Out of these rifles, which do y'all think is best for deer hunting?

I think the Winchester and the Ruger are the most rugged and reliable.

I'm glad you didn't put a Remington 7 on your list.

Since you put that price was no option, I think I know where this will head: Winchester.....

.... BUT.... As I said before, I vote Weatherby. If its my money that I am spending, I can get a Weatherby for much cheaper than the others and it is no less a rifle. Why spend big bucks (pun intended) when you do not have to??

I voted Weatherby. I can afford any rifle I want...and my next one will be another Vanguard S2. I bought one for my son and with the cheapest shells on the shelf it was printing half an inch right out of the box. A rifle is nothing if it's not accurate...and the Weatherby gives me a rifle that is guaranteed to be accurate, and costs less than several of the other options as well.

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the rifles on that list...so no matter what you do I think you'll be happy.

I voted Weatherby. I can afford any rifle I want...and my next one will be another Vanguard S2.

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Dang. That's very powerful testimony. Might have to try a Weatherby S2...

I voted Winchester, but truth is that's the only rifle on the list I've ever owned. It was an outstanding rifle, but I can't honestly say it's better than the other options.

Carolina Kalash said:

-Out of the box accuracy
-Durability
-Reliability
-Quality of manufacturing (How well made it is)

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It's a personal preference, but for a hunting rifle, I strongly prefer a 3-position safety, so that puts the Tikka and CZ at the bottom of my list.

I had a CZ550 and have a Tikka T3. Terrific rifles, and I'm blown away by the performance of the Tikka in particular, but my M70 is still my hunting rifle. AFAIK, the Weatherby and the Ruger also have 3-position safeties. Not sure about the Browning.

Look at length of pull, too. You may prefer long-ish or short-ish. And for a hunting rifle, the LOP may have to accommodate the extra layering of warm clothes. I sold the CZ because, in addition to the 2-position safety, its LOP was too long (for me). The M70 is just right (for me).

This is based on personal preference but I would go with the Model 70 first and the Ruger second.

My reasons: I like the traditional Mauser nouveau action type of each of them and as was mentioned earlier I do prefer a 3 position safety for hunting.

Accuracy is negligible between all of those rifles. They will all be accurate enough for hunting out to the ranges the average person can hold a 4-5" group, which is realistically speaking, much shorter than everyone would like to believe.

As far as reliability is concerned, I once again think all of these will suffice. I like CRF which has proven itself highly reliable in the most extreme hunting circumstances. BUT, so have push feeds. Once again, it is a personal preference. I have been turned off to Remington 700s lately because of what I would consider unreliable extraction and ejection. I am still shooting the heck out of it though and maybe some components need to be replaced.

I voted Weatherby. I can afford any rifle I want...and my next one will be another Vanguard S2.

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Dang. That's very powerful testimony. Might have to try a Weatherby S2...

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If you think the Vanguard S2 is so good, have you tried a Mark 5?

If money is no object why not try Weatherby mark V. If you think vengard is good the mark V is awesome.

X-bolt

I've shot all the above but the CZ.
The Winchester balances best. The Weatherby & the Tikka I did not care for. I own two Rugers(.270&.243) I've carried a Rem. Mod.7 with Timney Trigger for the last twelve years in 7mm-08(elk hunter-wink, wink)
If I were looking for a new rifle, (the Browning A Bolt was good) it would be the X Bolt. For smoothness and accuracy I have found none better.

earlthegoat2 said:

Accuracy is negligible between all of those rifles....

As far as reliability is concerned, I once again think all of these will suffice.

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Yeah, I was sort of suggesting this. Of the criteria the OP listed, most all decent factory rifles will be plenty good.

What it comes down to, IMO, are features one might prefer. I mentioned safety design and LOP, but other things to consider are weight (the CZ550 is pretty heavy, for instance), barrel length, capacity, PF/CRF, bolt throw (60° vs 90°), wood/synthetic stock, etc. If you're interested in a short action cartridge, some actions are true short actions (e.g. M70), whereas others use the same length action for their short & long action rifles (e.g. Tikka). Again, it comes down to personal preference.

