ORIGINAL: msmforever69
...Looks wise I like the first 3 just because of that black tip at the front of the stock. Any recommendations? Also if there are other brands besides savage in the same price range, feel free to suggest those, as you can tell I want a wood stock with checkering, long bolt action in 30-06.
You should go to a store with a wide selection, & handle as many makes/models as you can. Maybe the Ruger fits you best. Maybethe Winchesterfeels just right in your hand. Perhaps a Browning feels like it was made just for you. There's no shortage of people who fawn over the Remington 700 CDL, myself included. If you do it this way, your rifle will pick
you.
ORIGINAL: msmforever69
... Also how is the scope that comes in the package series with savage? I have a centerpoint scope 4-16 x 40 already, how does that one compare? And is it sighted in already out of the box?
... The scope in the package will be borderline serviceable. It may last 20 years, or it may give it up after 2 shots. Regardless of how long it lasts, you'll be handicapping yourself with a very low-end optic. For $100 to $150 these days, you can pick up a scope that will be an incredible jump in quality over the package scope. I have never heard of a Centerpoint scope. I suppose if they were really good, one would see them getting much more press 'round these kinds of forums. And how did you end up with a scope before the rifle?
ORIGINAL: msmforever69
... Also this will be my first firearm, but I don't want a .22, i already had several air rifles that were more powerful than .22s (.50 caliber dragon slayer, .22 superstreak, webley patriot, etc). I'm 22 years old, and I figured if I'm spending so much on air guns I might as well get a centerfire rifle. Also the rifle will not be used for hunting, and because of this a lot of people told me that a .30-06 is over doing it for my purposes, however I want a .30-06 for it's recoil, and of course to feel cool about having such a powerful rifle
Thanks for any input!!
And here's the crux of the matter. You could well decide within your first box of cartridges that you've bitten off much more than you can chew: the '06 can be quite a handful if the stock doesn't fit you well. At this point, you'll be out $700-ish for the rifle (purchased new in wood & blue, from among the makes mentioned above), plus the scope & rings if you didn't go with the package route. You'll be able to sell it easily enough, but you're likely going to take a $100 to $300 bath on it. That's a pretty hefty loss for 1 brief range session.
As for the '06 being "such a powerful rifle", you need to understand that they
all are. For instance, .223's go, "bang" just as loudly, and they're every bit as effective at making holes in paper. There's far less recoil when shooting one,and the ammois often abit cheaper, too. The shells may be smaller, but they're manly enough for our troops to be carrying in Afghanistan & Iraq.
If you poke around this site enough, you'll see several accounts of members who worked themselves up the cartridge ladder into the big boomers, only to settle a notch or 2 below the .30-'06 when they got some experience beneath their belts. There's a reason for that.
So go to the range, buddy-up to someone, and shoot their .30-'06first! If you like it, then buy your own. If you don't like it, you will have saved yourself from making a bad choice, but you'll still be able to tell everyone that you've shot a .30-'06. Now, if you decide that you'd like to hunt after all, then tell us the beasts you'll be felling, & we can recommend some suitable cartridges.
FC