narrowed down to four

Status
Not open for further replies.
thomis

thomis

Member
Joined
Jan 20, 2009
Messages
686
Location
NC for a spell
I've narrowed it down quite a bit so thought I'd start a new post. The topic of my original post was regarding bbl length anyways..

I've been doing quite a bit of reading...
A few musts:
USA made (just my own preference, not against non-USA)
Wood stock (not laminate)
Blued bbl
20 or 22" bbl (no longer)
Budget is around $750 but lesser is better
I'll be mounting one of the new Redfield scopes
(I don't want open sights on this one)

I've narrowed it down to these, IN ORDER OF PRICE:
(In .308 Winchester)

TC Arms Icon
Ruger Hawkeye Standard
Savage Model 11 or 14
Mossberg 100 ATR


The issue with the TC Icon is... If I want it in the field grade walnut stock (no Varminter style) and without the heavy bbl, then I'll have to have the standard bbl cut down to 22" which may boot it out of my price range if they consider my order to be a custom job. I'm still waiting to hear from them.

I have actually heard more negative things about the Rugers than the Savages and Mossbergs.


Thanks for any input

Thomis
 
OK, Mossbergs can blow up and put a bolt through your face - it's happened - do a search. That should be ruled out immediately until they address this with a design change.

The Icon is head and shoulders above the remaining two, without question. Do a search here on this site for posts by me about it for the details.

The "Original Medium Action" (i.e. short action) T/C Icon, which is what the .308/.243 family of cartridges is put into in their "standard" rifle, has a stock which is two layers of carbon fiber sandwiched between 3 layers of walnut. Beauty of walnut, with about the highest strength/stiffness to weight ratio you can find. They have some proprietary name for it.

As for bbl length, they come in 24", that is correct. But (a) what's wrong with that? and (b) if you don't like it, a gunsmith cut & crown job with touch-up blueing after the purchase is cheap (well under $100) - no need for "custom shop" anything there, if you really must have it in 22" rather than 24".

If it's budget you're concerned with, you might look at the T/C Venture, which is an economy version of the Icon. Some corners cut in materials, processes, and features to save money.

I can think of 6 or 8 reasons why the Icon is better than the other two, by far.

Having said that, there's little question that Savages are invariably good *values*, due to the lower price. The Icon and Savage are both gonna be very very accurate - the Icon has a sub-MOA "guarantee" - not a CERTIFICATION that THEY did it (like other rifles have), - but a GUARANTEE that YOU will do it. That's worth a lot in my book.

My opinion is that Icons are a steal for what you get however. You get in essense Sako/Weatherby Mk V/Steyr good, for a medium-high-end Browning/Remington/Winchester price.

The only thing I can find not to like about the Icon is the detachable mag (yech). But get the long action classic in .270 or .30-'06 and problem solved - hinged floorplate instead.
 
Last edited:
Save yourself the heartache and lost cash....
Get the Savage.

Forget the Mossberg, inexpensively built does not come close to describing this unit, but is heading in the right direction!

The Hawkeye, not a stellar performer in the accuracy department, but a fine rifle otherwise. This finish is funky also, but fit isn't bad.

The Icon is a good rifle, if you can acquaint yourself with the bolt, I like the 'throw' of the bolt, but we have started hearing reports of problems with the bolts becoming 'sloppy' loose internally, not in the raceways, but the bolt itself. I don't know any more on this, as we have not experienced anything like this at our shops.

The Savage will be a excellent performer, usually shooting sub MOA right out of the box, but like they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and you be the one holding her...so? The Savages have been known to need a extractor replaced sooner than other rifles, but it is a 30 second job to change one, you could do it setting in your treestand.lol
...and in Savages defense, the new extractors have all but eliminated this premature occurrence. We are talking round count in the neighborhood of 5000 or so before replacement, so.....

Remingtons, well, they have had their problems as of late, I might say steer clear of them right now. But, IF you get a good one, they are a great rifle. I strongly emphasis 'IF'!
 
I'll throw my vote to the Savage.

With the following caveats:
1) I'm not familiar enough with the Icon to form an opinion of it, but I'd take Dr. Tad's advice concerning it.
2) I like Ruger, but not enough to get one over a Savage.
3) Mossberg :barf:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top