Good Rifle?

[MachIVshooter]

My gunsmith cusses at Brownings and Remingtons as the new ones have terrible triggers. ...........

Something mainstream (field grade) and not over $1,200 tops.

$1,200 gets you a 700 BDL or CDL plus a Timney trigger with enough left over to buy decent glass like Nikon or Weaver, or lower end Leupold.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...mington+27017+700+CDL+4+1+30-06SPRG+24"+1:10"

http://www.timneytriggers.com/shop/timney-remington-700-replacement-trigger.aspx

And yes, I'm partial to Remington. I have four 700s and a 673, plus numerous shotguns and rimfires, a model 14, an original model 51 .380, and a 1911R1.

 

[Paladin7]

Personally, I think it would be a good idea to buy a cheap Remington Model 700 SPS, take off the stock and remove the trigger then throw them away and replace them with a custom stock and Timney trigger. If you put in a little work, you will have a very fine rifle capable of excellent accuracy. The action on the Remington 700's is very strong and accuracy is usually excellent. The Remington push feed action is also a very simple design and parts are available just about everywhere.

This is the route I took, which included a Bell and Carlson stock which I pillar bedded, free floated the barrel, installed a Timney and mounted a Leopold VX-3 scope and I'm all set.

The project was a lot of fun too. YMMV.

Currently, I have not seen any production hunting rifles under $1,000 with what I would consider a good trigger. Also, all of these rifles need bedding and some free floating of the barrel to achieve decent accuracy potential. So, whatever you buy will require work if you can't live with their out of the box capabilities. If you just want a minute of pie plate at 100 yard rifle, then any current production rifle under $1,000 will do fine. I'm a little more picky...

 

[skoro]

I'm very pleased with the Winchester Model 70 30-06 I bought a few years back when they were being built in SC. As I understand it, current production is in Portugal and I can't speak for that.

 

[I6turbo]

Very good suggestions made thus far, IMO. My recommendation is that you do what you have to do in order to actually handle your candidate choices and see which one you prefer. There can be a lot of difference in how the actions and triggers feel with some of these guns, and how they come to the shoulder. I'm a fan of some of the Winchester Model 70 guns (though I've never actually owned one), and also a big CZ 550 fan (I own some) because I like the way the old school Mauser-style actions feel and operate, and I like how the guns are built. But different features appeal to different shooters.

 

[Barrelgal]

I spent some time doing load development for my DIL's Tika T3 .270 win. and I gotta say it was a real jewel. It shot under an inch with the first development and was shooting under 1/2" by the time I got the load tuned. Trigger was great, broke like glass. The stock was solid, barrel nicely floated, none of that flimsy flexing we often see with many of today's production rifles. The action was smooth as silk also. And even though it was only 6-1/2 lbs. and me being an older woman, recoil was very tolerable due to the quality recoil pad.

BG

 

[greyghost01]

Savage, I finally woke up to that fact, Accu Stock and Trigger, Good to go

 

[Archaic]

Honestly, based on what you want and whats out there . . .

buy two Savages.

 

[Ks5shooter]

T/C Venture weathershield. I own three (25-06,.223 and my favorite 7mm-08)all are tackdrivers,incredible trigger adjusts down to 3.2 lbs,5r rifling,target crown,freefloated barrel and you will have over7 00 bucks leftover to buy some good glass.

 

[CB900F]

Morrey;

I've seen a couple of mentions now about the Savage accu-trigger & how the poster is enthusiastic about it. A long time ago I used to shoot NRA competition & that's where I got fussy about triggers. Fussy enough that I won't have a Savage in large part because of the accu-trigger.

900F

 

[SCgman]

This thread shows there plenty of proven options in terms of brand name. I'm thinking you'll need to finalize your preferred features in a rifle. Blind Mag, hinged floor plate, or detachable box. Factory bedding options in the stock. Scope mounting options, are factory rings important to you. Free floated barrel or no.

How will the $$$s spent on glass affect your budget?

You have a few decisions to make. Good luck. It's a fun exercise.

 

[Steve Cover]

Lots of options.

Since I haven't bought a new rifle in years, I'm unsure of the current prices.

There are several brands that are outstanding values for the money.
I'll defer to the membership here for better advice on the available options.

However, if you have a $1,200 budget... (Includes Scope?)
You might be well served buying moderate and adding gunsmithing.

I have a Springfield M-1903 A2 that has been restocked, glass bedded, bolt rebent for scope and lapped, and a Timminy trigger installed that shot a 3/4" first group with reloads after I got it back.

Something you may want to consider.
An accurate rifle with only the bells and whistles you want.

Let us know what you decide on.

Steve

 

[rodinal220]

Sako/Tikka

 

[LoneGoose]

There are a lot of recommendations for Tikka. Water-Man said what I was going to say: "Tikka. Not only do you get a great trigger and accuracy, but one of the smoothest actions made."

I traded my Rem 700 in .30-06 for a T3 in that caliber. At 100 yards, one ragged hole. Wonderful trigger, and an action as smooth as butter.

Good luck.

 

[Jeepergeo]

Weatherby Vanguard is a good deal for the money.

 

[CraigC]

If you're spending that much the new Model 70's are really nice, particularly the Super Grade.

Mind you, 2.5 lbs. is too light for a deer/bear/moose hunting rifle.

2.5lbs is perfect.

 

[j1]

C Z.

 

[RevJim]

I've only had one Kimber, a little 84M in 7mm08 and it both accurate and ready to go. Pillar bedded, adjustable trigger, the whole nine yards. I have heard of other Kimber users that complained of accuracy problems. I've never had a Tikka, but there are two in our group, the T3Lite synthetics, and they are both accurate and good triggers, but one has had magazine issues from the start.
I too like Mod 700s, but I just automatically spend money on them, replacement triggers, pillar bedding, blueprinting, etc. I will try out a factory barrel, but if it won't shoot after awhile, I'll have it rebarreled, then I usually go with a Shilen. There are many good makes out there and have used several through the years. For me, at this stage of my life, I prefer Remington 700 Classics and Winchester Mod 70 FWT classics ( mine is the older push feed) I like the Mod 700 CDLs, and Mod 70 Sporter Classics too. Lots of good choices out there, but I am more inclined to buy a used older model and have it tweaked. In my lifetime ( and I haven't tried them all mind you) any rifle is a "gamble", but I like to fool with them. I am undoubtedly "tainted" by growing up dirt poor and having to use junk guns until I got out of the Army and started learning more, making more money or trading up and I wanted quality over quantity. Its a good hobby we have though, it keeps us out of a lot of trouble! Good luck to you Pard!