Thinking about a new rifle, need ideas

[lobo9er]

This is my 30-06, a ruger Guide Gun. I have a vx-1 3-9 scope on it. weighs 8lbs without the scope according to Ruger's website.
Heavy enough that it is a soft shooter especially with 150 gr rem Core-Lokt for white tail. But not so heavy that I mind carrying it, especially out to a tree stand. I have lighter options if I'm going to put on a drive. Didn't read through entire thread just saw 30-06 is being considered. I love mine. I have a .308 also but 30-06 is more versatile, with heavier loads available if you want to shoot 200-220 grain ammo. Good luck and congrats on having a great hunting spot.

 

[Picher]

Is that the factory wooden stock or a replacement?

It's not a factory stock. It has a 1/4" full-length, vertically-laminated section down the middle. I don't remember the origin, perhaps Fagin. I put a new recoil pad on it, free-floated the barrel and pillar-bedded the action. It shoots well-
under 1/2" MOA and I have a couple of groups that are just one ragged hole at 100 yards. I've had several hunting rifles over the years, but this one is the best ever.

View attachment 1116771

Two stocks for the .270s. I have two stainless barreled action rifles, so can configure either for looks or tough-going. I think the wood stock may be a Fagen or other after-market to the one shown. The buttstock doesn't have a vertical light/dark area, so probably was a reflection of the flash...off glass in the door just to my left.

View attachment 1116774

 

[Turkeytider]

them savages punch well above their weight

I`ve been very satisfied with the performance of both of my Savage rifles, one a 110 chambered in .223, the other a 17HMR. With their preferred loads, both are certainly sub-MOA capable at 100 yards, the 110 almost boringly so. The 17HMR, like pretty much all rimfires, is subject to the vagaries of ammo lots. Once I got some magazine issues sorted out, both have functioned flawlessly.

 

[45/30-06OKIE]

I`ve been very satisfied with the performance of both of my Savage rifles, one a 110 chambered in .223, the other a 17HMR. With their preferred loads, both are certainly sub-MOA capable at 100 yards, the 110 almost boringly so. The 17HMR, like pretty much all rimfires, is subject to the vagaries of ammo lots. Once I got some magazine issues sorted out, both have functioned flawlessly.

Yeah the Savage 110 series are actually pretty good if I'm being honest.

 

[wombat13]

Another vote for the Tikka T3, in .308. That caliber is a bit more versatile than the .30-06.
A good piece of glass and you're sitting pretty.

In what possible way is the .308 more versatile? Less recoil, yes. But it runs out of gas as the bullets get heavy.

 

[wombat13]

Seems simple to me. You already load for .30-06 and it does what you need it to do very well. Look at the back and forth in the posts. Are you going to start stocking powders in a different burn rate range to get whatever slight benefit a .308 might offer? You already have the powders and brass for .30-06! Now if you want something different than .30 cal, okay. But given that you already load for .30-06, I don’t see why you would get a .308

 

[lobo9er]

In what possible way is the .308 more versatile? Less recoil, yes. But it runs out of gas as the bullets get heavy.

less Recoil eh Depends on the Load and rifle. The 8lb Rifle I pictured above has hardly any recoil with green box 150 grain Core-lokt ammo while on the flip, my 6 lb Ruger American .308 has substantially more recoil with Hornady 150 gr interlock Factory loads traveling slightly slower.

 

[lobo9er]

Seems simple to me. You already load for .30-06 and it does what you need it to do very well. Look at the back and forth in the posts. Are you going to start stocking powders in a different burn rate range to get whatever slight benefit a .308 might offer? You already have the powders and brass for .30-06! Now if you want something different than .30 cal, okay. But given that you already load for .30-06, I don’t see why you would get a .308

Nothing at all wrong with having both. But I agree with wombat unless your looking for variety I'd stick with 30-06.

 

[someguy2800]

I don’t honestly understand why people make a big deal about the versatility of 308 and 30-06. Yes you can shoot 110 grain bullets in it, but why should I want to? If I wanted to do that I’d buy an 300 blackout. I have one 180 grain load for my 30-06 and I would use the same bullet for everything from varmints to moose. I suppose if I were taking it after grizzly bear I might load a 220 in it, but the useful range for me is 165-200 grains and I don’t especially care what it can do outside of that, because something else can handle bullet weights above and below that better.

 

[BushMaster-15]

I think it's somewhat safe to say that if a hunter had one rifle to do it all and didn't care for magnum recoil a 30-06 is a pretty fair choice of caliber .
It's not so much the preferred 425 yd. target gun IMO . So that has ME saying 6.5 or 7mm as and all around choice .

You know different strokes for different folks and a slew of calibers makes the World turn

 

[Twisted Chemist]

As I've gotten older, and hopefully smarter, recoil is less appealing. For a handful shots to get a rifle zeroed and for hunting I can tolerate 300 WM. But for putting a lot of rounds downrange even 30-06 recoil starts to add up. A day of shooting my 6.5CM or 308 at the range is a lot more fun. They work even better on targets and kill game just as dead.

jmr40 offers sage advice.
Not everyone is recoil sensitive but it is better to start with a milder cartridge so range time is more fun and you don't end up with a flinch. My first rifle was a Rem 700 in 7mm Mag and I shot the snot out of it. Was shooting the ex's (less than 12" by 8") stuffed animals at 400 yards like clockwork, even if that doesn't seem like much now I am quite proud. So, I was punching holes in those critters until one day I started missing the shots. Short story long, the rifle and ammo checked out, so it had to be me. A little practice with a friends 10/22 told the tale. I was flinching. Every shot I jerked the trigger and lunged at the target. Even after years of practice I'm still fighting that flinch over 30 years later even with handguns.

A light rifle in a moderate chambering is a good way to start.