Ruger Guide or Remington 7600?

[Stevel]

I am considering a new 30-06 this hunting season. I've narrowed it to a Ruger Guide Gun or Remington 7600 (either 18.5" or 22") but leaning toward 22". Max range of the places I hunt is 250 yards. But most of the time it's Pennsylvania woods with shots well under a hundred yards.

Reasons for 30-06 is that I have a couple of other rifles in that caliber. I reload for it already. Already have a Ruger 18" thirty-ought-six so I am familiar with the cannon like quality of setting off a thirty-ought-six in a short barrel.

Reasons for either a Guide Gun or 7600 is that I like rifles with backup iron sights. And I like eclectic guns that not everybody else has.

Your thoughts?

 

[Sistema1927]

My thoughts? The bolt gun is going to be more accurate than the pump, but under 250 yards it might not be a factor.

 

[troy fairweather]

Ruger, I would not buy anything from Remington after 2007.

 

[eastbank]

I use both bolt and pumps and lean towards the rem pump for mostly woods with maybe a longer field shot, my ren 7600 pump carbine will shoot my load into 1 " three shot groups groups at 100 yards. 55 grs imr 4350 with a nosler 165 gr BT for 2650-2700 fps.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I don’t have bolt actions anymore but favor a 7600 Carbine along with my lever actions.

I have a bit of experience with different 7600s. 30-06 rifles and Carbines, .280 rifles and carbines and a .270 rifle. All shot under 1.5” with factory ammo choices.

Others have found this and I have too is that the Carbines tend to be more consistently accurate shooting 5 shot groups. If you only fired cold bore shots it may not be a difference but the theory is that the shorter Carbine barrel is stiffer and won’t allow shot stringing as the barrel heats up as much.

My best group with my 06 Carbine was under 1” and it consistently shoots around 1”. These are great hunting rifles and IMO better hunting rifles than bolt actions. Bolt actions are good target rifles though.

DONT buy a new 7600. You can buy used and save half the money o. The rifle length guns. There is probably more than a boatload all over the used racks in PA.

 

[22-rimfire]

My Dad used a 760 Remie and it was a meat getter supreme. He had see through mounts on it and I don't know if he ever really used the scope. Those were the days. The rifle went to my older brother when Dad died and it was burnt up in a house fire.

 

[Stevel]

Well that's a sad ending. But thanks for your input.

 

[jmr40]

Between those 2, Guide gun 10 times out of 10.

 

[SwampWolf]

Either rifle is a fine choice (I have derivatives of both) as different in concept and configuration as they might be. But I have little use for a barrel any shorter than 20 inches (the same length as on the Winchester Model 94 carbine) on most any centerfire rifle. The increased muzzle blast and decreased velocity (however small) that come with shorter barrels is not worth the supposed advantage they offer for better handling in thick and heavy cover-to me.

 

[bersaguy]

No experience with the guide gun, but 760, 7600 is my favorite hunting rifle hands down. I've used all sorts of bolt actions, and as someone else said..they make fine target guns. As for a versatile hunting arm though, the 7600 is my go to. Now, keep in mind, good bit of my experience hunting has been with shotguns, so the pump action is natural for me personally. May not necessarily be your cup of tea

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I have a 760 in .30-06. It shoots an inch or so 100 yard groups with 150 gr. Rem Core Lokts

 

[JeeperCreeper]

For PA, I'd pick up a used Rem pump, preferably in a shorter barrel. Those things are everywhere in the LGS through the state.

Maybe even a used Rem 700 with irons and a used pump... will get you irons, 2 barrel lengths, and 2 good guns for only a little less than 1 new gun.

And normally I'm not the guy who says "just buy used"

 

[js8588]

If I may suggest https://www.gunbroker.com/item/833066648
(Not my auction)

 

[DocRock]

Fine choices. Really can't go wrong with either, though I am no fan of braked guns. Wouldn't go shorter than 20" with the fantastic 30-06 though, unless you want to save time by shooting and flame broiling at the same time...

 

[JeeperCreeper]

If you like eclectic guns, maybe get lucky tracking down a Tikka Battue

 

[Stevel]

If I may suggest https://www.gunbroker.com/item/833066648
(Not my auction)

Thx!

 

[Stevel]

Fine choices. Really can't go wrong with either, though I am no fan of braked guns. Wouldn't go shorter than 20" with the fantastic 30-06 though, unless you want to save time by shooting and flame broiling at the same time...

 

[peacebutready]

Consider rifles that don't have iron sights and have a gunsmith install them.

 

[js8588]

If you like eclectic guns, maybe get lucky tracking down a Tikka Battue

He doesn't have to "get lucky". He lives in the same part of PA I do. This is a 2 hour drive away

https://www.eurooptic.com/Tikka-T3x-Battue-30-06-SPRG-Rifle-Like-New-Demo-JRTXB720.aspx

 

[Boattale]

I gave my 760 .30-06 to my grandson in Arkansas. He does very well with it. To the point his dad feels like he needs one too. The box magazine is really handy as they run dogs and tend to move around a lot. Makes load/unload very convenient. The one I gave is average accurate, 1.5" at 100 wearing a Leupold VXII 2x7. Plenty for deer hunting. A happy accident, the rifle shoots 150 gr PSP core-lokt as good as anything.

But if I wanted a new .30-06, between a 7600 and a guide gun I would buy the Ruger. I already have a Ruger M77 RL in .270 so don't feel the need for anything else at this point in my life. Not a gun collector, I'm a gun user.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

For a woods rifle, the Model 99 Savage in .308 is hard to beat.

 

[Boattale]

For a woods rifle, the Model 99 Savage in .308 is hard to beat.

True, but a .308 is not a .30-06 as the OP apparently prefers.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

True, but a .308 is not a .30-06 as the OP apparently prefers.

It's pretty close. And a set of Lee dies is cheap.

 

[hq]

I've narrowed it to a Ruger Guide Gun or Remington 7600 (either 18.5" or 22") but leaning toward 22". Max range of the places I hunt is 250 yards.

I've considered my 7600 Carbine as a medium-distance gun at best, with its Amish machine gun reputation, but I had a chance to shoot it at a 400yd range a few weeks ago. The holdover was substantial, which was to be expected, but it kept most 5-shot groups within 4-5" with factory ammo. That was a bit of a surprise and a confidence booster at the same time.

On the other hand, Ruger's Guide Gun is nothing short of gorgeous so choosing between the two would be a coin flip for me.

 

[gojones]

My Dad used a 760 Remie and it was a meat getter supreme. He had see through mounts on it and I don't know if he ever really used the scope. Those were the days. The rifle went to my older brother when Dad died and it was burnt up in a house fire.

Well, I had a 760 also that my dad passed down to me. Was plenty accurate and held its own in these Alabama woods. Nothing longer than maybe 230-250 yards. I still have it but my sons also use it mostly now.