Author Topic: What if you wanted to have one centerfire bolt gun. Which? (Read 2183 times)

ought6 · « **on:** March 29, 2005, 02:00:09 PM »

As I get older, I find myself (thank goodness :roll: )..... wanting to narrow my centerfires down to what I really need rather than just want. I know I want to keep my 45-70 guide gun (too many excuses for needs). However, my bolt gun causes me pause. I currently have a Tikka T3 in 300 WSM. I don't like the very long throat it has, but I understand that this occurs only in the short magnums. I reload for everything and this throat thing is an issue I have learned to overcome, but I still don't like it!!

Anyway, I am considering changing bolt guns to a more conventional caliber (maybe 30-06) and in doing so, desire a bolt gun that is: 1st - reliable (always goes boom when you pull the trigger, always feeds a round when you work the bolt); 2nd - accurate (MOA or less); and 3rd - strong, sturdy, built-to-last. I love Winchester M70's bolts, but wonder about their accuracy compared to the T3. I like Remingtons ok. But I'm also considering a CZ 550.

Given my order of criteria for the bolt gun (reliability, accuracy, sturdiness), what are your thoughts? (I've owned all the above except CZ 550 at one time or another.)

Come on, help an old shooter out. :coffee: [/b]

Don Fischer · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2005, 02:25:44 PM »

Good question. I have a strong distaste for Remington any more but, under the condition's you set, I'd go for a 700 Classic and have a good gunsmith work it over if necessary. And I'd get it in 280 Rem. As long as your talking only one, I'd put some time into what I really want. The 700 Classic was a thing of beauty to me and the 280 Rem is, in my opinion, the most versatile and under rated cartridge ever.

MickinColo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2005, 03:15:04 PM »

What a wonderful fishing expedition this post is.

longwinters · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2005, 03:42:34 PM »

Do we have to color inside the lines? If not I would say a Sako in 280. Or maybe a Browning Stainless stalker in 280. But if I have to paint by your numbers then I would take a Winchester in 30-06.

LOng

old06 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2005, 03:44:20 PM »

Modle 70 in either pre 64 or classic and caliber of choice.

Sigma · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2005, 06:43:17 PM »

Sako 75 or Winchester Model 70 Pre-64. Caliber: 30.06, .270, 7mm08 or 7x57.

Regards

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #6 on:** March 29, 2005, 09:17:20 PM »

Already have it---Sako 75 in .338 mag----stainless action in a wood stock----considering a McMillan syn stock for it though----big enough for most anything short of Africa-----and the deer ain't gonna care if he's been shot with somthing big.

Ramrod · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2005, 11:41:56 PM »

To me reliability = Mauser type action, so that means CZ or Winchester classic. Both are accurate enough. Caliber, well, .30-06 of course. I think Remingtons are more accurate, but I have only used them on varmints.

ought6 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 30, 2005, 01:09:10 AM »

So far, several of you are touting Winchesters and only one CZ. I'm wondering, is it because the CZ is not as accurate as the Winchester? Maybe I'm missing something here. I know that Rem 700 can be the target king (with the short lock time and all), but I really do not wish to have it tweaked. I'm interested in out of the box qualifications.

Keep it up guys, this old man may learn something. :wink:

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #9 on:** March 30, 2005, 01:10:34 AM »

I would have to agree with Ramrod, a 30-06.

Zachary · « **Reply #10 on:** March 30, 2005, 01:40:12 AM »

db,

One cartridge? Well, you mentioned the .30-06, and you can't beat it.

One Bolt-Action Rifle? Well, given the 3 criteria that you are searching (which many people similarly search), and given that you said that the T3 long throats are limited to the WSMs, then I think the answer is just under your nose - get a Tikka T3 in .30-06.

Another good choice - although kinda expensive, is the Sako 75 as others have mentioned. I have one and it is awesome.

As for the CZ, I own only 1, and that's in a .17HMR. It's not a centerfire, but it is a quality rifle.

I also own quite a few Winchesters, but I also own more Remingtons. The good thing about these guns is that there are a lot of after market goodies that you can buy so that you can customize them. These guns are generally good shooters, but if they are not, some customizing can make them shoot better. And given that you reload, I don't think that you would have a problem shooting MOA or better.

Still, I would generally buy a Tikka over most other guns these days.

Zachary

tscott · « **Reply #11 on:** March 30, 2005, 05:01:57 AM »

After parts of 6 decades of deer hunting, and much more to go, my go to deer rifle is the 99f in .300 Savage.
The one bolt action that I would never part with is the Mark V, surprisingly in 06, not the Weatherby .300 (too much gun). I also think the Mark V is the best looking bolt out there (fancy stock). Sure it's a little heavy, and
long, but for me 6'5" 202, and only 58, I don't even think about it. Next year (06) I will use it exclusively, to honor the 100th anniversary of the 06!!!

