Jedi,
What are your hunting senerios like,are you hunting close cover shots under 150 yds,quick fallow ups or are you a stand hunter or a stalker?Are you taking long shots 250+ yds?
I like the 7400 for general hunting aplications,but I would throw it out the window and take a 7600 pump in a heartbeat.
The savage's are a good gun and would suit your needs good,you also might look at the Rem. 700 CDL or the Winchester Featherweight.
BBJ
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"When the moment of truth comes,and it's time to dance.You better get jiggy with it or find a new partner."
I have a Marlin 30-30 That I use for 150 and closed shots. I wanted something 150+ I already have a 6-18 X 50mm scope. All I need is the gun, ammo, and pleanty of rangetime to practice.
Then Jedi look to the savage or anyother of the good bolt guns out there.I have a Ren 7600 that I have taken deer and antelope out to 350+ yds it's a 30-06.
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"When the moment of truth comes,and it's time to dance.You better get jiggy with it or find a new partner."
I am not a huge fan of a semi auto rifle especially the Remington 7400.
Personally I would go for the bolt action. There is a reason that they are so popular. They are very accurate, easy to clean and maintain and can be had in every conceivable configuration and caliber.
Forget about the muzzle brake for a 30-06. The 30-06 isn't a shoulder pounding rifle to begin with and the brake will just create excesive muzzle blast and noise. You will literally need hearing protection to hunt.
Savage does make a good rifle.
Assuming you have about $500+- to spend ona rifle Others to look at are Howa/ Weatherby vanguard, Remington 700, Charles Daly mausers (NIB superior grade 25-06 is for sale in the classafieds section HERE), Ruger, Winchester, Tikka (30-06 for sale in the classafieds HERE).
I would also dump the 6-18X scope. They are much better suited to a varmint rifle than a big game rifle. It will hinder you more than it will help you. Look for a variable starting 2 or 3X and up to 9 or 12X. This range will give you all the magnification that you will ever need in a big game rifle.
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Bigbulls hit every single nail right on the head, especially about muzzle brakes. I have a Remington 742 semi-auto in .30-06, and unless I let the barrel cool all the way down to COLD it throws pretty large groups. If it's winter and I let the barrel get completely cold I have managed a few four shot 100 yard one inch groups, but this is hardly the way one might want to use a semi-auto. I've never had a jam in mine but I read lots of posts from guys who have. I HAVE had brush and debris collect in the action to the point where I didn't dare shoot it without a good field cleaning. Never had this problem with any of my bolt rifles.
For longer shots I believe that you'd be happier with a bolt rifle, or perhaps the Rem 7600 (NOT the older 760.)
I'm quite happy with the 700 ADL. I'd prefer a bolt-action over a pump, and a pump over a semi-auto. I haven't used a Savage, but most of the hunters I talk to think they're a great buy for the money.
Of the two choices you noted, the Savage would be the better choice. As you noted, you already have a good 30-30 for the close stuff. There's no beating a good quality
bolt action for longer range accuracy. And, there's some places don't allow the use of
semi-autos for hunting (state of PA.).
Now, for near the same $$$ as the Savage, you may want to check out the new Remington 700 SPS series. They make one with syn. stock, and stainless. Here's a link to the Remington web page - check it out;
Model 700 SPS Stainless: http://www.remington.com/firearms/ce.../700sps_ss.htm
IMO this would be the better rifle, and as noted you don't need a muzzle brake on a
30-06. As for scope, what you have is too much. Look for a good quality variable in
the 2-7x or 3-9x power range - more than enough for big game hunting.
I also would stay away from the 7400. I don't have any recent experience with the rem autos but the JAMMASTER reputation has stuck with them from the past. Another consideration is where are you going to hunt, many states autoloaders are illegal. Your looking at the $400-$500 range, there are many quality guns out there. Howa, Winchester, Remington, Ruger, etc.
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Which 30-06 should I get?
