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Help decide on rifle purchase
Okay, I'm new to this forum and have read quite a bit and am about to purchase my first rifle.
I grew up in Montana and hunted from age 12 to age 18 religiously but ended up moving to Texas and have just never gotten back into it. I'm looking for a good general all purpose rifle. Primarily I will be hunting mule deer in eastern Montana but there is a possibility that I could end up hunting antelope or elk with it. I originally was set on a 7mm Mag but talking with some people I am now leaning toward a 30-06. (I shot a .270 Mossberg growing up and liked the gun, but if I ever do want to hunt elk I don't think that will cut it and don't want to have to buy another gun). My brother recommended the Browning A-Bolt but I'm having a little bit of a hard time with the $850 price tag for a stainless with synthetic stock. I've also considered a Remington 700 Stainless that I've seen in the $550 price range andthe original gun I was looking at was a Ruger M77 Mark II also in stainless in the $500 range. I got tempted by the amazing price on the Remington 710 but after reading some more I decided that I wanted to buy a gun that would last a lifetime. So, what are everyone's opinions of the 3 model choices above and the 2 caliber choices? My brother said I would be willing to practice withthe 30-06 more because bullets are cheaper and it won't kick as hard and so I would be a better shot with it than the 7mm Mag. Growing up a 200 yard shot wasn't uncommon in Eastern Montana and you had even farther shots available if you were willing to take them. That's why I was originally leaning toward the 7mm Mag for the flat trajectory. I will then need a decent scope so any specific recommendations there would be appreciated as well. I'm familiar with Nikon optics (cameras) and like those but am not locked in on a brand. Not trying to start a brand war or anything, just trying to research out and purchase a good overall gun to use that would be something that will last a good long time. Thanks in advance. Nathan |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Id choose the gun by what feels best to you. Id go to the shop and shoulderall and check the trigger feel also. I like the A-bolt in a landslide but thats just my opinion. It has better stuff right out of the box the rems and rugers.
And for caliber holy crap as many people will say th 06 as the 7mm mag. The 7mm is shoots a little flatter and is better at longer ranges and the 06' has prob the biggest bullet selection in factory loads you'll find. I dont think you'll go wrong with either. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Yeah, what HE said!
Find a rifle that shoulders just as if you were pointing your finger when you played "Cops & Robbers" as a kid. Go to a store with as many different brands as possible, given your location, then fondle them all! Find therifle that speaks to you, then flip a coin between the 2 calibers. When you're done, GO SHOOT THE THING! A LOT! Whatever you do, don't spend too much time on sites like this: they'll talk you out of a perfectly rational & well-thought-out decision! Rest assured that you're on the right track. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Yeah it's all up to you. Either .30-06 or 7mm Mag, they will get the job done.
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
I'd go 30-06 in the remington 700. I like...no wait...I really like the ruger actions but they pretty much require a aftermarket trigger and then you take a gamble on whether or not it will shoot well. Some are amazing...some are "minute of deer" and nothing more. Maybe look at Savage guns also. They are not pretty but they will certainly "last a lifetime" and are more accurate than anything in there price range.
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Get what fits.
And don't forget to look at the Weatherby Vanguard/Howa 1500 and the Tikka models...all very accurate and in your price range. For a scope, just get the Burris Fullfield II with the free binoculars for $199. I've never seen a better deal on optics in history! If it were me, I'd go Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in .270 Win. Great round for Eastern Montana (I've hunted there!) and will certainly be a terrific antelope rifle and will kill any elk that walks if you do your part. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
30-06 is the best choice. Everyone is right-decide what you want to spend, then handle alot of fireams til you find what feels best. Take a look at the single shots, they handle well. I saw where Midsouth is having a large sale on Nikon Monarch series scopes. They make a decent quality scope. Just check to see if the one you are buying is click adjustable, or friction adjustable. Ask the salesperson. Tom.
