I want to get a "CLASSIC" 30-06 hunting rifle with a nice wood stock.

[Macchina]

I am really interested in getting a very nice looking/shooting 30-06. I currently don’t own a 30-06 and I also don’t own any nice wood stocked rifles.
I’d love to believe that this will be my last rifle purchase for a while… I’d like to keep it under $1000.

Looking through my options, I have many options from America: Remington 700 CDL, Ruger Hawkeye, etc. These rifles seem to be nice but not REALLY nice.

If I expand my options to Europe I have the Tikka T3 Hunter and the CZ 550. The CZ looks to be more “classic” than any of the other rifles in the running. With the all-metal parts, Mauser action, great triggers and accuracy, ect this seems like the ideal classic rifle for me. There seems to be a lot of options too (Full Stock, American, Standard, etc.)

I’m somewhat partial to removable magazines and would be tempted to remove the barrel-mounted rear sight and install a receiver mounted peep sight. This would seem to be the way to go with the longer CZ barrels that get your sight radius way out there…

I’m looking for advice on the differences between the CZ models. Also if there’s any other rifles out there I’m overlooking (I’m sure there are) I’d love to hear about them.

 

[GooseGestapo]

My vote is for a Winchester Mod-70.
Nice metal, excellent action/workmanship, and good wood on the one's I've seen.

I could be tempted by one in .270 feather-weight...

 

[Sock Puppet]

The Win is certainly nice.

For $1,000 I'd look for something special. If you like the CZ 550 (I do) then I'd take a look at something like the 550 Ebony special edition. Should be able to get one for around $850.

http://www.czub.cz/en/catalog/81-centerfire-rifles-cz/KM/CZ_550_EXCLUSIVE.aspx

 

[burrhead]

A 30-06 Winchester M70 with controlled feed is THE classic American hunting rifle. I don't own one, prefer Browning, but even I realize the Win 70 is the standard.

 

[claiborne]

Winchester 70 or Kimber 84L

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

I have an older Interarms MK X in 30-06. Looks good, nice walnut stock and shoots VERY well.

 

[Armored farmer]

I love the old Ruger #1.
....not a repeater though.

 

[OldBrownDog]

Another vote for an M70. I'd say find a clean pre-'64 in .30/06. Should be doable for under $1000 with some work.

If you want new, CDNN currently has CRF Supergrades in .30/06 for $1200, and Featherweight Hi-Grades for $1000.

 

[bhhacker]

I have a 1968 Belgian made Browning BAR chambered in 30-06. Semi Auto. Holds 4+1. It has the removable magazines that you mentioned as well. I have a Leopold Vx1 on it and it shoots 2 inch MOA all day and have never had an issue with it whatsoever!

It might be able to get more than 2MOA but i never shoot off a nice rest, its always like an ammo box so not very technical at all haha.

You can find an mk1 (What i have) for around 600$ or so in decent condition or get an mkII Safari grade for right around 850. Here are some examples

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=454753832


http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=454724753


I have had many rifles come and go in my life, but my Belgian Made Browning BAR is the one ill keep forever. Its my go to hunting rifle.

 

[Willie Sutton]

You'll do best with used: In no particular order of preference:

Any Commercial Oberndorf Mauser sporter. Not common in .30-06 but available.

Any Commercial FN Mauser Sporter. Many of these were sold by Sears, etc., and are real sleepers. Do some research.

Any Pre-64 Model 70 Winchester. Just pick one and enjoy.

Any Husquavarna Mauser

Any of the Mark-X Interarms Mausers

If you know what you're looking at, you can find small-shop sporters based on Mausers and Springfields. Many are junk, many are exquisite. You need to have the eye to tell the differences.


NONE of the new production stuff will have the panache' of these older classics. Even the CZ, as nice as it is, is just another cookie-cutter rifle. Buy a classic and have something really nice.


Willie

.

 

[scythefwd]

M70 is hard to beat. I am picking up an tang safety ruger m77 that also has that feel..

 

[Andrew Leigh]

CZ550 in Full Stock, what a looker!

 

[Geno]

Given that you ask for a classic, I think controlled-round feed. Also, the word conjures-up more thoughts of a Winchester M70 Sporter, than a Winchester M70 Super Grade.

