Author Topic: New rifle conundrum (Read 1219 times)

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **on:** December 02, 2003, 08:17:39 PM »

Here's the deal----through recent trades and aquisitions I have 2 fairly decent new scopes laying around.

A Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40 and a Meopta Artemis 3000 3x9x42.

My Tikka T3's---while accurate as heck and pleasure to shoot aren't exactly what you would call eye candy.

So I'm considering a wood stocked rifle to go with my Tikka's and give a home to one of the scopes---.30-06 will be the caliber. Currently don't own wood stocked rifles except for beautifull one-in-a-million stainless Marlin .30-30---the stock should be on a Dakota----and a couple wood .22's.

So far the bolt actions on the list are:

Tikka WTH Deluxe
Browning White Gold Medallion
CZ550(?)
Winchester Featherweight

Not in the running:
Sako---while a good gun---the hardwood stock just doesn't do it.
Any Ruger
Any Savage

Which would you get??? Or suggest another model I should look into.

Zachary · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2003, 02:50:25 AM »

I have a Tikka WH Deluxe in 7mm Rem Mag.....It is a beautiful rifle. The woodwork is beautiful, and the fit and finish is excellent. I'm a little curious about your not wanting a Sako Deluxe. I also own one of those and it too is very beautiful.

Now, from what I have seen, the Browning that you mentioned is also a pretty rifle too. Browning does have a super fancy rifle - I forgot what it's called - but it is the most beautiful piece of wood (or artwork) that I have ever seen on a factory rifle. In fact, maybe it is the White Gold that you are talking about. This particular Browning costs around $1,000 while the regular medalion is less. Still, it's an absolutely drop dead gorgeous rifle.

However, I am not a big fan of the new A-Bolt II design. They may be accurate, but, like how some people have said, the A-Bolt II is "over engineered."

What would be almost perfect would be a Tikka barreled action in a Browning super-fancy stock. :grin:

Zachary

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2003, 04:05:56 AM »

In the last week or so I've looked over about 10 wood Sako's----the stocks were horrible---like what you would see on a Wal-mart Savage.

Maybe there is a Deluxe model that are aren't carrying around here?

Also have to add----not interested in a Remington------they do have some good looking rifles---but I've never had a Remington that shot worth a damn.

Accuracy is a MUST in my search.

Zachary · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2003, 05:40:45 AM »

Omaha,

I must say...I'm kinda surprised about your findings. The wood on the regular Sako 75 is not as nearly as nice as the Deluxe, but I didn't know that it's as bad as Savages at Wal-Mart. Maybe there was a bad batch of them?

Also, I'm especially surprised about your experience with Remingtons not being accurate. Every Remington I own shoots sub 1" groups at 100 yards, some even much better than that. Granted, they are all BDL SS models with the synthetic stocks, but I have yet to find a Remington that didn't shoot very well.

Still, based on your experiences, and your choices, I think that you would be well served with a Tikka Deluxe.

Zachary

Graybeard · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2003, 06:00:48 AM »

Depending on budget and preferences for safety type/location either a Custom Shop Remington 700 or a Dakota. The Dakotas are beautiful guns but I hate and despise the Win. 70 type safety on them. So personally if faced with that chioce I'd get the custom shop R700 or a full custom gun on that action.

GB

gunnut69 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2003, 07:10:20 AM »

I also wonder about the inaccuracy you've experienced with the Remington 700's. These rifles are noted for their inherent accuarcy! I do diagree with GB about the Winchester safety. I dearly love the a safety that locks the striker, not just blocks the trigger. Still perhaps the answer to your quest lies in the realm of the custom rifle. Since your interested in the 30-06 I'd suggest a pre-64 M70(a current production model would work) or a Dakota.. The M98 will work with the 30-06 but things are beginning to get a bit tight. Perhaps a pre-64(pre war??) M70, nice octagon barrel with integral front sight base and rear quarter rib. Rust blued after a careful hand polish and then a really nice piece of english (lots of marblecake and perhaps a bit of grain firgure). Fineline checkering, about 26 lines to the inch(more than that is less effective and even with really nice wood won't last in the field. A leather covered pad and inletted Supergrade style swivels inletted into islands handle carrying chores. A skeleton steel gripcap, your intials cut from gold inlet into the wood inside the cap and a nice piece of buffalo horn on the forearm.. Talk with Goens about the checkering and perhaps Turnbull about finishing(perhaps a bit of case coloring?). I'm sure Turnbull can point you to a really good engraver, although there was this gentleman in Louisianna that had a real touch.... As a final touch Gold plating the trigger parts is a nice touch. The gold precludes corrosion and it's lubricity makes a smooth pull easy! Custom scope mounts, perhaps detachable, ala German style claws, although a more modern lowered mounting. Platinum rear sight alignment line and a boars tusk ivory front bead with a 'moon' sight bead installed on the front under a vented, octogon hood. Some might say it would be better for the quarter rib to be added as it's then not a part of the barrel mass and won't alter the barrels expansion movements so much. I don't care! It's a sporter, not a combat of field of fire weapon! Good luck and thanks for the chance to daydream a bit..

