New Deer Rifle
 

I want to purchase a new rifle in .270win caliber. Accuracy is really important to me. It has to be wood stock with blued barrel. NO sights on the gun, I'll be putting a scope on it immediately.
So far, I've been looking at the:

winchester model 70 hunter 3
one of the savage classic models
browning a-bolt
remington 700 bdl/cdl
tika t3 hunter.

I'm a bit of a fan of the raised cheekpiece and price isn't really a factor being that I'll probably have this rifle for the rest of my life.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I looked at several deer rifles this week....If I bought a new one I'd go with a 7mm-08 in the Remington CDL....It balances beautifully....

A .270 is a great caliber (one of my brothers has two)...My other brother has a 7mm-08 and a .280...not a bit of difference in their effectiveness on deer...

With the shorter cartridges there is more weight between your hands and the gun just feels better...To me...:)

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

IMO, Savage or Tikka. Great shooting guns to be sure.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I am a big fan of the Browning A-Bolt. My 270 is a real tack driver.

Now if accuracy were my primary drive, I would be looking at something with a composite stock. While they may not look as nice as a nice wooden stock, they are unaffected by temperatuer or humidity (not so with a wood stock) which will alter your accuracy.

Another big plus would be the BOSS system that Browning has. It will allow you to literally "tune" your gun to a specific load. Not that you couldn't to it the other way around with hand loading, but it allow you to shoot a wider varietey of ammunition well. That being said, I would go for the BOSS CR version as opposed to the muzzle brake version. The noise to the shooter is significantly less with the CR.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

As the former owner of a BOSS equipped rifle,I could not disagree more.My own BOSS came loose regularly which changed the point of impact.The BOSS equipped rifles also come with shorter barrels to compensate for the length of the BOSS,the result being that they produce less velocity than a non-BOSS equipped rifle.Lastly,the BOSS equipped rifle was not my most accurate rifle despite much time and ammunition spent tuning it.I will never own another BOSS equipped rifle.
If accuracy is important,the only rifle mentioned that comes with an accuracy guarantee is the tikka.And as another posterstated previously,a synthetic stock will produce a more consistant point of impact.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I know people personally that own a browning with the boss system and it works flawlessly. Actually one of them owns two, his wife has one as well.

Barrel length should not make that big of a difference unless it is really short.

Maybe you just had a lemon? Did you ever contact browning about your issues with accuracy or the weight coming loose all the time?

Paul

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I did not say that the rifle was not accurate,rather that it was not my most accurate rifle.In other words,I have other non-boss equipped rifles that are more accurate.I find that the same level of accuracy can be achieved just by finding a load that a rifle likes.As for the boss continually loosening,it appears to be common with people that use their rifles under more demanding conditions such as horseback hunting.Many peopleresort to using loctite.As for tuning the BOSS,I am usually able to develop a handload in as many rounds as it took to find the most accurate setting.As for velocity,I don't see the sense in giving up velocity for nothing in return,as like I said,I was able to achieve just as much accuracy by finding the proper load for a given rifle.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I would buy the new Remington 700 SPS. It will have a Synthetic stock and a 24 inch barrel. I would be very suprised if it did shoot well under an inch from the box. All mine have.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

i want something with a wood stock, but thanks for your help

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

You will be more accurate with a non-wood stock in most guns. Though not much, every time humidity or temp changes stock shifts/warps to some minor degree. God forbid you are a true hunter and you spend 8 hours in the rain and then carry your gun in a nice climate controlled house to dry out.

Yes yes yes I know 400 people will reply and tell me how they have a wood gun that shoots 1" groups at 800yards while snowing in 95 deg weather, but consistency is the name of the game and wood warps. With lots of work or luck wood can be as accurate as anything, but your average off-the-shelfer will not like weather changes or water. Yes millions of guns are wood and work perfectly for what is expected from them but you said you wanted accurate.

To the earlier thread about the BOSS system, nah! With recoil comp too loud. Too much junk on end of barrel, clunkie. And as an added bonus the last one I saw we cut the boss off and the barrel recrowned shot just about as good as it did with the BOSS.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

By the way, if you really want wood and end up with one, bed the action and seal the inside of the stock(the part you don't see)with a high grade epoxy, laquor, or sealant to help keep stable.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

Im pretty set on wood being that its my first real rifle besides my POS marlin .22 thats lucky to get three inch groups at 25 yards. Wood just sits in my heart a little better and is a bit more "classic". So out of the ones that i picked which would you get?

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I'm a fan of wood also for my woods rifle. I have a synthetic 7mm mag that a hunt fields with, but I like the warm feel of my browning medallion in the classic 30-06. If you like beautiful wood, you'll love the medallion. Mine was 710$. It's the nicest looking and best shooting rifle I have. It changed the way I look at remington. :D

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I would go with the Remington 700 CDL then Joe. I like the way they look.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

This being your first Real gun, I guess wood is a good idea, it gets you back to roots so to speak. If this is #1 never sell it. When it is time, give it to the right person, that will never sell it.

Research all brands of guns for yourself, learn their history and where they are now. Find out who owns the companyand where manufactured. You will probably start forming opinions about what you want to look at.

Go to a large retailer and lay hands on these brands/models side-by-side. Relax and take each model one handed in your dominant hand and lower to your side. Pick up the gun swiftly like you were going to fire but don't tense up. Each will feel different for what ever reason, decide the one you are most comfortable with.

Allpopular manufacturers make good guns.

I like the Barrel to say MADE IN USA myself, so I suggest a Ruger or Remington. Each has several models of wood guns, great quality, one should fit.

