What would you buy?

[David4516]

Ok, I've been wanting a new bolt-gun for a long time now. In about 2 weeks I should have a big pay-check coming, so it looks like it might actually happen.

I have it narrowed down to 2 options:

Winchester Model 70 "Coyote" in .308 Winchester

Ruger M77 Standard in .280 Remington

The rifle will be used mostly for Target shooting and Deer hunting, but I might take it elk hunting at some future point.

I'm pretty sure that either one would work, so I think the biggest factor in my choice will be accuracy...

I know that .308 is more common, but this will not be a factor because I will handload for whatever caliber I end up getting...

As for optics, I plan to put a 3-9X40 scope on it. I'll probably get a Leopould if I have enough money left over.

 

[Smokey Joe]

Ruger, man

Of the 2, I'd get the Ruger M 77 Mk II in a heartbeat. It has a Mauser-knock-off action, and controlled feed. Also, the slanted screw pulling the action forward into the stock is a big + IMHO.

My Mk II Target (I have it in .243 Win) is a VERY nice pc. of machinery. Handy, easy to use, and accurate.

William Battenberg Ruger's spirit must be soothed by the Mk II. They really got it right.

 

[HSMITH]

I would get a Savage or a Howa, and have the money left for a good scope and some Redding Competition dies too!!

 

[dakotasin]

those two rifles are an apples and oranges comparison... if you expect it to be primarily a hunter, then the standard barrel is what you want. if mostly for range, varminting, that sort of stuff, the heavier barrel of the coyote makes more sense.

have you looked at remington's lvsf line?
if it were me, i'd do the coyote, but that's because i already have a couple dozen 'sporter weight' guns, and only a half dozen or so target guns...

 

[Brian Williams]

I had a Coyote in 22-250 with a bushnell 4200 4x16 and it shot 1.5 groups all day, sold it got a 70 Compact Classic in 7mm-08 with a Leupold 3x9 compact that will on a good day shoot .8 for 5 shot groups.

If you are going to hunt get something comfortable to carry if you are going to target shoot get something for the bench. Coyote will do the bench, heavy to carry. The Ruger is good fit and finish have not shot any.

 

[Werewolf]

Neither...
CZ-550 American or Lux version. Less money, more reliable and more accurate out of the box.

 

[GunGoBoom]

I'd get instead a

CZ, Savage, Howa/Vanguard, Tikka, or Chuck Daly, for your best values, IMO. In .308 win. Or for a little more, Remington. But your choices aren't terrible either, so I didn't vote.

 

[USSR]

No brainer between those two rifles, get the Winchester. However, I would get the Stealth model rather than the Coyote model, due to the Stealth's heavier contour barrel. Quality aftermarket parts are readily available for Winchesters, while they are virtually nonexistant for Rugers. Also, Match brass is available in .308, while it is not for .280. Just MHO.

Don

 

[steve4102]

CZ-550 American or Lux version. Less money, more reliable and more accurate out of the box.

I have a CZ 550 American in 9.3 X 62 and it is a real shooter. I have tried 2 diff. bullets and 4 diff. powders and all are one hole groups. It shoots everything I feed it. My next rifle will be a CZ Am. as well, I think maybe a 6.5 X 55.

 

[Cpl Punishment]

Of the two, the Winchester Coyote will be the better jack-of-all-trades gun. Plus since you're handloading, you have a LOT of bullet choices available to load.

 

[David4516]

Thanks for all the info so far...

I didn't realize that they made a model 70 in 7mm-08. I thought pretty much all the models 70s were only availbe in "WSM" calibers these days...

But I took a quick look at Winchesters website, and I did see 7mm-08 listed, but only in the "compact" version. I've held a compact Ruger before, but not the Winchester. How do they compare? The site said that the Winchester has a 20 inch barrel, I think the Ruger's is only 16. I'm not really looking for a compact, but the Winchester compact sounds like it's not that much smaller than the regular Model 70. If thats the case then I think I would prefer a M70 Compact in 7mm-08 over an M70 Coyote in .308

Also, if I were to buy a Compact Model 70, would regular aftermarket parts still fit on it? I'm thinking that I might want to get a laminate stock at some point in the future...

How does 7mm-08 compare to .280? I'd assume that it would be similar to .308 vs .30-06, with the longer case only really making a differance if heavy bullets are used. Does one tend to be more accurate than the other?

 

[TooTaxed]

Both rifles are fine...as are the others suggested!

But, as a handloader, I'd choose the .308 over the .280 in a heartbeat. LOTS of bullet choices to get any shooting effect you want, plentiful range pick-up brass for free...

 

[P-32]

If you want to lug a heavy rifle out in the field....be my guest, it's your shoulders. If it were me I would buy a hunting rifle to hunt with and then a target rifle to punch paper with. Apples and Oranges. For hunting a Win Feather Weight in '06 would do and a heavy barrel 308 for the paper work.

The Win F/W XTR I have in '06 shoots very well (sub MOA) but it's very hard on your body to shoot paper with. In fact, I hate shooting paper with it. When an animal is in the cross hairs though....no boot, no bang but deer falls dead.

 

[DnPRK]

Of the 2 listed, get the Winchester.

 

[Preacherman]

My top choices in any hunting rifle would be, in this order:

1. Tikka.
2. CZ.
3. Savage.

Neither the Winchester nor the Ruger would make my short list. IMHO, the quality and accuracy of any of the 3 I mentioned are superior to the latter.

 

[Sunray]

I'd buy based on price, but it'd be the .308. .280 Rem isn't always available everywhere. If you get off hunting some place by air and the airline loses your ammo you're toast.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I voted for the M-77 in .280. That happens to be the same gun I bought for my sister when she decided to go Elk Hunting with me (hers is stainless/synthetic). The .280 is an excellent cartridge that will shoot flatter and retain energy better than the .30-06, with similar or slightly lower recoil. That said, it is a handloaders cartridge. The selection of factory loads is OK, but not on par with the .270, .308 or .30-06. Nevertheless, we chronographed 20 rounds for an average of 3048 FPS from the 22" Ruger (150 gr. Sierra Gameking BT). We equipped her rifle with a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x, and it consistently shoots 1.2 MOA. Not quite what my Remington 700 (.25-06 with Leupold VX-III 4.5-14) will do, but her rifle scope combo was $610; mine was $1,335. IMHO, Ruger is about the biggest bang for the buck out there. Glass-smooth actions and nice ergonomics, and the prettiest blueing I have seen on production rifles.

Ultimately, either rifle will work fine. The .280 holds a trajectory and energy advantage over the .308, but if you don't handload it may not be the best choice.

 

[04SilverSCFX4]

Did someone say Remington...have you looked at any?

Here's some eye-candy for ya. Remington 700PSS, 300 win mag, Super Sniper 10x42mm, Badger Ordnance Rail/Max-50 rings/bolt knob and reinforcement,Wolfe firing pin-spring, fluted titanium firing pin, a Harris bi-pod and some other gun-smith work.

I know, I just wanted to insert my first image but I used to own a Ruger M77 Allweather in 300 win and they are great rifles. With handloads I was able to shoot sub moa at 100m, not bad for a 399.00 rifle with a Bushnell Trophy 3x9x40....The whole set-up was only 500.00.