HELP: Decisions about hunting rifle

[arthury]

All of my initial exploratory plan for the upcoming Fall deer hunting is crashing into the ground. I have one single decent deer rifle (a Remington 700 SPS Varmint) with Bell & Carlson stock. It's currently shooting 1 MOA or better, depending on my mental state. But, the manufacturer recall is causing a havoc. I have 3 ways to handle it:

1. Wait for the Remington recall to complete. I have no idea if the rifle will return in a usable state and what the turnaround time is going to be like since they have more than a million rifles to fix.
2. The alternative is to buy a Timney trigger and install it. But, all of the Timney and Jewel triggers are sold out. Don't know when those are returning to stock.
3. Getting another rifle as a backup can be an option. What would you suggest? I think I have had it with Remington.

 

[Nom de Forum]

It all depends on what you want to spend. If looking for a good back-up rifle that has a high accuracy to expense ratio why not get a Savage? Who knows you may find you like it more than your 700 and if you don't, you have not spent much money finding out.

 

[back40]

do you really need a varmint contour bbl? at what ranges do you expect to be hunting?

the ruger american would make a great back-up rifle on the cheap. plenty accurate too.

 

[arthury]

do you really need a varmint contour bbl? at what ranges do you expect to be hunting?

the ruger american would make a great back-up rifle on the cheap. plenty accurate too.

I do not think I'll be shooting in the open plains. Most likely, 100-200 yards.
I'll be using scopes and a rangefinder will be there.

 

[Bbear]

I'd go for the Timney replacement trigger AND a back-up gun. More than just triggers go ker-flunk out in the field.

 

[Pointshoot]

The OP hasn't specified his priorities, including his budget for this.

I'll just make a few assumptions, ( that may or may not apply).

If he just wants to make sure he has a rifle to hunt deer in the fall, I'd go with a Savage with Accu-Trigger in whatever chambering you prefer. 30-06 is good, as are others. They even have packages with a Nikon scope.

100-200 yards isn't very far. I shoot targets including paper plates, tin cans, and small ballons out past 100 yards with a pellet rifle. All these targets are considerbly smaller than the vitals of small deer. And actually, if you don't see shots past a few hundred yards there are advantages to going with a lighter recoiling rifle, such as a 243.

 

[mr.trooper]

Look at the Savage Hog Hunter. Its a more realistic hunting rifle IMO.

* VERY reasonable street prices (low to mid $400 range)
* Medium contour barrel
* GOOD backup irons (not POS sights or even no sights - stuff happens to scopes in the field)
* Reliable adjustable trigger
* Factory threaded muzzle for attachment of flash hiders / compansators/ suppressors to suit your hunting needs
* 223, 308 or 338 Win to hunt anything in North America

The very second I have $419 to spare, I will be sending a money order out for one in 223.

 

[algsey]

Get rid of it and get a model 70! That's what I would do. If getting a back-up rifle is an option, take that money and the money you get out of the SPS and buy a quality rifle that you will treasure and last a life time.

 

[hoghunting]

I do not think I'll be shooting in the open plains. Most likely, 100-200 yards.
I'll be using scopes and a rangefinder will be there.

Not sure why you need a range finder if your shots are 100 - 200 yds unless you're using a heavy bullet at a slow velocity.

It's not surprising that the after market triggers for the 700 are sold out as they are better triggers than the X-mark. As the others suggested, I would buy another rifle.

 

[arthury]

do you really need a varmint contour bbl? at what ranges do you expect to be hunting?

the ruger american would make a great back-up rifle on the cheap. plenty accurate too.

I wonder how good are the triggers of the Ruger American.
Do you have personal experience that you can share with us? Thanks!

 

[arthury]

Get rid of it and get a model 70! That's what I would do. If getting a back-up rifle is an option, take that money and the money you get out of the SPS and buy a quality rifle that you will treasure and last a life time.

Isn't the current Winchester company quite different from what it used to be?
Is the current production Model 70 good?

 

[simonstough]

I love my ruger American in .308. It's a good choice as a backup.

 

[algsey]

Isn't the current Winchester company quite different from what it used to be?
Is the current production Model 70 good?