Squeeze · « **Reply #12 on:** March 30, 2005, 05:37:56 AM »

Meaning no disrespect, but when they bury me, there is going to be a few bolt guns
in the gun safe! I just don't get the one gun to do it all notion. I need a couple of
varmint guns, so on colony varmints, I can let them cool. On coyotes, I want a
light carry small bore. For other varmints like groundhogs, skunks, rabbits, coons,
and feral cats, I want something to shoot their eyes out at 300 yards. For deer,
I want a brush gun, and a blind gun. For western hunts, I want something
in the magnum class for elk, and something in the flat shooting, hard hitting class
for antelope. Nope, one boltgun just won't do it for me, and I have a hard time
coming to a conclusion that if some catastrophe happened, and I could only have
one rifle, what would it be? Ok so in my nightmares, this has happened, and I
ended up with my Tikka M695 SS/Lam, in .25-06 Rem. There I said it!

I am not hung up of CRF, so I don't put that im my criteria. Maybe I should.
Since I have never had a misfeed on the push feed Tikkas, I will continue to
give them my highest marks on reliablity. Accurate? sub MOA! Strong, sturdy,
built-to-last? The action on these guns will out live my sons.

I have looked at CZ rifles, and they just don't trip my trigger. The mauser action
seems stiff, which I hear wears in after time, and kind of well as some one
put it, "agricultural". Stiff seems to be a better description, but it definitely
feels "solid". Some day I might get a CZ, in a caliber that I can't get a Tikka,
or a Savage, in. I know they get great reviews by most owners.

I have got to stop having these one gun nightmares! Now I am going to have
to run home, and fondle all of my babies, just to be sure this was a nightmare
:-D

Squeeze

dave375hh · « **Reply #13 on:** March 30, 2005, 06:04:08 AM »

Why not just get the bbl on your Tikka set back one thread and rechambered to fix the throat? Nothing wrong with an '06, but you already have the .300WSM in a rifle that's supposed to be quite accurate.

Omaha-BeenGlockin · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2005, 07:34:12 AM »

The CZ's might be good shooters---but all the ones I've looked at over the years have been very sloppy in the workmanship dept.

I do have to admit that the more recent examples have been better finished than the olders ones. But I still wounldn't buy one----yet------give em another year or 2 and they more than likely will be up to snuff by then.

Thunder38849 · « **Reply #15 on:** March 30, 2005, 03:35:13 PM »

Weatherby Mark V .308

Mac11700 · « **Reply #16 on:** March 30, 2005, 08:19:07 PM »

Well...a Weatherby Mark 5 in 30-06 would be great...or even 338-06...the wood is very nice on them...and you can get them with outstanding synthetic stocks too...you can even get a barreled action in the Vangaurd or buy the whole gun pretty cheap...have it rebarreled to what ever you would like and drop it in a stock of your choosing too...nothing like having a semi-custom gun of your design...

Mac

Mauser · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2005, 02:00:13 AM »

Why not find a real good gunsmith near you and have him build you a custom rifle around a Montana action (or something similar)? This way you get exactly the rifle you want. I would do one on 30/06.

ought6 · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2005, 03:11:38 AM »

Thanks, y'all.

All of your replys are appreciated. And, Squeeze, I can appreciate your view. It's just that as I get older and have accumulated so much junk that I rarely use, I just want to slim down to the rifles I actually use and need. As I mentioned before, the 45-70 guide gun is my woods rifle, good for up to 200 yds. It shoots like a "house a fire", so to speak down here in the South. However, musing over ballistics, as has been my hobby for around 35 years, I find that the advantage of magnum rounds is probably over rated. I really doubt that a deer hit at 350 yds with a 30-06 or a 30-378 would know the difference. It's all about shot placement and bullet performance. Using the right bullet and absolutely knowing the range and limitations of your (and your rifle's) ability.

Enough rambling!! If T3's do not have a long throat on their standard cartridges, I know they are accurate and reliable. However, I'm not impressed with the plastic used in their manufacture. As I said, Winchesters are great rifles, but how are the new ones in the accuracy department? Someone said Remingtons are going through a rough time quality wise. And others are unsure of the CZ's.

There..... now you see my dilemma? Boy, it's rough getting old.

Graybeard · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2005, 03:22:48 AM »

Well ya don't say how old you are but I've now seen 60 birthdays and I find myself with more guns than ever. I can see absolutely no reason to limit myself. When I look at limiting myself to one gun that gun is a Remington Model 700 and I have a BUNCH of that rifle.

