Any advice?? Looking for something mid range..........wouldn't mind getting a really sharp looking gun but accuracy is top priority. Tikka is interesting to me as their stainless models are sharp but I have never owned one.......I hear the craftmanship is a good value for your buck. I do like the stainless/grey laminate look Savage is nice.........I might grab something with the new accustock and an accutrigger if I can find it. I already have 2 savage rifles though so looking for a change. Browning?........never owned one but they are pretty sharp. Unsure of their accuracy out of the box though. Caliber will be a deer rifle...........haven't decided which one. Scope recommendation would be great too.......no budget but nothing idiotic expensive just on principle. Thanks in advance
I'm not sure how mid-range it is, but a Browning topped with a Leupold is the way to go IMO. I have a A-Bolt II Stainless Stalker with a 2.5-8 Vari-X III Leupold. It's a .270 and I love the gun. Although, since I picked up bowhunting, the flash of stainless has been bothering me. If a changed today, I'd get an X-bolt all blacked out and get a slightly bigger Leupold, up to 12 or 14x.
Got this gun 10 yrs ago. Think it was around $1100 for the rifle, scope & mounts. Maybbe the case too?
I have always liked the remington model 700. As for scope I am impressed with my Nikon Buckmaster 4.5-14. Nice & clear and was reasonably priced.
Howa's aren't a bad rifle for the money. But if I was buying new, I'd get the Tikka you have pictured.
tikka makes some stellar rifles. i think i would look into the custom route if i could afford it I like a mauser action, in 7mm-08 with a shepard scope... lmao ahhh dreams
I don't know either.........I have no restrictions other then what I would personally object to. I guess anything over $1,500 would probably make me start to wonder if I was "wasting" money based on my needs. I do like the look of the A-bolts..........sharp looking gun. Accurate?
Bolt. I was hoping you would see this Rick as I was looking forward to your input not only about the gun choice but scope as well. I have read some of your recent posts and this seems to be a topic you are more schooled in then I.
Got dad a Remington 700 this past year.........nice gun. I will check out that scope as it may be the one we got him as well. Bright as hell...........not the best reticle IMO but sight wise was top notch.
For the scope, I'd pick a Leupold VX-3. I have a 3.5-10x40 on my go to deer rifle, but I can also get some 400ish yard shots at times in a few of the places I hunt. If I wanted a light weight deer rifle, I'd likely pick a 2.5-8x36 or 1.75-6x32. The VX-3's are a true lifetime purchase, and will spoil you for life. I'd also put Talley one piece Lightweight bases/rings. Fantastic for a hunting setup. I don't know your preference for wood or synthetic. I personally prefer wood, I just think they are better looking guns. For a rifle, I'm a Remington 700 fan. American made, they shoot great, and they are a timeless classic. The new x-mark pro triggers are great too. If you want wood, the CDL's are drop dead gorgeous. I've got an older ADL (my first rifle) that had the plastic stock on it originally, but I've since dropped it into a CDL wood stock that was designed for their detachable magazine, and I've put their factory detachable magazine hardware into is as well. Unless I'm planning to shoot at running deer, this is my go-to deer rifle with a VX-3 3.5-10x40 on top. With that said, the Tikkas are nice, but if your gonna do that a Sako is a much nicer looking gun. Tikka is made by Sako, and they spare no expense on the Sako's. Sako designed Tikka so that normal people could afford them. The Sako 85 Deluxe is a really nice gun, too nice for the abuse my hunting rifles see though... I know you said no more savages, but they also make a great gun. Probably the most accurate guns on the market for a reasonable price today. They aren't the best lookers, but if you want something that will shoot bug holes for a good price, they are probably your best bet. I really don't like Brownings (bolt actions that is). They are good looking rifles, but I've never seen one that would keep up with my Remington or the Savage's I've had or been around. If you do buy a gun with a wooden stock, I'd try and buy from a shop that can bed the action/tang, unless you get a Savage with the accustock. This will clean up a lot of the problems you mentioned in the other thread.
