Author Topic: Off the shelf top choice... (Read 954 times)

IronKnees · « **on:** February 19, 2003, 02:51:08 AM »

Just wondering what your top choice is for an affordable, over the counter hunting rifle... My favorite is the Remington 700... I have two. Fit and finish is very, very good on both, and they both shoot any number of different loads, bullet weight and styles very well... One is .30-06 and the other is .300 Wincheter Magnum... Just curious and full of cabin fever.... IronKnees

Zachary · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2003, 03:02:52 AM »

IK,

If it's for an off the shelf "affordable" rifle, then I would say my choices would be: 1) TIKKA, 2) Remington 700, and 3) Winchester 70.

The Quality of the Tikkas are very high, and their triggers are just fantastic. The Remchesters are good rifles for the money, but, as most people can agree, their quality has gone down in recent years. Still, it's hard to argue anything against the 700's accuracy, even out of the box!

If it's for an off the shelf "expensive" rifle, then I would say the Sako 75. It's essentially an even higher quality Tikka.

Zachary

Doesniper · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2003, 07:34:21 AM »

I'll take the Rem mod-7

Questor · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2003, 07:55:16 AM »

I'm in the "why pay more" camp for rifles. I like my CZs. I could have paid three times as much for a Weatherby or something like that, but they aren't any better. Rifles is one of those areas where the "you get what you pay for" rule doesn't apply after a certain point.

jamie · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2003, 08:30:10 AM »

I'd take a Savage over any of Rem or Winchester.

SeanD · « **Reply #5 on:** February 19, 2003, 11:13:14 AM »

If you want an out of the box affordable rifle to go kill something with, i would say remington 700 adl or a savage. I prefer the rems, but who can argue with the out of the box accuracy the savage has? Local BI-Mart here has a new savage plastic stocked 30.06 for $269. Hard to beat.

I chose a remington for my latest elk rifle because i prefer the remington safety, and most everything else about the action. When i buy a varmint gun, its gonna be a savage though.

Big Tom · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2003, 02:42:02 PM »

Eliminating Sako as not being in the "affordable" class, I would go:

1. Tikka WHITETAIL DLX
2. Remington 700 BDL
3. Savage (only w/ the new trigger, Jamie!)
4. Ruger( only with a good aftermarket trigger)

Sorry Zach! My last two new Winchesters were REALLY BAD! :eek:

CZ's prices are going up so they must be selling, I am just not familiar with them to rate them.

Graybeard · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2003, 07:03:09 PM »

Remington 700 hands down. Remington is the ONLY bolt action rifle in my house and yeah there are several at my house.

GB

Zachary · « **Reply #8 on:** February 20, 2003, 03:23:38 AM »

Big Tom,

What was the problem with you last Winchesters?

Zachary

Big Tom · « **Reply #9 on:** February 20, 2003, 08:28:11 AM »

:x Waited 3 months in 2001 for a new model 70 Featherweight Classic 7mm/08. Put good glass on it and best it would do was 4'' at 100! Gunsmith laughed and pulled the stock to show me the"handy dandy" hot glue bedding job and terrible fit/finish. I sold it rather than do a glass bedding, etc..
I bought my son in law a mod 70 syn/blue 30/06 in 2000 and was just dissappointed that with every thing we did , trigger job etc... It wouldn't group under 2-2 1/2" at 100 yds and also had poor fit/finish. He sold it and bought a used Rem 700 in 25/06 that shoots great!

My first deer rifle, a 1966 Win mod 88 lever in .308 would drive tacks!!, as would my 1967 Rem 700 in 30/06. :roll: I've lost my consuner confidence.

Paul H · « **Reply #10 on:** February 20, 2003, 09:52:56 AM »

Ruger M77, very robust rifles, suitably accurate, and when you factor in the cost of rings and bases for other rifles, the M77 is a great buy.

The trigger does not ne replacing, merely tuning by a competent smith, but then again, just about every factory trigger needs the same treatment.

jamie · « **Reply #11 on:** February 20, 2003, 10:06:29 AM »

Big Tom, I agree that the old Savage triggers are heavy but it's nothing that a competent gunsmith couldn't fix. A very Old Gentleman (75ish) who still builds rifles now and again did mine. No it wasn't as light as my Rem 700 but it out shot the Rem hands down. Pretty rifles are nice but when it comes to putting meat in the freezer I'll take accuray over a smoother bolt anyday.

Zachary · « **Reply #12 on:** February 20, 2003, 10:06:37 AM »

Quote from: Questor

I'm in the "why pay more" camp for rifles. I like my CZs. I could have paid three times as much for a Weatherby or something like that, but they aren't any better. Rifles is one of those areas where the "you get what you pay for" rule doesn't apply after a certain point.

I can agree with that.

Zachary

longwinters · « **Reply #13 on:** February 20, 2003, 10:38:29 AM »

I know we tend to stick up for the rifles we own, but I will take a Tikka hands down. The only rifle I like as well is its big step-brother my Sako 75. These rifles require no bedding job, no trigger jobs and have great fit and finish. Remington would also be at the top of the heap.