which would be the best choice? (Poll)

[col_temp]

Hi all,

I'm a newer hunter that plans to go out with some uncles starting next year. Will be mostly deer hunting but hopefully in the future may try for a elk.

That being said I am looking at the guns in the polls. Some come with a Scope and if its a good one I'll keep it otherwise assume all will have a good scope mounted too.
Please vote but also explain your choice. What are the plus and minuses of the choices. I have my preferred choice at the moment but I don't want to slant the voting! (I have included rough pricing that I have at this moment. Prices are for the rifle ignoring additional 8.6% sales tax due.)
Thanks ahead of time for any and all advice! (also feel free to suggest an addition to the list if its int he price range and so much better for some reason!)
Paris

PS I already have a Winchester Model 94 (Win 32 special) with iron sights as a bush gun and short range hunting. So this one is for hunting where I might need a bit more distance (say out to 300 yards or so)

 

[MachIVshooter]

I don't see a poll.

What's your budget?

What's your recoil tolerance?

Off the top, I'd say any quality bolt gun in .270, 7mm-08, .280 Rem, .308 Win or .30-06 will fit the bill without abusive recoil.

 

[lefteyedom]

Get the Savage combo and go hunting. The Savage 110 bolt actions are great accurate rifle out of the box.

I would prefer a short action in 308, that said, there is nothing wrong with the 270. Ether caliber is more than capable of taking an Elk.

Nikon scopes are fine hunting scopes. Later you can upgrade the optics when your wallet will allow it.

My three main hunting rifles are all Savages bolts actions 223, 7-08, and a 300/338 win mag switch barrel rifle.

I love old weapons and have a safe full of them, but the truth is the new Savages are better performing rifles than most of the older rifles.

 

[Inebriated]

The Savage get's my vote. I've got one in .30-06. The Nikon scope is fantastic, considering it's effectively free. The rifle is a tack-driver. The AccuTrigger is great. Just a tough gun to beat, especially given its price range.

 

[wjt]

Remington 760/7600 in any of the above cals.

 

[USSR]

That's a really good price on a Winchester Model 70 in .308. Refinishing a stock is easy and a fun project.

Don

 

[WoodchuckAssassin]

Real tough choice. I was looking at the Ruger American also, but came to the conclusion that the stock was too flimsy for me to even spend $340 on. I like the Winchesters, but I gotta go with the Savage + scope. Eventually you'll own them all, right? So why's it matter?

 

[Sav .250]

As a "newer" hunter with little experience (I`m guessing) you`ve already put yourself in a corner by suggesting 2 cals. Never mind the manufacturer. You need to open your selections for more diversity. Lots of really good rifles/cals out there so don`t grab the first one of the self. More home work needed.

 

[jmr40]

I you are actually considering a used rifle selling for close to $600 why limit yourself to one of the cheap budget guns. All of the used guns you are looking at are WAY overpriced. For less than $50 more you can get a brand new Ruger Hawkeye instead of a 45 year old Remington, and have a much better gun. You can buy a brand new Winchester for just over $700 instead of spending $540 on a well used rifle. Winchesters are my prefered rifle, I even like the pushfeeds, but the 1960's and 1970's versions of these guns were probably the lowest quality Winchesters ever made.

Of the guns you have chosen I'd look at either the Savage or Marlin. I owned one of the Ruger Americans long enough for 1 range trip and quickly sold it. In the budget guns I also like the Vanguard, Howa, and TC Venture rifles right well.

A Tikka is a bit more expensive, but still selling in about the same price range as the used guns you are considering.

 

[Fishbed77]

Get the Savage combo and go hunting. The Savage 110 bolt actions are great accurate rifle out of the box.

My bother got one of the Savage 110 combos (in .270) a few years ago, and it's a damn fine hunting rifle. It ain't very pretty, but it's a good shooter, and who wants to take a pretty gun into the woods to bang up anyway?

 

[leadaddict]

Personally, I'd go with the Savage in .308. Can you say "accutrigger"? I have two great rifles from Savage and would not hesitate to buy another.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I'd go with the 700 if it's in good shape, but I'd offer $400 if no scope. If it has decent glass, $495 isn't bad.

