Too Many Choices

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chains1240

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I have saved up $600 to buy my own hunting rifle sans scope. After researching .243, 7mm-08, .308, 25-06, and .270 I have come to the conclusion what most people already know. My shots are all under 250 yards and any of these calibers would do fine. Now comes the even harder part, which rifle to buy with the $600. Too many choices: Winchester model 70, Savage model 11, Howa/Hogue ranchland compact, Howa/Hogue Heavy Varminter, Weatherby Vanguard etc. For a rifle that would last me a lifetime what are some good rifles for $600 or less?
 
Do you hunt from tree stands or walk?

I'd consider weight more than anything now that you know what calibers you are looking for.....

Tony
 
I've always liked Savage because they were the first to offer left handed models, and seem to do a better job of supplying left handed models across their offerings.
 
If you can get a Win. M-70 for $600.00 that is the best choice, otherwise look at a Savage. This is assuming that you already have, or have budgeted for, good glass for the rifle...if not you need to re-valuate your choice to allow for it. In which case a Marlin XS-7 (or XL-7) would be a good alternative. WRT chambering, I would lean towards the 7mm-08 because it has good bullets available, is flat enough, and has good barrel life.

:)
 
The preference of M70, Rem 700, Savage and whatever can generate posts in great volume, as usual.

I offer this thought: You can obtain whichever you decide on in the used market and perhaps make a considerable savings. Other than minor cosmetic mars, a good used gun is little different than a new one, and the savings can be applied to accessories.
 
All the brands have small differences in such things as length of pull and the drop of the comb and the heel of the stock. "Shootability" is enhanced in field positions by whichever rifle fits your body the best.

Mount it to your shoulder with your eyes closed, as though you were going to shoot from the offhand position. When you open your eyes, you should be looking right down the sight line without moving your head from a good cheek weld.

Shortening or lengthening the length of pull is easy; dealing with problems of the drop at comb or heel is not.

After that, it's all about aesthetics and price.
 
I have the $600 set aside for the rifle and $500 for a Nikon Monarch 4-16x50. I don't NEED to spend $600 on the rifle, just up to that amount. Back to the gun store I go to shoulder used models. I really liked the M70 I shouldered and the Model 7 but both were in calibers I wasn't interested in. The Model 7 was laminated with stainless steel, but it was a 270WSM. Forgot to add, I only walk about 500 yards to my hunting spots. I was looking at the 8.5 Varminter to reduce the recoil of a 165 grain .308 round. Where I hunt I have plenty of time to shoulder a rifle.
 
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Since you said it would be a hunting rifle, and your shots will mostly be around 250 yards or less, I would pick a smaller and lighter scope scope than a 4-16 x 50. Something around 3-9 x 40 or 2-7 x33. You will appreciate the lighter weight and they are more than enough magnification. I don't consider the .308 to be high recoiling, but if you do, then go with a .243, 25-06, 270 win or 7-08. Right now you only walk 500 yards, but that may change in your future. Eight and a half pound varminters end up weighing 10 pounds by the time you add scope, mounts, etc. and are a burden by the end of a day.
 
Thanks for the replies. The only reason I was looking at the 4-16x50 was higher magnification at the range. I have been using a 3-9x40 that I borrowed and to say the least it was lacking. I think I can attribute that to the scope being cheap as all get out. Maybe a 3-9x50 Nikon would give me a brighter picture than the cheap ones. But when borrowing a hunting rifle you take what is given to you.
 
I have always found that glass quality is important than quantity. Large objectives and hih magnification is great where it is needed, but for hunting, you should be able to get away with a good quality 10x or less. I would look at the Kahles CL, Zeiss Conquest, and Minox (no experience, but great reviews) for such glass.

:)
 
I like a hunting rifle to have a scope mounted as low as possible. A 50mm objective makes a scope sit too high. When you shoulder a rifle, you should have good cheek-weld, not chin-weld. The image should come instantly to your eye; you shouldn't have to work to find it, not even a quarter-second. Mounting a 4x-32mm scope is all any hunter needs, but 3-9x40mm is more than enough. Target shooting is a whole other discussion. But if you want a dedicated deer gun, buy the right tool for the job. Buy a gun that you won't mind carrying into the woods for a long walk.
 
The Model 70 Featherweight in 7mm-08 with a Zeiss Conquest 4x-32mm is what I would consider a perfect deer rifle for me.
 
Look at the Tikka T3 and the TC Icon. Throw on a Leupold 2.5-8 x 36 VX-3. I love spending other peoples money. :)
 
I agree with the other posts about the scope. High power is nice when shooting at the range on a small target bulls eye but for shots at game under 250 yards you'll appreciate a light and compact, high quality, 2-7 or 3-9 scope. When choosing the rifle, handle as many of the available choices as you can. Shoulder it, sight down the sights, work the action, etc. You should quickly see what you like and don't like.
 
The Model 70 Featherweight in 7mm-08 with a Zeiss Conquest 4x-32mm is what I would consider a perfect deer rifle for me.
Click to expand...
I did take note that the M70 comes in 7mm-08. How much are these going for new? I have seen between $600 and $750 for the same rifle on Gun Broker.
The only thing I do not like about the Tikka is that I believe that the magazine is not flush.
 
How much are these going for new?
Click to expand...
The ones that I have seen locally have been about $650.00-700.00 IIRC, if you can find a Featherweight for $600.00, I'd snap it up.

:)
 
I thought my LGS had a Model 70 for only $600 because it had a small dent in the wood on the underside of the buttstock. But I think it was 300WSM or some other caliber I wasn't the least bit interested in.
 
I really like that Ranchland Compact. What kind of performance difference is there between a 20" and 22 or 24 inch barrel? Enough to mean anything? But when I consider calibers: cost, availability, and recoil, the .308 keep popping up. I think I can buy good bulk FMJ for less than 50 cents a round on GB.
 
My suggestion, would be to get a swiss k-31 surplus rifle. they run about 300 dollars and the quality is what you would expect from the swiss. The k-31 seems to do 1 inch 100 yard groups on average and the scope mount in non-destructive. Think what you could do with an extra 300 dollars for the scope :). Also the 7.5 mm round is capable of taking any deer or elk you can find. If that doesnt interest you the savage rifles are the best real out there, Remingtons quality has been slipping for years, as has winchester to a lesser extent. The stevens 200 is another fine choice that would give you another 300 or so to play with for a scope, its basically a savage standard bolt gun minus the accu trigger. My friends 223 makes inch groups at 100 yards every time, not bad for a 300 dollar rifle!
 
The only thing I do not like about the Savage Stevens is that they went with a center feed internal box magazine, so changing out the stock later is a no go.
 
The M70 FW in 7-08 or 270W would be a good choice, so would the M7 Rem in 260 Rem or 7-08. Either with a good 3 x 9 scope would be a good 300 yard deer rifle. If thet made the FW in 25/06, it would be better..

Jimmy K
 
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