Best bolt action rifles...accuracy

[Tacitus7]

I am thinking of buying a single action model 1885 30-06 or else the best bolt action I can find. I am not looking for beauty but for the greatest accuracy. I am looking for a field gun that I can trust and be proud of. Willing to spend up to 1500 for the rifle and scope.

I would like to get some leads on what to look for. I've heard the Remington 700 CDL is a great one. Is it true though that you have to unload the clip by using the bolt, instead of just taking out the clip as is the case with the Browning Medallion?

Thanks.

 

[Kachok]

Forget the 700s, their build quality has gone downhill bad since they sold out to the devil (CCM). The new Winchester 70 is great, and more then accurate enough for hunting, but the most accurate has to be Sako/Tikka in light weight rifles or Savage for the heavy barrel rifles. The Savage 12 series is widely regarded as the most accurate production rifle out there, but those are some hefty guns.
My Tikka T3 lite groups under 3/4" with the cheapest factory junk you can find and one hole with 129gr SST handloads.
My Savages shoot under an inch with certain factory loads, and cloverleaf with my handloded 165gr Serria Gamekings.
None of my Remingtons could ever match them.

 

[Promod1385]

Any major manufactures rifles should suit your needs. If you want a top notch ubber accurate rifle I would look at having a custom build done by a top tier gunsmith.

 

[Tacitus7]

Appreciate the replies. Can you tell me how much heavier the Savage is than the Winchester Model 70? Thanks.

 

[Kachok]

Savage makes a full line of rifles weighing from 5lbs ultralights to semi-custom heavy guns with 30" bull barrels. The Savage 12 series verminter tips the scales about 12 lbs unscoped which is more then 50% heavier then the Winchester model 70 Sporter (7 1/4lbs-7 4/3 lbs), the heavy Savages are for ultra long range shooting only, you don't want to be stalking though the woods all day carrying that monster, but their lighter 116s/114s....etc are under 7lbs, and more then accurate enought for 400yd shots on big game. Tikka rifles are as accurate as a light gun gets, 6 1/4lbs and mine pushes the limit of my shooting skill even off a bench, it will shoot one hole groups at 100 when I do my part. I fail to see the need for more accuracy then that in a hunting rifle.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

My R700 SPS shoots 5/8" groups at 100 yards and is built well. I have no complaints with it. The majority of newer rifles shoot very good patterens.

 

[rodinal220]

Sako/Tikka.My L461 30-06 can still shoot sub moa groups with my handloads and 168SMKs.

 

[Gunnerboy]

If you got 1500 than ....http://www.montanarifleco.com/custom.rifles.html

 

[BP Hunter]

I have a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in 25-06 that I purchased for about $600ish. I am grouping less than 1" with factory ammo Hornady 117g BTSP and am comfortably breaking small water bottles up to 250 yards consistenly. I am also very happy with its smooth Mauser bolt action. Funny thing is that I have an old cheap Bushnell Banner 3-9x 40mm scope which sells for only$95 brand new today.

 

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

+ 1 for the Sako/Tikka...

Just find the one that suits you the best, feel, features, caliber etc.. Most modern rifles shoot way better than their owners. As far as optics, buy the best you can afford.

 

[Tacitus7]

Thanks for all the input everyone. It gives me lots to consider. All the best.

 

[R H Clark]

I would look for a used Remington 700 that has been customized a bit.If you take your time you can get a proven tack driver for about $1000-$1200.Then add the Leupold VX2 or 3 of your choice.The 700 is the most common action used to build accurate sporters and there are more after market goodies for it than any other.

You could also buy a Harvester model from Hill Country that is a proven shooter with some upgrades.For a used other than GunsAmerica and Gunbroker check out 24hourcampfire.

I just don't deal with unknown people,but many gun stores sale used on GunsAmerica.I wouldn't mind doing a deal on 24hourcampfire if the guy was a long time user with good feedback in the good guys list.

 

[jmr40]

Winchester is building the best USA made rifle at this time, far better than anything Remington is turning out, and they are selling comparable rifles for around $50 less.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/category.asp?family=001C

I have a EW, as well as several older versions. All are tackdivers and utterly reliable. If I wanted wood/blue I like the Featherweight. Don't let the name fool you. By 1950's standards it was a lightweight rifle. In 2012 it is about the same weight as most manufacturers standard weight rifles and much heavier than many. The Winchester standard rifles are too heavy unless in magnum chamberings.

And they do shoot:

A Featherweight

http://s1129.photobucket.com/albums/m513/jmr40/?action=view&current=targets009.jpg

A sporter at 200 yrds

http://s1129.photobucket.com/albums/m513/jmr40/?action=view&current=targets010.jpg

The EW

http://s1129.photobucket.com/albums/m513/jmr40/?action=view&current=targets004.jpg

 

[razorback2003]

Savage makes good rifles for a good price that are very accurate. If you want to spend more look at the Tikka/Sako guns. Also Winchester 70 is a great gun with an easy to take apart bolt.

 

[Silent Sam]

How do you intend to measure accuracy? When you say "field gun" I read that as a hunting gun. Punching paper off a solid bench at fixed ranges doesn't directly equate to success in the field hunting. I recommend you shop for a rifle that the stock fits you off the bench first.

 

[Kachok]

Winchester is building the best USA made rifle at this time, far better than anything Remington is turning out, and they are selling comparable rifles for around $50 less.
I have a EW, as well as several older versions. All are tackdivers and utterly reliable. If I wanted wood/blue I like the Featherweight. Don't let the name fool you. By 1950's standards it was a lightweight rifle. In 2012 it is about the same weight as most manufacturers standard weight rifles and much heavier than many. The Winchester standard rifles are too heavy unless in magnum chamberings.

I have a Winchester 70 Featherweight as well, while not as accurate at the range as my Savages it feels better, fits better, and looks a hella lot better. 1 MOA accuracy is more then enough in the woods anyway.

 

[300grains]

+1 for Sako and Tikka. They have same barrels, so if on budget take a Tikka. I own both and they shoot really good out of the box.

 

[mes228]

Rifle

Not one rifle I've owned, and I've owned a lot. Would shoot with the Thompson Center Venture I currently own. They cost almost nothing and shoot unbelievably well. This rifle will shoot any ammo from Walmart into 1" or less from a lead sled. The trigger is also quite good. Hard to believe TC can do this for about $450. All my other rifles cost 2-3 times more and shoot less accurate.
Just my opinion but is based on owning one.

 

[Art Eatman]

I've had reliable sub-MOA from a Weatherby, several Sakos, Rugers, Winchesters and Remingtons. Granted, I've not bought any new rifles in the last ten years.

Back in my gun show days, I took a good many rifles in on trade. I never found any with flaws which hurt group size, although a little tweaking sometimes made improvements. That's why I recommend shopping through pawn shops, since they have much less money tied up than do regular gun shops, and can make a profit at a lesser price.