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troy fairweather
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only if they made the ew in 280rem
if you had $1000, what bolt action rifle would you buy
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Ok tell yourself you’ll be happy with a Winchester 70 EW in 30-06 for $1,000. Then in a moment of weakness you spend $500 on a 280AI barrel and sell off your ‘06 barrel.
There you got the perfect hunting rifle for $1,000ish
Ok I know that’s a big “ish” but it’ll be worth it in the end, and if you don’t like it, I’ll buy it off you.
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troy fairweather
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ya it's tempting, with i had a better lathe. i could get a short chambered barrel for under $300 i have a old 280ai reamer but maybe rent one and do the sammi spec chamber.
I had two Winchester M70 Extreme Weather rifles about six or seven years ago. One was in .308 Win and the other .300 Win Mag. Both were made in Utah and both were very disappointing. I sold them for what I had into them and don't miss them at all. They were heavy, not particularly accurate, and the machining of the receivers was disgraceful. I spent many hours smoothing them out to the point where I was ok with them, but the weight and the average performance meant that I was happy to get rid of them. I really wanted to like them. I bought a Kimber Montana 8400 WSM the same day I bought the EW .300 Win Mag. I was working for Remington in AR at the time and stopped at Fort Thompson gun shop, or something like that, in Jacksonville. I paid $1,050 for the Kimber and $850 for the EW … I still have the Kimber. 
I went into that store looking for a .300 Win Mag and all they had was the EW. The guy behind the counter asked me if I'd be interested in a Kimber in 300 WSM. I knew next to nothing about Kimber rifles at that time other than getting to shoot a couple of Kimber tactical rifles in .308 Win and .300 Win Mag during a 2-day "sniper" class a few years earlier (neither of which was particularly impressive). However, I was so impressed with the 8400 that I bought it on the spot and the more I looked at both the EW and the Montana the more I realized that the Montana was twice the rifle for only $200 more.
That 8400 Montana was the reason that I bought a Kimber 8400 Talkeetna a few months later which is still the best bolt action hunting rifle I've ever handled or shot, and I've handled and shot a lot of them over the years.
I went into that store looking for a .300 Win Mag and all they had was the EW. The guy behind the counter asked me if I'd be interested in a Kimber in 300 WSM. I knew next to nothing about Kimber rifles at that time other than getting to shoot a couple of Kimber tactical rifles in .308 Win and .300 Win Mag during a 2-day "sniper" class a few years earlier (neither of which was particularly impressive). However, I was so impressed with the 8400 that I bought it on the spot and the more I looked at both the EW and the Montana the more I realized that the Montana was twice the rifle for only $200 more.
That 8400 Montana was the reason that I bought a Kimber 8400 Talkeetna a few months later which is still the best bolt action hunting rifle I've ever handled or shot, and I've handled and shot a lot of them over the years.
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troy fairweather
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ya if i could find a kimber montana for just over $1000 that would be nice, how is the muzzle bast with the brake, i really like my A-bolt in 7wsm.I had two Winchester M70 Extreme Weather rifles about six or seven years ago. One was in .308 Win and the other .300 Win Mag. Both were made in Utah and both were very disappointing. I sold them for what I had into them and don't miss them at all. They were heavy, not particularly accurate, and the machining of the receivers was disgraceful. I spent many hours smoothing them out to the point where I was ok with them, but the weight and the average performance meant that I was happy to get rid of them. I really wanted to like them. I bought a Kimber Montana 8400 WSM the same day I bought the EW .300 Win Mag. I was working for Remington in AR at the time and stopped at Fort Thompson gun shop, or something like that, in Jacksonville. I paid $1,050 for the Kimber and $850 for the EW … I still have the Kimber.
The brake is really effective but I'm not a fan of the noise, and anyone to the left or right won't be a fan of the noise or blast either. That's why I like the Hunter rifles, no muzzle threads = no brake! You lose one round of capacity compared to the Montana, but 3+1 for either the 84M or 84L is enough for most situations.
Tikka makes a great rifle for the money, and I would own a few of them if I wasn't happy with Kimber rifles. A coworker who's left handed has a right handed Sako A5 300 WSM that's awesome, and I've tried to separate him from it but he won't sell it. I wish that Barrett hadn't gone with a Remington 700 type action with no locking bolt for the Fieldcraft, but that's another rifle I won't own. I won't buy any bolt action from Bergara either for the same reason, and their extractor is garbage, and their rifles are heavy. Now that I think about it, the list is getting shorter and shorter.
