Oh what to do

[holahead]

Well I had done decided I wanted a Browning A-Bolt. I was looking to not spend any money but trade three guns I have for one. I soon discovered it would be very hard to get a new A-Bolt like I want. If I was going to Browning it would have to be an X-Bolt. I had never saw one in person just on the computer and in magazines. And I did not like the way they looked. I put the word out looking for a trade for a good used one local cause transfer fee's and shipping would kill me on three guns. A member here gave me some info on an A-Bolt just like I wanted but he is not local. So the last few days I have been looking in some gun shops. After I had messed around with the X-Bolt I am beginning to like it a lot. The only thing I don't like about it is the polymer magazine.
I have also been looking at the new Winchester Model 70. Another fine rifle that I really liked. I have a meeting set for Tuesday to go look at an A-Bolt and a X-Bolt. Now my problem is I am stuck on what to get. I like both rifles but one of the guns I have for trade is a Weatherby Vanguard 30-06. It is a tack driver and have never had a problem with. Only thing I don't like  is it has a synthetic stock and I hate synthetic stocks it is also very heavy and very long. But I could order a Boyd's laminated wood stock for a little over a $100.00. If I get another it will be a 30-06 and more than likely will be the last bolt action rifle I ever buy. (I am more of a lever and single shot guy but like to have a good bolt in the house).
A local shop said he would trade my three guns for any gun I want for $700.00 or less. He also said he would match any price I found. I have found the X-Bolt for high six's and have found the M70 for low six's.
My only question is what should I do? Get the X-Bolt, Model 70 or just keep what I got. Whats a man to do?

[Bigeasy]

A question with no real answer...  What I would do?  Since you are not really a bolt man, I would just keep the Vanguard, re-stock it, and cut the barrel down a couple inches, and have it re crowned.  Saves you some effort and $$, end up with a nice bolt rifle.

Larry

[Frank46]

I'd do what Larry suggested. Stock in wood, cut the bbl back. Take the money saved and take the wife out to dinner.And you'll still have the three rifles you were going to swap. Frank

[Doe]

He! He! I'm going to play the Devil advocate and say if you don't get what you want it's going to eat you and you are going to say "I should have got it" Get what you want or you'll never be satisfied, that what the wife always tell me even if you have to save for awhile.

[Savage_99]

For right now keep on looking at different rifles.   Try to favor guns made in the USA.  We need the work and you will be proud of it.

I favor hunting rifles with a three position safety that controls the firing pin on both full safe with the bolt locked closed and on the middle position so that a hot chamber can be unloaded with the gun and you safe.

The Winchester M70 was the first to have this excellent design and the Kimbers have improved on it in terms that their safety works easier.   The Ruger 77's are an outstanding value.  Their safety works well but is only a trigger safety in the middle position.

Good luck and good hunting.

[charles p]

Sounds like you need a Remington Model Seven CDL to me.

[holahead]

Thanks for all the advice fellows. I am leaning toward keeping the Weatherby. I only use a bolt action 2 or 3 times a years. I will keep ya'll informed.

[mannyrock]

  Holahead,

     Here is some sad news.  I can tell by the way you framed your original question, that no matter what rifle you get (Win. 70, A-Bolt etc.) you are never gonna be happy with it, because in  short while, you will get bored with it.  :-)

      You already have a great rifle, that is a tack driver.  Is a new Win 70 or A-Bolt going to shoot any better?  The odds are that they won't. 

      So, I agree with the others.  Get a new stock for the Vanguard, shorten the barrel and recrown.  I think you will be really happy with it.

     Six months from now, you will forget all about the A-Bolt, and you will scratch your head and wonder just why you thought you had to have one.

     Personally, I hate the A-bolts, because the ones I have seen have a swing down floor plate, with a detachable magazine attached to it, that clips on and off.  Being a lever man, I think you are going to hate the way you have to load this thing.   It is extremely clumbsy.  And, I believe the A-Bolt holds one round less in the magazine than most full size bolt rifles.

    As for the Winchesters, I love the 3-position safety. But, if I were to get a Model 70, I would get an original pre-64.  Yes, they are expensive, but not that expensive.  So, if you decide to go the Winchester route, trade off the 3 guns you have, and use the money to by a pre-64 Model 70 in VG condition.  Beautiful wood, beautiful action, smooth as glass. It will appreciate in value, unlike a new Winchester 70 or an A-bolt.

   In the past 10 years, the price of used pre-64 Model 70s have doubled in price.  That is more than a 7% appreciation per year!  This far exceeds the total return of the Dow Industrial Average, or the average rate on 4 year Certificates of Deposit.

   Just my thoughts.

Mannyrock
     
r

[Coyote Hunter]

Get a Ruger.

[Swampman]

If you're not interested in accuracy.  If you want accuracy the Remington 700 can't be beat.

[mjbgalt]

....except by weatherby, savage, howa, tikka, sako, mauser, thompson/center, winchester, and browning.



but other than that, they're the best. every time.

[holahead]

  Holahead,

     Here is some sad news.  I can tell by the way you framed your original question, that no matter what rifle you get (Win. 70, A-Bolt etc.) you are never gonna be happy with it, because in  short while, you will get bored with it.  :-)

      You already have a great rifle, that is a tack driver.  Is a new Win 70 or A-Bolt going to shoot any better?  The odds are that they won't. 

      So, I agree with the others.  Get a new stock for the Vanguard, shorten the barrel and recrown.  I think you will be really happy with it.

