Classic heirloom hunting rifle - $1000 budget

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ksalmi72

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Hey guys I've done a lot of lurking on this forum but finally just joined up. Hunting rifles aren't really my forte. I know quality control comes and goes with certain companies, and I want to know what to look at and what to avoid here in 2018. I have $1000 to set aside toward a bolt action hunting rifle. Will be used primarily for deer on hilly, more wooded terrain. Shots will be of a shorter range <100 yds due to the lay of the land. I would like to be able to use this for larger north american game as well if needed.

Anywho, $1000 for the rifle. Will start saving for the scope and get that down the road. I've got a remmy 770 that is surprisingly accurate now that the trigger isn't completely locked up anymore which I could use in a pinch so no hurry on this rifle. Want it to be a quality, classy wood stock, with either polished blued or stainless finish. Something to pass down to my Son one day.

I'm not looking to get another Remington given what I've experienced personally and what I've read in terms of quality control as of late. Someone feel free to educate me if Remmy has turned it around as I do like the 700 action. Just dont want to drop $800+ and get a turd. Seems like Browning, Winchester, and Tikka all make some classy pieces for under $1000. I also like the looks of the Bergara "timber" rifle and the fact that it has a 700 action to my knowledge. Im thinking a classic caliber like .30-06 or .270 as this will be my do it all deer rifle and may be used on larger game at some point in my life.

As I said, just looking for advice from people who know more than me about the current bolt action rifle market to chime in with opinions on brands listed and feel free to tell me about ones I didn't mention if there are ones that fit the bill.

Thanks
 
If you are open to the idea, I would STRONGLY suggest you consider a new barrel, stock and trigger for the 770. Maybe call a reputable rifle smith and have a conversation. You could get the 770 trued up, trigger fixed, and new incredibly accurate barrel put on for $1000, less with a lesser barrel. If you put some thought into it, you might be able to get a new stock as well under budget, it would breath new life into a gun you liked once upon a time.

Or dump the 770 and get a tikka if your choice
 
ksalmi72 said:
. I also like the looks of the Bergara "timber" rifle
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I happen to really like the Remington 700, and the Bergara b-14 is everything the 700 wants to be right out of the box.
I would caution against buying a Timber without holding one first tho, as the wrist (grip) is quite thick.
Personally I liked the way it felt (I installed a b&c stock because I hunt in wet weather, and bang around my rifles a lot), but I have fairly large hands. The wrist on Ruger 77s for instance is too small for me to grip comfortably.

I've used Tikka T3s, but never warmed up to them. As far as i know everyone whos owned one likes it.

Honestly the three rifles I'd probably be looking at in the round 1000 dollar range would be.

Bergara B-14 (most likely the woodsman or hunter) if you want you can always drop the b-14 into any similar length 700 bdl stock.

Browning Xbolt. I like the Abolts lines better, but the xbolts I've handled and shot have been excellent.

Winchester 70. Similar experience to the Xbolt, but the lines are more classic.

Honorable mentions would be why vanguard/howa 1500, and Ruger Hawkeyes....

Obviously my personal preference plays into my suggestions lol.
 
If you must have a new rifle I'd probably be looking at a tikka T3 hunter or a cz 550fs. If used, a Winchester pre 64 with some nice wood, maybe a BRNO(cz), sako, or even a ruger m77 stainless. Seen a few with decent wood, although they are a little harder to find.
 
If you want a true classic heirloom rifle go to some gun shows or do some looking on gunbroker and get a sporterized mauser or other classic custom rifle. $1000 for a new gun cannot buy the beautiful old world craftsmanship that people used to put into hunting rifles. For $1000 though you can get some really stunning old custom rifles.
 
Many good options already listed, but here's another vote for the CZ 550. The 550 with the controlled round feed has been discontinued in favor of the push-fed 527. 550s were made in several versions, the most common being the American and the full-stocked FS. They had very nice Turkish walnut stocks, sometimes with exceptional figure if the buyer got lucky, but almost always nicer than the wood on comparably priced rifles. You can still find new ones on the usual firearms auction sites, but the prices have been steadily creeping up. $1000 can still get you one, though. I wouldn't turn my nose up at any of the other candidates, though, if one were being handed down to me.
 
