CZ, Varmint style. Their V’s - even with the longer, heavier barrel - don’t feel all that unmanageable, and the 24 inches are good for fps. The price on those CZs, for what you get, is unbeatable. Most dealers sell the Varmints for less than the Americans, though you don’t get rings with the former; no big deal, as the factory ringmounts are too high for most tastes, and newer 527s come with a re-designed bolt handle bend that will clear the ocular bells on most scopes if if you want to go lower. You also get a neat set trigger in the deal. In addition to my (discontinued) Kevlar Varmint CZ, I have a Cooper and a Remington LVSF in .204; all are accurate, but would have to say that the CZ offers the best “bang for the buck” overall.
Be advised the one bugaboo with all factory (except TC) .204Rs is the too-slow twist for 40 gr.-and-up bullets. They’ll only stabilize the 39 Sierra SBK and down. A 40 grain .204 pushed fast enough will run with a 55 .22-250, even better it in the wind, btw. I mostly pick my .204 with 39s over my ‘250 or Swift, as the light recoil usually guarantees watching hits (or misses) through the scope, although the report is surprisingly about as loud as the .22s.
So, if you plan on spending for a Cooper, or maybe Dakota or Sako go for it (First Stop Gun SD had a nice used laminated-stock .204 at a good price, last time I looked). Or, if your budget is less, a CZ is the way to go, imo.
Oh, yeah: Chalk up another no-“Salvage” vote. Might, however, buy a 300 dollar (on sale) Cabela’s special 12FV if that was all I could afford. Will admit to having one in .22-250 that I bought just to try its 22-twist barrel with the 53 V-Max, and although it will shoot small groups, it’s far from perfect.
