Your favorite centerfire Bolt Action...

I did just fine with RH bolts. I worked with my right hand, and I worked it with my left hand (like the sniper in Saving Private Ryan). I could do it, but it seemed awkward. Then I picked up a LH bolt 110. It just felt right...err left...err correct.

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Well, I'm right handed, just shoot left handed and have been with bolt guns since I got my Remington M512X bolt gun (still have) for my 9th birthday. I just hold it up a bit with my left hand on the grip while I work the bolt with my right hand. Works for me.

Left hand guns are limited and I don't believe my favorite centerfire hunting rifle was ever offered in a lefty, my stainless Remington M7. That gun is SO handy and so versatile for hunting big and medium game, I just love it and don't care which side the bolt is on. Heck, in the box blind or on a tripod stand I'm shooting off a rest and don't even have to elevate the gun to work the bolt.

If I were all that worried about it, I'd have gone for a BLR in .308, ambidextrous ya know. My bud's is a danged accurate rifle, too, and pretty to look at.

If I were buying a new one and leaving it as it comes from the factory, it would be a CZ. If I wanted to modify it, a Savage. If used, a Remington 700.

I currently own two Ruger M77V (one Mk. I, one Mk II, both .22-250) two 700s ('90s .22-250, 2012 ADL Varmint in .308, both modded and extremely accurate), a Tikka T3 Lite (.22-250, restocked in a factory walnut stock), a CZ 527 in .223, an older Browning T-Bolt in .22lr, a CZ455 in .22lr/.22WMR/.17HMR, and a Savage stainless .17HMR with the factory laminated thumbhole stock. All of them do what I expect them to do well enough to be keepers.

The CZs and the Tikka are great out of the box. The 700 was downright awful, as the stock was flimsy and the trigger beyond hope - so I replaced both parts and now have a fantastic range gun. It was about $400 on sale at Dick's, and I put a little more than that into the Ultimate Sniper stock and Jewell Varmint trigger. Add another &400 or so in glass and rings, and you are north of $1200 complete, but it will stack Federal Gold Medal Match on tiny groups, right in the bullseye. WAY too heavy to lug about, though!

I've owned all of the first seven listed, only the X-Bolt remains.

MCgunner said:

All this about left hand models. I never fired a left hand model even though i shoot left. I am right handed, but near blind in my right eye. But, I work the bolt of a right hand rifle just fine. Hey, Hendrix was a lefty and played a right handed guitar.

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Yeah, I did that for a long time, but if you ever have a serious case head failure you will appreciate the fact that a LH rifle vents the explosion AWAY from your face rather than TOWARD it. I'm of the opinion that a LH gun probably saved my vision and possibly a couple of fingers.

Sako Stainless Hunter 7mm Rem.Mag. & Sako Kodiak .375H&H Mag.

I voted for Win model 70 and don't even own one. I'd like to have one in 308 someday. I am taking a sporter Krag 30-40 out for deer although I have several other rifles that are fancier. The Krag will do the job, that I can count on. Almost voted Milsurps for that reason.

I voted "other" because my Mausers are not milsurps. They are hunting rifles, with scopes (or a Williams reciever sight in one case), ergonomic stocks, good triggers, and fine lines. They are what I want them to be--fine hunting rifles.

How can you have a favorite? What's it for? I have a different favorite for every function.

I better just say it... I like them all for one reason or another.

Hunting rifle - Sako Finnbear AIII, in .30-06.

Varmint rifle - CZ527 Varmint, in .223. Looking at a CZ550 Varmint, in .22-250 tho.

CZ 527M in 7.62x39mm. Incredible light rifle.

I voted Remington 700, but my favorite is really the Model Seven ... sort of a mini-700. Have three of them in .223, .260, and .308.

Tikka T3, because Sako isn't listed.

If we're talking about modding a rifle I would have picked the Savage 10/110.

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Some Savage rifles come very well equipped right out of the box. For example the target Accu-Trigger is a big step above the regular Accu-Trigger installed on most models. It's the whole action actually. It will adjust down to 6 oz. which is pretty light. Then there's the HS-Precision stocks. Some expensive models even come with a McMillan stock but the HS-Precision stock is pretty good. There are also several custom built stocks that are very nice. The barrels may not be world class but they are better than most. And as has been said they are easy to upgrade.