Rusty · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2003, 11:05:58 AM »

Go for the CZ-550. It really isn't beatiful, or over engineered, it just is well put together, and they are ususally accurate too.

Zachary · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2003, 11:10:39 AM »

I have heard, but not confirmed, that CZ has one of the most squared actions out there. This of course is condusive to accuracy, but then again, all of my factory Remingtons and Tikkas are very accurate too. Still, it kinda sounds like nice wood is top priority for him, and I don't think, as you have stated, that the CZ qualifies in that department.

Zachary

Sask_Hunter · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2003, 04:03:38 PM »

go with the tikka deluxe. i have had one for a year and a half. it shoots everything that i have shot through it (7mm). it is very consistant when i do my part. this past season i was at the range and watched my rifle slip from the rack and fall hard on the cement. the stock cracked along the side of the forarm all the way to the recoil lug. it also cracked behind the tang under the safety. i got it fixed and went out to see if it was still on. it shot to the same place and i went a drilled a doe at 300 yrds that weekend. i wish all my rifles were as consitant as this one. it will never be sold no matter what.

even some of the standard whitetail hunter has good wood on them. its worth a look.

SHW · « **Reply #9 on:** December 05, 2003, 09:26:47 AM »

Though they are expensive, look at a Blaser R93. They do have some beautiful wood. www.blaser.de or www.sigarms.com

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2003, 09:48:56 AM »

A new rifle got into the mix last night----so the caliber on my "pretty" rifle will probably go to .300 Win mag or .300WSM.

Picked up(stole actually--lol) a stainless Ruger Compact Rifle in .308 at Galyan's for $400 last night. They also threw in 2 Motorola radios and a Remington ammo box.

Not a big fan of Ruger rifles---but this little bad boy was too good a deal to pass up----love how this little thing handles. They called it a pack rifle---I think its more a truck gun---lol. Need to get some 30mm rings---because I think that Meopta is going on this one.

Save the 4 inch eye-relief Zeiss for a heavy recoiling gun.

I also looked over a Benelli semi-auto rifle in .300 Win mag the other day---nice gun----but they had it priced at full suggested retail---waaay too much.

I'll go to Scheel's in Sioux Falls this weekend to see what they have in the way of .300's.

GBO MGMT · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2003, 12:14:25 PM »

Doesn't that rifle have a short "youth" length stock on it? I've never picked one up but the ones I've seen appeared to have a much shorter than normal length of pull. If so you might wish you had that long eye relief scope on it to see if you can push it far enough away from your eye to keep from getting beaned by it.

GB

HHI #4694 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 07, 2003, 03:18:09 PM »

Of the rifles you mentioned, the Win featherweight would be the best looking and most well designed true big game "hunting" rifle.

I am not a big Remington fan myself. Although, the new 700 titaniums are very well done. However, Remingtons are exceptionally accurate, no one denies this. By saying you never shot an accurate Remington, you are inadvertently commenting on your shooting skills :oops:

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2003, 03:54:42 PM »

Uuuummm---NO---my Tikka's are all tack-drivers------same shooter---different gun. My Brownings are tack-drivers also.

I've literally had 6+ Remingtons---none would do better than a 2inch group. In my experience---Remingtons are junk---I'll never own another---or recommend anyone else buy such garbage. Enough said??

I kept on buying into the BS on how accurate Remingtons are---well -its exactly that --BS----Remingtons are the worst shooters out there----and that's no BS----but rather the voice of experience.

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #14 on:** December 14, 2003, 05:44:27 PM »

Update:

Did a little trading today and came home with a Sako 75---stainless/wood in .338 Win-----the Conquest will be going on this one and my buddy has a set of Warne rings that he's never taken out of the package---as he went with the Sako mounts after he had already purchased the Warne rings.

This rifle has been sitting on the rack for over a year---maybe two----they had it discounted to a NIB price of $849. WooHoo!!!

The wood is still so-so looking-----but hell-for-stout----no little dingers will be showing up in this wood----unlike Browning--Remington et all.......

Zachary · « **Reply #15 on:** December 15, 2003, 07:33:15 AM »

That's actually a dang good price. Now you have to get the scope mounts for it. Are you going to go with the expensive Sako opti-lock rings and bases or get the Leupold mounts?

Zachary

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #16 on:** December 15, 2003, 09:21:02 AM »

Warne Quick-Detach

HHI #4694 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 15, 2003, 01:02:24 PM »

That is a good price for a brand new stainless Sako 75. I just saw a slightly used stainless 308 for for $660.00. They are heavy rifles, but in 338 Win mag that is a good thing :wink: