Winchester, Remington, Savage, Weatherby, Sako, or CZ bolt actions?

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6.5x55 Mauser

Gotta say...there's simply not that much practical or even noticable difference in using the modern bolt action hunting rifles. What is most important is how the rifle fits you...how easy it is to carry on long walks and swing up into natural shooting sight position without having to shift your face on the stock, and, secondly, the trigger pull, which should not be over about two pounds. You can even get used to some creep in the trigger...as you practice, you'll learn to automatically take that up in your initial trigger pull.

Ditto with the cartridge...there are few that won't work, as long as you choose the proper bullet and velocity for the game you are hunting. Hand loading gives you an edge here.

I load for a wide range of rifle cartridges from .223 to .300 Win Mag. I used to use a .30-06 until the .308 Win came out, which gives the same performance.

But my favorite is the 6.5x.55 Swede, which has, every time, given me one-shot kills on deer and a 450-lb spring black bear. I load 140-gr Nosler partition bullets. Light recoil and amazing accuracy to long ranges!
 
I'm not worried about the carry weight at all given that my current profession has me doing lots of long distance movements with tons of weight. So that's not an issue. And unfortunately adjusting cheek weld has become a reflexive norm for me because my current issued rifle doesn't "fit" per say so I'm always having to adjust after shouldering.
 
Calibers are one thing, rifles are another.
My pick is a Sako in .308 with a Nikon Monarch scope (mine). The Sako 85 has probably the smoothest action of any production rifle (followed by the M70 Winchester) and while some may describe it as a push feed, it is closer to a Mauser than a Remington plus it has a detatchable magazine.
To help you understand the various type of actions, the Mauser has a 'claw' extractor (Winchester for eaxample) the holds the round from the mag and is one of the most reilable systems out there and is prefered by most Dangerous Game Guides. It sereved the German Army through 2 wars in the mud and snow.
The 'push feed' (Remington, Savage for example) only has the extractor hold the round after it is in the chamber. The push feed style is considered to be more acurrate than the Mauser style and is slightly lighter.
The Sako is kind of a hybrid in that is combines the best of both. Most rifles have a 90 degree lift for the bolt, while Browning, Wearherby and Sako have a shorter bolt throw, somewhere around 45 degrees give or take making them quicker on a floow up shoot.
IF you can find a GS that has a good selection, try them all or at least as many as you can. All bring something to the table and my choice may not be the best for you.
Once you decide on the type of action, handling and comfort then decide on the caliber. NO ONE caliber does it all.
 
eldon519 said:
I would just get a Thompson Center Icon for less than $500. Guaranteed to shoot 3-shot, 100yd MOA groups. That is more accuracy than you need at immense savings, and then when it gets rained on and dinged up, you won't feel bad that you have messed up a $2000 gun.

I think it's also a good practice to get into the game cheap, and then once you know more about what you like, dislike, etc, that is when you spend the big bucks to get just what you want.
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I agree with eldon519. The TC Icon is tops in my book. Machined on piccatinny rail was a big plus for me. It does deliver the minute of angle right out of the box.
I would get the Icon Classic if I do it again. It has the hinged floorplate. I don't care for the plastic mag.
 
Mitchell Gard said:
Sakos are certainly nice and offer a wide variety of effective calibers, the only issue is they're at the very top of my price range, even used. Can anyone attest for the ruggedness of a Sako? Their accuracy and quality is without question but how long will one last with appropriate care and maitenance.
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I don't know what they are building to day but my Sako Finnbear has been hunted almost every year since 1967. Not as pretty as it used to be but sighting in this year it shot .475".
The best gun I ever bought.
 
For the money, I really like the newer Winchester Model 70s... other than the scope mount system. I have never cared for the idea of holding a scope on with 4 tiny in-line screws.

Then again, for the money I really like <the good QC variants of > the walunut stocked Ruger Hawkeyes.

I would also take a close look at the TC Icon.

I bought a Tikka once. It was not as accurate as I have commonly heard. Honestly, I felt so damn guilty about buying a foriegn built rifle that I just couldn't enjoy it and promptly traded it off for a Ruger Hawkeye that shoots every bit as well.

If your needs could be met with a .308 I would consider it. Personally I enjoy shooting the 308 / short action more than the .270 or 30-06 / long action.
 
Lots of good choices. My suggestion:

Howa/Weatherby Vanguard, or Remington 700. 308. Burris XT bases. Warne Maxima rings. 3-9X40 scope, Nitrex TR1 or Bushnell 4200. Whole rig would be $600 - $1000 depending on the rifle model.

Then shoot it. Get to know it. Find out what you like. Both these rifles have tons of aftermarket goodies available, but you might decide they're fine as they are. Or you might want something else, and you can either swap it or keep it as a backup.
 
Never mind the 30-06. My friends 308 had less recoil than my 270.
308 is pleasant to shoot.
 
Your leaning towards the .270 Win or 30-06 Spfd are very good choices. Both are excellent cartridges for what you stated you were going to do with them. Both cartridges are available almost anywhere ammunition is sold. The 30-06 can be found in bullet weights from 125 grain to 220 grain from the factory. I have had both in the past, but now only have the 30-06.

I have had both Remington and Winchester rifles. Both are good. Currently I have only a new Winchester Super Grade. It is one that was made in your neighboring state to your south. The only thing really new about the model 70 is the trigger. That is something that can be debated for a long time. Solid and dependable is what I have to say about mine.
 
Handle as many rifles as you can, the rifle will choose you, just like the wand chose Harry Potter.
 
So the OP is looking for his first center fire rifle to deer hunt. From the vapor of this thread. A Sako is his only logical choice. It is the epitome of center fire rifles. I'm so glad I learned this, albeit so late in life.
 
MrSpiffy said:
Fullboar1, take a peek here:
Team Savage Takes National Title, Breaks 1,000-yard Record

They specifically state they use STOCK Savage rifles.
Click to expand...

I have read the article and of course they would say they are STOCK rifles. A STOCK rifle is one that was pulled from the box like everyone else gets not put together in the Savage "Custom Shop" by Gunsmiths. Do you think that they didn't have hand-lapped barrels, custom cut tighter chambers than stock, trued and bedded actions ect I could go on forever but I can guarantee they were not STOCK rifles.
 
they are box-stock rifles sold by Savage. They are hand-lapped tight chamber etc. from Savage. They are target rifles you can buy yourself - they do cost about $1200 though :) Savage model 12 target, palma etc.
 
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I definitely am leaning for that or the Model 70. I'm not sure that I've heard anything bad about either so far. I understand the two rifles are at two different levels of the spectrum(m70 super grade included). I'm a bit curious about how the rifles hold up over long periods of time, such as the stocks and finish, and the essential working parts.
 
look at the price of a SAKO from the 1960s or 1970s - that ought to answer your question of durability - or from the 1980s or 1990s....
 
Well I have a 1940s model 70 that is a tack driver, and other than decades of field use is as sound as the day it was made.. You don't have to do much research to see the endurance of the model 70...which, btw, is made in America.
 
I do my best to shop American but unfortunately a lot of countries bring more to the table in some instances. I won't sacrifice quality for Origin. Fortunately that does t sound like the case with the Model 70's. And let's be real, it's not like a lot of these nice rifles are being made in communist countries or mass produced in 3rd world countries by 6 year olds.
 
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