Author Topic: WHICH RIFLE? (Read 1678 times)

gtown35 · « **on:** March 25, 2007, 04:09:04 PM »

I'm looking for a new rifle I'm moving up to the black hills and want to try and start hunting Mule Deer and Elk, instead of whitetail dear in Nebraska with a .243. I'm looking for a light accurate gun(I know that's what everyone wants) Looks aren't that important to me. I want a sythetic stock and either a stainless steel or blued barrel. I'm pretty sure I want a 300 WSM. I pretty much have it down to four guns after a two months of looking. These are approx. cost I've found through deals
-Savage Model 16 $500 stainless (felt kinda cheap stock but I've heard about great accuracy)
-Browning A-Bolt Stalker $650 Stainless (just didn't appeal to me when I felt is should of more)
-Tikka T3 Lite $480 Blued (liked everything but magazine and safety)
-Winchester Model 70 Super Shadow $500 Blued (always been a big fan and think it might be last chance but what about accuracy)

ANY THOUGHTS AT ALL....Ive been going around and around trying to figure out which one is for me

THANKS in advance

Slamfire · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2007, 06:09:25 PM »

I think a .300 WSM is a big step up in recoil from a .243, and think I'd look for something else as an intermediate step up. For instance a .270 or a .30-06 don't give up much in performance, and are a bit easier on the shoulder AND the ears.

The decision is yours, and if you can shoot with plugs and one of the newer type recoil pads, doable.

221fireball · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2007, 06:33:46 PM »

get a stevens 200 in 30-06 or 7 mm rem mag lot cheaper then you could put more money in scope

gtown35 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2007, 02:39:11 AM »

Not to worried about the recoil even though it is a big step because shoot 30-06 alot and I'm young and dumb right now...and I never thought about the stevens I'll look into it

Thanks

Big Al in Nebr · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2007, 02:58:12 AM »

You should save your $$ and borrow your Dad's .30-06 and let him shoot the .243. Then when you are rich, buy him a Kimber Montana for teaching you how to hunt and get one for yourself too.

jro45 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2007, 03:22:03 AM »

I'd say a 7mm Mag they aren't to heavy and they are good for long shots. Or the 300 Win Mag. Recoil doesn't bother me but it might you.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2007, 03:23:12 AM »

gtown35 –

“Any thoughts at all...” OK, since you asked.

Winchester? Hope you don’t have any problems with them as the factory is kaput. A-Bolt? Long on price, short on what I’m looking for – including looks and, by numerous reports, quality. Tikka? They had problems with stainless barrels blowing up with factory loads and rather than make it known they kept it hush-hush, putting corporate revenue ahead of shooter safety. Tikka won’t see any of my money.

Of the rifles you mention I would go with a Savage – they shoot nice and are rugged. If looks are important the American Classic (or whatever they call it) looks great.

I would also consider a Ruger, but then I’m an unabashed Ruger fan. Ruger’s new Hawkeye rifles are very nice, light and the trigger on the one I looked at yesterday was very good. (The Hawkeyes have a new trigger assembly so forget what you’ve heard about Ruger’s old-style triggers.) Every Ruger I own is a great shooter, so I wouldn’t worry about that, either. If you haven’t looked at the Hawkeyes you should.

Why the .300WSM? It doesn’t do anything the .300 Win Mag can’t do except rob you of magazine capacity. It’s a good round, though. I’d stick with the .300 Win Mag.

Val · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2007, 10:19:54 AM »

I've got a Savage 116 in 300 RUM. Recoil is an issue especially during load development and shooting at the range. I bought one with the factory installed muzzle brake that you twist on and off. When shooting at the range I use the muzzle brake. When in the field I can turn it off. I replaced my stock with a Bell and Carlson Duramax stock. The rifle looks better with the new stock and the accuracy improved (probably due to the B&C stock being stiffer). This gun actually gets me 3 shot 1/4" groups when I'm having a good shooting day. Th Savage 116 would be an excellent choice.

gtown35 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 27, 2007, 03:01:36 PM »

Well for whatever reason I have it narrowed down to the TIKKA and the SAVAGE...any thoughts on which on is more accurate or better trigger? heard there both great in both areas anyone know of one having a destinct advantage.

roper · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2007, 03:03:43 PM »

I had purchase a T-3 300wsm just before the problems with the SS model up to that point the T-3 was and still is a great shooter less than 1" at 100yds recoil is very manageable without a brake. When it become known about those barrel problems Tikka/Sako set up a line with serial # of the rifles that needed to be sent back in our town one shop even had a list of the serial #. One nice thing about the net nothing is hidden and if you follow some of those old post you will see most of the negative comments came from non Tikka owners they were more into bashing Tikka and how things should of been handled. I purchased one of the first runs from Rem in a BDL 17Rem back then I had to find out in Guns & Ammo that there was a recall on those rifle for barrels that might blow up. My experience with Tikka and Rem over those two rifles was great. Rem replace my 17 BDL with a new one and tikka said there was no problem with the rifle I own.

I own one Browning A-bolt SS stalker great shooter like the Tikka .

I got a Win FWT 300wsm was a so-so shooter. Rebarreled it.

Never own a Savage.

In the gun I belong to acouple of the member own Browning A-bolt SS stalkers and the ones I've seen all shoot less than 1" at 100yds they all reload for them. Last year it got down to 27 below around Granby, Co and that Browning A-Bolt I own did the job.

Sako and Tikka use the same barrels for the 300wsm if that helps. I'm thinking of getting a Browning SS stalker in 280 go along with my 280AI. Well good luck.

