I'm looking for a new 30-06 in bolt action and im debaiting between which model is the best. Here are my good points and bad points about each one, hopefully you nice fellas can help me. By the way, i think i want one with synthetic stock and ss barrel. But wood stock is not out of the picture.


Remington- From what i hear the m700 is outstanding. I have a remington repair center right by my house so if anything goes wrong i can take it to him. And the bdl ss is a nice looking gun, but im not sure if i can afford because i still need a scope and rings and bases.


Ruger- The one im really thinking about buying! Im looking at the all weather model. I love the actiona and the looks on it and it feels great against my shoulder. But i hear that rugers have terrible accuracy and it is a hit or miss kind of thing. I would mostly want more info on this m77 because it looks and feels like a really good gun. + $60 savings because you dont need to buy rings or bases!


Winchester- Really like there ss model. Although it will be very expensive. I like how the bolt can disassemble with out tools.



I am also intrested in wood stocks, but i hear they can warp and a whole bunch of other bad things. For instace if i would invest in a m70 classic featherweight, i would be nervous to take it out in the rain or snow. As for wood i would debate between the bdl and the featherweight. Do you know if there is something a gunsmith can do to the wood after you've been out hunting in the rain to care for it so it doesnt warp? Open for opinions! Thank you, you guys are a great help!

I've got a friend that has a Ruger M77 Mark II, in .300 Win Mag, and the accuracy on it, is outstanding. Sub-MOA groups can be fired with it. He shimmed the trigger (from what I know about Ruger's, the trigger is the downfall) to make it a little more responsive, but that's all he's altered on it. If that's the way you're leaning, this may reassure you.

Also, have you looked at Savage? I just got a 111F for christmas in .300 win mag, and I love it!!! I put a Weaver Classic V9 scope on it (needed PLENTY of eye relief), and am shooting .75" 5 shot groups with it, at 100 yards.

Just my .02 worth!

Let us know what you do, and how it turns out!

W.H.

If money is going to be a consideration, either the Ruger or the Savage would be the best buys. The Ruger because of the scope mounting system coming with the rifle, the Savage due to initial lowest price of the 4 brands mentioned.

Own a bunch of Rugers and they're all good shooters, so don't pay too much attention to someone saying they aren't. The new model MkII's do have a somewhat heavy trigger, but a competent gunsmith can fix that for you at less than the cost of a replacement trigger.

Also, get the full synthetic stock if getting the Ruger. The skeleton Zytel stock (with the various colored inserts in the pistol grip and forearm) has a very narrow butt pad and is known for being a real stomper.

I agree completely with Kdub.

I also want to add that my Savage is Synthetic Stock, and I was a little concerned about the "sound" of the stock, as compared to wood..... if say, a ring on your finger happens to hit against a wood stock, the wood stock isn't very resonant to it. Synthetic stocks tend to me more resonant, but they've pretty much insulated them so well now, that synthetic has almost no resonance to it. I'm very pleased with the Savage synthetic stocks. It's pretty frustrating to be "silently" placing the gun on your shoulder, and as you put your hand on the grip, a ring "slaps" the stock, and whatever may be close hears it and runs away!

Later,
W.H.

I recently read an article, can't remember which mag it was in, about ruger rifles. It stated the ruger had another company making barrels for the 77 line. I guess there were some quality control issues and the accounted to the hit and miss accuracy problem. Ruger now makes their own barrels and the accuracy problem has been solved. I don't remember if the article gave any dates when the on when this all took place, but if I can fined the acticle and it says, I'll repost.

The hardest part about picking out a rifle is not plugging your ears when everybody starts bombarding you with the "I knew a guy that had ..." stories . The problem being that most all these tales are just that, one guy and one rifle . Most times something that might have been valid 40-50 years ago, still lingers as a reason not to buy this or that model . Granted, enlisting others opinions in itself is not wrong , and can give you a feel for whats out there , but at some point it has to come down to " biting the bullet " so to speak, and making a decision based on your obsevations and handling of the choices at hand. Fact of the matter is , there is no perfect rifle . Unlike a garage door opener ( push button ,door go's up... push button , door go's down..) , a rifle is dependant on user interaction that is out of the manufacturers control ( shooter's skill, technique , etc. ) and the theoretical "worst" one out there will give more accuracy and performance than needed by most. The average "Joe" will labor for month's deciding on which gun to buy , but spend next to no time or gunpowder in finding out the rifles potential.