I'm not really interested in changing the 770 up. It is what it is, a cheap beater rifle which is surprisingly accurate. Then as far as my definition of heirloom is concerned. I just mean a rifle that has classic lines and nice wood as well as a nice blued finish. Some Norman Rockwell looking rifle LOL. In other words Im not really interested in getting an actual 1940s or 1950s sporterized Mauser or a pre 64 Winchester, not really going that far with this. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I don't think I've heard anyone say anything bad about Tikka so I know they are good to go but now that I think of it, I checked out some T3s and some x-bolts a while back and while I liked the looks of them and they felt well made, I remember not liking them as much as I thought due to the lack of heft of the action like in a 700 or mauser type. Not that it equals quality but something about those Mauser and 700 actions I really like. They just feel so beefy and solid. Anything wrong with modern Winchester 70's? Also, between the bergara and a Win M70, any benefit with one or the other? Also my buddy has a cz 550 and it is definitely a nice piece. Forgot cz made bolt guns for a while
 
LoonWulf said:
I happen to really like the Remington 700, and the Bergara b-14 is everything the 700 wants to be right out of the box.
I would caution against buying a Timber without holding one first tho, as the wrist (grip) is quite thick.
Personally I liked the way it felt (I installed a b&c stock because I hunt in wet weather, and bang around my rifles a lot), but I have fairly large hands. The wrist on Ruger 77s for instance is too small for me to grip comfortably.

I've used Tikka T3s, but never warmed up to them. As far as i know everyone whos owned one likes it.

Honestly the three rifles I'd probably be looking at in the round 1000 dollar range would be.

Bergara B-14 (most likely the woodsman or hunter) if you want you can always drop the b-14 into any similar length 700 bdl stock.

Browning Xbolt. I like the Abolts lines better, but the xbolts I've handled and shot have been excellent.

Winchester 70. Similar experience to the Xbolt, but the lines are more classic.

Honorable mentions would be why vanguard/howa 1500, and Ruger Hawkeyes....

Obviously my personal preference plays into my suggestions lol.
Click to expand...
I have to echo LoonWulf on this one. I would have a slightly different order of preference, though.
Bergara B-14 - Push feed.
Winchester M70 Classic (I love the schnabel forend!) The new ones I have seen are really well made with good fit and finish. CRF - Big claw extractor.
Browning X-Bolt, yes! Slightly better wood and finish than the Winny. Push feed.

Honorable Mentions: Savage M110, Ruger M77 or Hawkeye, Weatherby Van Guard (Gave one of these to my #1 son. Darn good shooter. Put a walnut Boyd's Prairie Hunter stock on it. Purdy thing. Darn heavy, tho!)

I suggest you handle them all and shoot as many as you can. Classic, excellent accuracy caliber: .30-06. Ammo is EVERYWHERE!
Good luck on your quest!
 
tough choices. i have been on a similar quest and now have four remington 700s....a .223, .270, and two .243s. each time I bought another 700, I considered lots of other choices. have always passed up the tikka, while very tempting, it doesn't pass the heft test....just doesn't feel right. All of your options.....remington, browning, tikka, winchester....are great brands. since i've had several rems, i'm inclined to try the winchester. the older models, while classy, are over-priced. the new ones are fine rifles, but hard to find one with better than average wood. the wood on my rems is good but not great....ya gotta pay for really good wood.. browning seems to have really good wood and they shoot quite well...a friend has 2 of them and really swears by them. you might also try a 25-06. i would never choose a savage or ruger over the others....been there and sold them. by the way, my newest is a rem 700 CDL .243. I bought it because it was ridiculously cheap (nib..$540) and i like them...........let us know what you buy.
 
Tikka. I have heard too many good things about them to pass one up if I wanted a classic rifle.

kwg
 
I'd look for a FN built Mauser that has been taken care of. Many were imported and sold with private labels.
Or look for a European gun that is made for the 7/57 or one of the metric 6.5 cartridges. They are perfect but unloved in the USA.
Use the rest of your money on a upgraded trigger if needed and fine optics that match your hunting area.
 
If you are open to the idea, I would STRONGLY suggest you consider a new barrel, stock and trigger for the 770.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure that isn't even a possibility. No one makes an aftermarket stock for them and the barrels are not replaceable. Those are disposable rifles. They shoot better than expected for the money, but repairing or rebuilding isn't an option.

There are lots of good rifles priced well under $1000, but if you're looking at an heirloom rifle to be passed down there are far fewer options. And most of those will be on the used market. A Tikka is one of the better rifles, but not what I'd call an heirloom rifle I would no longer touch a Remington of any era.

A new Winchester 70 Fwt would be near the top of my list. But if you're willing to do some looking around one of the Winchester Classics with a 6 digit SN made in the 1990's would be the holy grail of heirloom rifles. These are actually BETTER rifles than the pre-64's. They were made from 1992-2006, but some of the rifles made during the last year or 2 with 7 digit SN's are a little lower quality. The key word is SOME. Even most of those are just fine, but a few got out the door in the last few years that shouldn't have.

https://shop.whittakerguns.com/product/33022
 
If you’re looking for old world elegance in a modern rifle, why limit yourself to only turn bolts? In the $1,000 range, I’d suggest having a look at a single-shot Lyman break open, maybe a Taylors lever action. Lots of possibilities.

