A Good Dilemma To Have
 

Tis' the season is right down the road and this year I was going to get my father a real nice higher mid level rifle. Something he can admire, talk about, show off at camp and hopefully get him a small pile of deer.

Im not looking for anything ridiculous like a Jarret but I was looking at a Browning White Gold Medallion and the Weatherby Mark V Deluxe. Hands down I like both, I'm leaning more towards the Weatherby just as it's a all time classic and a beautiful rifle all around. No matter what I get it will be a .308. Whats your guys thoughts?

I saw a Savage made specially for the RMEF....it's $1200 I think, chambered in .300savage, gold inlay, nice wood, etc...check it out...

It sounds like you want a wood stock I assume?

That remington CDL-SF is rather sharp, oops, looks like it doesn't come in .308, can you believe that!? 7mm-08, or maybe .300wsm?

Btw for weatherby MKV deluxe prices....which is $2-3k right? I'd look to a custom...

I can get the MK V deluxe for around 1800 and the Gold Medallion for around 1400. Definitely want a nice Monte Carloish type of stock. I will check out the Savage, I know how much Savage has come along in the last 5 years but I know he still looks upon them as just a starter rifle. He's an old timer what can I say!

I had a Medallion in .280, very nice gun. BUT - the wood is very soft on them. If you look hard at it hard enough it will nick. The only bad thing I have to say about it though.

If it's to be a hunting rifle, why spend the $$$$ on a fancy finish on the stock and metal of a Weatherby? I'd think a nicer quality would be more important than shiny and flashy.
You mention a rifle but what about the optics? Not gonna forget that and have buying suitable optics fall on your father are you?
I'd not be bothered by a Savage with a decent quality scope and nor should an old timer.

I already know what scope I would put on it so no I wouldn't let that fall on him. I'm just contemplating a couple very nice classic rifles.

I would go for the Browning--I have an A-bolt Medallian in .204, my coyote gun, it's drop dead beautiful, every bit the craftsmanship, fit and finish you would find on the Weatherby and deadly accurate. I have a friend who has two Mark V's and quality wise, I see no difference at all between them and the Browning. This same friend bought my A-bolt in 30-06 as a companion piece for the Weatherby's--it was also very accurate. Not sure about the softer wood, I just handle it carefully enough not to bang it on anything. I also like the Weatherby's, but their styling is almost over-the-edge, almost to flambouyant. My friend doesn't even hunt with the Weatherby's due to fear of a scratch so the A-bolt 06 has gotten to be his"go-to" gun. Get the Browning, I have about $1200 tied up in both rifle and scope and it's been worth every penny---he'll love it------

Owning a Savage 16 Weathermaster in 300WSM, I'd say it deserves a real close look.
The accu-trigger is phenomenal, accuracy out of the box is very good, and the price is very good for the quality rifle you get.
I lapped my bolt and dialed down the trigger pull, added handloads to the mix, and get sub-MOA at the 100.
Mine's good to about 800 yards, though I have yet to take it further. I suspect I could get 1000 yards with a heavier barrel and match grade ammo.
I'm sure that whatever your choice is, it will be a very good one, and will be greatly appreciated.

Well a rifle I think is goodlooking is the Remington 700 BDL with it gloss finished stock and ebony looking forend tip. And you could get it alott cheaper. I gotta 700 BDL 270 I've hunted with for years beautiful rifle shoots great and is under a grand. Put the extra money into a good leupold or nikon scope and your dad would be proud. My ol man uses a Winchester model 70 featherweight in 308 for deer and it's nice too.

First of all...
You're having to pay WAAAAAY too much for either of these rifles.

I wouldn't give a Weatherby MK-V to someone that I had a good relationship with. Sure they look pretty and nice to look at but in my experience of shooting dozens of them the performance hardly ever lives up to the price tag.

The Browning WGM is a decent enough rifle and is generally pretty accurate. If you opt for the Browning go with the X-bolt over the A-bolt. Mechanically the X-bolt is a superior rifle to the A-bolt.

Now, since you are up into the $1000 and above price range with your two considerations I would strongly recommend you look at these three rifles. All three of these rifles will come in under $2000 but I sure wouldn't shop where you have been getting prices.

Sako 85 classic.

Steyr manlicher classic half stock


Kimber 84M classic select.

Yes the prices around me are pretty bad, I live in MA and it seems to be the way of life here for guns. The Browning WG I was looking at is the X Bolt one, I think it's pretty new.

http://www.browning.com/products/cat...-gold-firearms

Real nice looking gun, I have an X bolt in 270 and I love it which is why I was considering this one. Ill see if I can track down a Sako somewhere around here to look at.

I agree with you, the next rifle on my list is one of the 16 FCSS. I like everything about the new Savages.

I bought my Dad a Benelli R1 in .270 WSM a couple years ago...different then your average deer rifle in camp...sure turns heads!

for the best fair market price, figure out which gun you want....then order it off of gunbroker.com (it's like ebay for guns...they've got everything too). The total cost will probably be around 60-70 dollars more than the asking price on there (when you include shipping and a fee to your local ffl dealer to receive it). I've ordered three guns off there and the transactions are easey peezey japaneeezy.

The Sako or kimber bigbulls recommended would be at the top of the short list. The only thing I'd do with one of the fancy weatherbys is sell it and get something else...lol

I really like the Steyr that was recommended... And my family has had great luck with Weatherby's. I don't shoot one personally, but my father and uncle have used them as long as I can remember.

I like the Sako or even a CZ 550