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
All I can say is good luck! I'm sort of in the same boat, only going .308 myself. I've been enjoying a headache for the last 4 days trying to decide just which brand I want myself. I know Savage is pretty good, used to have a 100E in .30-06, but I want a syn stock this go around and theirs is a bit boxy for my tastes. Looking at Stevens model 200, seems people enjoy them.. but then again, Vanguards are nice too.. if only a 22" barrel vs. the 24" standard and 20" compact. See the headache part? Anyway, honestly good luck, research what you want, go to pay for it and leave with something different.. it always ends up that way for me at least. :eek:
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
30-06 is a good all around caliber.7Mag is to.Check out the the tikka t3 thread. Since I read it I've bought 2 tikka's and love both of them. For the $ you can't beat the gun or accuracy.I own a rem700 as well and love it to.As far as scopes, your gun is only as good as the scope on top of it. Do some looking around.I like Leupold and Zeiss's myself. The Zeiss conquest and Leupold Vari X II line are great scopes for the money. I have a Meopta Meostar on one of my Tikka's and it is super clear. They are a little more $$ though. Good luck.
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
7mm rem mag in 700 SPS sswith Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40 and leupold DD rings/bases. T3 would be a solid choice as well but wasn't listed. Though like said you should buy on feel not others feel or preference.
06' isfine but does little to impress me. Recoil difference between the 2 in similar weight/style rifles are comparable, yes the 7mm isslightly stouter but certainly not unreasonable either. For the bullets the 06' prefers the SD of the .284 cal is better and as well suited for upto moose sized game. If I truly needed the 200 gr and up of the .308 diameter bullets the 06' wouldn't even be on my radar screen I'd jump to the 300 wm! Little doubt the 7mm rem mag will be the flatest of the 2 for possible longer range shooting though it won't make a hill of beans of difference under 300 yards. Cost to shoot is a little more for the 7mm rem mag but not drastically in all forms, though I reload and such things don't bother me. IMHO the cost of ammo is the smallest part of the hunting bill each year. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Okay, thanks for the replies so far. I didn't really think I would get a resounding "you need to buy this brand and this caliber" response, but you never know. I haven't even heard of a T3 so I guess I will need to research that a little more also. I guess I'll go see how they feel.
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
ORIGINAL: npaden ... I didn't really think I would get a resounding "you need to buy this brand and this caliber" response, but you never know. ...I guess I'll go see how they feel. So, for sh!ts & giggles, I have the guy hand me a Remington 700 CDL, and it's PERFECT! It's as if the gun was made for me by the friggin' Gods! It fits all my nooks & crannies (and folds, and rolls, and...) just ever so. So why don't I get one? Because that's what I already own, onlyin a .30-06! Why get the same gun in a different caliber? I feel like I'm back to square one! The first time I ever went to a real gun shop, with a ton o' selection, I was amazed. I asked the counter lizard why there were so many kind of guns ineach caliber. He calmly replied, "beacause there are so many kinds of people". I wasn't expecting to get sage advice from the whippersnapper-du-jour behind the counter, but I have to agree with him. If the gun doesn't fit you, you'll never be really happy with it, and the "two of you" won't perform to your capabilities. Like it or not, you & your rifle are a team. On sites like these, you'll find all of us zealots extoling the virtues of the models we like from the manufacturers we like, while positively slamming all the other companies. If you think about it, though, the only objective information you can get about which companies are best, is to look at which ones are still in business, or are growing. Apparently, Savage, Remington, Marlin, Tikka, Sako, and many dozens of others, are still making guns that many people can reliably kill animals with. So, you might as well choose what works best for you, and let the posters excoriate you, or praise you, as they will. As for me, I kind of like the looks of the CZ 550, but it comes in 6.5 x 55, and not in 7mm-08. If the gun fits me like a dream, I guess I won't have too bigof aproblem going to a different caliber. I just think it's a b!tch that the longest story I'll ever be able to tell the kids about thisgun, if I can ever make a choice,is how friggin' long it took me to pick it out! Best o' Luck! FC |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Okay, so I read up on the Tikka T3 and now I'm even more confused! Sounds like an excellent rifle right in the price range I'm looking at.
