Tax return/Tulsa Gunshow selecta-rifle thread of DOOM

OK it's that time O year again here's what I'm thinking bout adding to my collection. I'm thinking about adding a bolt action rifle to my collection to serve as a 300m group shootin fun gun in a little bit more of a sporter weight format as I'm patient enough to allow a bbl to cool. Since I already have a GREAT shooting 30-06 I'm looking for a cartridge a little less powder hungry and that's a bit smoother off the bench. I'm thinking a non06 based round somewhere between 257roberts and 7mm08

Here's what I kinda have in mind in terms of criteria

1. a nicely finished firearm (not really looking for entry level guns)
2. a medium sporter contour bbl (or at least not featherweight)
3. a well deserved and established reputation for accuracy
4. easy on brass (some rifles aren't, in my experience claw extractor guns are the worst offenders)
5. Needs to weigh in at less than 8lbs (shouldn't be an issue)
6. Must fit inside a budget of around $600 for the gun bare (sans optics & mounts)
7. Can't be a rem 700 (I just don't like em)
8. Can be used or new but must be fairly easy to find.
9. 24+" bbl greatly perferd
10. NO cartridges with a bore smaller than .25 cal or larger than 7mm
11. no 30-06 based cartridges

I handled a used Tikka T3 lite in 6.5x55 and almost bought it but I'd really prefer a bit thicker bbl for this gun

Essentially I'm looking to fill a caliber and performance hole in my collection between a .30HRT ar15 and a 30-06 Ruger M77MkII

GO

The only problem is a weatherby vanguard IS for all practical purposes a rem 700 which I already mention my aversion of. In the past I've owned multiple vanguard-howa's and at this point I don't really care to own another. I'm also looking for less powder consumption and recoil than my 30/06 currently does.

Sorry guys but I do not like nor will another .243 grace the inside of my safe EVER!!!!!

Hence my "in between 257roberts and 7mm08" comment which of course 243 IS NOT

C-grunt said:

.260 Rem?

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It's on my short list of chamberings for sure. Although offerings seem to be infuriatingly limited to compact or super lightweight rifles mostly.

Not neccacilarly "short action" only. Just not 30/06 based.

In addition to the usual 308 bases suspects A couple Mauser cartridges are on the table, a 250 sav would be nice but not gonna happen.

Esentally anything between .257 and .284" without a belt or the name "magnum" attached to it that isn't 25/06, 280 or 270 is stIll on the table

The claw thang isn't a dealbreaker for me. The thing that prevents me from just getting another ruger by default is the very thin bbl profile on most sporter models.

Come on guys! I say I don't want a 243 and don't like the rem 700 and y'all act like I've ruled out every rifle in existence.

I want to hear folks chime in on the Tikka T3 Hunter models (I handled a LITE), the new Winchester M70's possible a blurb or two about TC's new bolt gun, accu stocked savages or any other number of new models

rangerruck said:

I would look into everything made, in 257, 6.5, and 270, and 280, and 7.08.
the 260 ammo, factory is just too darn expensive. I really like the idea of a 6.5 swede here, and see if ruger does one.

I do like the idea of the steyr, tikka,and wetherby's though...

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Just to be clear ammo price is NOT a consideration provided brass is available or can be made. I wouldn't be surprised if whatever I buy never has a single round of factory ammo fired through it for the duration of my ownership

to me I have allways loved the 6.5 arisaka round,

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I like the way you think!

Ive actually thought about this and would definitely take a HARD look at a nicely sporterized Type38 were I to run across one. IME these early war guns had excellent barrels on em and can be astoundingly good shooters with that somewhat heavier bbl I'm looking for. The downside is they tend to be chambered loosely and are thus kinda hard on brass.

I'm dead set against anything "magnum" strictly on the basis of burning 2.5x as much powder as is needed to shoot great groups at 300m which is the longest range I have access to.

I

Maverick223 said:

What about a Savage Model 14 (wood/blued) or 16 (SS/synthetic) in a 250Savage? Seems to have all the features you want, save for the 24in. bbl (both are 22"). Not exactly a great looking gun, but nobody tends to complain about how they shoot.

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OOOOOOOHHHHHHH!

I didn't know savage had reintroduced a few 250 sav offerings!

I am really liking that 16FHSS accustocked weather warrior