Yes, the new Winchesters are different than they used to be. They are better. In 2008 FN Herstal bought out Winchester Repeating Arms and since then, the quaility has been phenomenal. The fit and finish is second to none and all are MOA or better with quality ammo.

 

[back40]

i've handled but never shot the ruger american. all reports i've seen seem favorable.

if you can find a current production winchester m70 (recently made in SC by FN), they are very good. some argue that they are the best quality guns winchester has ever put out. winchester has since moved production overseas, but i don't think those guns have hit the market yet.

 

[Pointshoot]

Sounds like the OP is new to big game hunting. Nothing wrong with that. Everyone starts new.

The various suggestions given will easily take a deer out to several hundred yards. Do some shooting of the load you plan to use, and you'll be good to go. A hunting rifle with sporter weight contour barrel is perfect for this application.

I like the Savage because the Accu-Triggers are excellent out of the box in my experience.

 

[HankR]

Any speculation as to how long Remington is going to take to fix these? I recently encouraged a friend to send his back, as I didn't think Remington would risk the PR hit of not getting these back in time for hunting.

Was I wrong?

 

[dprice3844444]

nothing wrong with remington.trigger issue has been a decades old issue.get an inexpensive replacement in case they delay return.you can either keep it as a spare,or sell it and get your money back.

 

[arthury]

Yes, the new Winchesters are different than they used to be. They are better. In 2008 FN Herstal bought out Winchester Repeating Arms and since then, the quaility has been phenomenal. The fit and finish is second to none and all are MOA or better with quality ammo.

Wonder what the warranty policy is like for the new Winchester.

 

[Averageman]

What's your budget?
There is a chance, however remote that your gun will be in the shop for a while, that could mean a season lost.
Costs nothing except a potential lost season.
You can shop hard for an aftermarket trigger, which may or may not pan out.
Costs money up front with the possible bad news that your trigger wont arrive in time
Turn your rifle in for repair, keep your scope and mount on hand and buy another rifle.
Money out for the rifle, but you have a rifle and wont miss the season.

I would dismount your scope, find another less expensive rifle, such as a used Savage and wheel and deal the scope mount in with buying the gun.
You can always wait for your rifle to return.
You can always buy another scope.
It's always nice to have a back up hunting rifle.
But
You'll never get a missed season back.

 

[Agsalaska]

Buy another gun.

 

[arthury]

Nothing more than $1,000, I can hack it.
I am looking for 308win caliber.

Kimber 84M seem hard to find around here. Anyone know of any online stores that carry them?

I'm also looking at the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight.

 

[jmr40]

There is nothing mechanically wrong with your trigger. During assembly it may have gotten glue into the trigger internals. Most likely not. All Remington is doing with the recall is inspecting guns and cleaning any adhesive out if needed.

Personally I'd replace it with an aftermarket trigger, but about a million other people have the same idea and I doubt the supply will catch up anytime soon. Until then I'd have it inspected and cleaned by a gunsmith and use it before returning it. Buy another trigger in a year or so when things get back to normal.

If you want a new rifle Winchester is at the top of my list followed by Ruger. I have a Kimber that I like a lot, but it is a lightweight specialty rifle, not a good all around choice. Unless that is what you want. Actually it would be a good compliment to the heavy barreled rifle you have giving you a heavy barreled target gun and a lightweight mountain rifle in the same caliber.

 

[Pointshoot]

I've got a Kimber 84M Montana in 308.

I'd like to have one in 7mm-08 to stretch out the effective range.

Absolutely sweet backcountry hunting rifle.

I think you're lookin at closer to around $1200 new for them now.

They have some currently listed on GunsAmerica.

 

[hartcreek]

It really does not take much thinking. Replace the trigger group and find a used SKS, or Mosin or whatever in the less then $300 and be good to go. I have backups for backups for backups so for modern alone I have nine choices.

Waiting for Remington will mean that you will have to hope that you get your 700 back in time for hunting and do to the large scope of the recall I sure would NOT do that.

 

[sappyg]

Most, if not all, modern hunting rifles will handle game at 100-200 yards.

Buy a back up gun. I suspect that if an M70 were chosen the Remington would soon become the back up.