Tikka makes a great rifle for the money, and I would own a few of them if I wasn't happy with Kimber rifles. A coworker who's left handed has a right handed Sako A5 300 WSM that's awesome, and I've tried to separate him from it but he won't sell it. I wish that Barrett hadn't gone with a Remington 700 type action with no locking bolt for the Fieldcraft, but that's another rifle I won't own. I won't buy any bolt action from Bergara either for the same reason, and their extractor is garbage, and their rifles are heavy. Now that I think about it, the list is getting shorter and shorter.
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troy fairweather
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i thought i would be nice to have the brake if needed, the 280ai in a light rifle can have some punch. i believe the hunter is the same barrel and action but no threads and has the mag, id rather have the blind mag like the montana, but the hunter is a lot cheaper and that could go towards a better scope.
then i keep thinking i really only need a 7mm08 and that would handle better the the long ation.
As ive said already, for my 280AI im going with the Ridgeline, but thats no 1k dollar rifle.
ive looked pretty hard at the semi-production 280ai rifles, and honestly I think Kimbers the sweet spot in the 1-1500 dollar range.
Montanas can be had for about 1200, the ascents are 1700ish.
less than that, and if your ok with an plastic stock, you can get the Hunter which cost lest just because of the stock and no threading i i think.
Another option are the Bergara premiers, which while lighter than average, are still about 1/2 a pound heavier than the kimbers, and start at about 1300.
You can get a savage in 280AI now, and id considered one myself, but Ive never been completely happy with my newer savage rifles.
ive looked pretty hard at the semi-production 280ai rifles, and honestly I think Kimbers the sweet spot in the 1-1500 dollar range.
Montanas can be had for about 1200, the ascents are 1700ish.
less than that, and if your ok with an plastic stock, you can get the Hunter which cost lest just because of the stock and no threading i i think.
Another option are the Bergara premiers, which while lighter than average, are still about 1/2 a pound heavier than the kimbers, and start at about 1300.
You can get a savage in 280AI now, and id considered one myself, but Ive never been completely happy with my newer savage rifles.
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troy fairweather
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a crf ation is a real plus for me tho you don't need crf i just like it. i won't spend any money on a new savage until a lot of things change. it's hard to decide between the 7mm-08 or the 280ai. the 280ai would be a do all rifle tho in any weather.
Alaskan Ironworker
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Mosin Bubba
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Probably a Model 70 featherweight in 270, just to say I have one.
I'm also interested in the Remington Model 7s, although the 18" barrel is just a tad too short IMO. 20" would be perfect, not even for the ballistics so much as knocking down the muzzle blast. I'd probably get it in 7mm-08 because I have an irrational dislike for the 308.
I'm also interested in the Remington Model 7s, although the 18" barrel is just a tad too short IMO. 20" would be perfect, not even for the ballistics so much as knocking down the muzzle blast. I'd probably get it in 7mm-08 because I have an irrational dislike for the 308.
earlthegoat2
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If I had a $1000 budget I would still just buy a lowly Remington 760/7600 off a used rack.
There are probably untold hundreds around where you live.
There are probably untold hundreds around where you live.
Chuck R.
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I went through the same decision a few months ago and lucked into a new Nosler M48 Liberty in .270 for $999 off of Gunbroker.
Mounted a 2-12 Leupold VX6 B&C FireDot BDC on it I bought at closeout and it's been a solid <MOA 5 rd groups with Nosler 130BTs and H48321SC at 3170 FPS (24" Pacnor Barrel).
https://www.nosler.com/m48-liberty-rifle/
Same shop still has a couple available:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/820603960
Mounted a 2-12 Leupold VX6 B&C FireDot BDC on it I bought at closeout and it's been a solid <MOA 5 rd groups with Nosler 130BTs and H48321SC at 3170 FPS (24" Pacnor Barrel).
https://www.nosler.com/m48-liberty-rifle/
Same shop still has a couple available:
https://www.gunbroker.com/item/820603960
troy fairweather said:
I've owned a 7mm-08 Rem rifle and probably wouldn't buy another. I've shot a few .280 AI rifles and it's a great "do it all" cartridge that in the right rifle doesn't beat you up much at all.