Only drawback is that I doubt any of the local stores are going to have a Tikka that I can try out to see how it feels. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
You cant go wrong with a Rem 700. For a little less money Savage makes really accurate rifles. They may not be as pretty but they shoot great. I have both a 7 mag and a 30-06. Bullets for the 7 mag run almost a dollar a piece. You can pick up cheap 30-06 bullets for $10-$12 a box. The ballistics between the two guns aren't THAT much different. You can also get anywhere from 45 gr acelerator rounds to 220 gr bullets for the 30-06. It's big enough to drop and elk and you can still buy small enough bullets for antelope. I could never see buying a Zeiss or Leica scope for any of my guns. The thought of putting a $1000 scope on my $500 rifle just doesn't make sense to me. I think I would buy a middle of the road Leupold, Burris or Nikon and spend $300-$400. When I look through a $1500 scope and a $300 scope I just don't see $1200 worth of difference.
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
ORIGINAL: seattlesetters For a scope, just get the Burris Fullfield II with the free binoculars for $199. I've never seen a better deal on optics in history! If it were me, I'd go Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in .270 Win. Great round for Eastern Montana (I've hunted there!) and will certainly be a terrific antelope rifle and will kill any elk that walks if you do your part. We've had one bad experience in our family with a .270 and elk. My brother shot a nice bull low in the brisket and itleft leaving a blood trail that ended after about a mile. Probably wouldn't have made much of a difference with a 7mm Mag or 30-06 but he always blamed the gun. I loved my .270 as a kid, they are really easy shooting and are pretty good on deer but I was thinking they are a little small for elk. I found a local gun store that has all 4 guns I'm interested in stock and I'm going to go over and check them out tonight I think. Their prices on the Browning A-Bolt, Remington 700 SPS and Ruger M77 Mark II are within $50 of what I've been seeing but their price on the Tikka T3 is $150 more than the link I had to the ozark online shop. I'll have to see what feels good. Compared to the Mossberg I grew up with, they are probably all pretty nice rifles. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
ORIGINAL: npaden ORIGINAL: seattlesetters For a scope, just get the Burris Fullfield II with the free binoculars for $199. I've never seen a better deal on optics in history! If it were me, I'd go Tikka T3 Lite Stainless in .270 Win. Great round for Eastern Montana (I've hunted there!) and will certainly be a terrific antelope rifle and will kill any elk that walks if you do your part. We've had one bad experience in our family with a .270 and elk. My brother shot a nice bull low in the brisket and itleft leaving a blood trail that ended after about a mile. Probably wouldn't have made much of a difference with a 7mm Mag or 30-06 but he always blamed the gun. I loved my .270 as a kid, they are really easy shooting and are pretty good on deer but I was thinking they are a little small for elk. I found a local gun store that has all 4 guns I'm interested in stock and I'm going to go over and check them out tonight I think. Their prices on the Browning A-Bolt, Remington 700 SPS and Ruger M77 Mark II are within $50 of what I've been seeing but their price on the Tikka T3 is $150 more than the link I had to the ozark online shop. I'll have to see what feels good. Compared to the Mossberg I grew up with, they are probably all pretty nice rifles. http://www.bearbasin.com/catalog.htm#burr_scopes And...you're right about that shot. Same thing would have happened with a .300 Mag, too. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Okay, thanks for the link. I have no idea if the burris scopes are good or not though, I've never heard of them before.
Looking through there the Fullfield II 4.5-14X 42mm (AO) Matte (Ballistic Plex) (Inc. Landmark 12-24X 50MM Spotter) for $339 and free shipping looks to be a pretty good deal since I actually could use a spotting scope but already have some decent binoculars. Would that spotting scope be worth having? I guess I'll start researching scopes. Before I posted this I had never heard of a Tikka T3 rifle and it sounds like they are pretty good so maybe the Burris Fullfield scope is good. Thanks again everyone for the comments so far! |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Okay, reading some more on the Burris scopes. What do you guys think on a scope - 3-9x or 4.5-13x? 95% of the time the 3-9x is going to be fine right? The only thought is that sometimes when you are out walking a lot with just you and your gun the better scopes can come in handy in doubling up as a spotting scope.
I found another site that has a promo going on the Burris scopes that they throw in a cheap garmin gps that normally sells for $70ish. That may end up being more useful than another set of binoculars or a cheap spotting scope. http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=BU2 00162GPS&src=ba381 I'm over reading in the optics forum now! ;) |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Have you taken a look at the Ruger All-Weather in .280 Rem? That would be a very nice rifle for what you're going to be doing.