I'm not going to say they are the best rifles on earth or anything stupid like that. I wouldn't even say they're the best production rifles. But they do make some rifles that lack for very little. And the best part is they aren't uber expensive. Well some are but a very nice rifle can be bought for under $1500. For example my 12 LRPV in .223 cost under $1300 new. It has the target trigger, the HS-Precision stock, and a very accurate bull barrel. Essentially it's the same rifle as the F class rifles Savage Shooters have been using to win "some" competitions against custom built rifles. Again I'm not saying they are the best rifles on earth but to "ever" win a competition against a custom rifle build is impressive IMO. The F class rifles have a different stock and their barrels are 4" longer (30" vs. 26"). But many shooters prefer the shorter barrel because they balance better.

For the price of these rifles it makes it very hard not to like them. This poll is about our "favorite" rifle. Again I put my money down on the one I liked best. It can be upgraded but it won't be cheap. That's because it's already good. It has it's faults of course but so do all rifles. I know that the local gun club has 600 yard competitions and the very same rifle I have dominates that competition even above the F class rifles. I know I've shot groups under an inch at 500 yards with my rifle. That's not every group but I get 4"-5" groups consistently or I did when I had a place to shoot. All these things add up to a favorite rifle for me. I love Sako rifles. Tikka makes great rifles too. And the Remington 700 is a mainstay in competitions around the world. There are lots and lots of good rifles around. But my favorite is the Savage 110 series. I'd like to own all these rifles. The one I do own is a Savage.

I have to go with the only bolt action center-fire rifle I own, a Kimber 84M CC in .308 - the rifle is super light to carry, a real thumper at the bench, it is very well made with a gorgeous French walnut stock - it will do an inch at 100 with Winchester 150 gr "white box" power point (probably better with a better shot behind it) - the caliber is almost too much for deer but they fall down very fast - everyone has a rifle like this, you take it out just to look at it sometimes. Good shooting!

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Originally Posted by wow6599 View Post
Tikka T3, because Sako isn't listed.

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That's what "other" is for.

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Yes, I know. My other is Sako.

Since the AI platform is not listed I voted for value.
I think some of the savage 10/11/16 out of the box offerings are the best value one can buy right now. Well priced and hands down accurate and reliable with package prices the working man can afford. Buy a precission carbine, a razor scope now on sale and the rest buy some ammo and professional training and you got endless hours of fun.
If you hunt the entry pacakages are hard to beat. The platform is so good others have copied their signature features and now is the new trend.

Other. Mauser M12 Extreme in 30-06 with Leupold 3-9x32mm scope.

My favorite is my Remington Model 7 Stainless 308 win. with a Fiberglass stock, Cryo'd barrel and a well setup trigger. Weights with a Burris 3x9 compact. Had her for almost 20 years now.

Sweet shooter, a hair under 3/4 inch. Light weight, quick action and accurate as all get out.

I do still like my Springfield 03-A3 too.

Good luck to all.

Fred

I like the surplus rifles. Modern rifles without iron sights hold no appeal to me. I don't use a scope, so a rifle without irons is useless to me.
My favorite right now is a 1922 Carl Gustav. But that may change when I get a 1917 Eddystone.

Dave

Depote,

I like my 1917 too, but it is heavier and of course longer. Better field/fighting sights than either of the 03's too. But for best accuracy I prefer the 03-A3 sights.

My personal problem is my eye sight is going to hell in a hand basket. So scopes it is for me since I went to bifocals at age 40. Now in trifocals with vision areas blocked out at 66.

As a young man I always preferred irons too. I had to take a hard bite out of reality. I do like red/green dots for close in work. 200/300 yards.

Folks have fun, time will rain on most people's parade soon enough.

Fred

My favorite centerfire is Fionn MacCumhaill, my 1939 Winchester Model 70 in .30-06. I have more than a dozen cemterfire sporters, but this is the one I always have when I' hunting seriously.

Cheiftain, could you futher elaborate on how you perceive the sight differences between the 1917 and the 03-A3?

Thank you, I also prefer the 1903A3 action to any other action out there.