Never had a bolt rifle before. Where do I start?
- Thread starter Rmeju
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stubbicatt
Member
As far as bolt actioned rifles go, I think you would regret not at least looking at the CZ line of rifles. There will be one that works for you in their lineup, and they are definitely a quality product.
Enjoy whatever you get. There are chamberings in the calibers you indicated.
Enjoy whatever you get. There are chamberings in the calibers you indicated.
Reloadron
Contributing Member
You want a bolt rifle? You mention Left Hand Bolt? You mention 300 Winchester Magnum?
Read this thread.
As I mentioned earlier I have a Ruger Model 77 left hand bolt in 7mm Rem Mag and it is a great shooting rifle. Here is one that should be exactly what you mentioned.
Ron
Read this thread.
As I mentioned earlier I have a Ruger Model 77 left hand bolt in 7mm Rem Mag and it is a great shooting rifle. Here is one that should be exactly what you mentioned.
Ron
shastaboat
Member
I think that you would be satisfied with your choice of a LH Rem 700 in 300 Win Mag caliber.
Ignition Override
Member
If moderate recoil is ok, and knowing that you reload, how about an Enfield #4/Mk.1 or the straight-pull Swiss K-31?
I have seen both types at gun shows, and bought some Enfields.
A very seasoned gun friend who has about thirty excellent milsurp rifles (many unfired) has not yet used his #4/Mk. 2 (post-war), as it is still soaked in cosmo, in the paper bag.
He has used his K-31 and was surprised by the iron sight accuracy. They are reported to use any regular .308 bullets, and a Swiss guy told his Italian friend on another website that the Swiss govt. still has vast quantities of GP-11 ammo. Maybe the very independent Swiss will ignore the UN Small Arms Treaty.
I have seen both types at gun shows, and bought some Enfields.
A very seasoned gun friend who has about thirty excellent milsurp rifles (many unfired) has not yet used his #4/Mk. 2 (post-war), as it is still soaked in cosmo, in the paper bag.
He has used his K-31 and was surprised by the iron sight accuracy. They are reported to use any regular .308 bullets, and a Swiss guy told his Italian friend on another website that the Swiss govt. still has vast quantities of GP-11 ammo. Maybe the very independent Swiss will ignore the UN Small Arms Treaty.
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justice06rr
Member
I would second the suggestion to try out a Mosin Nagant. For around ~$200 ($100 for the rifle and $90 for a case of ammo) you can try out the recoil and see how you like it. Just for kicks [pun intended] get the M44 version 
Otherwise if you'd like just to get a refined rifle, the Remington 700 in .308 is a good place to start. Unless you really want to burn money then get a the .338 Lapua Magnum and blast away!
Otherwise if you'd like just to get a refined rifle, the Remington 700 in .308 is a good place to start. Unless you really want to burn money then get a the .338 Lapua Magnum and blast away!
The only reloadable brass cases I ever find laying around (besides the common as grass 223) are 90% 243 and 10% .270 and 30-06. As common as 308 would seem to be, the only times I've found any, it was Berdan primed! But if you want to buy new or used brass, 308 is commonly available. Now if you went with a "middle child" 260 Rem or a 7mm-08, you could easily reform any of the most popular 308 based cases, particularly those relatively common 243 cases. But if you want a regular supply of cheap, pulled projectiles, .224 or .308 calibers are the only way to go.
Depends what it is you like about the 700. If you plan to get a particular aftermarket stock and/or a DBM, a 700 package might come out on top for value. But there are lots of good alternatives. The Howa 1500/Vanguard and Savage M10/110 come to mind.
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rduchateau2954
Member
One mention for Tikka? I absolutely love mine. Guaranteed 1/2 MOA at 100yrds or something like that. My T3 Stainless Lite is considerable lighter than a rem 700 and just about every model is available in lefty. Standard trigger pull on my rifle is something like 3.5 lbs.
http://www.tikka.fi/t3rifles.php
Also, isn't there an issue with the new vs old rem 700's? Also stay far far far away from the Rem 770.
http://www.tikka.fi/t3rifles.php
Also, isn't there an issue with the new vs old rem 700's? Also stay far far far away from the Rem 770.
Kachok
Member
^ +1 again. For featherweight rifles Tikka is unmatched, now if you are OK with an 8-10lbs rifle there are other supurbly accurate rifles that are not picky about what you feed them and have a great factory trigger, but for 6-7lbs Tikka has it hands down. Lets break this down.
Action: Tikka wins without a doubt, smoother then black ice, I cannot feel it picking up the next round. Second place goes to my FN Winchester 70, not as smooth but ejects brass like no other.
Handiness: Tikka take a very very close second to my Browning A-Bolt, and only because my Borwning has a short 13.5" LOP and it is a short action. The Tikka is a touch lighter though (6.25lbs vs 6.5lbs)
Accuracy: Tikka for the win again, while I can shoot remarkably small groups with my Savages as well, the Tikka does it with a wider variety of loads. Even the cheapest factory fodder available shoots .75" or better at 100yd.
Trigger: Again Tikka rules all, every bit as crisp and adjustable as the Accutrigger and it does it all without that flimsy feeling inner trigger.
Feel: Tikka comes in second, nothing I have shot to date has a better feel in the hands then my 70 Featherweight, no synthetic stock will ever feel as good as walnut not even a really good one like the Tikka has.
Extras: While the Tikka has a great detachable mag, the Browning flip down is way cooler.