Aardvark · « **Reply #10 on:** March 27, 2007, 04:31:48 PM »

I have seen the Winchester Black shadows go on auction for around $300 or so..You can get the 7Mag or 300 Mag ...I have owned both and they both shot -1MOA with no mods...

corelokt308win · « **Reply #11 on:** April 03, 2007, 03:02:00 PM »

Of the two I'd go Savage. Good company, good aftermarket parts. A good enough rifle you really won't need the aftermarket stuff, but might want it.

corelokt308win · « **Reply #12 on:** April 03, 2007, 03:02:59 PM »

Oh, and barrel and bolt faces are an easy swap as well, in case the round ends up a bit much.

Gregory · « **Reply #13 on:** April 03, 2007, 03:42:30 PM »

Quote from: Coyote Hunter on March 26, 2007, 03:23:12 AM

gtown35 –

“ A-Bolt? Long on price, short on what I’m looking for – including looks and, by numerous reports, quality.

I own two A-bolts and think they are quite good looking rifles (but beauty is in the eye of the beholder). I'm not aware of any A-bolt quality problems, pray tell Coyote Hunter, give me links to what you are talking about.

Devy55 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 03, 2007, 05:27:40 PM »

FWIW,

I'd figure out what caliber works best for the size target, and the hunting conditions. For instance, the .300 win mag is a bit of over kill for the average deer. But if you want a caliber that will shoot deer and Elk or bear, then it's OK. If you hunt wooded areas where your typical shot will be 150 yards or less, then the .300 is overkill. But if you are shooting long ranges across canyons and prairies, then you want a flat shooting caliber that can reach out and carry energy to the target...hence the .300 WM.

Once I confirm the caliber that satisfies my shooting criteria, then I'd look at gun selection.

Personally, I've been considering the Howa-1500 for my next rifle. It'll set you back about $300-$350 but it's a good quality action and was used by Weatherby. In fact, it's the same as the Weatherby Vanguard. So I think it is an excellent value for the price and probably a better investment than the Tikka.

lucky guy · « **Reply #15 on:** April 04, 2007, 06:44:59 AM »

I went through the same process last year and ended up with a Howa 1500 in .308.

I think it was the best value I could find at that time, and a great shooter.

Good luck!

dmills · « **Reply #16 on:** April 04, 2007, 07:24:01 AM »

Quote from: lucky guy on April 04, 2007, 06:44:59 AM

I went through the same process last year and ended up with a Howa 1500 in .308.

I think it was the best value I could find at that time, and a great shooter.

Good luck!

If it is not too late, I second the recommendation on the Howa. I also have the .308 and am getting sub 1/2" groups at 100yds. Of course, I am using handloads and have it mounted in a Hogue aluminum bedded/pillared stock. Howa offers the Hogue stock, but not the bedded version, I think. I bought the action/barrel separately and then bought the stock on e-bay.

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,115263.0.html

Devy55 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 04, 2007, 12:47:19 PM »

That's exactly what I was planning.

I was going to get a Howa barrelled action and separate stock.

I've also read several posts here about .308 accuracy...especially with the Howa. It'll tackle most of the game and shooting conditions I'm considering, so I'll probably select that as my caliber.

chaseguitar · « **Reply #18 on:** April 04, 2007, 01:00:51 PM »

buy the Tikka,...great trigger with no "accutrigger" gimmics, great accuracy out of the box, great all around guns...I have two, one in .308, and one in 270 WSM...and they are both shooters....

manofthe45 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 04, 2007, 03:42:05 PM »

Not sure if I am fourth or fifth, but I will "second" the tikka.

Zachary · « **Reply #20 on:** April 04, 2007, 03:59:41 PM »

I love Tikkas, as many of our members know.

However, if you want a WSM cartridge, don't get a Tikka.

Why? Many have confirmed that, while the Tikka in WSM is very accurate, they lose about 200fps given their long throats. As such, shooting a .300WSM in a Tikka would be like shooting a .30-06. Shooting a .270WSM would be like shooting a .270 Winchester. This doesn't seem to be the case with regular magnums or standard cartridges, though, just the WSMs.

So if you are stuck on a WSM, don't get the Tikka.

If you are sold on the Tikka, then get your 300 in a Winchester Magnum, not WSM.

Just thought you would like to know.

Zachary

Muskie Hunter · « **Reply #21 on:** April 05, 2007, 11:21:30 PM »

I've got a little of everything myself over the years,winchesters,remingtons,rugers,marlins but recently just bought a classic savage with accu-trigger.I have to say that the classic is a good looking rifle and very accurate right out of the box.I am really impressed and so are my friends.Also,I was never one for falling for all that new ammo stuff where as the standard calibers will do all you need to do and cheaper too.I have a 300 win mag and that's more then enough magnum but the old 30-06 is really the only one that I would ever keep if I had to get rid of all my rifles.But it sure has been fun getting to that point of my belief through the years.

deltecs · « **Reply #22 on:** April 09, 2007, 04:59:59 PM »

Well, for my 2 cents. Why not try the Ruger in .280 Remington? You have good bullet selection, fair to good accuracy out of box reputation, and the cost is in the same range as you indicated with a synthetic stock. The .280 will do everything the 7mm mag will do with less recoil, muzzle blast, and cost of ammo. If you are going to handload, non belted rim cases are easier to reload and they use less powder, which in today's COL means substantial savings per round. A 160gr bullet in the boiler room of a big elk and it won't go far. The 160 gr also has enough sectional density for excellent penetration on game at other than perfect shot angles. I've owned many Rugers and not one has been a bad shooter. When I handload for these rifles, sub minute groups are the consistent standard for 3 shots from a cold bore. That should be good enough accuracy for elk or prarie dog. However, both rifle and cartridges are very controversial as to which is the better. Choose the firearm that fits you best and then do the caliber. You won't go wrong then.
Greg