Help pick accurate hunting rifle

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I have had lots of Remingtons, what model were you looking at?

I agree with #2, even the cheapest new rifles, I have shot, are more than accurate enough to hunt with at the distances most game animals are taken.
 
troy fairweather said:
I seen some good deals on gb on the 100. The m18 is much cheaper tho, my m18 6.5 prc shoots.
This was the first but of a quick load test for a cheap deer load at 100 yards 3 shot to save powder and bullets.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?attachments/img_20200614_162819_hdr-jpg.947778/
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Wow! Not a bad hunting load in the bunch! Some just a bit better than others.
Pick one and go hunting! :thumbup:

ETA: My hunting rigs are mostly Tikkas. (6.5x55, .270 and .30-06). I also have the Mauser M18 (.243 Win.). You will not be disappointed with either the Tikka or the Mauser M18. Sorry, I cannot speak to the TC/V2.
 
KCAce said:
VarminTerror...what would you buy in 6.5 CM, less than $800, as a go-to hunting rifle?
Kcace
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What rifle I would (and do) buy for myself under $800 is steeped in silliness.

First and foremost, I don’t buy sub-$800 rifles any longer, and haven’t for a long time. I handle and test fire, or do load development for a lot of lower end rifles each year, but generally, my rifles meant for my use aren’t found on any shelf. And even if they ARE, they scarcely resemble their factory condition for long after purchase.

Secondly, my hunting desires are extremely varied. I married one woman, but I enjoy diddling a lot of different firearms and cartridges. What I haul afield for hunting out of state is almost always significantly overpowered for the game, and what I haul at home is almost arbitrarily chosen by “whatever I have been shooting a bunch lately”.

So finally, the silliness: I grew up on Ruger M77 MkII’s, so when I decided a handful of years ago to reduce my variability in my hunting choice each season, knowing it doesn’t take much for any rifle to harvest deer cleanly from 0-750yrds, I bought a pair of Ruger M77 Hawkeye All-Weather rifles for my wife and I. Considering these were $550 each, I suppose that is technically my answer for what rifle I would choose for myself under $800.

Without my irrational, self-defeating, subjective bias, the Tikka would be one factory rifle I would buy for under $800.
 
Thanks VarminTerror, and everyone, for lots of great info. I need to digest it, and go handle a few rifles I hadn’t considered.
I don’t post often on THR, but am reading and learning here all the time. Thanks. I’ll post what I end up with and a range report.
kcace
 
I also favor the Tikka T3 as I have one in 7-08 that I consider my favorite all time hunting rifle. That said I recently bought a Remington 700 in 243 and my son bought one also in 308. These were Walmart special ADL rifles. Both shot sub MOA out of the box with factory ammo. I hated the blind magazine so I put a BDL stock on it and a DBM on mine and a better scope. I have no experience with the other rifle but I have heard they shoot really well.
 
DustyGmt said:
I'm surprised nobody mentioned a bergara in place of the remmy. I dont have experience with it but have been told they are what the 700 should have always been.
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I heard that too, but my sniper buddy bought one and wasn't impressed. He traded it for something else. If it were me I'd spend the money on a Tikka but the Remingtons we bought shot really well.
 
My latest acquisitions would meet that price range. Remington Seven w/HS Precision stock and a Weatherby Vanguard Badlands. I haven't handled a Tikka but I know they have a great rep. I'm a big fan of composite stocks so I would vote for the Remington. Nice compact, weather proof and light package.

15747293.jpg
 
Surprised no one has said it, yet, (I wonder if there is a reason for that) so I will...

Savage 110 all day every day, regardless of caliber choice.

Not the cheaper ones (e.g. Axis), the genuine 110.

Although, once you buy a scope, you'll be over $800. Dang those things have gone up in price. Bought mine in 1996 for $325

Close Second: pre-64 Winchester Model 70. (And only a pre-64 production gun.)
 
I'm surprised nobody mentioned a bergara in place of the remmy. I dont have experience with it but have been told they are what the 700 should have always been.
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I've been the Bergara route. The design is a 700 clone that does address many of the 700's shortcomings. I didn't dislike them and won't try to talk someone out of buying one. But I didn't find them to be anything special. They do a good job of making a stock that "looks" like a quality stock, but it uses the same technology as the tupperware stocks made by everyone else. It just looks nicer. At least with the 2 that I owned. The higher end rifle's stocks may be better quality.

