What to buy question. Vanguard, A Bolt, M77???

[Zor]

I'm looking to buy a hunting rifle that's lighter than what I've got (Remington 700 sps in .308 with a bull barrel). I was also looking for a bit more speed and I'm leaning toward .300 win mag. I'm considering the Weatherby Vangaurd, Ruger M77, or a Browning Abolt. I hunt in central Az which means 8-10 miles per day and elevation changes in the thousands of feet so I'm looking for well balanced and light. Thoughts?

Thanks in advance,
Zor

And if I'm posting in the wrong area please redirect me.

 

[pbrktrt]

I love my Vanguard but it weighs 8 lbs scoped. You might want to look at the Kimber Montana.

 

[rule303]

Savage 14 lightweight hunter, or Tikka T3 lite, if weight is your primary concern, but you still want an accurate rifle. Getting a .300 WSM instead of the .300 Win mag will let you get a lighter short action rifle with basically the same performance.

 

[Zor]

Looked at the Kimber Montana. Wow, good lookin piece of iron. It's just a bit outta my price range and looks like its going to be pretty hard to find used.

I like the savage 14 lightweight.

 

[bobnob]

I reckon a Tikka T3 Lite in .270 would give you a good light and accurate rifle with a great flat trajectory, that isn't going to kick the hell out of you.

 

[lowerunit411]

the Winchester Extreme Weather might be worth a look.

 

[GuysModel94]

Just bought the Marlin XL7 in 30-06, nice trigger and a great deal, but for the over $500.- range the Vanguard or the Beretta Tikka are great buys.

 

[aka108]

Look at a Howa 1500. Same as the Vanguard on less expensive. Both are mfg by Howa.

 

[SwampWolf]

Look at a Howa 1500. Same as the Vanguard on less expensive.

You might want to look around a bit before deciding on which rifle is the cheapest. I say that because I bought a nib Vanguard a few monthe ago from the lgs for $299.99. I've never seen a new Howa go for that cheap-at least in recent times.

 

[jmr40]

Look at a Howa 1500. Same as the Vanguard on less expensive. Both are mfg by Howa.

Good guns, but he said he wanted a lighter gun. The Howa/Vanguard guns are the heaviest options on the market.

Consider the 7mm Rem mag if you want speed. It will do the same job on most game as the 30 cal magnums, but with a lot less recoil, which may help in a lighter gun.

Of the 3 options you list only the Browning is a light gun. Vanguards are very heavy and Rugers are only a little behind them, especially in magnum chamberings.

For the money a Tikka is the best route to go for a lighter gun. If Kimber is in your budget they are excellent guns. The Winchester Featherweight or Extreme Weather would be my personal choices, but are not quite as light as the Tikka and are a little more expensive.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I love my Vangaurd, but as has been said, if you want light, it's not the right one.
I like the Browning A-Bolt of the ones you listed. And you just can't beat it for $500.

 

[RoboDuck]

The Brownings are good shooting guns out of the box, have you considered a 25-06?

 

[Maverick223]

Welcome to THR, Zor. The A-bolt is my pick of the bunch, but if you include other rifles I prefer the Savage Model 11 Lightweight Hunter or Winchester M-70 Featherweight (which weighs more, but that isn't a bad thing in a magnum chambering).

 

[Zor]

Thanks for the replies. I've been looking hard at the Kimber 8400 in 300 wsm. How about American made? What manufacturers still produce there guns here. If I buy new I will only buy American made. I took a look at an A Bolt Hunter in 300 wsm and it felt great (just shy of 6.5 lb) but its made in Japan. Not to bring in politics, but if I'm spending my money I want it to stay here.

Zor

 

[jmr40]

If you are condisering the Kimber in 300 WSM I'd suggest you look very hard at the Winchester EW in that caliber. The Kimber is a good gun, but too light for that caliber in my opinion. In 308, the Kimber is a joy to carry and recoil is pleasant.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535110

Street prices should be around $800-$900, vs $1100-$1200 for the Kimber.

The new FN produced Winchesters are the best USA made rifles in production, maybe ever. They are a little heavier than the Kimber, but still lighter than most of the competition in that caliber. They will be several hundred dollars less expensive and probably more accurate.

