chosing a rifle

3788 Views 34 Replies 17 Participants Last post by dshusker, Aug 23, 2010

vipinaiter

Discussion Starter · Aug 18, 2010

Hello,

I would like to buy a rifle for target shooting but also for hunting at long ranges.
I have been looking for several rifles but I don't now with I have to buy.

I can chose between those rifles:
- Tikka T3 lite stainless
- Remington 700 sps DM
- Remington 770 sporter
- Winchester model 70 coyote lite
- Weatherby vanguard DBM
- Browning X-bolt stainless stalker

Can someone help me out of my problem.

P.S. Sorry for the spelling mistaces.

21 - 35 of 35 Posts

mr_tw

· #21 · Aug 20, 2010

my vote, (the more expensive option) is a Remington 700 Sendero chambered in ether 7mm Rem Mag. .300 Win Mag or one of the RUMs it is offered in (7mm or .300)
The Sendero is essentially a more accurate 700 with a fluted stainless 26" heavy barrel, an extremely nice gun, and even though Tang is a Ruger man, I'm fairly sure he has nothing bad to say about the quality or accuracy of the Sendero he used to own

Combat Diver

· #22 · Aug 20, 2010

vipinaiter,

Hardest part for us to recommend something is the fact we do not know what the price for a rifle is in your area. There is the euro conversion factor, import taxes on US rifles, what restrictions that you have and game/terrain your planning on hunting.

Handle the rifles at the gunshop and see what feels good to you. As mention I'll rule out the Remington 770 but all the others are good rifles. Look at the cost of ammunition and which calibers have affordable range ammo. That can be a factor in your decision. I would suggest a medium caliber 6.5x55, 270 win, 7mm or 8mm Mauser, .308, 30-06, 7mm Rem Mag or 300 Win Mag. These are the most popular and capable rounds. Others may shoot a bit faster/flatter but with more recoil and $$$. Only place that I can think of hunting 700/800m in Europe would be after Chamois up in the Alps. You should be able to stalk closer then than however.

You may also want to consider reloading your own ammo or find someone in your club that does. This would lower the cost and allow you to shoot more. I used to by BA powders in Germany that were made in France during the late 80s. I do not if the still produce them however. Each rifle will prefer different ammunition even from consecitive serial number guns from the same manufactuer. Good luck and good shooting.

CD

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vipinaiter

Discussion Starter · #23 · Aug 20, 2010

MikeG said:
Forget about hunting to 700 yards. If you are just starting, you need to do a LOT of target practice to even shoot animals half that far. Trust me, when you've worn out a couple of barrels at the target range, then you can think about shooting animals out past 300 or 400 yards.

It's harder than it looks!

just for saying I am a experimented hunter. And I have already worn out a couple of barrels

vipinaiter

Discussion Starter · #24 · Aug 20, 2010

Combat Diver said:
vipinaiter,

Hardest part for us to recommend something is the fact we do not know what the price for a rifle is in your area. There is the euro conversion factor, import taxes on US rifles, what restrictions that you have and game/terrain your planning on hunting.

Handle the rifles at the gunshop and see what feels good to you. As mention I'll rule out the Remington 770 but all the others are good rifles. Look at the cost of ammunition and which calibers have affordable range ammo. That can be a factor in your decision. I would suggest a medium caliber 6.5x55, 270 win, 7mm or 8mm Mauser, .308, 30-06, 7mm Rem Mag or 300 Win Mag. These are the most popular and capable rounds. Others may shoot a bit faster/flatter but with more recoil and $$$. Only place that I can think of hunting 700/800m in Europe would be after Chamois up in the Alps. You should be able to stalk closer then than however.

You may also want to consider reloading your own ammo or find someone in your club that does. This would lower the cost and allow you to shoot more. I used to by BA powders in Germany that were made in France during the late 80s. I do not if the still produce them however. Each rifle will prefer different ammunition even from consecitive serial number guns from the same manufactuer. Good luck and good shooting.

CD

If I would buy a gun. Than I will Buy it in the US ableammo.com
It is mutch cheaper to import the gun from this shop.
The import taxes are mayby 130$ I think

MikeG

· #25 · Aug 20, 2010

vipinaiter said:
just for saying I am a experimented hunter. And I have already worn out a couple of barrels

Ah OK I did not know that. We get a lot of new members who are planning on doing that with their first rifle, thus my comments. Well, perhaps something with a good track record at long range? .270 Win, .300 Win mag? The .270 is perhaps our classic sheep caliber.

Biggest problem at extended ranges may be having a bullet that will still open up and kill the animal. Generally speaking, the serious long range hunters use the heaviest bullets in the caliber that have good aerodynamics. A 200 or 210gr. bullet in a .300 Win Mag will have a bit of recoil. Not for the beginner!

CCAguns

· #26 · Aug 20, 2010

Chosing a Rifle

Well, if you are an experienced hunter who has worn out several rifle barrels, a step up in power for long range is appropriate.

My preference for strictly long range has been the Weatherby line of cartridges. You might insure that Weatherby ammunition is available to you. Also, realize that Remington and others chamber their rifles for Weatherby cartridges - so a budget-breaking Weatherby-made rifle is not the only solution available. I have a Remington 700 in .340 Weatherby Magnum that I use in Alaska. It is superbly accurate.

However, the 7mm Weatherby and 300 Weatherby Magnums should fit your circumstances and are outstanding long range cartidges. As others have recommended, a heavier bullet is preferred and I would go with the 175gr in the 7mm or the 180gr or 200gr in the 300.

