if you had $1000, what bolt action rifle would you buy

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I'd buy my rifle. Tang safety M77 RL in .270 win. Good looking, accurate, light weight, great handling characteristics, CRF, internal magazine, easy to work on trigger. Made in America which is important to me. It's got it all. Glass of your choice. Mine has Bushnell Elite 3200 firefly. It's the scope you can shine a flashlight into the eyepiece and the crosshairs will glow green for about 20 minutes.
 
troy fairweather said:
good looking setup, could you give a review of the kimber hunter, or if you did in a thread. i don't think the stock is as bad as guys say it is, the i saw looked and felt nice. if they take some polishing that's ok. a MS would be a fine rifle, use it on the nice days, where your not walking over fences or rock walls.
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I haven't shot it very extensively yet, so no accuracy comments beyond the obvious: it has a very light barrel that will heat up fast. I like the shape and feel of the factory stock, which is a good thing because the magazines mate into it rather than into a separate metal triggerguard. With the Hunter model, the stock seems pretty much a take-it-or-leave-it situation -- other 84Ms with separate metal triggerguards offer more choice, at a considerably higher pricepoint.

Controlled feed from the 3-shot mag seems fairly positive. I bought some spare mags because, as a central-feed design, they are pain to load -- spare mags are a handy way to carry extra ammo. The things I like most about the Hunter package are the reduced-scale Mauser 98 bolt features, weatherproof materials and light all up weight. About my only criticism so far is the lack of a definite middle-position detent for the 3-position safety -- it's there, but it isn't positive.
 
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Dave DeLaurant said:
I haven't shot it very extensively yet, so no accuracy comments beyond the obvious: it has a very light barrel that will heat up fast. I like the shape and feel of the factory stock, which is a good thing because the magazines mate into it rather than into a separate metal triggerguard. With the Hunter model, the stock seems pretty much a take-it-or-leave-it situation -- other 84Ms offer more choice at a considerably higher pricepoint.

Controlled feed from the 3-shot mag seems fairly positive. I bought some spare mags because, as a central-feed design, they are pain to load -- spare mags are a handy way to carry extra ammo. The things I like most about the Hunter package are the reduced-scale Mauser 98 bolt features, weatherproof materials and light all up weight. About my only criticism so far is the lack of a definite middle-position detent for the 3-position safety -- it's there, but it isn't positive.
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funny you say that about the safety, the 2 i looked at were the same.
 
Definitely stainless and synthetic, that's pretty much all I'm interested in hunting rifle wise nowadays. You never know when you might get a mountain rain shower or a pine bough might drop a load of snow on you and your rifle, I don't want to feel like I need to disassemble my rifle in the middle of a 3-4 day hunt just to make sure all the water is gone from the little crevasses. I also like to leave a couple shots worth of fouling in my bore all season, with SS I'm less concerned about corrosion developing in the bore.

I've whittled my main hunting rifles down to my favorites, Browning X-Bolt and Kimber Montana/Hunter (I also like new production M70s, but don't have any at the moment). I think the Browning ran me a little over $900 and the Kimber around $1,200, but Kimber Hunters are just as light and accurate, and are available in the $700 - $800 range (really a better deal than Tikkas since Beretta got real strict with the MAP pricing).

I love carrying the Kimber, but I've had the X-Bolt longer and It's probably my chips are down hunting rifle:

IMG_20181031_061436753~01.jpg

It's gone though some modification, but it's always been a very reliably good shooter and the ergos fit me well.

The BCD in the Monarch 5 on top matches my 180gr Accubond load very well. I took it out for some practice for the first time in probably 6 months this weekend and was tickled to find it still dead on and shooting well out to 400 yds:

A bit of left to right wind, two to the body and one to the head at 300 yds.
IMG_20190706_123230222.jpg

Three fairly quick shots at 400 yds, as far as I'll shoot on anything made of meat.... That'll do pig.
IMG_20190706_123328588.jpg
 
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As far as bolt action chamberings go, I really like .257 Weatherby. Have not shot or used one in ages since I don’t have bolt guns anymore. I think you should be able to get a used Mark 5 for under 1000.
 
Gtscotty said:
Definitely stainless and synthetic, that's pretty much all I'm interested in hunting rifle wise nowadays. You never know when you might get a mountain rain shower or a pine bough might drop a load of snow on you and your rifle, I don't want to feel like I need to disassemble my rifle in the middle of a 3-4 day hunt just to make sure all the water is gone from the little crevasses. I also like to leave a couple shots worth of fouling in my bore all season, with SS I'm less concerned about corrosion developing in the bore.

I've whittled my main hunting rifles down to my favorites, Browning X-Bolt and Kimber Montana/Hunter (I also like new production M70s, but don't have any at the moment). I think the Browning ran me a little over $900 and the Kimber around $1,200, but Kimber Hunters are just as light and accurate, and are available in the $700 - $800 range (really a better deal than Tikkas since Beretta got real strict with the MAP pricing).

I love carrying the Kimber, but I've had the X-Bolt longer and It's probably my chips are down hunting rifle:

View attachment 849219

It's gone though some modification, but it's always been a very reliably good shooter and the ergos fit me well.

