What should I get for a new hunting rifle?

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Carolina Kalash

Carolina Kalash

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May 15, 2011
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Lake Wylie, South Carolina
In a few months, I'll be in the market for a new (or maybe used if it's like new and a good price) bolt action hunting rifle. I've looked around online a bit, mostly at the Remington 700, Winchester M70, Tikka T3, Ruger M77, Browing A-Bolt, CZ 550, Zastava M70, or some type of Mauser Sporter (as in, a Mauser factory built as a hunting rifle, not a Bubba'ed milsurp)

What I'm after:
-Bolt action
-Less than $1000 (after getting a good scope and rings if needed)
-Comes in standard calibers, anywhere from .243 up to .300 Win Mag
-Good Accuracy, preferably out of the box
-Durable
-Reliable ejection and feeding
-Smooth action for faster followup shots if needed
-Detachable mag or hinge plate
-Visually appealing
-Comes in either Blued or parkerized w/ wood stock, or Stainless w/ synthetic or wood stock
-Nice trigger out of the box or easily adjustable
-To be a good quality, well made rifle

What I DON'T want:
-No budget rifles i.e. Remington 783 or 770, Savage Axis, etc.
-No blind magazines
-No sporterized milsurps

I don't care one way or the other if it is/has:
-3 position saftey w/ bolt lock
-Made in USA or import
-Mauser claw extraction
-Iron sights
-Raised cheekweld

What do you fellow hunters and riflemen alike think?
 
You will get many replies on this thread, I am sure. Though things like this get brought up often, you have very specific criteria to make it easier. I think all the rifles you listed are decent rifles, so any of them will do nicely.

Of the rifles you listed, I would focus on these three (since you seem to like the mauser action):

-Ruger M77
-Winchester M70
-CZ 550

I would shy away from these two:-Remington 700 (constant trigger recalls through history and spotty "Remlin" QC, and yes, I own and hunt with a 700... won't buy another)
-Zastava M70 (might as well get a CZ. Reviews on the Zastava aren't phenomenal and they seem "cheaper" but I have no hands on experience)


I always liked the Tikka and Brownings, but I think the Brownings you pay for the name a little and the Tikka is less "mauser-like" since that seems to be what you like. I would also check out the Weatherby Vanguard 2/Howa 1500 rifles. I feel they are the best value for a "non-budget but premium-ish" rifle.

If I had to rank them for myself, I would buy in this order:
1. Weatherby/Howa
2. CZ550
3. Ruger M77
4. Tikka
5. Winchester M70 (mostly because of price it is this low)
6. Browning (same as above)
.....
100. Zastava M70
101. Remington 700
 
I'm with JC. The Howa and it leaves some money for the walnut stock option, or better glass/mounts.

I think the Tikka is fractionally better quality- but the plastic bits turned me off.

That CZ's set trigger is a winner- and from what the gunshop bloke said the set and normal trigger are both independently adjustable. The dovetail mounts on the receiver held no interest to me- but the idea of ripping a scope off and having open sights was a bonus point.

I went back to the shop to buy the CZ and at the last minute switched and bought the Howa- the CZ was just too nice.

Hell- I don't think you could wrong with any rifle on that list (although I'd slide the Ruger down the list under the Winchester).

Let us know what you choose.

Tex.
 
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Under $1,000 with optics, I'd go with a Ruger Hawkeye. They offer both SS/Synthetic and blue/walnut at about the same price and they include scope mounts. That should leave you about $300 for a good scope.

My preferred brands are Winchester or Kimber, but Ruger is very close and a lot of gun for the money.
 
Have a Tikka 7mm RM and very impressed. Was able to get it for $610. Leaves room for nice scope. This is a T3 Hunter, not the Lite. Wood, blue. Action is very smooth.
 
I've looked around online a bit
Click to expand...

As you have a few months, I would suggest dropping by a few LGSs, trying a few of your rifle options to see how they fit you. Come back with your short list and I'm sure you'll be more successful with your final choice.

Asking for a recommendation on an internet forum is usually flawed because: a) nobody knows if you are tall, short, have a long or short neck, have square or droopy shoulders, etc. and b)most shooters have not extensively tested all the options you have in mind and most who are happy with "brand A" will recommend that same brand to you, even though it could well be totally unsuitable for your own requirements.
 
How about a Browning X-Bolt Stalker in 308 Win. I got one for you in my safe, that's never been shot and I'm the original owner.
 
I bought a Savage 110 Predator Hunter (don't let the name throw you) in 6.5 Creedmoor and it's been awesome!! Right out of the box, before I was done with the barrel break in, it was shooting a .6 MOA group with 140gr factory (Hornady) ammo. It rivals my .300 WinMag Sendero SFII in accuracy without all the work I've put into the Remmy- and it's a whole lot cheaper and pleasant to shoot. It was under $1k including tax and 3 boxes of ammo at our local grain store/gun shop.

I've always been a Winchester and Remington guy but I may be a convert now; and I'm in LOVE with the 6.5CM! For everything smaller than elk, it's going to be my go-to round for the time being - except for killing bobcats because I need to preserve the fur.

That's my $00.02
 
I am going to be looking hard at the Browning X Bolt which meets all your requirements have heard great things about the trigger , I love the looks of the X Bolt Hunter model and it also comes with a high quality recoil pad which is something I would want and that is a good 50-60 dollars and time right there.
 
