looking for a 30-06

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RoadTrash

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Looking to pick up a 30-06 for deer, maybe moose, and some target shooting as well.

I can get a Marlin xl-7 with the laminated stock for about $420 from a local shop. Just wondering if the xl-7 is worth that kind of cash? I know the syn stock is cheaper, but I'm not much for the syn stocks.

I can also get a Savage 114 American Classic with the detachable mag for approx $630. Is the 114 worth $200 more than the Marlin?

Thanks for any advice!
 
Only you can decide if it's "worth" X. The Savage is well-proven, parts are readily available, and it's a good rifle.

The Marlin wouldn't be on my consideration list, beacuse I wouldn't get a hunting rifle that doesn't lock the bolt down on safe. (Ordinarily, I'm a real fan of Marlins, BTW.)

Check out the Weatherby Vanguard Sporter, as well. I really like mine in .30-06. It's not light, but it shoots extremely well and just feels great in the hands, at least to me. Should be somewhere in between the two prices, or that's where I've seen them around here lately.
 
I would look for a Rem 700 in 30.06. The 700 sps comes in 30.06. I see Buds gun shop has Rem 700 sps for about $525. I don't know if they have it in 30.06 for that price.

Rem 700s are nice rifles and very accurate. I'm sure better than than Marlin not sure about the Savage. The 700 probably comes with a better stock than the Savage.
 
The Marlin is a great rifle as is the Savage. I like the accu-trigger, but I don't think the detachable box magazine is a big deal for hunting (and can get in the way).

Rem 700s are nice rifles and very accurate. I'm sure better than than Marlin not sure about the Savage. The 700 probably comes with a better stock than the Savage.
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I don't know about that either...but I do know that the Savage is one of the most accurate rifles out of the box. :)
 
The Vanguard Sporter is walnut, nicely finished, and all around a nicer rifle by far than an SPS, for around the same price. And it has the safety I consider a minimum requirement for a hunting rifle (Remingtons do not).

I'm not sure why anyone would even look at a new Remington these days. Their prices are out of line with what they're selling.

Winchester's newly-resurrected Model 70 is a better rifle by far than the 700 CDL, for less than a 700 CDL costs these days.

The Savage is available with a hinged floorplate, too, if you want that.
 
Winchester's newly-resurrected Model 70 is a better rifle by far than the 700 CDL, for less than a 700 CDL costs these days.
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100%, not saying that the Rem. is a bad rifle, but overpriced and not nearly as accurate (without spending some additional pocket change) as it has been made out to be.

To the O.P.: if you are willing to fork out the additional cash for the Savage, I would give the Win, M70 Featherweight a close look. It is a gorgeous rifle that is reasonably priced for the fit and finish (better than the Browning X-Bolt IMO). :)
 
Save for a little longer and get a new Model 70 Featherweight. I bought the M70 Extreme Weather in 30-06, and its just a beautifully crafted piece of weaponry.

This ones in .308, but the 30-06 should be the same price:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=143579151

Skip the cheap Marlin XL7s and Mossberg ATRs and such. :barf: Savage owners say their rifles are accurate, but they are also butt ugly! :neener: Save a little longer and buy a rifle you'll be proud to hand down to your children and grandchildren. Life's too short to hunt with a crappy rifle! :D
 
I agree with the above statement of not knowing why anyone would even look at a Remington these days. There are much better guns for less money. I'd check into a Savage 110 or 111 with the accutrigger. They have some packages at Wallyworld that seem decent. If you got that and a nice scope it would be a really nice rifle. Marlins are also nice. However, the Remingtons are just a lot of money for something that doesn't seem to be all that much quality anymore.
 
I bought a new Model 70 Featherlight last month in .270 and I love it. I think that they are doing things right with their new rifles. I have been a Remington man the past, but I do like my new Winchester. Savage does make a good rifle and I have read decent reviews of the Marlin. Good luck.
 
The Marlin XL7 is an amazing rifle for the money. Before I bought mine I did my research. The accuracy claims were almost not believable. Even if it were 1"+ at 100 yards I'd have been happy especially for three hundred dollars. Using a load I used in a different rifle this is what happened at the range:
http://s691.photobucket.com/albums/vv278/warnerwh/?action=view&current=3groups.jpg and here is a post where a guy tried various loads with pics of the targets and loads listed on the targets: http://www.reloadersnest.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10465

My typical groups with this rifle are 5/8" to 3/4". Only one group I've fired out of many has been over an inch and that was 1 1/4". This rifle shoots as consistent of groups as can be even after the barrel gets hot which is surprising. I could hardly believe the first groups myself. The first couple of groups I thought must be luck. I've fired about 20 groups now. Glad that load worked out as I've got over 300 rounds loaded.

