New .30-06

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ExAgoradzo

ExAgoradzo

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Feb 19, 2011
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Location
SW Idaho
Criteria:
I want a 24-25"
Wood or wood laminate stock (prefer laminate) NOT synthetic
prefer stainless (but not bright finish, esp if blued)
prefer invisible magazine (no bottom door)
5+1 is big benefit, but 4+1 is acceptable
Not more than $1500, preferably less than that.

The M-70 Alaskan Stainless laminate almost fits the bill (closely enough I am ready to start saving for it, but want to see if I'm missing something out there).
Kimber Classic Stainless is also in the running but more cash
Rem 700 CDM has a detachable box mag, better than a door...

What models am I missing?

Thanks,
Greg
 
FWIW, I'm normally a handgun guy but grandson has shown interest in hunting so I got a couple new rifles for us (him) to have.

Winchester Super Grade (high polish blue) in .30-06
Kimber Classic Select Stainless in .308

Both with new Leopold VX-3 scopes.

In my opinion the Winchester is a much nicer rifle. Better wood, better finish, better fit and smoother action, equal accuracy and triggers, the Winchester is much heavier.

Kimber advertises a 'match chamber'. Not even close. Visible ridges from dull reamer and small grooves in the brass. But it is very very light and accurate. Winchester chamber and all machining & fit is very nice. Kimber machining is OK but not up to what it should be for the price.

Both had to be ordered, nobody around here carries such rifles.

I'd not hesitate to buy another Winchester, but I would think very hard before another Kimber.

As a bonus Winchester should make your budget w/ scope, the Kimber will not.
 
Last edited:
Well, you can order a M1999 action from Montana Rifle Company, model CSRS should be right for .30-06 in stainless ($809) -

http://www.montanarifleco.com/Long%20actions.html

Then send the action to Pac-Nor to have a stainless barrel added, to the length you specify ($590, including fitting it to your action and truing the action) -

https://www.secure-crt.com/pac-nor.com/orderform.html

Then send that to Accurate Innovations for a laminated stock with built-in aluminum bedding frame ($550 including recoil pad and sling studs) -

http://aigunstocks.com/files/2010/09/120301-Retail-Sales-Order-Form.pdf

This runs around $1900, which is over your budget. However, you get an action which is a very close copy of the Winchester M70 (including trigger and scope mounts), a custom barrel and a custom stock.

I'm sure Pac-Nor can bead-blast the barrel and action to blend the finish so they match, and then Accurate Innovations will guarantee a floating barrel if you instruct Pac-Nor to send them the barreled action.

I happen to know that Accurate Innovations has the correct license to ship the finished firearm to your FFL, so you only have to deal with paperwork once... :)
 
Thanks for the input.
I will not argue that the Win M70 is heavier: I'll just lift more weights :).
Very saddened to hear about the Kimber: my 1911 is second to none of my friends'.
I'll check into the CZ: don't know why I didn't think of that.

Thanks both.
Greg
 
Wow! That's like buying a car. Had no idea: I thought custom guns were just from one company. But what it tells me is that a dream 375 H&H is only $2500 or so away (with glass etc!)

Thanks, I'll keep that and check back in a year or two (or 3-4) :).

Greg
 
I thought custom guns were just from one company.
Click to expand...

Well, yes. That is true.

My "custom rifle kit" is an alternative, and should probably be described as semi-custom as the selected products are standard offerings from each firm.

Selecting the components to achieve the action type, barrel length & contour, stock material, etc. puts what you get into custom rifle territory, for about half price (or less.)
 
I hear what you're saying: but in my book a custom gun is what you're getting. Like you said, at 1/2 the price. Thanks for the info!
Greg
 
You might try Ruger's M77 series. You should find something you like there, but they do have a bottom door to the magazine. Should come in under budget too...
 
