Purchase New Gun?

[jtstoner]

I have never purchased a gun before. I have inherited or been given every gun that I currently own. Winchester 1500 XTR .12 gauge, Ruger M77 Laminate .243, Remington Model 61 .22, and a Pre 64 Winchester Model 70 .270. I would like to purchase a new gun to hunt with and eventually pass on to posterity. My budget will be around $1000, but that number is not set in stone. I already have a Leupold Vari X III 3.5-10X40 scope that I will mount on the gun. The gun will either be a .30-06 or a .300 Mag. I would love suggestions on what to purchase. Please make a suggestion if you have the time! Thanks

[Yooper]

You're sure to get a lot of responses on this. I'd love to have that kind of budget to buy a new toy... I'd say go with a .300 mag just because your .243 and your .270 will handle anything a 30.06 will. Plus a .300 mag is a classic big game caliber.

So it depends on what you're looking for. Do you want a stainless? Check out Remington's new 700 XCR rifles.

Another GREAT rifle would be a Weatherby Sub-MOA Vanguard.

Or a Ruger No.1...

Or...

The list is endless.

I'd pop into a Cabelas and see what you can find.

[turner1978]

I have quite a few big game rifles and my altime favorite is my winchester mod 70 classic super grade. It cost me about $850.00 USA It is a 270wsm but you can get them in 300 win mag if you would rather have that. The super grades have really nice wood on them if your a wood fan like me. You can get them with either blued or stainless. You might even look on www.gunbroker.com and look at there selection of supergrades, new and used, to get a variaty of choices. The ss model might cost about $100.00 more. Good luck and let us know what you buy.

[hunter1992]

I realy like the Winchester model 1885. I don't know what type of gun you are looking for but I would love to own one of those. Another good gun would be the Winchester model 70.

[beeell]

I bought the remimington 700 in 300 win mag because it felt better on my cheek than the Win mod 70. Both are excellent guns, however, if I had the cash at the time, I would have gone with the Browning A-bolt. The research I did before I bought the gun showed it to be a superior rifle. If you've got the time, go down to your local gun shop, hopefully a Cabelas, and check out the fit, and action on all three. Thats what I did. And of course don't forget, you can modify most any gun to make the fit even better, the trigger lighter or quicker, and the recoil less with the right amount of cash.

[jtstoner]

I should mention that I prefer a wood/blued gun. Thank you for the suggestions thus far. I have looked at the Browning A-bolt and really like it. How about the Sako or Tikka? Any suggestion in regards to that?

[turner1978]

Brownings are great rifles. I owne one that I bought about 9 months ago. The only thing that I don't like about it is the high gloss finish on the stock. SCRATCHES REALLY EASILY! I have reloaded for my 300win mag and my 7mm wsm, both in browning a-bolts. I have found that the magazines are verry short in both rifles and it is dificult to seat my bullets as close to the lands as I would like to. I don't know if all of the brownings are like that but both of mine are. That could be a coincidence though. I don't have that problem with any of my winchester mod 70's. If you don't handload don't worry about it.

[bearbacker]

If you have the money, you should seriously consider a Sako 75. Guaranteed sub MOA and they still make 'em with steel and wood. The Hunter model is right there in your price range, and the DeLuxe is a bit more. These are traditional rifles, made the old-fashioned way with machined actions, and the Sako is guaranteed to become a family heirloom.

If you go with Tikka, you can have two! Then you'd have to come up with another scope, etc., and that just might be too much trouble, right? Seriously, most Tikka owners swear by them. They're made in the same factory as Sako rifles, but they have cast alloy receivers. Their actions are usually glassy smooth. The only guys I've ever heard criticize Tikkas had never owned or shot one. Go figure.

Sakos and Tikkas are both available in versions with synthetic stocks if you change your mind about the walnut.

[DinkKiller]

all good replies and suggestions. With a budget of 1000 bucks, are you looking to purchase a new scope too? My intentions are not to open a can of worms here, but if you're paying some decent funds for a new rifle, don't pipm out on a cheap scope. Mid level scopes like the Burris and Leupolds are great scopes. Despite their popularity, those 2nd mortgage scopes aren't gonna make you a better hunter. Good luck and keep us posted.

[jtstoner]

I am still shopping! I do have a Leupld Vari X III to put on the gun. Thanks for all of your replies. I am leaning toward the Sako right now, but if and when I purchase, I will let you know!

[Warlock49766]

Well after reading all of your responses,... and looking over your inventory a .300 Mag would be the choice for you.

BUT,.. if it were me ---- I'd go one better and set my sights on a .338 Winchester Magnum. Some say it is our all time greatest elk, moose, and grizzly cartridge, without being totally ridiculous when used for hunting deer size game. There's no law that says the .338 Magnum can't be used on deer and the like, but the cartridge is seen at its best when used on bigger game. Whether or not the .338 Magnum is actually a better elk and moose cartridge than the .300 Magnums, or even the 7mm Magnums, will long be debated, but when large carnivorous game becomes the topic of conversation all such arguments quickly end.

I already have:

6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser
30-06 Springfield
7mm Magnum
.300 SAUM
8mm Mauser

As you can see I think I have all of the hunting types and styles covered with the above with exception to heavy dangerous types of game. My next caliber will probably be a .416 then I'll be done buying for a while