SSN Vet
Member
The family budget will only accommodate me acquiring a new firearm every other year or so, but I've been conspiring to purchase my first (and likely only) bolt action rifle, upon which I will mount a 3-9x40 scope that I already have.
The rifle will serve the following purposes:
1. load development / target practice...
a.) from bags and off hand... 80% of which will be at 100 & 200 yds. (my club) and 20% @ 300 yds (friends club). I'd like to find a place where I can shoot longer.... but that's going to involve traveling and will be infrequent at best.
b.) occasionally knocking down steel plate targets out at 300 yds.
c.) ringing the gong at 200 & 300 yds.
2. Potential for longer range shots at north eastern white tails (mostly hunt with 12 ga. due to regulations, and have a .30-30 for the occasional trip up north)
My preferences...
1.) I'm a blue steel and walnut furniture kind of guy
2.) Desire a caliber that has a healthy supply of bullet options in the market.
3.) Desire a cartridge that's not "exotic" to the point that brass, dies, etc... cost me a small fortune or require me to neck up or down to get brass.
3.) Since 90% of this rifles use will be at the range, I don't want a cartridge that will beet me up or induce a flinch (after helping a friend sight in a .300 mag, I have no desire to shoot one again).
4.) I'd like to limit the rifle purchase price to ~$550
I lean toward "classic" "old faithful" cartridges, and had my mind set on .30-06
I've been eying the Savage 114 American Classic for some two years now.
But...
I have recently read up many of the 6.5mm and 7mm cartridges and am thinking that 7mm-08 is a better fit for me.
I'd appreciate any insightful comments or suggestions.
I'm a little concerned that 7mm falls into the "exotic" catagory.....not because their is a lack of options available for bullets and brass, but because it's not "main stream" and therefore no body has inventory.
The rifle will serve the following purposes:
1. load development / target practice...
a.) from bags and off hand... 80% of which will be at 100 & 200 yds. (my club) and 20% @ 300 yds (friends club). I'd like to find a place where I can shoot longer.... but that's going to involve traveling and will be infrequent at best.
b.) occasionally knocking down steel plate targets out at 300 yds.
c.) ringing the gong at 200 & 300 yds.
2. Potential for longer range shots at north eastern white tails (mostly hunt with 12 ga. due to regulations, and have a .30-30 for the occasional trip up north)
My preferences...
1.) I'm a blue steel and walnut furniture kind of guy
2.) Desire a caliber that has a healthy supply of bullet options in the market.
3.) Desire a cartridge that's not "exotic" to the point that brass, dies, etc... cost me a small fortune or require me to neck up or down to get brass.
3.) Since 90% of this rifles use will be at the range, I don't want a cartridge that will beet me up or induce a flinch (after helping a friend sight in a .300 mag, I have no desire to shoot one again).
4.) I'd like to limit the rifle purchase price to ~$550
I lean toward "classic" "old faithful" cartridges, and had my mind set on .30-06
I've been eying the Savage 114 American Classic for some two years now.
But...
I have recently read up many of the 6.5mm and 7mm cartridges and am thinking that 7mm-08 is a better fit for me.
I'd appreciate any insightful comments or suggestions.
I'm a little concerned that 7mm falls into the "exotic" catagory.....not because their is a lack of options available for bullets and brass, but because it's not "main stream" and therefore no body has inventory.