444fitch

I recently read an article, can't remember which mag it was in, about ruger rifles. It stated the ruger had another company making barrels for the 77 line. I guess there were some quality control issues and the accounted to the hit and miss accuracy problem. Ruger now makes their own barrels and the accuracy problem has been solved. I don't remember if the article gave any dates when the on when this all took place, but if I can fined the acticle and it says, I'll repost.

Ruger bought barrels from Wilson I believe for the original (tang-safety) model 77. John Barsness reported this in the Rifle/Handloader magazine.

Anything new is going to be their own hammer-forged barrels.

I do have two tang-safety 77s, and both shoot just fine... one a .338 Win Mag that will keep 'em under an inch with the Barnes "X" no less, and a .257 Roberts that will keep 75gr. Sierra hollowpoints and 100gr. Rem Cor-Lokts in the same group at 100 yards.

Your mileage may vary.... with any manufacturer. Ditto 444's comments above.

i have the first all weather 77 MK II i ever saw, and one it will group under an inch all day long. a friend of mine has a ruger in 220 swift that does better than that. that being said, the savage mentioned by kdub has got to be a contender if price in a consideration. it's best to save a little on the gun and buy the very best scope you can afford. you'll have a better package with a savage/leupold than remington/bushnell. my opinion only, but i'll argue it to the end.

monty

Most guns nowadays are far more accurate than the person holding them, so pick the one that you like best. Buy the best scope you can afford, and use the best bullets you can afford. If ya can't see it, all the accuracy in the world doesn't matter. And, once you've pulled the trigger, its the bullet that does the work, so why scrimp here?? Just my .02...

You only really need to worry about wood warping if you are out in the rain and snow for long periods of time, as in days and days. If your gun does get wet just wipe it off, clean it, oil it, and it should be fine. I have my grandfathers .30 .06 thats nearly 80 years old, its bolt action. A real beaut handed down to me by my dad, thats what hes done and its what I've done with it and the stock minus some scratches is perfect. I live in Vermont if that tells you anything about the kind of weather I deal with.

Is a custom Rifle out of the question??? I here alot of recomendations for Factory Rem, Win, and Ruger but if you have ever handled or shot a custom rifle there is no comparison..I know they cost more but in my opinion I would rather buy one custom than four factorys just my 2 cents.
Even though most custom shops build off a Rem 700 action you would be amazed at how crooked and messed up Factory guns really are.even stock Rem.. I know I may be stirring up a hornets nest here and may ruffle some feathers but I know somebody on this board has custom rifles and they can relate to what I"m saying..I mean I here all the time how 2-3 inces or whatever is fine accuracy out of a deer rifle at 100 yards but I think I can speak for most ...we all strive to achieve the best accuracy we can , so why not get the best that a rifle has to offer.. I know from experience that most Rugers you can not even touch the lands whith your bullet and still fit it into the mag box..they are just to short! basically the throat is to long
now Rem has a longer box and you can usually acheive this but again it is very rare to get a factory Rem to shoot 1/2" or under without some work done to it, Now I know there are some exceptions and I have seen them but not to often. Please don't take this post the wrong way..I"m just trying to bring up another option that maybe some may not be aware of.. Personally when that trophy of a life time steps out at 300-400 yards or farther I want to know and have complete confidence that my rifle is up to the task ..if I miss it's my fault not because my rifle shoots 3 inces at 100 and 6-9 or whatever at 400 and so on..I know alot may say well if your not confident at that range or you know your gun don't shoot that well ..then don't take the shot! Well thats a lame excuse
we owe it to the critters we hunt to take them fast and clean. I know I would rather be looking at a huge trophy on the wall than an empty wall. Again this is just my opinion Please don't take it personal.

Keith