I had a B14 Hunter in 6.5 CM that was a shooter. I liked it well enough that I tried a B14 Ridge in 308. The 308 never shot up to my expectations and I sold it rather quickly. I ran across a steal on a used Tikka in 6.5 CM that made the Bergara in 6.5 expendable. I had actually gotten that rifle at a very good price and sold the 6.5 Bergara at a nice profit.

Having owned both; at similar price points I'd take Tikka over Bergara. But Tikka is very unconventional in looks and design. If having old school styling is important the Bergara fills that niche. And the one I had was plenty accurate. The other I had was probably just a lemon which happens sometimes with everyone. I've heard too many positive reports of accuracy to trash Bergara over one that didn't shoot great.

What’s wrong with current production M70’s?
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Other than being over budget for the OP nothing. I actually like the Classic Winchester 70's manufactured 1992-2006 much better than the pre-64's. Winchester quality didn't just fall off a cliff in 1964. Quality had been in decline since WW-2. The guns, and machinery they were made on were getting pretty bad by the late 50's and early 1960's. The 1964 production model 70's were redesigned to be cheaper to manufacture in an effort to IMPROVE quality. Of course the design was so far removed that it should have been given another name.

The biggest difference was the pre-64's were controlled round feed and newer guns were push feed. For 30ish years any pre-64 sold at a premium simply because it was the only option for a USA made CRF rifle. After Winchester brought back CRF with the Classics the value, and desirability of pre-64's declined.
 
I'll recommend what I have personal experience with , a savage or a Tikka T3. I replaced my savage after 37 years with a Tikka. Out of the box this rifle is surprisingly accurate. This rifle also allows you to adjust your trigger pull to what you like. At 200 yards using factory ammo and everything factory on the rifle except scope I was able to get sub moa groups at 200 yards. Also the one I have is light at 6 3/4 pounds.

Every rifle mention here are moa shooters. Technology in metallurgy and manufacturing has rendered all factory rifle moa shooters, unfortunately they can not improve the shooter as some shooters are just bad. You mentioned you had your heart set on a Tikka, and I know from personal past experiences, if you settle for something that you really do not want but convinced yourself otherwise, you truly won't be happy.
 
Lots of good choices. Hate to say, but the Ruger Americans are excellent rifles. Very accurate. Not expensive. In my case I just picked up a Wby Mark V in 6.5 CM for 1300.
I hear the Tikka is popular.
Prolly a nice Vanguard would work also.
 
The Kimber 84M Hunter could also be thrown into the mix.

  • Same barrel (minus muzzle threads) as the more expensive Montana
  • .308 Win has 1:10 twist
  • Same action as the Montana
  • Same adjustable trigger as the Montana
  • Control round feed
  • Excellent magazine and magazine catch
  • Lightweight
  • Excellent accuracy (typically)
  • Very stiff stock
The Tikka has a heavier barrel so will most likely shoot well with a wider range of ammunition. Also, the 84M action is not in the same league as the Tikka in terms of smoothness but they're getting better since the raceways are now being EDM cut vs. broached. If you're able to handle three or four you might find one that is very smooth.
 
I see that the Tikka 1-11 twist isn’t getting much love but gents I gotta tell ya it shoots any weight ammunition I’ve run through it just fine in my 308.
 
MCMXI said:
The Kimber 84M Hunter could also be thrown into the mix.

  • Same barrel (minus muzzle threads) as the more expensive Montana
  • .308 Win has 1:10 twist
  • Same action as the Montana
  • Same adjustable trigger as the Montana
  • Control round feed
  • Excellent magazine and magazine catch
  • Lightweight
  • Excellent accuracy (typically)
  • Very stiff stock
The Tikka has a heavier barrel so will most likely shoot well with a wider range of ammunition. Also, the 84M action is not in the same league as the Tikka in terms of smoothness but they're getting better since the raceways are now being EDM cut vs. broached. If you're able to handle three or four you might find one that is very smooth.
Click to expand...
Any word yet on when kimber is moving from Yonkers,
 
South Prairie Jim said:
I see that the Tikka 1-11 twist isn’t getting much love but gents I gotta tell ya it shoots any weight ammunition I’ve run through it just fine in my 308.
Click to expand...

Have you tried any solid copper bullets in the 165gr and up category, during cold weather?
 
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