If you like an excellent trigger the Marlin has that also. Breaks clean and is adjustable from 2.5 to 3.5lbs. If you're like me and pay to have trigger jobs on most of your guns you'll be pleased with this trigger out of the box. Put a Nikon Prostaff scope on for about 125.00 off of Ebay and you have a rifle for 425 bucks that functionally is as good as rifles costing far more. With the laminated stock you would have a very nice looking rifle with a scope for 550 or so. I would have loved a laminated stock but with being laid off I was already pushing it buying what I did. Whatever you decide best wishes on your new purchase.
 
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aiming

This is from an XL7. I had only fired about 20 some rounds out of this gun before I took these two shots, and this is the first bolt action rifle I ever owned. I have zero formal training, and no business shooting this well, it's just an easy gun to shoot. Just like the guy above said, a cheap $288 dollar rifle, plus a $129 dollar ProStaff off eBay and you're good to go. The trigger is glorious and if I ever ruined this thing in the deep woods, oh well, I'd just get another. Screw Remington, and never mind who owns Marlin...

4019398871_ba2198c7f4.jpg
 
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new gun

the savage 110 is a good rifle and you can change calibers with new savage barrel.your self.the case head must be same .
 
The Marlin is the best buy in a budget rifls in my opinion. I have owned the Weatherby as well and they are good as well. I like the safety better on the Weatherby, but they are just plain too heavy so I would live with the one on the Marlin.

Wouldn't pay that much for a Savage. They shoot OK, but I just don't like them. If I was going to spend that much I would get a Ruger or find a way to put some more with it and get the Winchester.
 
Since you are looking for a 3006 deer rifle and on abudget I would look for a used one. A 3006 is eady to come by and deer rifles are seldom shot. That makes it a prime used gun candidate.
 
I recently bought a Winchester Model 70 Shadow. I immediately fell in love with this rifle. It was only about $479 and it is accurate. Plus the black stock sure is sharp.
 
Thanks for all the help. Guess I still have some saving to do!

Hopefully....the OT at work will continue, and I will be able to get what I want! I am going to check out the Winchester on Monday, and maybe put some cash down on one.

I already have a Nikon Prostaff that I took off my Winchester 94. So that will help save some cash for now.

Thanks again!
 
If you're gonna get the Savage 114 Classic or similar, then IMO, you'd be best off throwing in another $150-$200 or so and getting a T/C Icon Classic. Then, you'll get a $150 rebate back in the mail from T/C later, so you get a very very good rifle for roughly the same price as that Savage and similarly-enhanced rifles. I think their rebate thing is going on through November of this year.

You may not have MY Icon Classic in .30-'06, but you can certainly have one just like it. :p If for some reason you want yours to be exactly like mine, throw on a Nikon Monarch 2-8x32 in Leupold rings. Some links:

Monarch:
http://www.nikonhunting.com/riflescopes-monarch-monarch-2-8x32.html

Icon Classic:
http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/icon_classic.php

Icon Rebate:
http://www.tcarms.com/offers/

The Icon rebate is actually an Icon/Monarch rebate, if you buy the scope at the same time. I have $225 coming my way from T/C & Nikon - $150 for the Icon and $75 for the Monarch.

On a budget, I'd run with Marlin XL7, Stephen 200, or T/C Venture at this point.
 
I can't believe no one has mentioned the CZ550 American yet. It should be comparable in price to the Savage (maybe a bit more expensive), but with better fit and finish.
 
I can't believe no one has mentioned the CZ550 American yet.
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Can you see post No. 11? The 550 doesn't have the smoothest action IMO, but with some work it can be good. I still favor the M70 by a good margin. :)
 
The 'problem' with comparing new rifles with classic rounds - 3006, 270, 308 - is that everybody makes one.

So you need to decide what you're comparing - auto, lever or bolt with push feed/crf, trigger specs, weight, length, type of stock, sights or no sights, stainless/blue...

Once you decide that then you can narrow the choices down better. Of the two you mentioned I'd get the savage. But, that's just because I'm biased from my brother in law liking them for so long...before the accutrigger he was a savage fan.
 
I fell into the 270 wsm Winchester hype to the tune of a model 70 super shadow , as an absolute Winchester nut ( owning 6 rifles and shotguns all naturally Winchester)the 50 bucks a box for ammo was getting painful, last week I actually walked in and bought a Marlin xl7 in the 270 Win. I was putting 1 1/2 inch groups at 150 yards with a bench and 6 inch groups off hand which for me is dumbfoundingly accurate. I don't care how much cash you have or have not buy the Marlin, it's one fine shooting rifle, put a quality scope on it and enjoy!!!!!
 
Do you want an accurate, well balanced, great priced rifle...?

Synthetic stock= Savage 116 Accustock/Accutrigger.
Wood stock= Savage 114 Accutrigger.

honorable mention.... Tikka, TC Icon, Weatherby Sub-MOA Vanguard (built in Jap Land)
 
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