I seldom even think of any other bolt gun. Matter of fact of all them I have only one is NOT a Remington.

I'm sure no help in selecting any other brand. BUT iffen ya just gotta have one and only one why not make it a nice one. Get a full up custom rifle like the new Nosler Custom or some other. Danged if I'd go to one unless I got the nicest custom out there.

Triple4 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 01, 2005, 12:36:55 AM »

It would be a Remington 700 Mountain rifle in 30-06.......they don't make a better feeling rifle.

ought6 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 01, 2005, 05:27:08 AM »

Graybeard,
What about the bad rap Remington is getting from posters like Lawdog? It seems that there is some inconsistency in newer rifles.
:eek:

Mac11700 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 01, 2005, 06:02:01 AM »

Quote from: db

Graybeard,
What about the bad rap Remington is getting from posters like Lawdog? It seems that there is some inconsistency in newer rifles.
:eek:

Everyone is intitaled to their opinions db...even us moderators...

Mac

Buckeye · « **Reply #23 on:** April 01, 2005, 11:32:22 AM »

SAVAGE or now maybe a Stevens...very reliable and accurate.A Stevens is a Savage.. or maybe a Vanguard...Why pay more $$$..I'd like to have a 308win. in a Stevens or maybe a 300win. ..??I've got 4 Sporting bolt guns now

Top to bottom
Model 3000 Mauser 375 H&H ,7 3/4 lb.s
Model 46 Swedish Mauser 9.3 X57
Model 38 Swedish Mauser 6.5X55
Model 03 Springfield 30-06

ought6 · « **Reply #24 on:** April 01, 2005, 12:11:26 PM »

I must say, Buckeye, I am leaning toward Savage. I've had a Savage before and it shot fine (-moa). Also, Savage's are made in the USA and are owned by the employees. Sounds like these people are there to stay in business!!

Anyway, all other comments still welcome. It's interesting to note all the different opinions. Mac11700, I know everyone is entitled. That is why I asked for them. Not only have I asked for them, I really do appreciate everyone of them. I know that they reflect the personal experiences of the individuals, even moderators.

Heck, the best way to find out about the best products out there is by word of mouth. What better word of mouth that a forum such as this.

Thanks

Buckeye · « **Reply #25 on:** April 01, 2005, 12:21:13 PM »

I've owned Savages in the past a@ 7mm Mag. a 270 and 2 30/06's
I really enjoyed them all ,the 7mm mag's shot tight groups. But I traded and swapped them off,for one reason or another,I'm going to get a 308 in a Stevens most certainly ,the 03 Springfield I have is soon going to be a 35 Whelen.

ratgunner · « **Reply #26 on:** April 01, 2005, 12:37:47 PM »

RUGER model77 MKII,.308.

poncaguy · « **Reply #27 on:** April 01, 2005, 02:16:33 PM »

Winchester Model 70 Super Shadow in 270 WSM...........First Model 70 I've owned and it's a shooter. Can't complain about the 700's I've owned, or my tang saftey 22-250, 77 Ruger, another great shooter. My Savage 270 was accurate too, gave it to my grandson.(he shot an Oklahoma 10 point this year, beat me and his dad!)

Redhat · « **Reply #28 on:** April 01, 2005, 04:02:57 PM »

db,

check out a CZ 550 if you have the chance. There was a long discussion on these rifles compared to the M70 about a week ago. I have one in 270...paid less than $500 for it and is a sweet shooter.

One person referred to it as "rough"but I don't know why. In the accuracy dept, I think it'll probably best Winchester and most others...except of course the new Savage's with the adjustable trigger. I bought mine because it looked plain. Out of the box using the set trigger I got 1.5" groups at 200 yds with win Ballistic tips.

Just don't ignore these rifles because some person who never fired one poo-pooed them

Happy shopping

Graybeard · « **Reply #29 on:** April 01, 2005, 05:40:27 PM »

Quote

Graybeard,
What about the bad rap Remington is getting from posters like Lawdog? It seems that there is some inconsistency in newer rifles.

I don't believe Lawdog has purchased a Remington recently enough to know the quality of current manufacture. I think I recall his comments pertain only to a couple of rifles he has had a few years back.

I've owned, I dunno, well over 100 and likely closer to 200 of them. I've bought three this year already and bought I guess 6-8 last year. I say there is no degradation of Remington quality. They are just as good as they always were and to me that's better than the rest. It's the only brand I even consider when looking for a new bolt gun generally speaking. I have one non Remington centerfire bolt action rifle at my house now.

Yes I've owned many other brands and they are gone and the Remingtons are still with me and now they are what I spend my money on.