Have read and shopped for a small centerfire the past year. Can rebarrel a savage or stevens easily, or go with the cz off the shelf in 221fb.

Is there any real advantage of the 20 vartarg over the .221fb? They both seem adequate up to 200yds and maybe more.

The limitation for the savage is modifications to the magizine are most likely needed.

A vote for the CZ .221 here. Mine fits right in ballisticallybetween my Hornet and .204. Don't know what game you're after, but IMO that .221 55gr. Fireball round is one of the best for Eastern groundhogs. (I'm still shooting up the 3 boxes of factory Rem. ammo I bought relatively cheaply w/the gun before The Panic.) All my 18 kills but one so far have been one-shot DRT's; one crawler @ 225 yards was probably bad shot placement from wind/cheap 9X temp. scope and/or operator error.

+1 for the fireball here too as well. I own one in the CZ like you mention, and it is hands down my FAVORITE rifle! Really knocks the groundhogs (I "borrowed" Glen's load data with RL7 and 50 SBKs )!

Plus, for some reason like a lot have said the CZs in fb get great wood for some reason lol.

My only complaint is when the trigger is in the "set" position, it is too long of a reach for me to be comfortable.

+2 for the 221 Fire Ball! I also agree that RL7 is the powder of choice.