8mm's as different as they are, & just add more rifles )

cz-usa.com/product/cz-557-sporter-short-action/

cz-usa.com/product/cz-557-sporter-30-06-walnut-stock-fixed-magazine/

BTW #2 note that the 557 Sporter does come in 30-06, but I already have a half dozen 30-06 rifles so I don't see that as a good option )

[awp101]

The Swede is always the correct answer.

[mobjack]

My reply is to get the 6.5 X 55 cartridge. Same as you, I don't have a gun chambered in that caliber either, bit would like to add that caliber to the flock.

Mobjack

[Rimfire69]

I have a soft spot for the 6.5x55 here to.

What exactly is your Hornet, there has been a few over the years and some are nicer than others, but I like them all.
We've got the older ZKW-465, and a later ZKB-680 ( Fox II ), in Hornets. Love them, so sleek and carryable when on a walking gopher shoot.

[magnumwheelman]

the Hornet is one of the 1st 527 Americans... I bought it used, right after Ruger came out with it's 77 22 Hornet... original owner traded it in for one of the Rugers, then came back 2 weeks later because his new Ruger was not as accurate as the CZ... of course I saw it during those 2 weeks & snapped it up to add to FIL's CZ's

the 22 Mag is one of those rare semi autos, BRNO ZKM 611... I got a smokin deal on that, NIB, but with a cracked fore arm... which I repaired... it shoots good, but it's worth too much to shoot... since it's one I purchased, I could almost sell that one... especially if I'm keeping the 22 listed below... I could trade it for another centerfire bolt action, since the rest are all bolt action rifles... in case anyone is not familiar with the ZKM... I tried to buy a few extra magazines a couple years back...

www.gunbroker.com/All/BI.aspx?Keywords=ZKM+611

I'm really not into the rimfire, & the 22 LR would be a logical one to cull out... but it's "vintage", with 3 leaf sights an obscure brand of quality scope, with engraved rings, & a snable ( spelling ) tip on the stock... stock has lots of dings... but I guess I put that one in a group of "best to keep" rifles

[Paden]

6.5x55, hands down.

[bigbrowndog]

I truly like the Swede, but would love to get a 527 in 6.5 Grendel.

Trapr