Those Christensen Arms rifles are nice, but again no locking bolt so a no go for me. But I do see the value of a 6lb 24" carbon fiber barreled rifle chambered in .308 Win, .280 AI, .30-06 Sprg or even .300 Win Mag. I've been shooting a couple of 6lb CF single point cut barreled rifles recently and they'll put 20 shots inside 3/4 moa in under 5 minutes with no discernable POI/POA shift. I think they're the future, particularly if the cost of CF barrels drops.
skeeterfogger
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$1000 and patients I can get 3 and probably with scopes.
Dave DeLaurant
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Depends on the local used market -- I'd love to find a fixable 6.5 Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine in the $1K ballpark. That's been near the top of my wish-list for, like, forever.
As for what I last blew a grandish on new, the Kimber 84M Hunter in .308. It retailed sub-$900, but I added two spare mags, a Weaver V1-3x20 in Warne Rings, and a backup Bushnell TRS-25 with QD mount, bringing the whole package to something like $1250. I look at it as an interpretation of Cooper's Scout Rifle
As for what I last blew a grandish on new, the Kimber 84M Hunter in .308. It retailed sub-$900, but I added two spare mags, a Weaver V1-3x20 in Warne Rings, and a backup Bushnell TRS-25 with QD mount, bringing the whole package to something like $1250. I look at it as an interpretation of Cooper's Scout Rifle
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Dave DeLaurant
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I probably posted this photo before, but I thought I'd share a mod I did to the NECG peep to make it fit the rearmost mounting position on my 77/44, getting the aperture about an inch closer to my eye :
Captcurt
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I hope that your's shoot better than mine did. It would suffice for the average deer gun, but I never got better than 1 1/2 MOA out of it. That would work for most people, but not here.
Bottom Gun
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Sako. You will never regret buying a Sako rifle.
Jack Ryan
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I'd buy the same thing I've got, a Savage 110, 30-06. Good for up close or for long range.
If ALL I had was a $1000 or close enough to be thinking about it the way you describe, I wouldn't be wasting money on toys or hobbies.
loose noose
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I've already got one in the Remington 700BDL Custom Deluxe in the .270 Winchester with a top of the line Weaver 3X9X40, which was top of the line when I purchased it back in 1974, I paid right at $300.00 OTD, plus $200 for the scope. BTW I wouldn't part with that firearm for 10 times what I paid for it. The way I came in contact with it was a good buddy had convinced me that my 30-30 Marlin, which had got me quite a few deer, would not suffice in the N/E Arizona hunt (Trophy Mule Deer) we were about to participate in, where the general range was 150 yards on out to 300 yards. So down to the nearest LGS where I was talked into that Remington. BTW I did get a trophy Muley, (a perfectly symmetrical 6X6) but it was right at 75 yards, which I'm sure I could have got him with my Marlin 30-30. Needless to say since that time I've shot quite a few more deer and antelope, and a couple of elk with it, in fact it still has the same scope, which is the clearest glass I've ever seen, however, since I've purchased Leopold's for many of my other rifles, that Weaver is still equally as clear on my Remington.
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troy fairweather
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good looking setup, could you give a review of the kimber hunter, or if you did in a thread. i don't think the stock is as bad as guys say it is, the i saw looked and felt nice. if they take some polishing that's ok. a MS would be a fine rifle, use it on the nice days, where your not walking over fences or rock walls.
Flatbush Harry
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I picked up this Ruger 77 Hawkeye African in 6.5x55SE earlier this year at Cabela's. I mounted a Leupy 2.5-8x36 VX-3 and have sighted it in with some of my handloads. It is much more accurate than it needs to be. Now if I could just find its cousin in .275 Rigby...I've got the .275 Hornady brass ready to go (in the interest of full disclosure, I have a Win 70 in 7x57 in which I use that brass).
I'm a bit of an old school guy...the two Rugers on the right are both 6.5x55 Swedes, the Win, second from the left, is a 7x57, and the left hand rifle is a Sako 85 Bavarian in .300 WSM, the closest I could find to .300 H&H.
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FL-NC
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I would get the one I already have- Ruger American in 6.5 CM. The rifle was about $400 out the door, as I recall. Shoots Federal 143 grain non typical ($16 a box at Academy) at 100 yards into a nice 1/2" group. So I would get another one of those rifles AND everything else I needed to get that thing put together, sighted in, and me in a tree for $1,000.
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