OK Suggestions for the best option, Round 2

[col_temp]

I had a similar poll up over a month ago when I first started this. Had my sights set on one and them the price jumped $50 so I am reconsidering.

The Details.
1. I have decided on a Win 270 so even though I know there are other calibers (308 and 30-06 come to mind!). So stick to the 270!
2. When polling please note the included scope. Those without I am leaving $200 or so to get a decent scope (May go a bit better later)
3. I will be hunting mostly white tail deer and maybe later an elk.
4. I have a range to practice and plan to do so.

some Notes and Details on poll items. There is no particular order to the poll!

1. Savage 110, older Savage Rings, Simmons 3-9x32 (Will replace scope!) ADL version (Single shot top load) NO Accutrigger. Crown and rest of the gun in good shape.
2. Weatherby, Appears to have an aftermarket military green stock. Looks new. Couple of rust spots on outside barrel near scope. Inside looks brand new and never fired. Has a Simmons 3-10x44 scope (Are these any good?) Stock has cheek rest.
3. Savage 111 Trophy, Standard stock with Nikon BDC scope
4. Remington 700, Early 70's production, Barska 3-9x50 Huntmaster (Is this scope any good?) Used but rifling and rest looks well taken care of.

Any reasons why one is better would be helpful. Also if there is a particular scope or something mentioned on one that would be great with another rifle that would be helpful.
Please see the poll for options.

 

[col_temp]

I should also note That price suggestions for the used guns would be great. Is this a good price or should i try to negotiate a bit lower?

 

[adelbridge]

what Nikon scope is on the 111?

 

[Bobson]

You didnt mention whether the Savage 111 is new or used, so I'm assuming its new. I'd go with the 111, no questions asked. You can always replace the scope later if you don't like it. I'm very confident that the rifle itself will be excellent, provided it actually is new.

 

[d2wing]

Savage 111 has the best scope. I would pick the Remington and consider putting a better scope on it. Vintage 700's are darn good rifles. If new the 111 is a good pick as well but none sound too bad. The rust would concern me some

 

[col_temp]

Yes the Savage is brand new at that price. Sorry missed that!
The scope is the Nikon BDC that comes standard on the Trophy hunter package.

 

[squarepants33889]

I have helped a friend sight in a Savage 111 in .270 just this summer. His new price was also under 600 bucks. The scope was brighter than the Bushnell Trophy's I have, which were pushing 200 bucks. Rifle was 6 inches to the right and 2" high right outta the box. 3 shots and a few clicks later, he was shooting .75-1.25" groups. He had me on my heels with my Sako shooting hand loads!
Stock felt cheap and showed an injection seam pretty bad, but the accutrigger was fantastic. Rings were a little generic looking, but seem to have held up for at least one hunting season.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

buy once, cry once. i'd get the savage trophy hunter. the nikon scope will get you by until you decide to upgrade to some nicer glass.

 

[Inebriated]

Agree on the Trophy Hunter. The Nikon actually is the best sub-$350 scope I've used. I love the thing.

 

[lefteyedom]

The easiest vote would be for the New 111 trophy hunter....

That said, the older standard Savage triggers are easy to adjust, offer $200 minus the scope. For $225 -$250 it would be a deal worth making.

 

[col_temp]

thanks all for the advice, so far, Will be interested to see if the polling continues in this vain. Gun show is this weekend so I think I will look around there before making the final decision. But the info is good so far.
Thanks Square pants for the shared experience. That helps. As well as the rest of you who have chimed in!

 

[Abel]

I would buy the Remington 700 and throw the Barska in the trash. Throw a Leupold VX-1 3-9x40mm on top of some Talley Lightweight lows and call it good.

But if you let $50 separate you from your last dream rifle, I doubt you'll see things my way. You'll be in good shape still with the used Savage 110 and a new Leupold VX-1.

I'm not a fan of Weatherby just because they look funny to me. They look like city slicker rifles...something my cousin the used car dealer in downtown Atlanta might take out of his safe and shoot once every five years.

I'm not a fan of rifle packages. This is the equivalent of telling me that I'm too stupid to pick my own mounts and scope. Its a soccer dad move, not a gear enthusiast move.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

They're all great! For me, it would come down to different factors... Weight, stock fit, trigger, bolt, etc... I have at least fondled all of those, but can't really remember enough to make an informed decision based on these things...

 

[col_temp]

I'm not a fan of Weatherby

Thanks Abel, Good points on the rest of it as well.
That is kind of what I figured about the scope. Thanks for the suggestions on scope choice. Will consider.

Armed...
That i likely what it will come down to. Still working on getting the various features and determining what i like and don't like.

 

[kenjs1]

I am familiar with each of these rifles you list. The older Remington is the best of that bunch. Trust me it is the one you would kick yourself in a few years for not buying it. The others will still be available at budget pricing for some time to come so you owe it to yourself to have one. If you put them all side by side you could not help but agree. They are better than the new crop Remington is putting out unless you want to step up a model or two.

That Barska can be used for target practice...as in something to shoot at! Go get a Burriss Fullfield II for something in the $200 range and don't look back. It is a better and decidedly brighter scope than the VX1- yes I have had both. A Weaver V series variable make very nice scopes for that money too. Bright with excellent adjustments.

