So who makes a good Bolt Action these days?

"Legal deer hunting rifles are chambered for the following calibers: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith & Wesson, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110 and .500 Smith & Wesson."

I wonder why they didn't include the 44-40 and 38-40 Winchester cartridges?

At your price point, I'd add my voice to the Winchester M70 choir.
And while were being classic, make it .30-06.
"The Rifleman's Rifle"

No personal experience---but the new Model 70's seem to have a pretty good rep----considering one myself

Friend of mine just bought a new X-bolt that's now back at Browning for accuracy issues----this is a $1100+ rifle. Used to highly recommend Browning---now I'm not so sure.

New Ruger 77's seem pretty hard to find these days since the American came out---have a stainless Hawkeye and its a good rifle---that's why I still have it.

Never had a Kimber shoot worth a damn---we're talking 4 or 5 rifles between me and my buddy---I'd stay away---I don't even bother to look at them anymore---not worth the time.

If you can afford it---can't go wrong with Sako.

If going for a budget rifle---look at the TC Venture-----never seen a bad one in at least 4 or 5 rifles.

Remington hasn't made a good rifle for a long long time----stay far away.

The real question is who doesn't?

I wonder why they didn't include the 44-40 and 38-40 Winchester cartridges?

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I actually thought they were. Straight-walled cartridges for the most part.

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Both the 44 WCF and 38 WCF are bottle neck rifle cartridges having both being introduced in the Model 1873 Winchester Rifle.

Browning X-Bolt, Browning A-Bolt, Winchester 70.

I've been very pleased with my Savage Axis. It is available with a wood stock, but I like it with the black polymer stock.

jimherb said:

The real question is who doesn't?

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Haven't been impressed by Ruger Hawkeyes.

Omaha-BeenGlockin said:

No personal experience---but the new Model 70's seem to have a pretty good rep----considering one myself

Friend of mine just bought a new X-bolt that's now back at Browning for accuracy issues----this is a $1100+ rifle. Used to highly recommend Browning---now I'm not so sure.

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I'm actually about to send a new M70 EW back due to accuracy problems... I would guess related to the tool marks in the bore, and the poor bedding of the tang.

That said, I've had 4 other M70's and I've had almost uniformly good luck with them. My X-Bolt Stainless Stalker is a great shooter, and a near ideal hunting rig. I also like Tikkas.. had several, they all shot, and are nice and light. Blued and wood stocked rifles aren't really my thing, but those three lines are what I would recommend to the OP. I haven't had any Sako's but if I were in the OP's position I'd check them out as well.

I own at least one of every rifle mentioned here. I can vouch for the Xbolt and Sako 85 as being exceptional. 85s are as good as I have used.

Really taken a liking to my 70 in 270 win. Not wood stock and newer model.

If you want under 1" moa your going to want to reload them yourself. Factory loads I've shot to acquire brass have not been impressive.



Maybe I've went at it backwards going reduced loads to start but the trigger time and getting use to the rifle is paying off.

I shoot 10 shot groups. Still had one flier today but the other 9 were within 1" and my best were 6 in a 1/2" group. The one in the middle blew a piece out.



This is an 8 shot group. All i had loaded up today.

Both...




I have a full load but not fully developed and im getting 1.25" groups with it so far.

If you ask me you the load and your scope are the 2 biggest things to get tight groups.








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while I am not a big rifle guy I have been very happy with my Savage 11 Hog Hunter in 308 not wood but it seems to be well made and stout I put a Vortex
Diamondback on it and it shoots better then I can

Check out this sleeper.

I ordered a Bergara B-14 Hunter in 7mm Mag for a friend and was really impressed with it. I took it out of the stock and check it out. The trigger looks like a Timney and will adjust down to 2 lbs. I set it a hair under 3 (2 lbs. 14 oz if you want to be exact). The receiver is modeled after the 700 Rem and will take 700 mounts. The bolt release is more like the Sako or Ruger American. The stock is pillar bedded and the action set in Marine Tech with the barrel floated. The barrels are noted for their accuracy. Bergara has made custom long range guns for several years. The Company says that the barrels are drilled, triple honed and button rifled.

My friend sighted the gun in and cleaned the barrel after every shot for 8 or 10 shots. Then we took it to the range and got serious. His second 3 shot group with 175 gr. Nosler Partitions could be covered with a dime.

I am looking for a Hunter in 6.5 Creedmoor for myself. Nuff said.

tbob38 said:

"Legal deer hunting rifles are chambered for the following calibers: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith & Wesson, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110 and .500 Smith & Wesson."

I wonder why they didn't include the 44-40 and 38-40 Winchester cartridges?

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I was wondering about the 30-30, too.

If I were looking for a bolt rifle, I would check out the used rifles and look for a Remington 721, 722, 725 or similar older rifles from other makers. A class of their own.

Kevin

I wouldn't buy a rifle that didn't have a Winchester Model 70 type safety. The safety locks the firing pin instead of the trigger, in the straight out position you can cycle the bolt with the safety on, and in the rear position it locks the bolt handle down to keep it from being pushed up when you are carrying the rifle with a sling.

At your price point, I'd add my voice to the Winchester M70 choir.
And while were being classic, make it .30-06.
"The Rifleman's Rifle"

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This was my decision and I've never regretted it. Reality is though there are plenty of good serviceable hunting rifles out there for practically any budget. The Rugers, Savages, Tikka, Winchester, Browning, etc are all great rifles.
-Jeff

Savage sure does! Ruger too!

Sako, Browning, Winchester Super Grade and Weatherby Mark V are tops in the price range you mention. Just a little jump in wood quality can make a very big difference in price.

Kimber make a beautiful gun, but their customer service is bottom of the rotten apple barrel. Just try to call them for a gun problem, if you don't believe me. Absolutely the worst CS I have run across in the firearms industry so far.
I have had better luck with Taurus CS, and that is saying something.

I would buy a Kimber Mountain Ascent .308 in a heartbeat if this rifle did not have that "funky" muzzle break/ cap on the barrel. I have owned two Kimber rifles (84M .308 and 82C .22) for many years - both shot great (in the 84M, you have to get used to shooting a very light rife - very different technique). Kimber seems to get a bad rap - my experience has been great - mine are beautiful and very accurate shooters.

I vote for Sako and CZ (they can be heavy, though).

Domestically I like Winchester and Remington, but you have to be picky.

I've owned two Winchester centerfire rifles and they were both beautiful and well made.