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
ORIGINAL: npaden I found a local gun store that has all 4 guns I'm interested in stock and I'm going to go over and check them out tonight I think. Their prices on the Browning A-Bolt, Remington 700 SPS and Ruger M77 Mark II are within $50 of what I've been seeing but their price on the Tikka T3 is $150 more than the link I had to the ozark online shop. I'll have to see what feels good. Compared to the Mossberg I grew up with, they are probably all pretty nice rifles. Any of the afforementioned are great guns. Get what feels good, slap a good scope on it and it will last you forever. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Heres the Burris FF II scope for 186
http://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item.asp?sku=00023200160 Here it is for 184 with free spotting scope. http://www.swfa.com/pc-8071-203-burris-3-9x40-fullfield-ii-rifle-scope.aspx Personally Id go with a Bushnell 3200. You cant beat the Rainguard finish for the field. Not just for rain but if you have ever hunted in the cold and had your breath or the heat off of you face fog up a scope you'll understand how important the Rainguard is. The 3200 and FF II have the same quality of glass. If you want to spend a little more you wont find a better scope for under 300$ This is for a Elite 4200 3-9x40mm for 279$. http://www.swfa.com/pc-7280-185-bushnell-3-9x40-elite-4200-rifle-scope.aspx If you can spend 400$ then get the Conquest. You cant beat the quality of that scope for the bucks. To me the Conquests and 4200's are by far the best scopes you can get for the money. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
OK...I've been shopping for a similar rifle/scope combo for about a month now. My final take on this: If you like high-powered scopes, get a 7mm Rem Mag...it will be able to take some of those tempting longer shots just a bit better than an '06.
Also, get a rifle with a 24" barrel as opposed to 26"...the resulting tiny loss in velocity is nothing but lugging around a longer rifle sure is something to think about. Lastly, elk hunting isn't always done in open country like your Eastern Montana deer hunting will be, so a scope that starts with 4.5x magnification may not be your best choice. I'd take a look at some 3-10s like the Weaver Grand Slam...or there are a few really nice 3-12s out there, like the Sightron SII and the Burris Signature Select. At 3x, you should be fine even in thick woods, and 10x-12x is more than adequate for shots at any distance you should be shooting at game. For a great deal, I'd go with a Ruger All-Weather in 7mm Rem Mag ($500)with a Sightron SII 3-12x42mm ($299) or a Weaver Grand Slam 3-10x40mm ($269). Rings come with the Ruger, so no more expense would be incurred. You can play with the Ruger a bit down the road, like having a good gunsmith work the trigger, free-float the barrel, etc. You may not need to, but it sure is fun to tinker a bit! |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
ORIGINAL: Folically Challenged ORIGINAL: npaden ... I didn't really think I would get a resounding "you need to buy this brand and this caliber" response, but you never know. ...I guess I'll go see how they feel. So, for sh!ts & giggles, I have the guy hand me a Remington 700 CDL, and it's PERFECT! It's as if the gun was made for me by the friggin' Gods! It fits all my nooks & crannies (and folds, and rolls, and...) just ever so. So why don't I get one? Because that's what I already own, onlyin a .30-06! Why get the same gun in a different caliber? I feel like I'm back to square one! The first time I ever went to a real gun shop, with a ton o' selection, I was amazed. I asked the counter lizard why there were so many kind of guns ineach caliber. He calmly replied, "beacause there are so many kinds of people". I wasn't expecting to get sage advice from the whippersnapper-du-jour behind the counter, but I have to agree with him. If the gun doesn't fit you, you'll never be really happy with it, and the "two of you" won't perform to your capabilities. Like it or not, you & your rifle are a team. On sites like these, you'll find all of us zealots extoling the virtues of the models we like from the manufacturers we like, while positively slamming all the other companies. If you think about it, though, the only objective information you can get about which companies are best, is to look at which ones are still in business, or are growing. Apparently, Savage, Remington, Marlin, Tikka, Sako, and many dozens of others, are still making guns that many people can reliably kill animals with. So, you might as well choose what works best for you, and let the posters excoriate you, or praise you, as they will. As for me, I kind of like the looks of the CZ 550, but it comes in 6.5 x 55, and not in 7mm-08. If the gun fits me like a dream, I guess I won't have too bigof aproblem going to a different caliber. I just think it's a b!tch that the longest story I'll ever be able to tell the kids about thisgun, if I can ever make a choice,is how friggin' long it took me to pick it out! Best o' Luck! FC |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
npaden, you ask for opinions you get them. However we all said you need to find whats right for you interms of feel and features. Not a stitch wrong with any of them just boils down to personal likes and dislikes.
