30-06 options - am I cheaping out with a combo?

[vadeer]

I"™ve been looking at few rifles recently. I looked at two Savage Models in 30-06 yesterday. The Savage Model 16 at a local gun store had an accu-trigger, camo"™d and scoped for $600. It felt good. Wal-Mart had a Savage Package Series 111FCXP3 30-06 for a good price http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=2684985
Related, BassPro has a Savage Camo Package w/scope for $500. Can"™t seem to get a comparison between these three models yet (i.e., groupings, consistency,etc.).

In the process I saw a Remington Model 770 w/scope ($380 Bass Pro & Wal-Mart price). The 770 is a new model as they are trying to capture the mystic of the Model 700 w/ a lower pricing point. ($1000 vs. 380).

I"™ve been encouraged to go with 7mm, 270 WSM, 325 WSM. I"™ve also been encouraged to explore TC Encore Series. I am leaning towards keeping it simple and sticking with the 30-06.

Have you heard/read anything of interest that can help me with this decision? Savage, Remington, else? Should I wait and save up some more money and not buy the combo package ?

[nchawkeye]

You remember when you played baseball and the chant was "You can't hit what you can't see..."

Give me a cheap rifle, that will group 2 inches at 100 yards, and a good scope and I'll still kill a pickup truck full of deer each year...

I've shot centerfires since the 60s, I went through the cheap scopes, see through mounts and all that stuff...

I use Leupolds, I trust Leupolds, a buddy has a couple of Nikon Buckmasters and ProStaffs, they also seem to be holding up well and are decent when it comes to gathering light...I hear the Bushnell 3200 series is decent, but have never looked through one...

Before I bought a package gun with a cheap scope, I'd use iron sights this year and save my money for a scope next year...

If you are shooting deer and live in VA, you don't need more than a 30-06...I'd lean toward a lighter kicker as your deer aren't that big...A .270, 25-06, 7mm-08, .308 or .243 would be a better choice and would handle all you are going to see in the woods up there...

[bobfm10350]

ORIGINAL:
Should I wait and save up some more money and not buy the combo package ?

Buying a combo with a scope in the long run wouldnt save you any money because you wouldeventually wantto replace the scope on the gun anyways.

If i were you this is what i would do...
1. Get a 30-06 if i were to have caliber and only one i would want a 30-06
2. Savage, tikka,and howa/weatherby vangaurdare relatively low priced rifles. I havethis savage in 30-06 and it shot 1.5in groups out of the box with factory ammo.
3. Lastly get either a leupold scope or zeiss scope. When it comes to optics it never pays off to go cheap. There are always deals online for scopes you just have to look.

Good Luck
Deric

[Hurricanespg]

I also recommend getting a non package rifle. If you are going to get one gun the 30-06 will do it all.

[bugsNbows]

+1. I've never seen a package combo with a decent scope...usually Chinese P.O.S.

[NBDeerHunter]

if your leaning towards a savage 30-06 firstly good choice. and if you want to save some $$ grab a steven's model 200 in 30-06. Not too fancy looking but great accuracy .....saves you some $$$ adn you can put the extra cash towards a better scope....should be around the $300 mark...I paid $349 for my 22-250 stevens 200 here in canada....The 30-06 was the same price...

[statjunk]

I agree with the above on passing on the combo package. You're paying for that cheap glass and it's true you can't hit what you can't see.

As for the cartriges I'd drop all the wsm stuff and maybe consider adding .308 to your list. Does just about anythign the .30-06 will do with less recoil. Also cheaper to shoot and plink.

Tom

[Buck Hunter 1]

06', bullets and different sized loads are everywhere you hunt. My personal favorite os a pump gun. Have killed deer out to 300 yards w/it, cycles a quick second shot of needed, clip fed for ease of loading / unloading. It is accurate and I shoot w. all bolt 700 , Won Mod. 70 , etc. I hunt ground hogs, deer, coyote and bear (balcK) w/ one caliber. Good Luck in your chloices!

[VAhuntr]

I bought a Savage package deal a few years agothat was actually cheaper than the non package gun. I immediately removed the scope, rings, and bases and installed what I wanted. I then sold the scope and rings to someone who wanted a cheap scope and rings. I do agree with some of the other poststhough, forget the packagecombo unless you can find a good deal.

[coca_colaguy23]

I agree the "cheap" gun will still kill a truckload of game . Now I have not seen the ad in a couple of years but its got a red ryder BB gun in the picture with a Ziess or some other insane high quality optic mounted to it but it makes a great point.