Ruger American is a good option

Caorlina I am also a proud owner of the WASR 10. Greta little gun that just does not get the respect it deserves. As for your hunting rifle I would look at the Ruger American line. VERY cost effective, I paid $365 for a .308 at WalMart of all places. The gun is accurate and well made with ALL AMERICAN parts, hard to believe. It comes in several calibers so take your pick. It is not a heavy barreled gun but for a hunting rifle it is a good gun in my opinion.
 
Not the best climate to be finding used deals in but you'd be amazed at what's out there at times for a thousand bucks.
 
Jarhead822 said:
Caorlina I am also a proud owner of the WASR 10. Greta little gun that just does not get the respect it deserves. As for your hunting rifle I would look at the Ruger American line. VERY cost effective, I paid $365 for a .308 at WalMart of all places. The gun is accurate and well made with ALL AMERICAN parts, hard to believe. It comes in several calibers so take your pick. It is not a heavy barreled gun but for a hunting rifle it is a good gun in my opinion.
Click to expand...
I have actually considered either getting an All Weather RAR or a standard blued one and getting a nice stock from Boyd's and putting in on there, the stock it comes with looks kinda flimsy to me. I have heard good things about the American rifle though. I would still rather have something a bit nicer and as nice as being made 100% in the states is, it's not a major selling point to me if it's a good rifle. And I agree with you on the WASR, the only issue with mine is the handguard gets hot super fast, that seems to just be an AK thing though.
 
I would look for a used Remington 700 mtn rifle stainless laminated. Those are outstanding hunting rifles. Also Sako some of the older models can be had for just a little more than run of the mill remchester and the step up is well worth it to me.

I have hunted more with a 300 win mag than anything as I hunted a large field I thought I needed the extra kick I mean umph. Now I stick with the middle ground cartridges 7mm-08, 260 rem etc. I can manage the bigger cartridges with no problem for hunting without any problem, but all my deer were taken at well under 200 yards most taken under 100 yards. So I would research cartridges and pick from a list of something that suits your needs... I think researching rifle and cartridge info purchasing a firearm is part of the hunt and I enjoy every part of it !!
 
As far as caliber, I'm kinda leaning towards the .30-06 just for the versitility it has, that being said I've mostly deer hunted with either a .300 Win Mag or a .270 and only killed deer with the .270 but that was purley due to luck, I just didn't see anything any of the times I was using the .300
 
Under 100 yards with a 300 win mag and it destroys meat. Use of a premium hunting bullet such as partition, barnes etc will solve this problem, but I decided to solve it with amedium sized cartridge.

30-06 is a fine cartridge as is all the ones based on it 25-06, 270, 280 etc... but take a close look at some rifles in 308 sized cartridge short action makes for a handy rifle. We probably hunt the same or very similar terrains the short action is a added benefit to me and the 308, 7mm-08, 260 are very potent deer cartridges loosing very little to the longer action 30-06 cartridges. I don't want to start a cartridge war by any means my first bolt action rifle a Rem 700 bdl 30-06 a fine a rifle as any I ever owned, and the 30-06 can pretty much be purchased anywhere that sells ammo.

Try a few out to compare different manufactures of rifles, different action lengths and barrel lengths... people like different things as mentioned in earlier post. My idea of a great hunting rifle is short action with 22" (20"-26") barrel stainless (blued is good as well) with laminate or a nice synthetic stock (walnut is nice as well). That leaves a lot of choosing from manufactures, caliber, cartridge, weight of firearm etc.

My current rifle is a Sako AII laminate 7mm-08 Leupold VX III 1.75-6x32 $1100 in everything purchased used. Everything is like new the seller of gun told me how rare the Sako AII in 7mm-08 is and laminate is even more rare... I told him I wasn't interested in collector I was looking for a hunting rifle. I purchased the scope separate a really good buy I thought it was a good hunting setup I like the lower powered scopes.

A long post I know, but look and try several rifles don't go by just how purdy, and good glass on a hunting rifle for me is a must.. good used glass can be had reasonable if your patient, and don't skimp out on rings/bases. Do it right and cry once on purchase instead of skimping out possible having to make several purchases costing much more.. You will have a life long hunting rig that you can pass down to your kids and them theirs.
 
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I have a d will be using for my first hunt a Winnie M70 Featherweight Compact in .308. Nice and handy with a slightly shorter LOP(1/2") and a 20" bbl. Its a laser beam with 150s in it. I was just over a grand with a Nikon 2-7 and Talley Lightweight rings.
 
Clint M said:
Under 100 yards with a 300 win mag and it destroys meat. Use of a premium hunting bullet such as partition, barnes etc will solve this problem, but I decided to solve it with amedium sized cartridge.
Click to expand...

Don't shoot them in the meat! I've taken seven deer in the past five seasons with my .300WM and haven't lost any meat. A 180 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip through vitals and you've got a dead deer with no meat loss.
 
Under 100 yards with a 300 win mag and it destroys meat. Use of a premium hunting bullet such as partition, barnes etc will solve this problem, but I decided to solve it with amedium sized cartridge.
Click to expand...

Yeah I was with my Uncle Tim when he shot one in the shoulder with his .300 Ultra Mag, it was DRT and when he started skinning it and took the skin off around the wound... well, let's just say we already had deer burger before it even got processed.
 
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