Both the paddle and the M77 belong in a lake. I'd rather carry water soaked walnut than spend 60 seconds looking at what has to be the the biggest blunder of Bill Ruger's career.
Good for you.
I have hunted in terrain like you hunt in Va and NC. I have hunted in the woods of Up state NY, western Pa,westen and central VA, and Northern Ca and the deserts of Ca and Az.
Nothing compares to the abuse a rife suffers on a hunt for elk. The rugged mountains of Idaho and Montana, the rocks are jagged, The rocks are slipery, the terrain is very verticle add to that the snow and ice. Add horses, back packs, pack frames and the changing weather and the rifle takes a beating. Plastic stocks are the way to go. Kevlar stocks may be sturdier and laminated are prettier but the added weight of the kevlar rules it out. The liminated stocks too are heavier than the plastic. When on horse back, when on foot trying to drag an elk or mule deer quarter back down the mountain or to camp every ounce matters. Look at the 700 XCR, it has a boat paddle plastic stock. Are you going to tell me that the 700 XCR is not a good rifle?
Right now most of my rifles wear walnut and when I buy another Elk rifle, having been elk hunting a couple times, I will go for Stainless and plastic stock with a 40mm or less scope. The 40mm or less fits in most rifle scabords. A 50mm or larger will have you holding the rifle while trying to ride. Not something I want to do while ducking under trees. I still curse at the scars my Super grade wood wears, and smile at memories of the hunt.
Caliber is up for debate, either a 338 Win Mag or a 7mm rem mag. yes I know a 30-06 or 308 will do it but why would I want to limit my self to 300 yards (know this opens a can of worms but for me 300 yards with either is max- 450 yards with my 338WM). Remington, Kimber, Ruger and Sako are on the list of rifles I am looking at. I think each offers special features and each has detractions. Your comment about having a month to sight in a rifle is bunk. I have been able to mount a scope and fire three rounds at 100 yards and be on. From there I usually move to 200 yards on western rifles, eastern rifles stay sighted at 100 yards. You simply aim at the center of the target, and fire a round, then shoot at the hole you made, adjust second hole to the first. Fire third at center of target to confirm, you may need to ajdust from there but you are really close as a start.
You comment of wanting a soaking warped walnut stock rather than a Plastic stock too is silly. As I said above the XCR and some of the SPS rifles have a plastic stock, are you saying those Remingtons are only good as boat anchors or canoe paddles?
Also think about it this way, if there was not Ruger, kimber, Savage, or CZ and only Remington 700's as a Bolt action rifles, the prices would be double or tripple the cost of what they are now. So the rifles you hate so much make it possible for Remington to put out a cost comparitive rifle and not rape the rifle shooters.