I have a Remington 700 XCR (extreme conditions rifle), synthetic stock with rubber inlay in the fore stock and grip. One of the most comfortable rifles I've held. It is topped with a Zeiss Conquest 3.5X10X50 scope. Most clear and light gathering scope I've looked through. I got it in .270 wsm. Killed a big moose with it but no deer yet. Good accuracy.
In a lot of ways guns are like cars. Some guys love Chevy while others Ford or Toyota or whatever. What it really comes down to are just a few factors. What is the intended purpose? What is the intended range of engagement? What is the price range? With those answers you can pick caliber, accuracy needed (which obviously effects price), scope magnification needs, and what models you can afford. Since you are in a mid-level price range wrt rifles and scopes there are a ton of options as I am sure you know. Savage, for the money, is the most accurate gun out of the box. However, Remington 700's are IMO the best action on the market and have been for decades. Every US military anti-personnel sniper rifle is based off the Remington 700 action (and enormously upgraded barrels). IMO, Brownings looks awesome, shoot alright, and are priced too high for what they are and what they deliver. The VTR (varmint tactical rifle) is a real looker IMO, but I am in to tactical guns and not mantle pieces. As far as scopes go I am a big fan of Millett for the money. Great glass (actually some of the best in the world out of East Europe with over 96.5% transmition), they are one piece (the founder invented an entirely new process to do that much more cost efficiently with the same strength results), and they have tactical adjustment knobs so you don't need a dang penny to adjust your sights on a windy day or to click a few for a longer/shorter shot. Also very good and much less expensive than Leupold or other "cadilacs" are the Bushnell Elite line. I am a big fan of the 3200 (5-15X40). Although you hve the covers for the adjustment knobs, they can be done with your fingers as well. Again, great glass, great clarity, and multiple reticles to choose from. I like the mildots myself, but that is also what I am used to. Fantastic hunting or target scope. Lastly, if you are really only looking for 300 yards and in (or so), then you can really get away under $500 total with a great rifle and scope for those distances. There is no need to spend 800 yard capable prices for a gun that you will never use at those distances. For a "mid range" gun (I am just assuming 300 yards here so I could be wrong) you don't need sub 1 MOA accuracy. 1.5 MOA really is more than adequate for hunting within those ranges. Especially b/c those specs are given for any crappy ammo you can shoot. Good ammo will always make the gun shoot under any advertised MOA specs. You also wouldn't really need a scope beyond 6 or 9 power, and in all reality a 9 power is overkill for those ranges. Again, 10X is all USMC anti-personnel snipers use out to and beyond 1000 yards (though very rarely beyond 1000). Anywho, I know I didn't really help you narrow it down. This was meant for some food for thought. Think of it as "you don't need a sports car that can do 0-60 in 3.5 to get to work".
decided i was gonna purchase 1 firearm/yr save up all yr and then get it. next year's purchase is going to be a standard M1A. prob gonna run me at least 2G's but if i break it up per month i can budget for it and take less of a wallet hit! love the look feel caliber and range, havent decided on wood or synthetic look yet. http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?version=41 good luck finding the right rifle for you, im getting excited for mine!
well, your looking anywhere from 1900- limitless the gun i lust for is an h-s precision spl and they run around 3000 bucks. and those zeiss scopes are pretty wicked too!!!
I shoot a Tikka T3 Lite, not stainless but the same type of gun and I love it. ITs the .270WSM load, for some of our farther shots out here, I am good out to 400 yds. Its a good gun for the money and I really love it, they are dead accurate too. That being said you cant go wrong with an A-bolt either. As for scopes, I am with Rick James all the way. I shoot VX-III's now, and after using Nikon, Burris, and Zeiss scopes, I havent found a better one yet. Plenty of light for the last bit of shooting time, a bullet proof scope for sure. Everyone I have let borrow one has absolutely loved them, they are worth their weight in gold.
