Thinking about new bolt action

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chrmayo

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Mckenzie, Tn
I am more than likely gonna buy me a new deer rifle this year. I have remington 700 adl .243 that I have had since I was 10. Its not going anywhere just thinking I want something else. What do you guys suggest? I am thinkin maybe a Ruger m77 or Browning Abolt. Caliber is undecided. Dad has the ruger in .280 and loves it and my brother has the same in .270 and feels the same way. A friend from work has the a bolt in .338 and really likes it. Any advice would help. Oh yea I want stainless for sure.
 
I have a Ruger Hawkeye in .358 Win that I bought for the caliber, not the gun. After shooting and hunting with it, I liked the rifle enough to consider another one, very pleasantly surprised. I am not a huge Browning fan, but I also have never seen an Abolt that would not shoot well. I would look hard at the Win Model 70 if I were you as well.
 
Imo the Ruger M77 is the best hunting rifle out there. I prefer the handier short action as the cartridges will do every thing I need. As far as cartridges a 308, 7/08, 358, 338, or 260 will work. PH
 
I own nearly all Remington bolt guns,,if I was buying one today and was planning on keepin it to deer hunt with from now on,,it would be a Ruger Hawkeye,,any of the calibers will work,,but I would get the 257 Roberts or the 260 Rem,,if you dont reload I would get the 308 Win.
 
have you ever shot a 338? it kicks worse than 3 1/2 12 gauge single shot and unless your going after elk or moose one day i'd look in other directions
270 is more readily availiable in different bullets than the 7mm-08 both are awesome rounds 308 ammo is readily availiable and fairly cheap
a browning blr is hard to beat in any caliber and is more ambidextrious than a bolt action which makes it nice on offside shots
 
Just curious about how you narrowed it down to between the abolt and the ruger. 2 very different actions. The abolt is a pushfeed and the ruger is a controlled round feed. I am a bolt gun nut but not crazy about either of these actions although both will certainly do the job. The abolt is considered a throw away action. It will never be the centerpiece to a fine custom rifle, mainly due to the coarseness and roughness of the action as well as how the action locks into the barrel, very similar to the savage in that regard. They do shoot well however. The m77 is based on the tried and true mauser design. The problem with the ruger action are they are investment cast and also very grainy and rough. I would strongly recommend the kimber 84, win. Model 70 or the cz 550. They are all controlled round feed design and have a three position safety. You will also fine decent walnut and bluing on these guns. Of course the 700 is a great choice especially if you want a push feed action.
 
redblood said:
Just curious about how you narrowed it down to between the abolt and the ruger. 2 very different actions. The abolt is a pushfeed and the ruger is a controlled round feed. I am a bolt gun nut but not crazy about either of these actions although both will certainly do the job. The abolt is considered a throw away action. It will never be the centerpiece to a fine custom rifle, mainly due to the coarseness and roughness of the action as well as how the action locks into the barrel, very similar to the savage in that regard. They do shoot well however. The m77 is based on the tried and true mauser design. The problem with the ruger action are they are investment cast and also very grainy and rough. I would strongly recommend the kimber 84, win. Model 70 or the cz 550. They are all controlled round feed design and have a three position safety. You will also fine decent walnut and bluing on these guns. Of course the 700 is a great choice especially if you want a push feed action.
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I agree on all counts except the grainy and rough assessment on the Ruger. I will admit from the factory, the Hawkeye was a little rough, but no more so than any Remmy I have picked up in recent history. After seeing my smith and having him slick the action and lighten the trigger, my Hawkeye is every bit as slick as my model 70s and Kimbers.
 
I have no experience with the hawkeyes and i hear good things about. I have not been able to find a ruger that was smooth to my hands. I have heard that ruger has been working to improve them. I own a few 700's and none are real smooth either, but they are good shooters- kind of the scouting report on rems.
 
Make,Model and Caliber is Whatever and Whichever you like and want....continued below..

A-Bolt Stalker or any Win 70 and .30/06

Good Luck and .....( cont. from above) Get What you Like & Want opinions be danged.
 
Go pick them all up and feel em out. I never cared for a browning until I traded for an x-bolt medallion. It just feels good to me. Don't ever get a rifle because someone else likes it.

Like Tiny said find what you like and have fun.
 
