Long lurker with first post (question)

[Hoomiester]

I've lurked here for a long time and gotten some great ideas and learned much. I thought I'd ask you "guys" before making a personal decision.

My youngest son killed his first two deer this past hunting season and now wants my Remington 7600 30.06 to call his own. I'm planning on giving it to him either for Christmas or in February for his birthday. However, it leaves me with just a .243 for deer hunting and I've grown rather found of the knockdown power of the 30.06.

My thoughts about this:

1. Buy a TC Encore in 30.06. ($535.00)
2. Buy a Savage bolt 30.06. ($350.00)
3. Buy a new Remington 7600 30.06. ($550.00)
4. Buy an (or a couple) NEF and use them for hunting. ($210.00)

I've hunted for about 25 years but did take 12 years off when I moved into the flatlands of central Virginia. However, I'm back into it and plan on spending at least 2 weeks a year hunting deer in the future. I'm not rich and most of my "spending " money goes into golf equipment/fees which I also love.

I have about $600 saved up just to buy a decent gun and equip it. The Encore can be had for right at $530 locally and I can drop a "decent" cheap scope on it for another $75. Or, I can go NEF and get extra barrels much cheaper. I just love the looks and feel of the Encore and have heard the raves from most that have used them.

What's your opinion?

 

[Ol` Joe]

I`d go with the Savage and put a little more in the scope. It never hurts to have good glass on a rifle and the Savage is accurate enough, on average, to make use of it.

BTW, it sounds like your bringing your boy up right, congratulations to the both of you on his deer.

 

[gbran]

Ditto O'le Joe

I have a Thompson with several barrels. Pricey, accurate and fun. NEF's are cheap and accurate, but the best bang for the buck has been my Savage cheapy with the AccuTrigger in '06. I paid about $425 out the door. It came with a cheap 3-9x40 Simmons scope, which I replaced with a Bushnell Elite.

Usually after I buy a rifle, I have to go get a trigger job. Not so with the adjustable Accutrigger. This gun is capable of 1"-100 yd groups. Not bad for a cheapy.

 

[dakotasin]

i am no fan of nef or savage, but i would much rather have a $500 scope sitting on a $100 gun than a $100 scope on a $500 gun.

get the best glass you can, then find a rifle w/ the leftover money. peruse the used racks for a solid bolt gun, and go hunting.

 

[Fumbler]

The Encore is a great gun, but with $600 max, you really should get a less expensive gun and a better scope.

I wouldn't invest anything less than $200 for a scope (Leupold VX-I, Bushnell Elite 3200, etc). I played the "$75 is decent enough" game when I was a student and had little money. I can tell you now that I had wished I waited and saved more for the scope because I ended up buying a nicer scope anyway.

If you really want the Encore, and I don't blame you if you do, then it may be best to get one with open sights on the barrel and wait a little longer to get a better scope.

If you want the rifle/scope now, I'd go with Ol'Joe and gbran, get the Savage and a nicer scope. You won't find a more accurate gun at that price range.

 

[Preacherman]

I think the Savage is the best value-for-money US-made bolt rifle on the market right now. You can get them for very reasonable prices at Wal-Mart - check out your local store. You'll also save enough money that way to be able to afford a decent scope. The Accu-Trigger is another excellent reason to buy a Savage, as it's head and shoulders above Winchester or Remington triggers.

 

[Rem700SD]

+1 on the glass comments; of all my rifles, the scopes are worth at least as much as the guns. This goes double in low light conditions, like hunting at dusk. A good scope can give you a couples more minutes of shooting time, and give you a much clearer target picture.

 

[Cueball]

+1 on the Savage and a good scope. I have a Savage 12FV with the Accutrigger and I love it. It was reasonably priced, very accurate, and a good trigger. And as others have said, that leaves you with enough money to go get a good scope to put on top of it.

 

[1911 guy]

I'll chime in

If for mo other reason than to repeat what has been said. I've got a Savage .308 and really like it. I'd get the rifle and good glass.

 

[Legionnaire]

I agree with the "good glass" comments. But I'd take a look at the used gun market. I think you'll probably find more "bang for the buck" picking up a quality second-hand rifle, and you may be able to find a good one that includes a decent scope for your $600. At minimum, I'd take a look at gunbroker.com for another Remington 7600 (or 760) since that's what you seem to be used to ... and look for second hand scopes while your at it.

If you're set on the options listed, I'd go with the Savage ... and a second-hand Leupold or Burris scope. Of course, there ain't nothing wrong with that .243 of yours for whitetail ...

Shoot straight.

 

[Onmilo]

If you really like your Remington 7600 why not just buy your son his own Remington?

They used to have a version called a 'Sportsman 78'.
It didn't have the high shine appearance of the 7600 but they were/are good servicable variation and they can be found used for $350.00 to $400.00

Remington has a synthetic stock, matted metal finish, variation out now.
I am not sure of the Model off the top of my head but these have been offered at distributer level at some very attractive pricing.

I won't recommend any other action type because you seem quite fond of the rifle you have.

 

[trueblue1776]

SAVAGE! SAVAGE! SAVAGE!

 

[taliv]

you guys are missing the real problem here... golf

you need to give it up and focus on guns guns guns!

golf is an addiction. seek 12 step help

 

[CZguy]

you guys are missing the real problem here... golf

you need to give it up and focus on guns guns guns!

golf is an addiction. seek 12 step help

I don't know about giving up golf, I like to shoot golf balls with a .22, when it's not hunting season.

 

[Essex County]

Almost nobody wears out a hunting rifle ( except my friend George, who is going to have a third barrel installed on the Mauser sporter he bought in Austria in '51). George is also eighty. Excellent used rifles abound. Take a little time and you can find just what you need. Mount good optics and you'll save some money....Essex

 

[rbernie]

If you spend a fair bit of time on the brush or on foot, I'd get an NEF in 308 ($200) and put a VXII or Sightron SII or Monarch on it ($200-$350), and call it done. The shorter length and balance of the NEF will be much appreciated when you're on foot or tangling up in the thickets. If you stand-hunt or don't spend a lot of time in the brush or really want a boltie, you could opt for the Stephens 200 (pre-Accutrigger Savage long-action) in 30-06 for another $50-$75 over the cost of the NEF, and still be under $300 for the rifle.

But count me in the ranks of those who suggest that the scope needs to be at least as expensive as the rifle.