Before discounting the looks of a Weatherby you should hold one. You may come around on them. I did. Nice, very safe actions with good triggers and slim feeling stock. 24" barrels such as they have are a plus on long actions like the 270. Adds a little velocity and makes them easier on the ear and shoulder. The Weatherby stock shapes really does help reduce felt recoil too. I helped a friend buy one a stainless one in wood recently and I was impressed at how low the recoil felt compared to my heavier CZ. Nice for extended shooting at the range if you happen to reload. It feels lighter and slimmer than I thought it would. Very distinctive. Another friend swapped his Winchester for one- questionable move maybe, given what he had, but he is happier with the Weatherby.

The Savage offer some nice things and are typically accurate but I find the bolts unattractive and the synthetic stocks less than desirable. That 110 trigger needs some help too. The 111 has an accutrigger?? That is a big improvement over their previous line and will certainly help improve your target scores, though I rather prefer a well tuned traditional trigger. When yet another friend was buying his first deer rifle I pointed him at one and I swear he sleeps with that gun. So I don't just push one brand as best for everyone. If it came down between the two Savages - no question get that one and enjoy the better scope with it. The Nikon, no matter the model, is almost certainly the best scope in the bunch. BDC reticle is very nice. Last fall I helped my brother outfit a long Range rig with an upper tier monarch BDC recently and he loves it. Sorry for sounding 'all that' but it is just lately I have had several people ask me for help choosing and figured I would share.

You will enjoy whatever you get - the tinkering will begin soon enough. Good luck

 

[bikepharmer]

The Nikon scope alone is worth $150-$200. The accutrigger is the best "stock" adjustable trigger, IMO>

 

[col_temp]

Hi Kenjs1,
Thanks for the longer than normal write up. The info you provided was great.
Kind of what I was finding but its always nice to hear lots of opinions and details from those who actually have fired the rifles in question!
How would you say the Nikon scopes ($180-240 range) compare to the Burriss you mentioned?
Anyone else can chime in too!
If I were to buy the Remington I would replace the scope! I'm leaning towards replacign it with a 42 or 50mm. Any reason to look at them over the 40mm.
Thanks all for the opinions. I have generally heard the Accutriggers are some of the best out there. Will have to decide if I want wood or Synthetic.

 

[Inebriated]

A larger objective will gather more light than a smaller one... on lower-end scopes, or scopes designed to work at higher magnification, this is great to have. BUT, I generally prefer 40-42mm objectives for a standard hunting rifle, because you have the scope mounted lower to the bore, which is good (ballistically-speaking), and you can get by without using a cheek-riser.

Now a couple thoughts on the 111 (since I don't have as much experience using the 110, Weatherby, or earlier 700's)... Savages are very accurate rifles, out of box. The polymer stocks are flimsy, but they're free-floated, lightweight, and even when flexed and sitting on a bipod, it remains free-floated. It moves around, and is rather unstable, but it does stay free-floated. I think that's worth mentioning, since everyone hates the stock (myself included). There are better options for long-range or precision work, but for hunting, I see no reason to change it. Also, the Accu-Trigger is wonderful. Really, they've quickly become my favorite factory trigger. Yeah, a traditional-style trigger is better to feel and look at, but you'll be hard-pressed to find a rifle with a trigger like that, in the same price ball-park. The Nikon that comes on the Trophy Hunter is also an excellent scope, especially since it's free. The BDC reticule and Nikon Spot-On software take a lot of the guess-work out of working with your rifle's POI at different ranges. Obviously you won't be dead-on just by using the software, but you'll be close enough to be able to go out and verify in relatively little time. I've been using the 111 TH in .30-06 for about 5 or 6 months now, and I've not changed anything. I'll likely be changing to a higher magnification scope, and maybe stiffening the stock a little, but otherwise, it's a great hunter, and a good basis for upgrading parts over time.

 

[Teachu2]

An old Remington beats a new Remington, but the Savage TH beats a new Remington, too. The old Remington was a great value in it's day, the Savage is a great value today. I would expect the new Savage to be at least as accurate as a unfired '70s Remington 700. Unless you are pretty savvy on what to look for, or can actually shoot them both before you buy, I'd go with the new Savage.

 

[col_temp]

thanks Inebriated and TeachU,
I'm hitting the gun show tomorrow to see what there is. should make a decision soon. Kind of torn between the Classic Remington and the Savage 111 NIB.

 

[Inebriated]

No problem, and good luck!

 

[wlewisiii]

For what it's worth, I'd go with the Remington and put on a nice quality single power scope. I just shoot better with single powers so that's probably just me. Any would be good but of this list I'd go with the Remington.

 

[GWARGHOUL]

Remington or Weatherby.

 

[kenjs1]

col_temp sorry for the delay in response. I think the Burris in that price has an edge over the Nikon. There are more Nikon lines than there are Burris and to beat a Fullfield you would have to get a Monarch - and even then the performance difference is debatable. I gravitate to 42mm scopes as being just the right size. No bigger. Better glass beats bigger glass in my book.

The fixed power scope suggestion is one to think about. Currently all my rifles are fixed six power. The first fixed I ever bought was a Weaver K6. It is 6x38 but remarkably bright with solid click adjustments and only about $120. Much brighter than my Leupold variable at the time and I did not have to jack with friction adjustments. Would certainly recommend one as an incredible bargain.


Back to the Remington. It will be nicer finished than the others you mentioned and will likely have a nice looking jewled bolt. The bolts on the others are very plain. Side by side of all of them I think the Savage would be the least aesthetically appealing in look and feel. Not trying to sound harsh as I still think Savage has an awful lot to offer.

 

[col_temp]

Thanks Kenjs1,
Thanks to all the others that voted. My next post will reveal what I have decided after lots of input from many different sources.