Choice for entry level 30-06

[BrocLuno]

Mossberg 4x4, Marlin XL7, Howa, and the beat goes on.

A bazillion sporterized mil-surps - take your pick. Look at any used gun rack or pawn shop and there will be three or four 06's.

Tikka T3 Hunter if you can find it and afford it. Smoothest action I have every handled and very accurate. Same smooth and even better built - Sako

Biggest part of the deal is to get one that actually fits you? One that comes to shoulder well and lands your cheek where the scope needs to be.

 

[bigedp51]

I always thought the Remington 700 was the best rifle on the market, and the Savage rifles were just plane fugly.

I recently sold off some milsurps to start a new modern battery of rifles that were more forgiving with someone with chronologically gifted eyesight. And as a side note I have owned five Remington 700 in the past.

Below one of two Stevens 200 and a Remington 700 bought within the last three months. The new 700 had one locking lug that was barely touching and was not as accurate as the two Stevens out of the box. And I had to lap the lugs on the Remington to get them to bare evenly.



Below the Savage/Stevens floating bolt head that always has both locking lugs touching evenly.




My favorite deer rifle for hunting in the woods will always be my 30-30 Winchester Trapper model. And I'm 60 years old and I waited far too long to buy the fugly Stevens rifles that have been the most accurate rifles out of the box I have ever owned.



And like my Lee Enfield rifles you can adjust head space "AND" change barrels by loosening a simple nut.



For under $250.00 you can get a Stevens 200 and have the fugliest and most accurate rifle you can get at the best price.

And all your questions about Savage/Stevens can be answered below.
(and more people are customizing these rifles and shooting them in competition than you ever thought)

http://http://savageshooters.com/SavageForum/

 

[Effigy]

I agree Savage makes a great out of box rifle for a reasonable price. I don't really understand the opinion that they're ugly though. They look like any other bolt action with the synthetic stock IMO, and the fit and finish is great (on my Model 10 anyway).

 

[bigedp51]

Effigy

I don't really understand the opinion that they're ugly though.

A Mauser purest might turn up their noses because of the non-classic lines and in the past I have heard people say they did not like the looks. To me with all my milsurps from different countries looks does not matter.

All that really matters is how many fliers you have at 100 yards, darn look two fliers from a fugly rifle.



"Only accurate rifles are interesting."

 

[DIM]

Stevens would most economical choice and with barrel nut you can change barrel if you find its barrel has problem, I have older Savage 111 in 270 WIN which is identical to Stevens in every way, even trigger is the same, it shoots small groups less then 0.5", few days ago I shot 0.24"@100.

 

[skoro]

I got a Weatherby Vanguard in 30-06 three years ago. No regrets. It's a fine rifle for a very reasonable price.

 

[sansone]

Marlin XL7. Best bang for your buck, IMHO.

absolutely !!
cheap, accurate, adjustable trigger, Marlin

 

[Hunterdad]

Originally Posted by Hunterdad
Marlin XL7. Best bang for your buck, IMHO.

absolutely !!
cheap, accurate, adjustable trigger, Marlin

I'm surprised only 2 of us recommended the Marlin. Here is my XS7 in .308 with a Boyds stock and Weaver glass. It will shoot an inch at 100yds all day long.