The BCD on the Monarch 5 on top matches my 180gr Accubond load very well. I took it out for practice for the first time in probably 6 months this weekend and was tickled to find it still dead on and shooting well out to 400 yds:

A bit of left to right wind, two to the body and one to the head at 300 yds.
View attachment 849220

Three fairly quick shots at 400 yds, as far as I'll shoot on anything.... That'll do pig.
View attachment 849221
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i agree with you, do you have both a montana and hunter and what cartridge is it in.
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
About my only criticism so far is the lack of a definite middle-position detent for the 3-position safety -- it's there, but it isn't positive.
Click to expand...

The 8400s have a more positive middle position due to the size of the rotating pin on the safety that the detent pin interacts with. That said, the main function for the middle position (for me) is for unloading the rifle. I carry my Kimbers with the safety in the rear (bolt lock) position until ready to fire, at which point I push it all the way forward with my thumb as I'm bringing the rifle to my shoulder.

Some will argue that the middle position is also for loading the rifle while the safety is on, which is true, and I do use it that way, but I don't carry the rifle with the safety in the middle position. Kind of meandering thought process … it's been a long day.
 
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MCMXI said:
The 8400s have a more positive middle position due to the size of the pin that the detent pin interacts with. That said, the only function for the middle position is for unloading the rifle and nothing more. I carry my Kimbers with the safety in the rear (bolt lock) position until ready to fire, at which point I push it all the way forward with my thumb as I'm bringing the rifle to my shoulder.
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ya i see no problem with the safety.
 
I did modify my previous post to cover loading the rifle with the safety on. Certainly an important feature of the three-position safety. I do wish that the middle position on the 84s was more positive but given the size of the rotating pin that's part of the safety it's not an easy problem to solve. The safety would have to be larger but the cocking piece housing is on the small side. You can't have it all I guess.
 
troy fairweather said:
i agree with you, do you have both a montana and hunter and what cartridge is it in.
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I have a 20" Montana in 6.5 Creedmoor (a really fantastic match of lightweight rifle and cartridge) and a Hunter stock (not shown) that I've dropped my Montana action into on occasion.

IMG_20180728_105320189_HDR.jpg

My Montana really came into its own after I bedded it, strangely enough, the same action in the Hunter stock shot about as well as it did in the Montana stock after bedding.

IMG_20180701_230310032~01.jpg
IMG_20180806_072625416.jpg
 
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MCMXI said:
I did modify my previous post to cover loading the rifle with the safety on. Certainly an important feature of the three-position safety. I do wish that the middle position on the 84s was more positive but given the size of the rotating pin that's part of the safety it's not an easy problem to solve. The safety would have to be larger but the cocking piece housing is on the small side. You can't have it all I guess.
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i'd have to take one apart to see, but it maybe easy to deeped the detent.
 
Gtscotty said:
I have a 20" Montana in 6.5 Creedmoor (a really fantastic match of rifle and cartridge) and a Hunter stock (not shown) that I've dropped my Montana action into on occasion.

View attachment 849239

My Montana really came into its own after I bedded it, strangely enough, the same action in the Hunter stock shot about as well as it did in the Montana stock after bedding.

View attachment 849243
View attachment 849244
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ya good looking combo, i think any rifle can benefit for a bedding job. the hunter is looking better just for the savings, some guys say the action is ruffer, i don't mind some time polishing. the 2 i looked at felt fine. sometime i think guys cant push a bot strait lol. the 280ai may have some kick but i don't mind it. thanks again for the post.
 
troy fairweather said:
i'd have to take one apart to see, but it maybe easy to deeped the detent.
Click to expand...

If you make it deeper, the detent pin will bind in the detent. The geometry is important. The angle between the detents is the same for the 84s and 8400s but because the 8400 pin has a larger diameter, the detents are further apart and therefore feel more positive. The 84 receiver is the size of many .22 LR receivers and this means that all the parts are smaller than normal. It's a dainty rifle for sure and many like them for that reason.
 
MCMXI said:
If you make it deeper, the detent pin will bind in the detent. The geometry is important. The angle between the detents is the same for the 84s and 8400s but because the 8400 pin has a larger diameter, the detents are further apart and therefore feel more positive. The 84 receiver is the size of many .22 LR receivers and this means that all the parts are smaller than normal. It's a dainty rifle for sure and many like them for that reason.
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the 280ai i believe are a 8400L. the 270win hunte i looked at worked fine it was hard to get to the middle safety from full lock up but east from the fire position. the stock felt nice to me some say it feels cheap, then others say it's one of the best blow molded ones they have used. yes the action feel tiny, i really have no need for a light rifle i nomaly just hunt the edges of fields and walk less then a mile per hunt. i just like them.
 
I bought this 1990s 700 BDL in .243 locally last year for $450. Added a second-hand Vortex scope in a DNZ mount, well under $900 all in.

index.php
 
Bwana John said:
Either a.....

Winchester M70 featherweight crf posty in 6.5mm x 55mm Swede
Or
Remington Mountain Rifle in 257 Roberts


Wouldnt those two make a good "which rifle for deer" thread?
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yes there a great pic, just i lost all hope or desire to own a new remington, a mt rifle in 280 would be nice, but can't suport remington anymore.
 
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