Quality 30-06
 

Looking for a quality new firearm that's chambered in 30-06, can be passed down for generations, mid level price range, walnut stock, and blued barrel.

Remington 700 CDL: I've been seeing a lot of chatter about quality concerns with Remington in general. Last word, Classic rifle...

Browning X-Mark Medallion: A lot of newish stuff on this rifle. But if it's well implemented that's ok. A bit too much plastic for something to be handed down for generations I think. Made in Japan I think? I got nothin against Japan. It just isn't the USA. Last word, Inovative...

Kimber 84L Classic Select Grade: Kind of my favorite at the moment. Classic looks, quality, made in good ol' USA...

Sako 85 Classic: I like it. But it's a little out of my price range. Made in Finland- see comment about Japan. Last word, kinda at the top of my price range.

Weatherby Vanguard Sporter: Don't know much about it? Last word, How does it stack up to all the rest of these models??

Ruger M77 Hawkeye Standard: Don't know much about it? Last word, How does it stack up to all the rest of these models??

Winchester Model 70: Don't know much about it? Last word, How does it stack up to all the rest of these models??

Finally. I had a Mossberg 500 shotgun when I was a kid. I didn't think it was as nice as the Remington 870s my buddies carried. So I'm leaving them out because I hold a grudge. I'm also leaving Savage out because I don't like their accutrigger.

Big decision. Any help would be Greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Kyle

Maybe a CZ?
http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-550-american/
checkout the wood version...

Kimbers look great on their site at least... great wood...

sako's a quality gun for sure...

winchesters are suppose to be making some nice rifles...and good wood on some that I saw... maybe in a supergrade? featherweight stainless? Weren't they bought out by FN? or a finn company? I hear quality is as good as ever.


Maybe consider a wood with stainless rifle? wouldn't have to worry about blueing going bad, and maybe coating the stainless to give it the look of blue....

Out of the choices you gave, you cannot go wrong. They are all worthy of a great hunting rifle. My personal prefrence and the one I think is the best deal for the money, is the Remington 700. That and a quarter will get you a cup of coffee. They are all great rifles.

I think the least accurate out of the group is the Ruger. That being said, my brush gun is a Ruger International 30.06 with a 18 1/2 inch barrel. It is more accurate than any 30/30 I have ever shot.

Pick the one you like best and buy it. Shoot it and it should be plenty accurate for a hunting rifle. If it's not, make the changes needed or sell it and try again.

Good luck!

I was shooting my soon-to-be-father-in-laws little CZ 17hmr a while back. Fun little gun. Good accuracy. I will consider them as well.

One thing I forgot to say is, WELCOME!!:party0005:

Thanks! The 700 has a following behind it for sure. The aftermarket for it is huge as well. Never have a hard time finding parts.

My Sisters Husband (who manufactures high end big bore air rifles, so his opinion I highly regard) Said he is a fan of the Rem 700. In his words "I'm a Remington [700] man. If our service men stake their life on them it should be just fine for my hunting adventures."

I do think our service men might get something a little higher end than what I can get at the local Wal-Mart gun case :) At least I'd hope so...

As the others have said, you have a pretty good list to choose from so it will really boil down to personal preference.

1. Remington 700 CDL...Had one in 270 Winchester....accuracy was ok and the overall quality was fair. The stock was inletted off center from the factory but Remington replaced for free.

2. Had a Browning X-Bolt Hunter....This was one of the most accurate rifles I have owned to date and was not picky about bullet weights. It is made in Japan. The only plastic I remember on this rifle was the magazine. Sold it to fund another rifle.

3. Kimber 84L....Loved the look and feel of these rifles and almost bought one but another rifle on your list(see Winchester M70) felt better to me.

4. Sako....Would love to have one but have only handled a few in the stores. Would probably be a great piece to hand down to the grandkids.

5. Weatherby Vanguard...Excellent rifles and I personally like the feel of them. Keep in mind though, the Vanguard is also made in Japan by Howa, since being made in the USA is important to you.

6. Ruger M77...Had an older M77 MKII "All Weather" a few years back. Great rifle that seems like would take a lot of abuse. Three position safety and controlled round feed...lots of pluses here. Not as accurate as I would like.

