Help with new hunting rifle

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wow6599

wow6599

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OK, I am getting ready to get a new rifle for medium to large game hunting.....deer, boar, bear, elk, etc. The only rifle I have that would work right now is a Remington 742 (like new) in .30-'06. I have other rifles in 30-30, .223 and .357 Mag. I am leaning towards a Savage American Classic 114 in .30-'06 or 300 Win Mag. I also really like the .338 ME, but I am hesitant to drop $650 on a new Marlin when ammo is so expensive and hard to find, but I do reload........so maybe.
The 742 I have was bought NIB by my Grandfather in '69 and fired a few times. I don't trust its accuracy or like it......and I also can't get rid of it.
So, a Savage American in 30-'06 or 300 Win Mag? A new Marlin XLR in 338 ME?

BTW, the Savage and Marlin are both $650.
 
If you are going to spend that much buy the new Winchester Featherweight. Wouldn't even think about the Savage when the Winchesters are so close in price.

If you were looking for a $300 budget rifle it would be different.
 
I would go with the Savage but i am bias, having had wonderful experiances with all my savages. Tikkas are very nice, a friend bought 2 exactly the same because he liked them so much. Remington has some nice guns and i like the lines better of those then of any other. There are also brownings if flashier is more your style.
 
I also like the new marlin XLR rifles the one in 338 marlin express has muzzle energy similar to the .30-06 but ammo is scarce if i were you id get the savage 114 in 30-06, but if i were get the .300 win mag i would personally prefer the savage 111 long range hunter :D
 
If you wish to shoot a lot, the 30/06 will have a lot longer barrel life and much cheaper as well. The mags are usually a lot heavier guns to pack around. The 300 Win. about 200 fps faster than the 30/06. All the above rifle brands would be fine. I wouldn't
overlook the Howa/Vanguard actions from the decision making process. Best
 
jmr40, As much as this chokes me to say this, Todays Savage, as far as accuracy and quality, is better than todays Winchester. Granted the Winchesters are still "prettier" but as far as utilitarian, The Savage has it beaten. I know I know I know I never thought those words would ever be spoken and be true but in all fact, It pretty much is. While all the "Big Name" Brands have been falling off badly for quality, Savage has not only stepped up it's game but has been taking leaps and bounds!

That being said (and I have my rain suit on for the crap storm that I am sure is coming) My vote would be fore the Savage in 30.06. Since you reload, you have SOOOOO many options to load up for any game on this continent and be well suited.
 
jmr40, As much as this chokes me to say this, Todays Savage, as far as accuracy and quality, is better than todays Winchester.
Click to expand...

It certainly is not. The Savages are a nice buy and have a well earned reputation for accuracy. But they aren't better than the new M70 rifles. On par, maybe. Especially when you compare equal models.
 
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I would have to agree with Abel, the Savage is a nice, accurate budget rifle, but it is not comparable to a new Winchester M70 in any way. Everything is nicer on the Winchester... stock, finish, machining, smoothness of the bolt, overall appearance, controlled round feed, etc. The new Winchesters are quite accurate as well. It just an overall nicer rifle than the savage. I have gone and compared the two side by side a number of times, and the Winchester is clearly a nicer rifle. Brownings are nice as well and are also very accurate. Bye the way, I picked up a new M70 Featherweight in .243 for $599 a few weeks ago. I'd pick a new Winchester over a Savage for sure at the price point you're talking about.
 
Savages and Remingtons have always had some of the smoothest bolts I have ever worked...smoother than Winchesters and their Mauser claw anyway. I've heard the Tikka is like a lapped and lubed sheet of glass rubbing against another lapped and lubed sheet of glass. Never had a single problem with the push feed on a Savage or Remington either.
 
I am curious why you don't like your Remington 742.

It's a great hunting rifle if it has not been abused by over-zealous cleaning from the muzzle or by lack of chamber cleaning and lubrication.

The Remington 74X series is NOT a great target or military rifle because the thin rails in the chamber cannot withstand hundreds of rounds at a time without wearing thin quicker than other platforms. This is NOT an issue with 10-20 round per year (or lifetime) hunters.