Don't rush your buy, and enjoy the process.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I won't use a wood stock anymore. The ones I had with wood stocks have been replaced with Synthetic and the wood ones put away to save if I ever trade them off. I like a stock that I don't need to give a hoot about as far as scratches and dings. They are nice to look at but to fragil for me to use in the field. I hate scratcing up a good wood stock.

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RE: New Deer Rifle
 

Wood is the niceststock to look at,synthetic is themost dependablestock to hunt with.Decide which you want based on your use for the gun.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

Well i know i'm set on a wood stock.
The thing I don't like about the remington cdl is that it does'nt have a rasied cheekpiece. Other than that it's a nice looking gun.
The thing I don't like about the savage is that it has that accutrigger. I think I'll stick with a regular trigger thank you very much.
Winchester is one of my top choices, but I haven't really heard praises to their accuracy.
I don't want my stock to turn to mush when it rains so Tikka is out (although I'm sure their synthetics are fine guns).
That CZ looks pretty nice but I really don't know much about them at all.
Browning is in the same boat as CZ as of now.

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RE: New Deer Rifle
 

That seems like a very well made gun and it is now one of my top choices. thanks for all the pictures. So at this point I'm really down to the CZ, the Browning or the Winchester. Remington is out because the cdl doesnt have a raised cheekpiece.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

According to the remington site,the CDL does have a cheekpiece.

http://www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire_rifles/model_700/model_700_CDL.asp

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

darnit, now I have another gun to choose from...haha

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

congrats. i got the remington 700 bdl in a 270. nice gun

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

hows its groupings?

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

My a-bolt 30-06 groups inside 1/2 moa. Go browning!!!:DI'll take some good pics of it for you in a little while.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I would enjoy seeing some ofthose sub1/2 moa groups as well.You hear about so many on the net,yet so few are posted.Can weassume that you mean that it averages 1/2 moa,not merely that it has fired one or two 1/2moa groups?A stock factory rifle that averages 1/2 moais actually quite rare,although many will shoot a 1/2 moa group now and then.

Below are some 1/2 moa groups fired with my own rifles for comparison.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d128/stubblejumper11/7mmstwgroups.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d128/stubblejumper11/300ultramaggroups.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d128/stubblejumper11/300ultramag2groups.jpg

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d128/stubblejumper11/7mmstw2groups.jpg

If you can match these groups with a factory rifle and hunting loads,I will be impressed.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I have never taken a picture of any groups. I have a few rifles that will always shoot groups that are as tight as I can shoot them. I quess I am saying that they shoot better than I am always capable of shooting them. I have days when I shoot better than other days. I am happy is I can take a rifle out ANY day and hit the target three or four times within and inch of my aiming point. Sometimes that translates to very tight groups and some day it doesn't. However I know that in the field, those rifles will always shoot better than I can.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

James,My point is that on the net,it seems like every rifle shoots 1/2moa any time.Yet few people ever post 1/2 moa groups, and when they do it is usually only one group that very well could be a fluke.I like to be able to actually show what my rifles can do with me shooting them.I also like to see what other rifles can really do instead of just reading about all of the great groups they supposedly shoot.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

Got some ideas, now go lay hands on them all.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

Aight stubble, if you're calling me out, ill ablige you. I will shoot a few groups tomorrow for you guys. I shoot 5 shot groups also. My remington sendero 7mm saum will average moa. The browning 30-06 will avergae 1/2 moa. I'm glad you guys don't believe me though, that makes it more satisfying. :DIt's a stock medallion but i shoot handloaded 150gr nosler accubonds. I shot 3 five shot groups with a .744 average using factory federal cheap ammo. I'll post the pics tomorrow, unless I have a bad day at the range. :D I just loaded a batch a couple days ago.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

As I responded to James,we hear aboutso many 1/2 moa guns on the net,but we see so few 1/2moa groups posted.I have seen many 1/2 moa groups fired,but I have seen many,manymore people claim1/2 moa groups that could not shoot themconsistantly when asked to back up their claims.If you are able to post a few 1/2 moa groups firedwith a stock A bolt,I will indeedbe impressed.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I'll try my best tomorrow bro. I like the accuracy I get with the accubonds but they're not alot better than the, 10$ a box federals I bought when I first got it. I've only shot probably 8-10 groups since I've had it. The best was .37_something, can't remember. I usually dont keep my targets, as I just use a bullseye on a cardboard box, but i'll try to get some good groups and post some pics tomorrow. The browning definetly outshoots the sendero and the accubonds definetly outshoot the federals. And I still think the rifle outshoots me. :D

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

This ismy a-bolt medallion, topped with a leupold vx-III 3.5x10 40mm scope on leupold std bases and low rings. They have a nice look to them. The gloss colored scope leupold makes is a perfect match to the gloss blue browning steel.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

Look at them all, and get a feel for them side by side if you can. Buying from statistics and heresay will only give you a theoretical based decision. In the end, its important that the gun feel right for you. (Those darned CZ are so tempting aren't they?!)

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

The gun must fit you,and the scope must be mountedto fityou as well.The person mounting the scope must have you present to test the eye relief before tightening the rings.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

I know I need to test them all out before I buy but I'd just like to have a few things in mind before I go. Maybe I'll get the Leupold VX-III 3.5-10

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

That 3.5x10 gives you a good view at both ends of the hunting spectrum. 3.5x is plenty small enough for steady shots in the woods and 10x will put you on a long shot over a field.

RE: New Deer Rifle
 

That is a good statement. You have to have something that will fit you. make sure your scope, when you throw the rifle up to your face, is focused in right to your eye at low power. leupold has about 4in eye relief at low power. I think you'll find that purchasing a factory rifle will end up being based on your opinion of which feels the best for you.