Dang! I'm not reading one more post. That there is an excellent idea. You get a top quality gun and if you get it in black("cheaper"), which is synthetic, it will be impervious to dents, etc, and less apt to warp during temperature and humidity changes. I don't like Bushnell optics, as most of them are cheap, but the Elite series are a very good scope... better than the top name brand's middle of the road scopes. I wouldn't hesitate to get an Elite 4200 on one of my guns. I do have a hankerin' preference for NiteForce.

Good idea! LOL!

iSnipe

(funny how when someone thinks like us, "it's an excellent idea", but when they don't, "it's a bad idea". LOL!)

I'd go with the Browning A-Bolt .270 or 7mm. With the mounts and scope, 1100 is probably the ticket. My son bought his when he first started hunting, and will still be there when it's time for him to pass it down. I still have my manlicher shoenauer from 1968, tough finding ammo, but I won't hunt with anything else. Wish I had the same dilemma as you. Good luck.

Definetly go with a cheaper rifle and add a muzzleloader. The only reason I can see to spend more, if your budget is limited, is if where you hunt you would need to make 300+ yard shots.

If where you hunt is typcal of lots of us, then the longest probable shot would be 150 yards, and for that shot you don't need the most expensive steel and glass.

Remember, you wll need to buy ammunition, BP, bullets, cleaning supplies, loading equipment (for BP), cases, slings, targets, ect. I would try to get both the smokepole and rifle for around $800 and then youhave $300 to spend on everything else you will need.

Or, alternately, do what I do and tell the wife you spent $1100 when you really spent $1600:-)

If you're willing to acept a less expensive rifle, you should be able to put a decent scope on it and still have enough left over for a muzzleloader.

A Stevens 200 is an acceptable rifle, and savage arms says it sells for $400. Even if you double that with a scope, there's $300 left over for a muzzleloader.

The remington 700 option would certainly work well, too.

Sounds like the 06 is a steal..................and you have confidence in the gun !!!

Do some research because for $1100 I think you should be able to get a real nice rifle with a scope and a pretty nice muzzleloader. That way you get the best of both worlds.

Get the Encore in the standard version (forget the ProHunter model, just more more for a few bells and Whistles). As you said the ML will extend your season. Plu for just a few hundred more you can get the HP rifle barrel of your choice and another couple hundred will get you an awsome turkey barrel for the spring.

The Encore gets frowned upon by lots of people because all of the pros use it in every show and for some reason some hunters don't like that type of association. Does not make much sense to me though.

One thing to consider is ammo, bullets, powder ,primers, etc, can add up pretty quick and youd really have to go el cheapo to get a rifle, muzzleloader ,two scopes, ammo and all the accessories needed to shoot em. you can get away w/ a cheap rifle for a while but a cheap ML is a waste of $ IMO. I would just get a new abolt or remington 700, a ziess conquest(the bsnl 4200 is a solid choice too), some mounts and rings and a couple boxes of shells. Then youd have a solid gun you could be proud of.

love my abolt medallion in 270. have been killing deer for 15 years with it and badly want to buy one for my son. that said i do agree they are pricy but a nail driver. you can get 2 guns for that prfice and probably be able to extend your season if they have a special muzzeloader season. good luck and enjoy whatever you decide

I'm not sure how much they cost but I love the Springfield 30-06. Shot my first deer with it at the age of 8. Muzzleloader wize the Encore's are a good buy, Thompson Center has got a good reputation and are reliable.