If yours is not accurate, take a look at the muzzle. If the crown or the grooves are uneven, look for a gunsmith who can re-crown the muzzle. There are a few other techniques as well that any gunsmith should know. A 742 is not inherently "inaccurate" just because they have some well-known maintenance issues. I think that the prevelance of break-down aluminum-tube gun cleaning kits at the height of Remington 74X series popularity has a lot more to do with this gun's bad reputation than any design flaw. The only way to clean it was from the muzzle, and it's easy to beat up that muzzle with aluminum and solvents.

A 742 should be a great little 30-06 rifle that is easy to carry in the woods. It has a nifty semi-auto action that sucks up some recoil. It's easy to mount optics and it can shoot a variety of loads. The actions may eventually wear out, but even then (rare) it should still perform OK as a single-shot using that lever on the side of the Remington magazines.

I'd get to know your 742 and then decide. And buy a .30 cal BoreSnake for cleaning.
 
As a 338MX owner, I can say, it's one helluva rifle. MOA groups (on mine), 3/4 of the recoil of an '06 with the same trajectory out to 400 yards, and some impressive reports on knockdown power against bison and moose, you really should give it a serious look.

Ammo scarce? Not really if you don't mind mail order. Ammo is easy to find on the internet. Check cheaper than dirt and able ammo just for starters

Take a look at these, all 338 Marlin Express

Coyote neck/head shot at 370 yds
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,54765.0.html

Moose at 338 yards
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,51781.0.html

Bison with 338MX
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,56704.0.html

There are others if you spend time looking but these are some excellent highlights.

Dies are made by Hornady, Redding and RCBS.

I've let a number of people shoot mine and all I get is lots of smiles and serious interest in the rifle when they get a chance to pull the trigger.
 
Apparently Freedom Fighter has no experience with the new Winchesters being made in South Carolina now. They are as well made as anything EVER, and will shoot with anything on the market now.

I've heard about how great Savages are, shot several. They are fairly accurate, but I've never shot one that matched the internet hype. Maybe the varmit and tactical rifles, but not a sporter weight Savage.

If I wanted a $300 budget gun that would shoot, the Savage or Marlin XL-7 would be my top picks. But if you are going to spend $650, I'd save another
$50 until I could afford the Winchester. It doesn't matter how nice the wood is that they bolt onto the Savage rifles, you still have the butt ugliest rifle action ever made to contend with.
 
30-06 is a good caliber, and one that is well suited to your needs. its common, which is a good thing imho.

as for which rifle "gets it done", i think both the savage and the winchester would be fine there.

the winchester just looks a little better doing it.
 
Those are all excellent choices... a fellow at the range had the laminate stainless ME338 lever rifle and it struck me for sure as the one rifle I would want to have with me if I lived in a cabin in Alaska. Sweet, Light, Handy, and plenty of punch I think Boddington called it the only true lever action elk rifle or something like that. Thats Fo Sho!
 
Glad I put that rain coat on. Now I need some boots as well. jmr40 sorry to bust your bubble buddy but yes sir I have as recently as last week experienced a Brand spanking new Winchester Model 70 Sporter chambered in .270. Action and trigger was acceptable, Looks were top notch. Accuracy left quite a bit to be desired. Tried 4 different factory loads for that rifle and it would not hold better than a 2.5MOA. Sorry my friend but that is NOT acceptable to me in a $800 firearm period. Not when I can spend $200 less and get a rifle that I am not afraid to take in the woods for fear of getting scratched and I know that it is accurate! And before you go blowing up it was not the shooter not the scope or mounts. Was the rifle. Shooter was me and I mounted the scope and mounts. And also mounted 3 other scopes on it that day just to be assured of that. Winchester had it's day and they are still beautiful rifles but I personally am not buying a rifle to hunt with for its pretty nature. I am buying a tool to harvest game with the utmost I can get in accuracy and dependability. If I want a decorative piece Ill buy a Win. If I want something I know I can drill a nice deer or elk and put meat on the table I will go Savage all day. Just my opinion there.
 
Tried 4 different factory loads for that rifle and it would not hold better than a 2.5MOA. Sorry my friend but that is NOT acceptable to me in a $800 firearm period.
Click to expand...

No, its not acceptable. But that's one rifle out of thousands.
 
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