jcollins1007
Member
Here's the dilemma:
I have a Savage Model 14 America classic chambered in .243 Win. The gun is a tack driver, has a great trigger which is very safe for the woods, a nice looking stock, and balances well for offhand shooting. There are three things I don't like about it though. First, the bolt (on the uplift) is not smooth, by any definition of the word. You really need to muscle it when chambering that second round. Second, the pistol grip of the stock really doesn't fit my hand. My hand always feels like it's sliding off. Finally, the gun is chambered in .243 Win. While this is a great round for southeastern whitetails and coyotes, it is not preferable for western muleys or elk, which is something that I plan to do come next fall.
I've thought about a two-gun solution, but I want to use one rifle and be good with it. I don't need a .243 really, since I have a .223 for varmints. I'm thinking a .308/.30-06 class gun. Now, I've thought about rebarreling the savage to .308 and having the bolt smoothed out, but I'm still stuck with the stock. Furthermore, I could change out the stock, but by that time I could have bought another gun. So, I think I'm just going to trade this one out.
So, in pursuance of having my cake and eat it too, what are some good rifle choices to replace this gun? The requirements are :
1. .308/.30-06 (leaning towards the Springfield)
2. buttery smooth bolt action (i want to be able to cycle the bolt without touching the stock)
3. 1" moa or better
4. prefer a wood stock, but am open to nice synthetics (kevlar, hogue, etc)
5. 7-9 lb weight, empty, no-scope
6. prefer a 24" barrel, but 22" will do
7. finally, the grip of the stock needs to have some curve in it, unlike the slight angle of the Savage model 14
Fire away guys!
7. price below $1,500
I have a Savage Model 14 America classic chambered in .243 Win. The gun is a tack driver, has a great trigger which is very safe for the woods, a nice looking stock, and balances well for offhand shooting. There are three things I don't like about it though. First, the bolt (on the uplift) is not smooth, by any definition of the word. You really need to muscle it when chambering that second round. Second, the pistol grip of the stock really doesn't fit my hand. My hand always feels like it's sliding off. Finally, the gun is chambered in .243 Win. While this is a great round for southeastern whitetails and coyotes, it is not preferable for western muleys or elk, which is something that I plan to do come next fall.
I've thought about a two-gun solution, but I want to use one rifle and be good with it. I don't need a .243 really, since I have a .223 for varmints. I'm thinking a .308/.30-06 class gun. Now, I've thought about rebarreling the savage to .308 and having the bolt smoothed out, but I'm still stuck with the stock. Furthermore, I could change out the stock, but by that time I could have bought another gun. So, I think I'm just going to trade this one out.
So, in pursuance of having my cake and eat it too, what are some good rifle choices to replace this gun? The requirements are :
1. .308/.30-06 (leaning towards the Springfield)
2. buttery smooth bolt action (i want to be able to cycle the bolt without touching the stock)
3. 1" moa or better
4. prefer a wood stock, but am open to nice synthetics (kevlar, hogue, etc)
5. 7-9 lb weight, empty, no-scope
6. prefer a 24" barrel, but 22" will do
7. finally, the grip of the stock needs to have some curve in it, unlike the slight angle of the Savage model 14
Fire away guys!
7. price below $1,500