New Rifle

Status
Not open for further replies.
P

Plainshunter1

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2016
Messages
10
I'm looking for a new hunting rifle in the sub-$1k range that's not a budget gun. I have a Savage 30-06 topped with a Leupold VX-2 3-9×40 that'll slay anything I need but now I'm looking for a gun that's not focused on function; something classic that's just a joy to look at and shoot but doesn't cost an arm and leg. I want wood and blueing, I want quality (big importance for me), and I want some accuracy (shooting past 300 yds won't be common but I'd love for it to be around MOA most of the time). I want something of taste basically. It'll be a deer and antelope gun and I'm not too picky about the caliber. I just want it to be a bit more mild than my '06. 7m-08, 25-06, 6.5s are all fine with me. I'm eyeballing the Winchester Model 70 Sporter in 25-06, and the Bergara Timber in 6.5 Creedmoor. I looked at the Remington CDL but I'm not sure the quality is there like in the Winny and Bergara. Thoughts? How's the quality on the new CDLs? Any other guns I should be looking at??
 
Any older Winchester 70 or Remington 700 BDL in a walnut stock should get you what you are looking for. There are likely another half dozen names like some of the new CZ guns in walnut are real nice. Personally I like the older Winchester and Remington rifles but to each their own. I am also a fan of just about any spawn of the .308 Winchester favoring the .260 and 7mm-08 Remington cartridges. Never owned a 6.5 Creedmoore so can't comment on that cartridge but it seems to have a strong following.

Ron
 
If you want classic beauty then go with a Winchester lever gun. If that doesn't suit you, look at browning BLR rifles and the new Henry Long Ranger.
 
Plainshunter1

For a really classy looking (as in full wood stock along with beautiful bluing), bolt action rifle how about a CZ 550 FS? Available in 6.5x55 and .243 if you're thinking about something a bit lighter than your .30-06.
 
Given your wants, I'd go with a Winchester 70 Featherweight over a Sporter. The Featherweight is a bit lighter and handier than the Sporter, in the cartridges you're looking at, I think that would be a good thing. As for chambering, I'd go 7mm-08, .308 or .270, all are a bit lighter in the recoil department than .30-06, while still being outstanding killers.
 
@WestKentucky, primary target is antelope and deer second so I'm not sure a lever gun would be best suited. Something about the BAR doesn't grab me either. Thanks though :)

@bannock, I've seen and it looks interesting. I'll take a closer look

@ Gtscotty, I'd prefer the sporter because of the 24" barrel would seem beneficial for 25-06 velocities. 4 more ounces won't kill me. :)
 
Plainshunter1 said:
@WestKentucky, primary target is antelope and deer second so I'm not sure a lever gun would be best suited. Something about the BAR doesn't grab me either. Thanks though :)

@bannock, I've seen and it looks interesting. I'll take a closer look

@ Gtscotty, I'd prefer the sporter because of the 24" barrel would seem beneficial for 25-06 velocities. 4 more ounces won't kill me. :)
Click to expand...

Roger that, it's not just about the weight though, they feel different in the hands. You might want to handle both before ordering.
 
If it were me with a grand to spend I think it would be aome form of a Winchester Model 70.
 
I have a Remington 700 BDL .270 that I bought used at a gun show for $500 and it looked nearly new. I put a Burris Fullfield II 4.5-14X on it and I can hit 4" gongs at 300 yards. I'm looking to buy a Winchester 70 Featherweight .243, which should meet all my needs.

Tom
 
I'm not a fan of European style combs or external magazines on bolt action rifles
 
Plainshunter;

I'll second bannockburn's suggestion to take a look at the CZ550 fullstock in 6.5 Swede. My son has one, & it's outstandingly accurate. He can hit the 600 yard 1 foot diameter gong 'bout any time he cares to point it in that direction.