I paid $700 for a 1978 BDL with Redfield 2-7x last year, but it wasn't your typical .270/7mm Mag/.30-06 rifle. 8mm Mags pulll a premium these days.

 

[col_temp]

Thanks all,
I lost my internet connection last night so wasn't able to respond until this morning.
This is the kind of advice and suggestions that are very helpful and confirms a few things I have come to the conclusion about.
I will continue to think about it and see where the poll goes over the next couple of days.
Will check back often!

 

[col_temp]

That's a really good price on a Winchester Model 70 in .308. Refinishing a stock is easy and a fun project.
Don

The barrel is in good shape. the rifling looks very good shining a light down the bore, Crown shows use but is in good shape. Outside has lots of dings and nicks from use (hence why the stock is in need of TLC!)
Is $399 still a good price even with this info? I might just pick this one up to have an extra.
Suggestions?

 

[MCMXI]

Of the rifles in your poll I'd go with either of the Winchesters (voted .308 Win) or better yet I'd buy a new Winchester. The Winchesters offer a claw extractor, fixed ejector, CRF and a three position safety ... what's not to like. Savage rifles are crude compared to either Winchester or Remington but they can shoot well. However, wouldn't you rather have a rifle that shoots well and looks good? I own a Savage Weather Warrior and I'll never buy another Savage product.

 

[horsemen61]

I picked the old Remington cause that's what I would go with.

 

[USSR]

The barrel is in good shape. the rifling looks very good shining a light down the bore, Crown shows use but is in good shape. Outside has lots of dings and nicks from use (hence why the stock is in need of TLC!)
Is $399 still a good price even with this info? I might just pick this one up to have an extra.
Suggestions?

A couple years ago, I was looking at buying a used Winchester Model 70 for a friend. What I found was, few .308 Winchesters compared to other chamberings, and the ones I found they wanted a premium for. Like I said, refinishing a stock is an easy and fun winter project.

Don

 

[haywoodhunter]

I voted for the savage and own 2, but i also have a marlin .270 and it is a great and accurate gun also.

 

[ErieLurker]

Get either the Savage or the Marlin. Those two mid-60's Winchesters date from the nadir of the Model 70's existence (push feed instead of controlled round feed, and usually cheaply checkered stocks - although the post-64 action itself was arguably safer than the pre-64).

Somewhat surprised to say this myself, but if you really want that Remington, and it's in good shape, get it if comes with a decent scope. Otherwise, get a new Marlin or Savage. Personally lean towards the lighter Marlin in .270. Easier to get to the elk with it!

 

[col_temp]

Thanks everyone who has voted and commented so far.
I have been reading everyone and rereading a few others.

The polling so far kind of leads to what I was thinking all along but it's interesting to see the split between the Remington and Winchester folks! Seems to be about even!

Looking forward to more opinions!

 

[MCgunner]

I like the old Remington .270, but you didn't say ADL or BDL? The Winnies are post '64. Can't have pre-64, won't go Winchester.

I have a Savage, I'll go wtih Remington, especially an old one like both of mine.

 

[Kachok]

Savage takes first place, great gun: simple, cheap, and reliable I have two of those package guns both are shooters. Pre Cerebus (the devil) Remingtons take a very close second and only because of the trigger. Remington sold their soul in Apr of 2007 so anything before that should be fine.

 

[fanchisimo]

I have a Savage 111 in .270 that came with a bushnell scope, but not with the accutrigger. It likes the cheapest federal ammo and will shoot sub-MOA from a bench rest with that ammo and most other ammo 1-1.5 MOA. It was my first hunting rifle and it dropped a buck in it's tracks this season.

 

[Haxby]

I would stay away from a late-60's Winchester.

 

[Boattale]

The 700 is a class act be it ADL or BDL. If you like class, go that way. If you don't care about anything other than how the rifle shoots and a good price, the Savage package gun is the deal. But Savage 111 will never ever in ten million years be the class equal of a 700 made in the 1960's.