     Six months from now, you will forget all about the A-Bolt, and you will scratch your head and wonder just why you thought you had to have one.

     Personally, I hate the A-bolts, because the ones I have seen have a swing down floor plate, with a detachable magazine attached to it, that clips on and off.  Being a lever man, I think you are going to hate the way you have to load this thing.   It is extremely clumbsy.  And, I believe the A-Bolt holds one round less in the magazine than most full size bolt rifles.

    As for the Winchesters, I love the 3-position safety. But, if I were to get a Model 70, I would get an original pre-64.  Yes, they are expensive, but not that expensive.  So, if you decide to go the Winchester route, trade off the 3 guns you have, and use the money to by a pre-64 Model 70 in VG condition.  Beautiful wood, beautiful action, smooth as glass. It will appreciate in value, unlike a new Winchester 70 or an A-bolt.

   In the past 10 years, the price of used pre-64 Model 70s have doubled in price.  That is more than a 7% appreciation per year!  This far exceeds the total return of the Dow Industrial Average, or the average rate on 4 year Certificates of Deposit.

   Just my thoughts.

Mannyrock
     
r

Thanks very good advice!

[Coyote Hunter]

If you're not interested in accuracy.  If you want accuracy the Remington 700 can't be beat.

The new Rugers I own are more accurate than the new Remington I own and also more accurate than the SPS I zeroed for a friend (using various types of ammo, including factory Remington). 

[Swampman]

I've never seen an accurate Ruger.  They can be made to shoot with a lot of tinkering.

[NickSS]

I have owned a ton of rifles (literally) and have had good luck with any Browning I have owned.  Remingtons generally shoot good too.  I am sorry to say that I have had spotty luck with Rugers though the two I own now are great shooters.  Sakos shoot acceptably generally as do Tikkas Model 70 Winchesters shoot good but some require work to make them outstanding.  Personally my bolt guns that I have held on to through the years are Sako, Ruger, and CZ.  I sold my last Model 70 recently.  If I were going to buy a new bolt gun today it would probably be one of the new Model 70 winchester fetherweights in 7-08

[Coyote Hunter]

holahead –


Rugers shoot just fine in my experience, and I haven’t tinkered with them any more than I do my Remingtons or Savage rifles.  (All get the barrels floated and the triggers polished and/or adjusted.)  There is a drawer full of targets at home that prove how well the Rugers shoot.  My hunting buddy shoots a Ruger MKII 7mm Rem Mag that commonly turns in .5” groups when we are at the range.  While I don’t have any target pictures for my brother’s .22-250, I know we’ve taken prairie dogs at over 400 yards with it.

Here’s a target from my M77 in 7mm Rem Mag.  The group size doesn’t look too spectacular until you realize I was shooting in constant crosswinds gusting over 40mph and I was trying to shoot between the peak wind velocities.  I have another target where the 7mm RM put three shots into a .26” group but I don’t have a photo online anywhere, and, unfortunately, it is back home in Colorado in a drawer and I’m stuck in Miami for the next two weeks or so.


Here were a couple of scope-check shots taken with my M77 .30-06:


My “canoe paddle” MKII .300 Win Mag is a really crappy shooter.  From a freshly cleaned and oiled bore (shot #1 was a fouler):



Here’s one from my M77 .257 Roberts:


Another one I don’t have an online photo of is my MKII .22-250 where it put 4 shots into 0.5” at 200 yards.  Maybe I‘ll remember to post that one and the 7mm RM target when I get back home at the end of the month.

Being something of an accuracy nut I wouldn’t keep buying Rugers if they couldn’t shoot well.  The last two Remington’s I’ve shot (one I purchased and one I zeroed for a friend) wouldn’t do better than 1-1/4” with any of the 6 or 7 factory loads I tried in them. (I tried Federal, Hornady, Remington and Winchester in different weights with the same results.)  Even with handloads my Remington M700 .30-06 won’t shoot as well as my Ruger .30-06, although it is more than accurate enough for hunting.  (The best groups with the Remington run about 1” with handloads.)

If you like the Ruger design, don’t let anyone talk you out of getting one. 

[JPShelton]

My only question is what should I do? Get the X-Bolt, Model 70 or just keep what I got. Whats a man to do?

Keep what you've got.  Weatherby Vanguards can be very nice rifles. If you can't find it within yourself to appreciate a Vangaurd, it is difficult to see how ANY modern commercial sporting rifle is going to make you happier.  I don't own a Weatherby, personally, but I've been around a bunch of them and their Howa likeness.  They impressed me as fine shooters, well made, and good-looking.

JP

[Swampman]

The new FN Model 70s will shoot as well as a Model 700 Remington.  It would be a good choice.

[nomosendero]

The new FN Model 70s will shoot as well as a Model 700 Remington.  It would be a good choice.

This is an historical event!!   

[HuntingGuy]

Make sure not to overlook the Kimber 84M Montana, my favorite deer hunting rifle (mine is chambered in 7mm-08). It runs upwards of 1k, though.

[ourway77]

Not saying to be sarcastic or trying to tell you your bussiness. If I were you I would sell the rifle and buy a SavageYears ago Savage was thought of as an inferior rifle, and I always shyd away from them. But all that has changed. Ibought an F-class Savage 6BR that at one hundred yards will shoot in the 3/8 range consistently Better if I do my part. The new CEO of savage has really turned that company around. They boast target type accuracy right out of the box, believe me they are not kidding I went and bought a 6.5-284 and I have a 223 on order. I am really convinced that they are truly in line with some more expensive rifles Lou