Hey all, I am currently in the market for a 300 win mag. and was looking for some suggestions for models and would like to stay under 800 for the gun. I have looked at the tikka t3, t/c venture and icon, and weatherby vanguard. They all seem like nice guns. Like the lightness of the t3 but like the build quality on the t/c's. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Or pros and cons of the ones i listed. Thanks
I personally am a big fan of savages and the weatherby vanguards. Both usually have great out of the box accuracy. Have you shot a 300 win mag before? What game will you hunt? How much will you practice? How long of shots will you take?
Yeah, i shot a savage 300 win mag. my brother has. I will be deer hunting with it and plan on making trips out west in the next few years elk hunting. I would probly shoot it 1-2 a month, and would like to be able to shoot 500 yards with good accuracy if i have the chance. Plan on getting a nice scope $400-500 range so would like to stay around 800 and under with the gun.
Good answers. Sometimes people start out wanting a Magnum just because it sounds cool, and don't have a clue about the recoil or ammo costs. I hate recoil and prefer a .270, .308, 30-06, or 35 whelen in a fairly heavy gun. Of the choices you listed, I would probably choose the T3 or vanguard. You might also check out the Howa's. It is the same action as the vanguards. I would probably choose a synthetic stainless set-up with a scope such as Ziess conquest, bushnell 4200, Leupold vx-L or 3 or a Burris in 4-14x42 or 44mm. You might at least take a look at the savage weather warrior.
It looks as if the T3, Vanguard, or weather warrior can all be bought for less than $600, so I would find which one shoulders best and has the best fit and finish. You might also check the bolt throw and trigger pull.
First I would switch the budget you have for the gun (To: $500) and the scope (To: $800), especialy if you want to shoot long distance.
You'll need good glass to shoot 500 yards...........................
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Ok, so i was thinking that too, spend more on the optics as all the guns should be pretty close in accuracy. I think i have narrowed it down to either the tikka t3 or the T/C Venture. What kinda scope would you guys recommend for 500 yards or more, to use on this gun. $500-$800 range on the scope. I have heard alot of good things about the ziess and was kinda leaning that way but what power for that range.
A light weight in 300WSM (or 300WM) will have a healthy amount of recoil. Any of the ones you mentioned will suffice. Just pick what feels best to you. Personally, I'd also be looking at Ruger's. They are tough, dependable and fairly priced. Scope-wise the Vortex Viper, Sightron Big Sky and Zeiss Conquest are great choices.
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If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got.
wi,
ya ever shot 500 yards? it sounds easy and it really is if you have the knoledge and experience, but you don't buy a rifle, a good scope and shoot 500 yards with good accuracy, if you do buy a lottery ticket.
a 300 win mag sighted dead on at 200 yards with a 165 BT bullet is -33" at 500 yards, seems easy but you figure a factory rifle that shoots 1.25" groups at 100 will hit somewhere in a 6" circle at that range, and so now your anywhere from 30 to 36 inches low at 500. Add that to the fact that for every .00693" that you pull off (from your field shooting position) your off another 5.2". thats not including windage adjustments.
Not trying to discorage you but for a first time gun buyer, 500 yards is a pretty far poke, took me over 20 years to be able to effectively kill game beyond the 500 yard marker with any level of confidance. Trust me on this, been there, done that.
My advise to you is get a rifle you can afford to shoot alot, and study ballistics, learn what your bullet does between you and the target, what effects it and what you can do to correct it. Then learn to handload, when your ready you'll know it, then get you a long range rifle and shoot them with confidance.
For the average shooter 300 yards is a long ways, are you above average? before you've bought your rifle?
RR
What to get, first time gun buyer.
