Choice for entry level 30-06

[tackleberry45]

OK, so I have been talked out of the "package" deals as described by the responses I received in that thread below. So of the entry level rifle candidates, what would be the choice?

- Savage Axis
- Weatherby Vanguard
- Savage Stevens
- T/C
- other ??

Is there a manufacturer I should stay away from for customer serivce issues ( I avoid Taurus like the plague due to bad experiences) I am leaning toward the Weatherby.

I have a Redfield 3-9 X 50 scope already.

 

[Frozen North]

Avoid Remington 710 and 770 like a disease. I believe the 710 is out of production, but a few may have survived for sale used.

Anything you have listed will beat these two rifles by leaps and bounds.

 

[mcole]

savage

 

[A-FIXER]

Weatherby, but they say T/C is good as well. Yes I have 3 vanguards/howa.

 

[courtgreene]

Weatherby and Stevens are both great... I like Taurus so you may not want my opinion.

 

[Abel]

The Ruger Hawkeye is a great entry level rifle.

 

[PcolaDawg]

My first 30-06 (okay, my ONLY 30-06) was a Browning A Bolt composite.

I actually got it from my boss as a Christmas present about 11 years ago. I don't think I'll ever need another one.

 

[CowboyTim]

Stevens 200, already really good for the cash and lots of aftermarket parts out there to customize later.

 

[ScottieRussell]

I'd also vote for the Stevens.

 

[Z-Michigan]

Savage Axis or the Weatherby Vanguard (Howa), and flip a coin between those two.

The Stevens would also be OK but the above are better.

Nothing really wrong with the TC either, but I would favor the above.

 

[jsj127]

From those you listed my order of preference would be
1. TC Venture
2. Other Marlin XL7
3. Weatherby Vanguard
4. Savage/Stevens
5. Savage Axis
I have two ventures really like them both. My sons girlfriend has the marlin xs7y in 308 it's a tack driver for a $320 rifle. I've had a couple different vanguards, good rifles the barrels just heated up really quick. Which is fine for hunting but a pain playing at the range. As far as savage goes, I know they're good accurate rifles but for some reason I just can't get excited about them.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

The TC Venture is light years ahead of all those others listed by a factor of x1000.

Its stupid accurate--you don't even have to think about it--it sub-MOA groups any crap load I feed it.

 

[slowr1der]

My opinion is the Savage Model 10 or 110 if you get a long action package they sell at Walmart for $387-397 depending on which Walmart. It comes with a Simmons or Bushnell scope depending on which they put on it when it was made. IMO this is a much better deal than the Axis/Edge because it's not much more, and not only do you get a much better quality rifle that is a lot easier to change barrels on, but you also get the famous accu trigger which is great.

 

[redactor]

I have the TC Venture and the Savage. Get the TC.

 

[BoilerUP]

Stevens. The Weatherby Vanguard is a fine rifle, but price point relative to performance, its hard to beat the value of a Stevens 200 (especially since its like the SOPMOD for the bolt-action crowd, super-easy to modify for anything from short-barrel tactical rig to F-class competition rifle and everything in between).

 

[bailer]

Tikka. Cheezy look and feel, but the Superlite 06 I just picked up flat out shoots. I've never before had a rifle come out of the box and shoot sub moa with factory ammo. The load it didn't like, Hornady Superperformance 165grn GMX, went .81". It only got better from there... Next time to the range I'm going to bring a couple Garand Clips of CMP 06 and see if it will group those into an moa.

 

[petrey10]

go with the Stevens 200... if you ever want to upgrade some stuff on it later you will be way better off with the Stevens 200.... its a savage 110 without the accutrigger and some people don't like the accutrigger anyway.... so get the Stevens 200 add a SSS competition trigger and you will have a great shooting gun


BTW I have a Stevens 200 25-06 and it is amazing... I am now in the process of upgrading it...

 

[txhoghunter]

Savage, either axis or stevens

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Weatherby Vanguard gets my vote. I love mine.
It's the only one I personally have though, so my opinion is rather limited. If I was in the market for another hunting rifle, I'd buy another in a minute though. My only knock is that it's a little on the heavy side.

 

[blackops]

Howa w/hogue stock

 

[NovaRey1911]

i own the savage axis and its sweet especially the price!!!! 345 out the door cant beat it! have put over 700 rounds through it havent had one problem

 

[Hunterdad]

Marlin XL7. Best bang for your buck, IMHO.

 

[foghornl]

I have a Mossberg ATR-100 in .30-06 I bought in (IIRC) 2004. I have a Simmons "Blazer" series 3-9 x 50 scope on it. In MY hands with most commercial (read as cheap Rem Core-Lokt) soft-point hunting ammo, well under 2" @ 100 Yds.

Shooting Budd with much steadier and younger hands/eyes than me got a smidge under 0.7" @100Yds 5 shots with Federal "Gold Medal Match" ammo. {very slow-fire aprox 1 - 2 minutes between shots..havent tested with 5 shots as fast as bolt could be worked and resighted}

 

[Sav .250]

Everybody has an opinion.........mines the Savage.

 

[Sheepdog1968]

Any reason you don't have Winchester 70s or Rem 700 or Ruger Hawkeye's on the list? They are timeless classics? These would be the three I'd consider. If its money, I'd just save for a bit longer. It will last you a lifetime.