As far as scopes go 3x9 or 10 is all that I feel is required for a biggame scope. I have never seen the need for more in the field and I hunt areas where shots can be longer than I am willing to take. If you think you'll be regularily shoots of500 yards or further then sure a larger mag scope may be of use. Burris FFII is a decent scope, in the elite 3200 class..good bang for your buck. Few of my buddies use the FFII's and are pleased, I have a couple 3200's which they compare favorably to my eye. I know nothing about the spotter you mentioned, sorry. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
ORIGINAL: chr103yod You cant go wrong with a Rem 700. For a little less money Savage makes really accurate rifles. They may not be as pretty but they shoot great. I have both a 7 mag and a 30-06. Bullets for the 7 mag run almost a dollar a piece. You can pick up cheap 30-06 bullets for $10-$12 a box. The ballistics between the two guns aren't THAT much different. You can also get anywhere from 45 gr acelerator rounds to 220 gr bullets for the 30-06. It's big enough to drop and elk and you can still buy small enough bullets for antelope. I could never see buying a Zeiss or Leica scope for any of my guns. The thought of putting a $1000 scope on my $500 rifle just doesn't make sense to me. I think I would buy a middle of the road Leupold, Burris or Nikon and spend $300-$400. When I look through a $1500 scope and a $300 scope I just don't see $1200 worth of difference. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Okay, I went and checked them out and the rifle I was leaning toward the least is that one that I thought was the most comfortable. [&:]
I had ranked the guns in my mind as #1 - Tikka T3, #2 Browning A-Bolt, #3 Ruger All weather and #4 Remington 700. Trying them out I really liked the action of all of them. I didn't like the extra little bump on the pistol grip of the Browning. I really liked the dettachable magazine on the Tikka and the ability to adjust the trigger and the guaranteed accuracy but I thought the stock on the Tikka looked cheap. I liked the feel of the Remington 700 the best. I tried a Sako and it was nice but I didn't ask how much it cost. I think the Tikka could be improved to fit me better by adding some type of padding on the forward part of the stock where I would grip it with my left hand and adding a recoil saver type butt plate because I'm long armed and all guns tend to be short for me. The Reminton 700 was short but the front part of the stock was a little wider and it felt good. Any thoughts on my test fitting? |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
ORIGINAL: npaden Okay, I went and checked them out and the rifle I was leaning toward the least is that one that I thought was the most comfortable ... I liked the feel of the Remington 700 the best. ... Any thoughts on my test fitting? No matter which one you thought felt best, there'd be people out there to slam your choice. Or to praise it. I happen to have a 700 CDL, and it's perfect for me. In particular, I love the R3 (Sims) recoil pad on it - makes a world o' difference. And the stock is as slender as a supermodel... On the other hand, I can't for the life of me understand how people shoot Marlin 336 .30-.30's. I know they're incredibly popular, wonderfully dependable, and devastatingly effective. And don't forget how cool lookin' they are! I mean, I really, really want to like them, but they just don't seem to fit me. And that's fine - I have hundreds of other choices in guns, and the 336 fans can keep stocking the meat poles year after year. We all win! Love or hate the 700, there's no denying that these guns havebeen taking game for upwards of 40 years, and that the action has been reliable/dependable enough to be adapted to dozens of models. You may not have chosen a ooh-and-ahh custom gun, butthe 700'swouldn't have such a long and loyal following if they weren't getting the job done, and done well. If it really fits you well, that's far and away the most important thing! Congrats! Now... which caliber did you pick????!!!!!!!!:D FC |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Like said you answered your own question.