Harry Snippe

· #27 · Aug 20, 2010

mr_tw said:
my vote, (the more expensive option) is a Remington 700 Sendero chambered in ether 7mm Rem Mag. .300 Win Mag or one of the RUMs it is offered in (7mm or .300)
The Sendero is essentially a more accurate 700 with a fluted stainless 26" heavy barrel, an extremely nice gun, and even though Tang is a Ruger man, I'm fairly sure he has nothing bad to say about the quality or accuracy of the Sendero he used to own

If your experianced then this is probably the way to go.But it gets you over your budget as the rifle alone cost more than your willing to pay . Then you also need a good scope to go along with that rifle .
In fact you really need two guns . you could hunt with a Savage Edge or a Marlin Bolt action in 308 W to 3006 which would cost about 400 dollars depending where you shop , and these guns would suit to hunt .But they would not be something for a day at the gun club on the range .

How ever to target shoot , you need a rifle that weighs a bit more, a longer and heavier barrel ,a good scope for target use, as the cross hairs would be too thick on a hunting scope, then for target a hunting scope the cross hairs would be too fine and too much power to hunt with . Then a different stock than a hunting rifle and so on .A rifle suited for the range then is going to be too heavy and awkward for hunting.
So again you should go to the range and see what is being used and note what calipier . then decide what you want to buy first . A target rifle , or a hunting rifle .

So in respect to say it differently, you want to do two jobs . For one you need a good solid truck, and the other you just need a car.

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mr_tw

· #28 · Aug 22, 2010

Harry Snippe said:
If your experianced then this is probably the way to go.But it gets you over your budget as the rifle alone cost more than your willing to pay . Then you also need a good scope to go along with that rifle .

I'm not saying I'm right, or that your wrong, but with the stronger Euro I figured he may be able to buy the Sendero, unless he meant $1000 USD as opposed to euros then this option I agree is out

if you would like a cheaper option I would go for the Remington 700 SPS DM chambered in .308 Win, ask any military sniper, that round will reach out and touch ya!

Harry Snippe

· #29 · Aug 22, 2010

The Remington 700 Sps is far from being a decent target rifle witch would be Vipinaiter's main use . It would be a fine hunting rifle no less.
I am considering the main use for the rifle and leaning towards that goal rather than Hunting as I remember -was going to be about 10 % of the use just off hand .IF the was not going to be walking he could carry a nine pound rifle to hunt , but a 6.5 pound hunting rifle is not long firing in the bench.
Another consideration might be a Model 700 Police , or Tactical gun but we are in what he has to spend , just alone on a rifle .

A Tikka T3 HB Varmit or Tactical, might figure in to the pot also , then he would also not need to do any trigger work , for the gun is ready to go out of the box, and in a calpier of choice up from 233 to and including the 300 Mag.
The t3 might also be cheaper for him than for us, in North America.

Then too we should also know what he then intends to hunt , be it deer wild hogs or Moose .

Quicknick

· #30 · Aug 23, 2010

For target shooting with an occasional hunting trip you would want a varmint heavy barrel. I have a Howa 223 24" heavy barrel (not the axiom) and I shoot anything from pigs and deer to squirels. Only about 650 bucks too.

Harry Snippe

· #31 · Aug 23, 2010

Well Vipinaiter Here you go !! You then still have some Money for a scope !!

Combat Diver

· #32 · Aug 23, 2010

vipinaiter,

Another question is how are you hunting? Are you sitting up in a stand or stalking the game? If stand hunting than a heavier target rifle is not a disadvantage then if you were stalking with it. I know in Germany that it is mostly sitting up in a hockshuess (elevated stand/blind).

CD

vipinaiter

Discussion Starter · #33 · Aug 23, 2010

Combat Diver said:
vipinaiter,

Another question is how are you hunting? Are you sitting up in a stand or stalking the game? If stand hunting than a heavier target rifle is not a disadvantage then if you were stalking with it. I know in Germany that it is mostly sitting up in a hockshuess (elevated stand/blind).

CD

I do the two

Big Z

· #34 · Aug 23, 2010

Gimme the 700 in a 7mm (280 or remmag would be my choice). I say 7mm because of the great bullets, and it's time to start handloading if 800 yards is in the picture. I say the 700 because it's a solid foundation for building off of in the future.

dshusker

· #35 · Aug 23, 2010

IMO the Tikka and the Weatherby Vanguard are the value plays on your list. I own both and they are excellent. The Tikka is a bit light in weight for the stronger calibers but the accuracy is hard to beat. Probably because the barrels are made in the Sako factory. The rifle itself has been critcized as being simplfied for mass production. The weapon is durable and very accurate out of the box. Why criticize Beretta for mass producing Sako-like rifles for the average hunter? The Weatherby Vanguards are also little jewels. They are produced in Japan by Howa and are rigorously quality controlled to identify the most accurate barrels which are pulled out of the production line and subjected to a few additional steps before the are sold as the sub-MOA models. I suspect the additional QC steps are resulting in a better product across the board. I own three Vanguards and they all shoot under an inch at 100 yds, and I am not a great shooter. Amazing rifle for $400. I am a bit surprised no one mentioned the X-Bolt? Arguably the best rifle on the list although they cost about twice the Vanguard. I also agree the 308 WIN would be an excellent starting point.

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