i am going to add my .02..

if you are just looking for a good deer rifle that is accurate and reliable, you don't need to spend even close to $600. I bought a Winny M70 for $400 and it performs quite well. I do want to suggest looking at SAVAGE. i picked up a model 10 in 7mm-08 and i will be foolish to say this isn't the perfect deer rifle. it cost me $350 brand new. 22" barrel, wood stock and cheap scope. As long as i do my part it's does it's part. The rifle is quite durable too and don't even get me started on how accurate this gun is.

hey i tried to figure out how to post my group but cant figure it out. little help needed and by the way mossy i do shoot 12 months a year. i hunt with it and i shoot target at a local gun club so the 3 shots a year is a bit WRONG. it appers all your groups are 3 shot mine are 4 or 5 and my best group from my 30-06 710 was from 125yrds and that was 5 shots in a group of .198. although i dont have a pic because it is curently in the hall of records at our club. best record witha 30-06 and done by a youth!

Since we are talking hunting rifles,most people shoot 3 shot groups.The guns best group is not important since flukes do happen.It is the average group that has meaning.In other words theaverage of the groups that you can shoot every time that you visit the range.Also most ranges have 100 yard targets instead of 125 yard targets.

I would go with the tikka t-3,have three of them and am very happy. Great trigger, light,detachable mag, and very accurate.

hello yes stubblejumper i agree its not a best gorup forum its an average group post and that 100 yrds is standard and i agree thats what i usually shoot but this was a special shoot from 125. the only reason i posted the way i did is because i felt insulted that my gun is crap when it isnt and my temper got a little heated so i tried to insult mossy back. mossy congrats those are some good groups but the 710 can perform as good or maybe better then all the others and thats all i ment by it and i too dont want it to become a pissing match.

I have onlyfired afew 710's and while accuracy was okay it certainlydid notshow the same potentialas many other rifles such as the remington700,savage 110or tikka t-3.The design and quality of machining and finish,simply is not comparable to most other rifles.The design also prevents accuracy improvements such as lug lapping and action truing that can make most otherrifles even more accurate.

700, obviously you are very happy with your 710. I am happy for you, and hope you kill many deer with it. I would never insult ones gun if they are happy with it. If you read my initial post all I said was "I have never heard anyone recommend one". IMHO there are better guns out there than the 710 because of design, but if you and I were at the range together having a blast and shooting targets, I wouldnt say a word, unless you asked me my opinion.

HANDS DOWN IT WILL BE THE 257 WBY. VANGUARD!

This one is easy. Tikka T3. I have had a .270 Win since they came out and love everything about them! IMHO the best gun out there for the price. It shoots like a $2000 gun and wieghs like one too. I can shoot well under and inch with just about any ammo. When I get selective it gets quite intersting I have had many 5 shot groups and only 3 holes. No I did not miss it is that good that 2 of the five actually hit the holes of a previous shot!!! When money allows I am buying another in the 300wsm or 7mm wsm.

+1

I love my newly accquired Mossberg ATR 100 for a beater/hunting rifle, but for six-hundred or less, the Tikka T3 is one helluva rifle.