As far as the trigger on the 700 it is easy to have the trigger pull reduced(minus the savage AT). Unless you know somebody who is versed in this process or gunsI suggest youtake it toa gunsmith to do it for you. Here the cost is 30 bucks if no spring needs to be replaced, which in an out of the box new rifle I doubt you'll have to worry about unless your wanting to go lower then the 3lb area. If you don't care about ss barrel the 700SPS is offered in a Detached Mag version with the matte black barrel on black synthetic stock, FYI. DM is also available in a mountain rifle package which is wood on blue..not sure what calibers they are chambering this run though. I am a lefty so neither are applicable to my needs but my partners bought the boy aSPSDM this year so i know its an option if of interest. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
ORIGINAL: skeeter 7MM My suggestion was not a 1000 scope but rather a zeiss conquest 3x9x40 - sells for $400(or less), in your range;). I know not everyone feels a scope is worth the coin but I personally believe don't sell yourself short on glass and mounts just asimportantas the rifle itself. I personally will not bring myself to buy 1000 USD priced scope but I buy the best I can for every rifle I own and top it with quality rings/bases. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Well theses guys know what their talking about. Myself having invested several thousands in scopes the past couple years have come to the conclusion that $500 is entry level price. skeeter and onebadf250 recommendation on a Zeiss is excellent.
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Okay, I really liked the T3 from the reviews and I might go try them out again. One question on the Remington 700. Academy has the 700 SPS in black on black for $428.00. Walmart has the 700 SPS in Black on SS for $504.13. I get confused on all the different models on the 700 and am not really sure which one I tried out at the hunting store the other day. It seems like thereare about a dozen different models out there. Is the stainless the right choice for it's ability to hold up the best? I'm probably going to go by Academy and try out the 700 SPS next. I was really unimpressed with the hunting store I went to the other night. They were having some event and the only person who helped me was a guy who actually worked for Berreta and he was pretty good at trying to sell me on the T3 although he did hand me a Remington 700 to try out and it did feel a little better. They are all too short though.
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
I just bought a Tikka T3 in camo and stainless for $700, I put a nikon AO 4.5 x 16.5 scope it. The caliber is a 25-06. I love the gun and scope and it shoots what they advertise right out of the box. I adjusted the trigger down low as it would go and it's very crisp and nice. For elk, I'd go with a little bigger caliber but I wouldn't pick a 30 cal just because of the kick. I also got a 7mm mag Ruger Mk II but that's a finnicky round seems like. I reload mine my ownto make it shoot good. If I were you, I'd go with a 280 or something like that.
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Why don't you run this past James B? He seems to have quite a bit o' knowledge, & he recently picked-out a 700 SPS for himself.
ORIGINAL: James B I just bought the Remington SPS in 7MM-08. I am very Very happy with it.:D:D:D:D Your prices sound right along the lines of the guys I use: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?osCsid=69497b38396f222b 13730eaa2f07e5e4&keywords=700+sps&osCsid=6 9497b38396f222b13730eaa2f07e5e4 When you say that the guns are, "too short", do you mean that your trigger hand seems too close to your face? I suppose you could try to find a knowledgeable gun seller, & ask them which models have the longest length o' pull. Or, you could put on an aftermarket recoil pad that would take up some extra space. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
I have had several SPS rifles (Aready);). For the price, I don't think they have an equal. The 700 Action is about as proven as it gets. The Remington barrel, (though you will hear knocks about the newer ones) seem to shoot very well. I expect and uaually get sub one inch groups from the box with Remington rifles. I like the 24 inch barrel which makes the SPS's, right up my alley as they all have 24 inch barrels. I like the Matte finish and the snynthetic stocks and they are available in stainless. I expect no better accuracy from SS barrels and if anything, it doesn't suprise me if they are a bit less accurate. Some knock the stocks as being flimsey but unless you plan to use it for knocking down trees and stuff, this makes no sense to me.