Recoil pad: This is the only area where the Tikka takes last place, mine is hard as a mud tire fortunately in a 6.5x55 you don't need any kind of recoil aid because it is a true sissy kicker, 1st place is a tie between my Winchester and my Savage 110 both are fantastic.
Action: Tikka wins without a doubt, smoother then black ice, I cannot feel it picking up the next round. Second place goes to my FN Winchester 70, not as smooth but ejects brass like no other.
Handiness: Tikka take a very very close second to my Browning A-Bolt, and only because my Borwning has a short 13.5" LOP and it is a short action. The Tikka is a touch lighter though (6.25lbs vs 6.5lbs)
Accuracy: Tikka for the win again, while I can shoot remarkably small groups with my Savages as well, the Tikka does it with a wider variety of loads. Even the cheapest factory fodder available shoots .75" or better at 100yd.
Trigger: Again Tikka rules all, every bit as crisp and adjustable as the Accutrigger and it does it all without that flimsy feeling inner trigger.
Feel: Tikka comes in second, nothing I have shot to date has a better feel in the hands then my 70 Featherweight, no synthetic stock will ever feel as good as walnut not even a really good one like the Tikka has.
Extras: While the Tikka has a great detachable mag, the Browning flip down is way cooler.
Recoil pad: This is the only area where the Tikka takes last place, mine is hard as a mud tire fortunately in a 6.5x55 you don't need any kind of recoil aid because it is a true sissy kicker, 1st place is a tie between my Winchester and my Savage 110 both are fantastic.
rduchateau2954
Member
^ I 100% agree about the stock. I am not a huge fan of the synthetic stock. There is nothing wrong with it but it doesn't have the character of a wood stock.
I bought the synthetic because I didn't want to be crying in the woods when I bumped it against a tree for the first time.
I found a limbsaver pad on sale when I was wandering scheels the other day, it gives it the "stickiness" that it was missing.
I bought the synthetic because I didn't want to be crying in the woods when I bumped it against a tree for the first time.
I found a limbsaver pad on sale when I was wandering scheels the other day, it gives it the "stickiness" that it was missing.
LuvMyGuns
Member
I just came back for the store trying to keep under $600 - Tried Tikka's, Weatherby's, Savages, Remingtons, Ruger's, and the Thompson Venture, Browning A bolt
Tikka has the smoothest bolt and very light with a nice feel, however I found the stock to be cheap and easily scratched this gun will be a mule in w mag and the replacement mags are expensive
The Weatherby had a nice smooth bolt good fit and finish seemed to be a good quality gun built to last and also has a sub moa gauruntee
The Ruger american I tried I was surprised at the quality of this gun again very smooth Bolt and pillar bedded from the factory was well balanced buyt the stock was so cheesy it should of said Playschool on the side although I like the drop out magazine
The Remington's bolt was not so great feeling compared to the others but nothing wrong with it, felt well balanced but overall nothing special
The Savage bolt was stiff and the stock again felt poor again nothing special about it other then low cost
Then I tried the TC Venture again a sub moa gauruntee very nice, very nice bolt not as nice as Tikka but very nice. The stock was satisfactory but nothing special. The gun balanced very well and has a removable magazine and a lifetime warrantee
The browning was a syn stock that was a low qaulity but again very smooth bolt and very good balance but did not stand out amongst the crowd
I know I will be going with a TC Venture second choice wold be a Tikka then Weatherby
Tikka has the smoothest bolt and very light with a nice feel, however I found the stock to be cheap and easily scratched this gun will be a mule in w mag and the replacement mags are expensive
The Weatherby had a nice smooth bolt good fit and finish seemed to be a good quality gun built to last and also has a sub moa gauruntee
The Ruger american I tried I was surprised at the quality of this gun again very smooth Bolt and pillar bedded from the factory was well balanced buyt the stock was so cheesy it should of said Playschool on the side although I like the drop out magazine
The Remington's bolt was not so great feeling compared to the others but nothing wrong with it, felt well balanced but overall nothing special
The Savage bolt was stiff and the stock again felt poor again nothing special about it other then low cost
Then I tried the TC Venture again a sub moa gauruntee very nice, very nice bolt not as nice as Tikka but very nice. The stock was satisfactory but nothing special. The gun balanced very well and has a removable magazine and a lifetime warrantee
The browning was a syn stock that was a low qaulity but again very smooth bolt and very good balance but did not stand out amongst the crowd
I know I will be going with a TC Venture second choice wold be a Tikka then Weatherby
rduchateau2954
Member
Did you check out the Tikka with a wood stock?
Okay, here's a bit of reality. There are more almost new magnums in second-hand racks than, say .270 Win, or 30-06. In some areas, used magnums don't sell well, but used left-handed magnum rifles are the worst sellers, so you may buy a "pig in a poke".
Go buy a .308 Win or .30-06 and if you don't like it, you can probably trade/sell more readily than any other caliber.
If you want a bolt rifle that has adequate power, is very accurate, and fairly cheap to shoot, it's hard to beat a .223 Rem. A .243 Win gets it done pretty well too. A .308 is probably the best range rifle with adequate power, bullet flexiblity, relatively low cost ammo, ammo availability, and resale value. It will make an adequate BANG without whacking your shoulder and causing irreparable flinching.
rduchateau2954
Member
x2 on the used WSM guns. Lots of them sitting in the racks around here.
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