Polar Express
Member
I'm putting myself in the market to purchase two bolt rifles:
1) .308 Win
2) .300 Win Mag
I've given this a lot of thought, and even gone to the trouble to build an excel spreadsheet showing ballistic info for the various cartridges. That hurt my brain.:banghead:
Some of the larger reasons for these caliber choices are (but not limited too):
I already have a .308 in my M1A, I'm looking for hunting rifles, I want flexible cartridges, and I want common cartridges. Both are .30 caliber, so there is a large variety of bullets to choose from, both are reasonably common, the .308 can be loaded all the way down to a 00 buck pellet and up to responsibly take a Bull Elk. The 300 WM, can be loaded down to have some good overlap with the .308, and loaded up to responsibly take anything in North America, and even some larger animals elsewhere. There are other reasons, but those are the main ones.
Since I've made those choices for cartridges, now the gun selection begins. At first, I was planning on digging up a 788 for the .308. They are not that hard to find, but they're selling used at shows and stores for far more than they sold new for years ago. I also see a value to having the same 'feel' to each rifle, (same safety placement, and function, bolt feel, etc.) so the idea of ordering a 'pair' of new rifles is also under consideration.
Beginning at ground zero, my first stop led me to a local chain sporting good store. They had a few Rem 770s on the shelf. Interesting package. I found a thread on the 770, and based on the thread, looked on the internet for a Savage and the Stevens product. It appears that Savage owns Stevens? Is the accu-trigger worth pursuing? I also found a Browning a-bolt at a local pawn shop. What do you think about the A-bolt product? Are there any others I should consider? It appears I could actually pay less for a brand new Stevens than I would for a full length 788 in the .308, based on what I've seen in the past couple of months.
While I don't need to buy a NEW rifle, I don't know enough yet to be able to evaluate a used one to see just how 'used' it is. I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to tell if that 788 in my hand at a show is just plain worn-out. So there is some security in a new purchase.
I don't need to spend $1.5K on a rifle, and another $3K on a scope so I have the prettiest and best rifle money can buy. I'm looking for rifles to hunt with, not show off with. I respect and appreciate the beauty in a fine rifle, don't get me wrong, I just don't want to spend the $ on one right now, maybe later.
Value is important to me. It appears that manufacturers are putting more 'packages' together, and usually, when a manufacturer of any product does a 'package', the value is higher. But, reading the Rem 770 thread, I also recognize the idea that the 770 is at its limit, right out of the box, with no room for 'improvement'. But, maybe, that limit is plenty good enough? I noticed that Savage also has packages available.
As I posted in the 770 thread, with today's modern technology, the tolerances, the metallurgy, and manufacturing techniques, even an entry product could very well be superior to 'yesteryears' best. So, while I'm not trying to say a 770 is better than a 788, or 30 year old 700, the possibility is there. When the 788 was introduced, was it not the ugly, cheaper, less capable item in the lineup, and it ended up outshooting the 700? I also realize that the the browning product, and Remington product, they may be riding on the name, and reputation, and less on the quality of the current products.
If the Savage or Stevens or 770 are well built rifles, then having the same 'feel' in both rifles appeals to me.
If there are any 'smiths that can offer some wisdom, I'd especially like to hear your take on the various models I mentioned, and any suggestions for others to consider?
thanks in advance,
PE
1) .308 Win
2) .300 Win Mag
I've given this a lot of thought, and even gone to the trouble to build an excel spreadsheet showing ballistic info for the various cartridges. That hurt my brain.:banghead:
Some of the larger reasons for these caliber choices are (but not limited too):
I already have a .308 in my M1A, I'm looking for hunting rifles, I want flexible cartridges, and I want common cartridges. Both are .30 caliber, so there is a large variety of bullets to choose from, both are reasonably common, the .308 can be loaded all the way down to a 00 buck pellet and up to responsibly take a Bull Elk. The 300 WM, can be loaded down to have some good overlap with the .308, and loaded up to responsibly take anything in North America, and even some larger animals elsewhere. There are other reasons, but those are the main ones.
Since I've made those choices for cartridges, now the gun selection begins. At first, I was planning on digging up a 788 for the .308. They are not that hard to find, but they're selling used at shows and stores for far more than they sold new for years ago. I also see a value to having the same 'feel' to each rifle, (same safety placement, and function, bolt feel, etc.) so the idea of ordering a 'pair' of new rifles is also under consideration.
Beginning at ground zero, my first stop led me to a local chain sporting good store. They had a few Rem 770s on the shelf. Interesting package. I found a thread on the 770, and based on the thread, looked on the internet for a Savage and the Stevens product. It appears that Savage owns Stevens? Is the accu-trigger worth pursuing? I also found a Browning a-bolt at a local pawn shop. What do you think about the A-bolt product? Are there any others I should consider? It appears I could actually pay less for a brand new Stevens than I would for a full length 788 in the .308, based on what I've seen in the past couple of months.
While I don't need to buy a NEW rifle, I don't know enough yet to be able to evaluate a used one to see just how 'used' it is. I wouldn't have the faintest idea how to tell if that 788 in my hand at a show is just plain worn-out. So there is some security in a new purchase.
I don't need to spend $1.5K on a rifle, and another $3K on a scope so I have the prettiest and best rifle money can buy. I'm looking for rifles to hunt with, not show off with. I respect and appreciate the beauty in a fine rifle, don't get me wrong, I just don't want to spend the $ on one right now, maybe later.
Value is important to me. It appears that manufacturers are putting more 'packages' together, and usually, when a manufacturer of any product does a 'package', the value is higher. But, reading the Rem 770 thread, I also recognize the idea that the 770 is at its limit, right out of the box, with no room for 'improvement'. But, maybe, that limit is plenty good enough? I noticed that Savage also has packages available.
As I posted in the 770 thread, with today's modern technology, the tolerances, the metallurgy, and manufacturing techniques, even an entry product could very well be superior to 'yesteryears' best. So, while I'm not trying to say a 770 is better than a 788, or 30 year old 700, the possibility is there. When the 788 was introduced, was it not the ugly, cheaper, less capable item in the lineup, and it ended up outshooting the 700? I also realize that the the browning product, and Remington product, they may be riding on the name, and reputation, and less on the quality of the current products.
If the Savage or Stevens or 770 are well built rifles, then having the same 'feel' in both rifles appeals to me.
If there are any 'smiths that can offer some wisdom, I'd especially like to hear your take on the various models I mentioned, and any suggestions for others to consider?
thanks in advance,
PE
I know, I know...it's a Bell and Carlson, just pokin' fun. 