For an heirloom quality rifle, and I have 6 kids, which would probably stretch my budget too thin, I’d save longer, use that Remington a bit, and buy a Sauer 101 Forest. It’s double the money, but needs nothing and offers irons for your 100 yard and closer shots (no need to scope), and some amazing stocks available if you can afford to upgrade further. Otherwise, for the money, another vote for CZ, back up vote for Winchester.

Sauer 101 Forest
8F992A73-81B0-477A-9684-987AEF4BD868.jpeg
 
Ive been noticing what some of you were saying about the browning xbolt medallion having the nicest wood for under $1000. It seems like even the stock on a M70 super grade doesnt pop quite like an xbolt medallion. Another gun I discovered is the savage 14/114 American classic. Sharp looking piece. I do like savage actions as well.
I feel like the breakdown is something like this for me personally:
1. Aesthetics of the stock in this order: x-bolt medallion, Win 70 super grade, bergara b-14, then the m70 sporter, savage 14, tikka hunter seem to be tied.
2: Actions that give me warm fuzzies in this order: Rem 700/bergara action, mauser (winchester) action followed very closely by savage, then you have a dropoff with the x-bolt and tikka actions which dont really appeal so much to me. I know they arent flimsy but they feel like it and perception does matter. You have to feel good about what you’re getting
3: Reputation of the gun itself in this order (or so it would seem based on forum opinions and even comments from this thread): Tikka, Browning perhaps tied with winchester, Bergara I dont know as much about so I’ll put it third, tied with savage, then a decent dropoff and remington bringing up the rear.

They all have good things going for them but I think I've eliminated the remington.

As far as people suggesting single shots and lever guns, all in good time my friends, but I want a bolt gun for this quest. Getting a bolt gun with irons is pretty classic looking. And it makes sense if I want to save up for a while for a scope.

I will have to cruise up to cabelas and bass pro possibly as soon as this weekend if I have time because I know that have of this stuff could go out the window when I hold one in my hands that speaks to me. Some times you just know.
 
But gosh dang it the remington CDL, CDL SF, and the BDL look so good. THE BDL with the black forend cap and the iron sights is old school cool. After all this I’ll probably get tricked and end up walking out with a remington 700
 
ksalmi72

Keep us apprised about what you finally decide upon for your classic heirloom rifle. I'm thinking Browning, followed by Winchester, and then a tie with Begara and Tikka but that's just me.
 
I own Ruger, Remington, Winchester, and T/C bolt action centerfire rifles. I plan to hand down the 700 and 70 but they aren’t nearly what I think of as heirloom quality, just as “dad’s old hunting rifles”. I hope most will be transferred long before I push up daisies so that each kid has his or her own to care for.

Personally I wouldn’t touch a Remington these days unless it was a good 10 years old or more. That however invites more money being spent on fixing bluing, dinged up stocks, and worn barrels than is wise in my book. Better to cry once, your son will remember special, and a current 700 is not special. :evil:

Lyman Sharps ($75 over your budget). Scope money? Nah bro!
E5E6D013-C137-4342-AF1C-1D794317D29F.jpeg


My cousin and his son training at RJJ this weekend when BJ Penn dropped in to help out (also more memorable than a Remington, just sayin).
6171702B-D75C-45E4-AA36-A3AA4F313000.jpeg
 
NIGHTLORD40K said:
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...r_535202226_m70_sporter_bolt_270_win_24_5+1_g

While any of the current $350 box-store specials will put meat on the table reliably, they aren't much to look at. The current Winchester M70s have gone back to the Mauser action as God intended and look purty to boot. This would get my vote for a new family heirloom.
Click to expand...

This would hands down be my first choice.

There is a lot of love for pre-64 M70’s. I don’t feel it. Not all of the pre-64’s are top notch in the quality realm.
 
ksalmi72 said:
But gosh dang it the remington CDL, CDL SF, and the BDL look so good. THE BDL with the black forend cap and the iron sights is old school cool. After all this I’ll probably get tricked and end up walking out with a remington 700
Click to expand...
You know, there is a lot of hate for the new production 700s, but I gotta say my buddy has a recent 700SP and it is every bit as accurate as my vintage 700BDL. As much as I like my Walker trigger, and would never replace it, I .will admit the X-Mark pro is darn nice as well and actually breaks a tiny bit cleaner.

If your bedding skills are pretty good, there is probably nothing to fear with a new 700, as long as you get to inspect it before buying.
 
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