However, if you don't like the Euro type stock on that, then take a look at the Tikka T3x Forest in 6.5 Swede. Several on-line sources list a new one for well under your budget figure. The first I'd go to would be SoDak Sports in Aberdeen S. Dakota, nice folks to deal with. My custom left hand Swede was built on a Tikka action & I don't regret a dime spent on it. Rough cost was about the same as either a G3 Mauser or a Blaser, but I got one built to me. I took it out recently to confirm zero for the coming big game season. Three shots, 100 yards, first from a dead cold barrel, and a .6" group. That may be my age showing, it's done better in the past.

900F
 
I had the Bergara Timber for a while and hated it before I ever shot it. It was very heavy and had a chunky pistol grip. I sold it pretty quickly. It didn't fit me, was too heavy, and didn't really impress me with quality.
 
I like Winchesters just fine, but the Sporter is just too heavy and chunky unless you're shooting magnum rounds. I like the Featherweight MUCH better. Don't let the name fool you. The model 70 Fwt is about the same weight as a Sporter made by every one else.

And 25-06 does nothing for me. There are no decent bullets available in 25 caliber. The best 243 loads with modern high BC bullets are only slightly behind 25-06 at 200 yards or less. They surpass 25-06 performance beyond about 200 yards.

One in 270 would be the classic choice and the one Jack O'Connor carried, although his had a custom stock. But 7-08 would be a very good option too.
 
I've heard others say the Bergara B14 quality wasn't impressive. I'm honestly learning away from it towards the M70, and maybe a few other options. I've also heard others say the featherweight has a much better feel to it. My only concern is the 22" bbl on the Featherweight with a 25-06. As for the 25-06, it seems like an ideal antelope cartridge and the .270 seems almost redundant since I have a 30-06 but I might just look into the 270 more. Always good to have something to research. Otherwise I get horribly bored.:D
 
Forget the Bergara Timber model. Another thing I hated was the bolt handle. It literally looked like a straight piece of metal with a perfectly round ball threaded on the end.

Another option I've been impressed with is the Kimber 84 Classic or Montana if you like synthetic. Such a light and trim little gun. I've got a Classic Select Grade in 257 Roberts on my must-have list.
 
Hunters who have used a 25-06 almost always fall in love with them. I have owned 25-06 rifles since 1965 and I wouldn't be without one. Currently I have a pre 64 Winchester and a Mauser Supreme assembled by Paul Jaeger and they are both outstanding long range rifles. If I were buying a new rifle it would definitely be a Winchester and I also gravitate toward the Featherweight because it is easier to carry than the sporter version. However, the sporter weighs 7 pounds 4 ounces which is only 4 ounces heavier than the featherweight. With a 13 ounce scope and mounts the sporter would weigh a little over 8 pounds and that's just about right for a hunting rifle, and the sporter has the 24 inch barrel. Don't pay any attention to the comments about their not being good bullets for a 25-06. The Sierra Gameking 117 grain is an excellent long range bullet. I have taken more big deer with a Speer 120 grain Hot-Cor than you could haul in the back of a truck. The Berger 115 grain VLD is good but not really better than either the Sierra or Speer. Pick the bullet that shoots the best in your rifle. I wouldn't buy a rifle that didn't have the Winchester 3 position safety.
 
Last edited:
I had a 25-06 for several years and it never really impressed me. I believe it's a bit overbore. I switched to the 257 Roberts and never looked back.
 
For deer, sheep, pronghorn sized animals I'll take one of my 25-06 any day.
I've got better options for larger tougher stuff but for a flat shooting on light skinned game it's hard to beat.

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

A
  • Locked
Best wood stock rifle
2
Replies
31
Views
10K
SwampWolf
S
G
  • Locked
New Rifle Choice
Replies
10
Views
692
amprecon
amprecon
JeeperCreeper
  • Locked
"budget exotic" rifles: help me with a new hunting gun
2 3
Replies
55
Views
2K
rambo2_981
R
S
  • Locked
looking for a nice .25-06 bolt gun
Replies
23
Views
1K
Texaszach
T
primalmu
  • Locked
Looking at a hunting setup... 6.5 Creedmoor options
Replies
14
Views
584
Gtscotty
Gtscotty
Back
Top