Geno

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I agree with Geno. I have a particular nice high-grade Win M70 in 7x57 that just reeks of “classic” hunting rifle. I may very well pick up a Super Grade M70 in .30-06 and put a Leupold Glossy scope on it with Leupy glossy bases and rings.

I have a very nice Ruger 77RSI full-stock in wood and blue in .270. It is a CRF with 3-position safety and is a sub-MOA shooter. With a Leupy 2.5-8x36 it is a perfect wooded terrain hunting rifle.

I think that Winchester is offering the nicest finished mass-produced rifle in the USA today but I really like my Rugers as well. Without work, I can’t recommend Remington though all of mine have been excellent shooters with great reliability, especially my modded 700 XCR II in .375 H&H.

FH

 

[Geno]

Flatbush Harry:

That 7X57 would make for a dandy picture here.

I forgot to say in my post, I have a Winchester M70 Super Grade, .270 Win. It wears a Leupold VX3, 3.5-10. Nice and accurate.

Geno

 

[Flatbush Harry]

I’ll post it next week. Grade III wood with an ebony fore end tip, matte finish.

I have a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 with RapidZ 600 reticle on it with Leupy STD rings and bases. It’s a sweet shooter and will prints <0.75” 100 yard groups with S&B 173gr factory hunting ammo as well as my hand loads with 160gr AccuBonds.

Cheers,

FH

 

[SleazyRider]

Ask and ye shall receive:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=454167500 .

You've got 2 days, 18 hours to think about it.

 

[Gtscotty]

For a new rifle I'd look at an FN Winchester Featherweight. For a used rifle I might look at older Sako's, something like this:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=454418266

 

[sappyg]

Another Winchester 70 with the controlled feed. It's so classic that it's even called a 'classic action' model 70. The one shown on GB is a push feed. Not even close.

 

[jmr40]

A Winchester 70 Featherweight. The Sporter and Supergrades are nice, but much heavier than needed for a 30-06. They are better suited for the magnum rounds. Don't let the Featherweight name scare you. It'll come in at about 8 lbs scoped and is about the same weight as everyone elses standard weight guns.

This is from the 1980's, but you get the idea.





If you want to save a little money the Ruger Hawkeye would be a strong contender for 2nd place. About $100 less and it comes with rings from the factory saving another $50 or so.

Normally not a huge Remington fan, but the CDL's look good and most Remingtons shoot well. I just prefer the CRF actions and other features of the Winchester and Ruger.

 

[another pake]

For a few hundred bucks you could pick up a nicely done Model of 1917 Eddystone Sporter. You'll have your .30-06 on a great action and you'll have enough money left to buy a good quality glass for it.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Around here classic wood stocked '06's are moving slllloooooooowwww these days.

I would cruise some shops and shows to find one you like. Should be able to find an older classic well within your price range.

 

[CB900F]

Macchina;

If you truly want a CZ550, which is a classic Mauser action with "controlled round feed", don't waste any time getting it. The 550 has been replaced with the model 557 in the CZ line. The 557 is reported to have an action much more like the Tikka, a push-feed. If that doesn't matter too much, look at the Tikka Forest, I know that SoDak Sports in Aberdeen South Dakota has had them in stock in the recent past. The Tikka site will give you an idea of the looks of the gun, which has an upgrade wood stock. Furthermore, SoDak quoted me a price on the Forester that's well within your budget number.

After all that, I too will tell you to look for a Winchester model 70 CRF. However, do realize that the newest ones might very well be assembled in Portugal, not America. A pre-64 model 70 in ought-6 should also be available for well under a grand. It'll be used of course, but so what? There are some great guns on the used rack, I know that for a stone-cold fact.

900F

 

[3212]

I have a 1958 Win. Model 70 and a 2005 Ruger M77 MarkII.Love them both.They are 243's because I prefer that caliber for whitetails.

 

[Captcurt]

Nothing more Classic than an 03 Springfield.

But you would have to restock it, probably reblue and spend a butt-load of money, but that was "THE" rifle that the cartridge was made for. For a more modern alternative I would have a Model 70 Sporter, but could live with a CZ 550.