ultimate NEW 30.06 rifle?

[RW_Reagan]

Over the past few years i have collected a few Garands as well as an 03a3, great rifles all and no complaints (thanks CMP). Of course this also means that I have been stockpiling the ammo, following the advice I have seen here of 'buy it cheap and stack it deep".

What I am looking for now is a good new production bolt action in 30.06 calibre that will shoot well enough with the surplus ball ammo as well as the new production stuff you can find at your local Wallyworld. I am primarily looking at something that I can try some different scopes on, bipods, stocks, etc... just an all-around rifle for plinking out to 300 yards or so and could also be used for deer hunting.

I have looked at a Savage model as well as a Remington (model 7, 700? just forget which), but neither really did anything for me. What all would you suggest I look at? Trying to keep the price below 500$ if possible.

Thanks!

 

[theCZ]

Look for a CZ 550, it should be under $500 and an excellent rifle. I would look at used winchester model 70s too, I just love mine, and it ain't even a controlled feed variety!

 

[Gewehr98]

Not to change the subject...

Didn't we just lay R.W. Reagan to rest?

Regarding the original question, keep your eyes open for a Howa. They're the same folks that made the Weatherby Vanguard series of rifles. Typically go for less than $500, or since you're looking to try different stocks, you can get just a barreled action for $300.

 

[RW_Reagan]

hey Gewehr98, love your sig line by the way. A friend of mine has a model 710 that he was considering getting rid of, but I had heard that barrel changes on these are close to impossible since they were "pressed" on instead of the normal method. Is this true?

 

[Mulliga]

Is this true?

Yes. The barrel is hydraulically pressed to the receiver according to Remington.

You would be well-served by most of the new-production rifles coming out today. Remington, Winchester, Savage, Ruger, Tikka, etc. etc. etc. I have a 700 in .30-06 and it's a great rifle.

 

[CommanderPoopyduX]

I second the props to the Rem 700 in 30-06. My dad and I both hunt with one and they have killed more animals than you can count.....including a black bear at 250 yds....

 

[Skofnung]

I am looking HARD at the Steyr Pro-Hunter series. I have seen two in local shops and from what I saw and from what I have read, they are great rifles.

The used one I saw, a Mountain Rifle in .270, was priced at $585. Had it been in .308 or .30-06, I would have tried talking them down. You may be able to find one near you.

The CZ550 is also a good deal from what I have read.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

ultimate and below $500?

good cheap fast

pick any 2



IMHO, the utimate is the blaser r93
http://hunting.about.com/library/weekly/aastboltsofcenturye.htm

but she aint cheap
http://www.gunbroker.com/auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=24942003

 

[Fumbler]

I have a Tikka T3 Lite in .308Win and it is a wonderful rifle.
It's got the engineering and precisely machined parts as a Sako, but the cost of a Remington 700.

You can find a wood stocked model for right at $500 or a Lite for $450-475.
They are guaranteed to shoot 1MOA from the factory, mine will consistently do better than 0.5MOA with Black Hills Match 168gr BTHP.
It does 0.75MOA with my hunting ammo (Fed Prem Nosler Ballistic, Hornady Light Mag BTSP...)
Surplus Argentine 7.62NATO will do 1.5MOA, which is great at $5/20 rds.

Another gun I;d look at is a package Savage heavy barrel with scope. They're $500 from Dick's Sporting Goods. I'm not sure if they chamber them in 30-06 though. Great accurate gun for cheap...nowhere near the refinement of a Tikka though

 

[RW_Reagan]

thanks for all the replies fellas, mentioned some manufacturers I havent thought about.

 

[Shweboner]

I have a stainless Ruger M77 MKII thats pretty good. I got mine on a trade for my crappy old CETME, not a bad deal I figure it only had a box or two through it. you can get one for less than 500 maybe check out gunbroker?

 

[Full Clip]

Yeah, Tikka Whitetail...

 

[ziggy222]

i used a $350 old 2nd hand abolt browning 30-06 to shoot surplus ammo and remington ammo and then shot my own reloads.110 grain hp on ground hog up to 400yards.at 300 yards i could take head shots on a regular basis,as in a never missed,ever.you can get a used one under $500 with scope easy.i had the same accuracy on my new abolt in 22-250.i demonstated from a bipod at 300 yards,measured with a range finder 10 shots each from both guns hit a soda can every single time.used 125 grain slugs in the 30-06,and 50 grain slugs in the 22-250

 

[jmr40]

I am very pleased with the Tikka. They are a little heavier than I like for a hunting rifle but Howa makes a very good rifle at a decent price. It is the same rifle as the Weatherby Vanguard but cheaper. I have heard good things about the new Marlin bolt rifle but have no personal experirnce. There are some nit-picking things that I personaly do not care for but a lot of people are very happy with the Savage/Stevens rifles.

 

[yayarx7]

Savage

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

On a budget like that as you are, I'd look at these rifle familys:

1. Howa 1500
2. Savage 110/111/112/114
3. CZ 550
4. Tikka T3 (imported by Beretta)
5. Weatherby Vanguard (same rifle as the Howa 1500)
6. Possibly the Mossberg 4x4 rifle

I think you'd like all of these, but particularly the CZ 550 and the Weatherby Vanguard.

P.S. .30-'06 is not a good choice for plinking, I don't think. Great hunting caliber, but too much to really enjoy plinking.

 

[rklessdriver]

I have a CZ550 in 30-06. IMO its a very nice rifle. I bought mine back in 2000 I think. The only round I have ever shot out of it is Federal 180gr Nosler Partitioned. Last time I had it at the range it put 5 rounds into a 1.2" group. I have been meaning to try some other loads to see if it will do better but no time and it's plently accurate for hunting. 4 deer and 6 hogs over the past 8yrs.

I have a Weatherby Vanguard in .223 Rem. Bought it back in 1995. It is capable of shooting just about any ammo that will chamber less than MOA. It also dosen't open up much after the barrel gets hot. Currently sighted in with Wincehster 64gr Power Points. It has take more NC White Tails than I can rember over the years.

I also have a Weatherby Vanguard in .300 Wthby Mag. It is also a sub MOA rifle for the first 3 rounds. Once the barrel gets hot it opens up to right at or just over 1" @100yrds. I use factory 180gr Norma loaded Weatherby ammo.

I will say from experience you can't go wrong with a CZ550 or Weatherby Vanguard/Howa 1500. All of mine have been fantastic.
Will

 

[rangerruck]

I would say look for the new marlin , for synth stock, also the howa is the top of the entry level line, If you are looking for something finer, then a cz with a set trigger will really fill the bill.

 

[Tarvis]

Talk about resurrecting an old thread from the dead.

 

[glockman19]

I too have a Remington 700 CDL in .30-06. It i smy primary hunting rifle. You can't go wrong with it. Yhey should go for between $600 & $700.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Talk about resurrecting an old thread from the dead.

Oops, sorry about that. Didn't notice. USAnumberONE is the necromancer here.

 

[Jst1mr]

Remington 700 in your $ range- if you wanna stretch a bit, I have a Sako 75Grey Wolf (SS/black&grey laminate) with a Nikon Monarch Titanium scope that will shoot cloverleafs with about anything I feed it..absolutely love it!!!!