The 300 WSM is a great round. It will equal the ballistics of the 300 win mag, but do it in a lighter, more compact gun. Recoil will be substantially less than the 300 win mag as well. About half way between the 30-06 and 300 win mag. If anyone can handle the 30-06, then a 300 WSM is only a small step up in recoil.

 

[Maverick223]

What manufacturers still produce there guns here.

Winchester (Model-70s amongst others), Savage (except rimfire), Marlin, Remington, and several others are still made in the US, though I have to agree with the following statement:

The new FN produced Winchesters are the best USA made rifles in production, maybe ever. They are a little heavier than the Kimber, but still lighter than most of the competition in that caliber. They will be several hundred dollars less expensive and probably more accurate.

The Savage M-11 LtWt Hunter is lighter, and still well made, but the Winnie M-70 is honestly the better rifle and sells at a fair price. Besides, I have a feeling that you'll come to appreciate that weight in a magnum chambering anyway.

 

[Zor]

I went shopping today at Legendary Guns and cabela's. I looked at the model 70 featherweight (I think) and the Kimber 8400. They both felt great. However the guy at Legendary said that the new Winchesters are junk. Any opinions on this. The gun looked to be quality, good fit and finish. Also I actually preferred the Winchester stock over the Kimber. Jmr40, I know you said you liked the new Winnies so I'm just wondering where the bad reviews are coming from.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

the guy at Legendary said that the new Winchesters are junk.

Which means absolutely nothing.
Never take a man's word who's trying to sell you something. It simply means that they would make more money if you bought the one they suggest.

 

[GuysModel94]

Agree with Paul, when somone says that my next question is "How many have you owned and for how long". The two new Model 70's i've handled showed great fit and finish with balance.

 

[Maverick223]

Agree with the above comments. The new M-70s (particularly the Featherweight, which honestly isn't deserving of the name, but an outstanding rifle nonetheless) are some of the nicest modern rifles on the market IMO...in some ways they rival the much lauded pre-64 models. I'd say they are easily the best value.

 

[Skylerbone]

For light weight, long distance, in the wind: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/36_62_974/products_id/71451

Have a look at some wind drift charts among other things and remember a miss is a miss regardless of speed. My other suggestion would be .270 WSM.

 

[marksman13]

Salesman may not realize that Winchester re-introduced the Model 70 within the past couple years. Winchester made some rifles between the pre-64's and the early part of this decade were not great rifles. I don't know if junk is the term, but they certainly weren't close to the pre-64s or the newest Model 70s.

Might also stand to make more money off the Kimber.

I own a Browning A-Bolt Stainless Stalker in 308 and I would never sell it. Light, accurate and good looking to boot. I owned an A-Bolt Hunter in 7mm WSM but I traded it even on this 308. The 7WSM kicked more than I liked and factory ammo was getting expensive when I let it go. Now all of it is expensive.

 

[Skylerbone]

I have a 90's era Winchester that shoots consistently under 3/4" groups, often under 1/2" with a 3-9x. Nothing junk about it, the safety lever could be smoother but the action is nice, trigger is crisp and light and at ~$300 used it was a steal.

 

[Maverick223]

I have a 90's era Winchester that shoots consistently under 3/4" groups, often under 1/2" with a 3-9x. Nothing junk about it

I agree that the post-64 USRACs are good rifles, often rivaling the Pre-64s in the accuracy dept., but the finishing often left a bit to be desired. I have considered purchasing one myself (if found reasonably cheap) to accurize for a target rifle build. That same rifle was good enough for Carlos Hathcock, I suppose it'll get me by.

 

[coug]

I really like the WBY Vanguard I dont own one but I have worked loads up for a couple and they have all shot less than 1/2 MOA. I was impressed with that from a cheap rifle.
But I can say the trigger on them stinks.
I dont like the A-bolt because its hard to find a Gun Smith that will re-barrel one. About half the time they break the action trying to get the old barrel off.
I dont really like ruger actions because of the trigger problems they have and ruger has been know to put crap barrel on there rifles.
You might want to check into the savage that the OP was telling you about.