I've been looking myself. But I'm looking for a coyote gun in .223 I've looked at Ruger M77, Remington 700 vtr,sps and model 7 varmit,and Weatherby Vangaurd varmit rifles

I shoot the M77 in 30/06 when deer hunting. I think it is a bit overkill for deer, but I love the rifle and ammo isn't too expensive and easy to find. I prefer the M77 over my in laws Rem 700 that he has in .280. Not so much the .280 round the ruger rifle/trigger just feels better to me. I would also look at some of the Weatherby rifles. I really like the raised comb and the drop on the heel. I don't prefer stainless because of the possibility of flash on a bright day. JMO

As far as caliber goes you've jumped into a discussion that will drive you nuts sometimes. There are a bunch out there that will sufice for deer hunting. My way of narrowing down right off the bat is....what is the most affordable ammo and most availible. Let's face it what good is a rifle if you can't afford to practice with it. I like the .308 and the 30-06. I think the .300win mag is too much as is the .338. Now if money is no issue on the ammo then you've got a lot of research to do. It all boils down to where you intend to hunt, how you intend to hunt, range you intend to hunt, ect ect. Most hunters in TN would do just fine with a 30-30 or .35 brush gun. Others hunt the box blinds with a 300yd shot where a .280 or something like that would be better. Good luck let us know what you decide on.
 
aretrohillbilly said:
6.5 Sweede (the caliber)is awesome!
Click to expand...
Don't overlook the 6.5x55. Look it up and see if you can find anything bad about it, you won't. Flat shooting, low recoil, and awesome on game. There's finally a good base of factory ammo but you won't find it in the store usually and it won't be cheap. That's the only downside. the Norma ammo loaded with 120 gr. nosler ballistic tips is great and any hornady ammo is great with the swede.
 
nice choice tndrbstr. cant go wrong with a winny. i have a classic featherweight. smooth as silk.
 
bobthebowhunter said:
I don't prefer stainless because of the possibility of flash on a bright day. JMO
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a brushed stainless rifle is no more likely to reflect than a shiny blued barrel. i'll take stainless everytime.


also look at tikka.we own at least one bolt gun from all the major manufacturers except browning(another story). the tikka and my model 70 are the slickest out-of-the-box actions i have ever owned or handled.. but i would love to have a kimber 84 in 22-250.
 
stik said:
bobthebowhunter said:
I don't prefer stainless because of the possibility of flash on a bright day. JMO
Click to expand...

a brushed stainless rifle is no more likely to reflect than a shiny blued barrel. i'll take stainless everytime.


also look at tikka.we own at least one bolt gun from all the major manufacturers except browning(another story). the tikka and my model 70 are the slickest out-of-the-box actions i have ever owned or handled.. but i would love to have a kimber 84 in 22-250.
Click to expand...


I have owned a Btowning, Ruger, Remington, Savage, and Thompson. But for the money I love my Tikka. Wouldn't trade it for anything.
 
1 good shot said:
have you ever shot a 338? it kicks worse than 3 1/2 12 gauge single shot and unless your going after elk or moose one day i'd look in other directions
270 is more readily availiable in different bullets than the 7mm-08 both are awesome rounds 308 ammo is readily availiable and fairly cheap
a browning blr is hard to beat in any caliber and is more ambidextrious than a bolt action which makes it nice on offside shots
Click to expand...
I had a gun smith build me a .338 Win. Mag. with a mauser action a few years ago. I had him put a heavy stock on it and not cut the barrel down any when he added a compensator to it. The recoil is less than what I get from my 30-06.
 
They make good quality ammo, not Norma but you can afford to shoot it, I have used it in my 6.5x55mm, 7x57mm and 8x57mm. My preference would be a 7x57mm, it would have many of the same characteristics of the 6.5x55mm.


http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx? ... groupid=98








6.5 swede said:
aretrohillbilly said:
6.5 Sweede (the caliber)is awesome!
Click to expand...
Don't overlook the 6.5x55. Look it up and see if you can find anything bad about it, you won't. Flat shooting, low recoil, and awesome on game. There's finally a good base of factory ammo but you won't find it in the store usually and it won't be cheap. That's the only downside. the Norma ammo loaded with 120 gr. nosler ballistic tips is great and any hornady ammo is great with the swede.
Click to expand...
 
No doubt what i would buy. The Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather SS in 270 WSM. What a rifle!


http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/ ... mid=535110
Get extreme accuracy under any conditions. The Bell and Carlson� composite stock provides a solid feel and features trim and lightweight ergonomics. It has a textured charcoal gray matte finish for rugged good looks and improved grip in adverse conditions. The sculpted cheekpiece helps insure proper eye-to-scope alignment from any shooting position. The thick, black Pachmayr� Decelerator� pad helps take the felt recoil bite out of high performance magnum cartridges. The claw extractor offers Controlled Round Feeding so the cartridge may be easily withdrawn from the chamber at any point after it leaves the magazine. The cartridge feed lips are part of the receiver for improved reliability. The classic Three-Position Safety offers both on safe and fire positions, plus a middle position that locks the firing pin yet still allows the bolt to be operated, providing a greater margin of safety when checking the chamber condition or unloading. The Extreme Weather SS rifle's free-floating, fluted stainless steel barrel is made in the same factory as those found on U.S. military rifles and machine guns, and features a recessed Target Crown to protect the rifling. With quality optics, premium ammunition and good shooting conditions, 1 MOA accuracy can be expected. Two stainless steel sling swivel studs are installed. (Scope and mounting system not included.)
 

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