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
ORIGINAL: Folically Challenged There's a whole 'nother debate about blued vs. stainless out there. I'm not sure one gains any accuracy with stainless, but I can't speak to what it does for a guns' resale value. Your prices sound right along the lines of the guys I use: http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/advanced_search_result.php?osCsid=69497b38396f222b 13730eaa2f07e5e4&keywords=700+sps&osCsid=6 9497b38396f222b13730eaa2f07e5e4 When you say that the guns are, "too short", do you mean that your trigger hand seems too close to your face? I suppose you could try to find a knowledgeable gun seller, & ask them which models have the longest length o' pull. Or, you could put on an aftermarket recoil pad that would take up some extra space. My only worry on the stainless is that it might reflect light more than a regular barrel. I don't remember having any issues with durability on any of our old guns and they had regular barrels. Back to calibers I'm still on the fence. I really think 7mm Mag would be the best, but I'm not sure how much worse the .30-06 would be and I do think I would practice more if I was able to buy shells for $12 a box vs. $24 a box. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Dont forget if you hunt in the cold weather and wear some heavy layers it wont be so close. Im 6 4" with about a 32" bow draw length and have really like the size of the Model 7's and Browning Micro's. Sometimes its where the scope is mounted that matters.
Although if you arent comfortable with them then go on the the next model. Having confidence in your shooting is what matters most, all the guns you've looked at have been advised to check out will be great if you like it. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
Stainless vs matte boils down to personal preference. True the SS is a little more forgiving, thoughit still requires oiling/care. Accuracy and function IME are the same with both products. Usually on black synthetic stock I like a SS(looks) however the SPS matte black on the new stock looks pretty sharp as well. Really is a wash on these 2 for me on the looks department. Though that is me not you so pick which ever finish you prefer. As far as glare I have never found a ss or even the traditional high gloss blue(which gives off the most glare) to be of concern with a biggame rifle. Shotgun in a goose pit sure but in the woods with game that don't solely rely on sight...NAH!
To your quander over cartridges, they are both well suited. Can't go wrong with either. If you'd practice more with cheaper ammo then buy the 06'. Though bare in mind while a box of 12 shells may shoot good it can just as easily not either. Unfortunatley you won't know that until you shoot the rifle in regards to preferences. Though all things equal comparable shells will be less for the 06 andbeing ownership costs seems higher on your list then mine go with what your guts telling you. Don't think anybody would advise you to buy something you won't shoot as much, that wouldn't make any sense. Though don't buy wanting another, either. As to the comment about the 7mm rem mag being picky I can't say I share this experience. I have loaded for a number and not found them worse than other cartridges to develop loads. My personal 7mm rem mag is the opposite, almost to likable and makes the slim down based on accuracy mooted.A problem I certainly don't mind having;). ThoughI have ran into guns that are picky, this isn't secluded to a cartridge but rather the rifle or bore you may be dealing with. Luck of the draw I guess. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
CZ 550 American in 30-06. Slightly less expensive than the 700 and one helluva gun. You won't regret, but if you do regret it, e-mail me and I'll buy it from you. [email protected]
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RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
ORIGINAL: Duckbutter48 Personally Id go with a Bushnell 3200. You cant beat the Rainguard finish for the field. Not just for rain but if you have ever hunted in the cold and had your breath or the heat off of you face fog up a scope you'll understand how important the Rainguard is. The 3200 and FF II have the same quality of glass. If you want to spend a little more you wont find a better scope for under 300$ This is for a Elite 4200 3-9x40mm for 279$. http://www.swfa.com/pc-7280-185-bushnell-3-9x40-elite-4200-rifle-scope.aspx If you can spend 400$ then get the Conquest. You cant beat the quality of that scope for the bucks. To me the Conquests and 4200's are by far the best scopes you can get for the money. Here's a link to a low light study/comparison a guy did that I thought was really useful: http://www.marlinowners.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=9515&highlight=one+dog+optics+ study As for the gun, I did a lot of shopping around and reading opinions/reviews/whatnot and ended up buying a Ruger 77 in 25-06.(I already had a 7 mag) I liked the overall quality, the price, the mauser-style bolt and the controlled feed. So far, I haven't found a factory load that shot worse than 1.5". I also planned on getting the trigger worked on right away, but the factory trigger was excellent. |
RE: Help decide on rifle purchase
.30-1906 I own a 7mmRemMag but it has been collecting dust fora fewyears now
Out of your choices I would choose the Remington 700 Nikon Monarch or Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40mm Savage makes great out of box rifles(for less)and a wealth of aftermarket stock styles available. the M40A1 fits me real well. |
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