My vote is Tikka T3 because I own one and it has been amazing. Its easily the most accurate rifle I've ever shot and its lightweight, accurate, butter smooth bolt, amazing trigger. And the best factory synthetic stock you'll find for the $.

The only other rifle of the ones listed I've owned is the Weatherby Vanguard S2 and while I like the "feel" of it. It has a nice trigger and action. Its been a nightmare for it to shoot good. Check out the thread "Weatherby Fiasco" on this site for more info. I do believe I just got a "lemon rifle" and it can happen with any mass produced rifle so I just got unlucky.

For deer hunting? Any of them will outlast the grandkids.

The "best" is the one which fits your body the most appropriately, and suits your own notion of esthetics for looks and finish.

earlthegoat2 said:

If you think the Vanguard S2 is so good, have you tried a Mark 5?

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I hadnt considered a Mark V, mainly because my first (and only) experience with Weatherby was the Vanguard S2 and it did exactly what they guaranteed it would do...right out of the box. Another way of putting it is that i just didnt have to consider it...i got everything i needed in the S2.

Having just looked at the Weatherby website though my next rifle will still likely be an S2, and here is why.

Weatherby guaranties that the Mark 5 will shoot a 3 shot group of 1.5 inches or less.

They guaranty the Vanguard S2 (Sub MOA) will shoot 0.99 inches or less right out of the box. The S2 is more accurate...and less expensive. Having done that brief bit of research the Vanguard S2 looks even better.

Is it just fancy wood or fit and finish that makes the Mark V more expensive?

Firstly, I am not disparaging your choice of Rifle. My post may have sounded like that. I am indicating that Weatherby has a fantastic lineup of rifles including the Vanguard and the Mk 5.

It has a lot to do with what you cannot see underneath though. The Mark 5 has been one of the top 2 strongest actions since its inception. Remington likes to brag about the 3 rings of steel but Weatherby did it 5 years before the 700 came out. The magnum has 9 locking lugs and the standard has 6 lugs and they are arranged at about 60 degree intervals around the bolt making it have a very strong and positive lockup as well as just a 54 degree bolt lift. The greater number of lugs are smaller than the two of the Vanguard but they actually have more thrust surface area whether there are 6 lugs or 9. The 9 lug magnums have roughly double the thrust surface.

The Mk 5 safety is quieter and smoother but it really is a non issue.

Another thing, is I have neither heard of nor seen a Mk 5 that did not shoot just as well as a Vanguard out of the box. Once again, most production rifles shoot the same with the same standard deviations either way.

I could go on but the point is they are both good rifles. Many of the features of the Mk 5 are more warranted in a heavy rifle which Weatherby is known for making in spades. The real nice feature of the 54 degree bolt turn though is worth a look. Maybe not for $1000 more though. They have better aesthetics and operate smoother in general which is probably a sign of more labor intensive attention to details.

Carolina Kalash said:

Looks like it's really just gonna come down to personal preference here since most of these are about equal it seems.

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Bingo. Pick the one you like and go shoot it.

Remington 700 one of the most popular American brand should have been included. But among the ones listed i go for the Tikka.

earlthegoat2 said:

Firstly, I am not disparaging your choice of Rifle. My post may have sounded like that. I am indicating that Weatherby has a fantastic lineup of rifles including the Vanguard and the Mk 5.

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No worries...I didn't take your post as disparaging. I think we're looking at one of the great "problems" of a free market economy...theres too many good choices!

I'm not going to vote. This is a "what color horse is the fastest" type of question. Flip a coin.

Weatherby for me. Howa is good at making rifles, and Weatherby just made it better. It doesn't have anything annoying like a cheap plastic trigger guard or a sleeve to fit the action to the length of the cartridge. The stock is kind of ugly but the cheek rest is designed to keep the recoil away from your face. Mine shot a clover leaf with Remington core lokts at 60 yards out of the box, and I haven't even started handloading of it yet!

very simple, the one you shoot the best with.

Thanks Kimbernut,
That was pretty sly
All in good sport though, I really don't totally hate Remingtons

You will never kill a single deer with one that you will not kill with any of the others. Ever.

Being a purist, I'd try for a pre 64 Mod 70. Have a nice collection of 50s versions. I use em, not safe queens!
Dan