The Winchester Model 70 Alaskan rifle fits your bill. It has the pre-64 style controlled round feed, target crown and a 25" free floating barrel. The Retail price is $1,269.99. If the Alaskan is too bulky for you the Model 70 Super Grade @ $1,299.99 is similar and really nice too.

If you like Remington rifles better take a look at the Model 700 CDL SF. It has a 24" free floated fluted Stainless barrel. The Retail price is $1,169.00.
 
Look at the stainless Weatherby Vanguard. It comes in synthetic, but is cheap enough to ditch the stock and buy a $100 laminated stock for it. It is 5+1 with a 24" barrel.

For me I'd buy a Kimber with their excellent synthetic stock. It will be under 7 lbs scoped vs 9-10 lbs for anything in a laminated stock and likely outshoot all of them. 2nd choice would be the Winchester 70 EW. It will be about 8 lbs scoped and ready to hunt. Kimbers are 4+1 with a 24" barrel. Winchesters are 5+1 with a 22" barrel. In a 30-06 you won't see 50 fps difference. I can still get over 3000 fps with 150 gr bullets from my 22" 30-06 rifles.

I wouldn't have a laminated stock. They just add 1-2 lbs to a rifles weight and are less weather resistant than a quality synthetic. If you ever use a "QUALITY" synthetic instead of the plastic Tupperware on most factory guns you won't want anything else.
 
A plug for the CZ550. Mine shoots generally 0.75MOA groups when I am up to it and has shot 0.5MOA when I concentrate.

I did need to bed it though to get to these results.
 
I recently added a model 70 Alaskan to my collection. Intended to buy a Super Grade, then handled the Alaskan and thought, "yeah, this is the one." Then I found the SS/laminate version and comparing them side by side I knew which way I had to go. Same model, same specs, different feel. You'll know when you find the right one. The Winnie's have a floor plate tho...

Couldn't be happier with mine.
 
Is it true that you only lose 50fps losing 2 inches?
Where can I read that article?
That sounds counter intuitive... But I've been wrong before.
Greg
 
You've hit on many of the usual suspects. Ruger bolt actions (M77 I think, might also be called Hawkeyes) are nice as well. I'd check that out as well as long as you are looking.
 
Don't overlook the Howa. Same action as the Weatherby Vanguard, but can be had with walnut or laminate stock in stainless.
 
I have been a fan of sako/tikka. Tikka would be in your price range, but you would need to look on the used market for a hunter( has wood stock, when I was looking for LH rifle, I could never find a hunter in stock) t3 lite. Why dont you cruise the local pawn shops?"life is like a box of chocolates you never know what you're gonna get"
 
Can I go out on a limb and suggest a CMP special Garand? Seems to fit a lot of your requirements and won't break the bank. ($995 or so)
 
Is it true that you only lose 50fps losing 2 inches?
Where can I read that article?
Click to expand...

No, it's not true, but you can read all about it on the internet.:rolleyes: For example, I have 2 .30-06 match rifles. With the exact same length barrel (26") and load, the one gets 2950fps while the other only reaches 2875fps. Higher quality shorter barrels will many times produce faster velocities than lesser quality longer barrels. Ya just never know.

Don
 
I'm a huge Win M70 fan...picked up a Featherweight Limited Edition in 7mm Mauser today. I have a .30-06 Win M70 EW in SS/synthetic that's my 0.75 MOA go-to hunting rifle. If you can get the Alaskan, go for it...you won't be disappointed.

FH
 
I've always wanted a Sako, and I've heard great things about them. I've shot a friend's Thompson Center in 308 before, and I was very impressed with it.

If you're not opposed to a single shot rifle, the Ruger No. 1 might be something to consider. It comes with a trigger-to-die-for right out of the box, and they're built like a tank. Good luck with your decision!
 
I looked at a Sako FinnBear in .30-06 today at my local Cabela's. It's a beautiful rifle with beautiful wood (I even know what I'll sell to score the cash for one). Take a look. BTW, both Leupold and Sako make rings to fit the machined in bases.

Cheers,

FH
 
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