7. Winchester M70....Just recently purchased an FN made M70 Extreme Weather. So far it has proven accurate and the quality looks to be excellent. It had everything I was looking for in a rifle and felt great in my hands...so I went with it over the Kimber.

Quality 30-06
 

The list you have covers the area very well. However, having a rifle to pass down for generations being in the mix I would have to lean towards the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight. This is the classic American rifle. The new production guns are finished well and I've fired 2 of them recently in the Featherweight configuration. One in 300 WSM & the other in 270 Win. Both rifles were very accurate & the trigger was great right out of the box.

Weatherby is made by Howa. Good to Know. I thought about listing Howa.

I handled the X-bolt yesterday in store. I saw that the mag was the only thing plastic. Mags are easily replaced I know. The gun is still high on my list.

Knowing a little bit about other places in the world helps as well. The Fins are some of the most highly educated people on the planet. Followed by the Japanese. Close third is Canadians. We are down the list a little ways, but we won't talk about that. :) So buying a rifle made in either Finland or Japan would probably be a wise choice.

The Vanguard series are the ones produced by Howa for Weatherby. The other Weatherby's, I assume are still made by Weatherby.

Oops. That's what I meant.

Thanks again.

I have two Remington 700's and a Vanguard at present and have owned Savages, a Sako, CZ's and Brownings---my Vanguard in .300 WSM is possibly the most accurate big bore I've ever owned, [the Howa barreled actions have a very good reputation], the fit and finish and balance is excellent. I am still puzzed by the Remington bashing, every one I've had has been accurate and well made. I did have a Browning A-bolt in 06 that had the barrel channel offset problem--had the same problem with a single shot Browning B78--the Sako was accurate, but so were most of the others at considerably less cost--Savage? very accurate, very plain--the CZ's were exceptional rifles, that would be a very good choice--I just happen to think a good gun should look as good as it shoots so my vote has to be the 700's, a CZ or the Vanguard--can't comment on the Winchesters or the Kimbers, I've never owned one--

check out the TC Icon line. tack drivers. US made. high quality. great value.

Good luck.

My vote would have to be for the Remington 700 CDL.
I had one in .270 that I never should have parted with.
Beautiful rifle.....

We learned the same lesson on the same gun. I got rid of mine after sparing no expense at the gunsmith. I bought a 300 RUM years ago and thought I'd never need that gun again. Darn, I wish I hadn't been that stupid.

My vote is with the Ruger.
I'm biased, I've had a Ruger in '06. It wasn't the rifle I thought it was.
Sold it to a friend, and hes as thrilled with it as any person I know could be. It fits him better than it did me.
I currently hunt with a Ruger in 7mm. It is the rifle I hoped it would be.
It is capable of far better accuracy than I am.

For me it always comes down to which "features" I want.

From there, it's all about "natural fit" !

Yes, they do shoot! Shot with a TC Icon Weathershield in 308 Winchester.

Vanguards are awesome! Many of the others you have mentioned are as well, but for the money, you can not beat the performance of the Vanguards, in my opinion.

My first choice would be essentially a tie between the Sako classic and the Model 70. These two rifles are head and shoulders nicer quality rifles than anything else listed.

My next choice would be the Howa/vanguard. Damn fine rifles for the money and perform a heck of a lot better than their price tag would suggest.

Third would be the Remington 700.

The Model 70 Super Grade looks really good.

nice group. i have several similar groups at 200 yards with mine. these guns are not widely known by masses but are imo the best value available. beautiful triggers also.

I've heard nothing but good about the Icon. I haven't shot one
yet, but I'm impressed with the quality of the ones that I have checked out. The scope mounts are machined into the receiver, nothing to work loose and you know that the scope will be in line with the bore. Thompson also uses 5R rifling in the barrels of the Icon and the Venture. If you've never heard about 5R rifling you should learn about it. 5R was made famous by the long range crowd, it's known for being extremely accurate.

My second choice would be the Remington 700. My first rifle was a 700BDL in 30-06 that I bought in 1976. It's 35 years old and it works as good today as it did when it was new.

Went with a Remington 700CDL 7mm-08. I'm a noob big/medium game hunting, so changing my mind is acceptable right. :)

I have a Remington 700 30-06... Love it had it for years no problems with it... very accurate, at least at 100 yards.

browning a-bolt medallion or a browning BAR. both are good quality stuff. if you cannot afford them go with a savage.