the only bolt gun I have is my marlin xl7 in 06. I don't really need a out of box gun, I am looking for the best way to have a rifle for me. not many companies offer left handed models and some are out of my budget. if i could build one over time that would be best. Should I look for left handed models in pawn shops? i know it would be ideal but but not sure how many i will come across. I haven't looked in the weatherby yet but I will see if they have a lefty available. what models of the others you mentioned should I look for? sorry i am really new to this and don't really have anywhere else to go for this kind of information. I would like it to have great accuracy, although i know i will not be as accurate as the rifle. Thanks for the your response I was afraid I wasn't going to be getting any responses.
Rem700, (NOT THE WALMART ONE! that's a one time use, & throw away gun, not buildable).
Win Model-70 push feed is cheapest to buy, & to build, controlled round feed costs more to buy, & to build. Pre 64' co$ts $$$.
Call a smith like Teds Custom Shop in Weatherford Ok. for example, & talk to him. See what he recomends, or likes to build for a budget build. I know he had an ol Winchester (Right hand), & probably has a 98' Mauser or two (don't know if they come in Left hand) but he's a wealth of knowledge. He's also building my rifle I mentioned earlier.
Maybe he'd be able to set you up with a nice rig, or point you in a direction.
Do you want a long action or short action?
What's your intended use? Wt. Deer only? or do you Elk hunt too?
How far away do you want to shoot said critters?
Do you handload? Do you want wildcat cartriges or something you go by ammo for?
What kind of performance do you want? Champaign taste on a Beer budget, or....?
If you handload, look in your manual at listed B.C.'s of bullets, & load data for different cartriges & run them thru JBM Balistics calculator. It's free.
If you don't have a load book buy one. They're about $28 & well worth every penny.
Example of stuff to look up on JBM:
Take a 30 cal, & let's say a 180gr bullet, & compare em in different cartriges.
A 308 win is a fine cartrige, but an -06 will do anything a 308 can do, & do it better, & faster, yet a 300 win trumps an -06', and a 300 RUM trumps that ballistically but now barrel life is dwindling rapidly..... There's always a trade off.
A big 338 that can launch 300gr pills at "holy crap speed" is the best thing going for LR, like Elk past 1k at the moment, but you prettymuch have to handload or buy 338 Lapua ammo, & that may require a second mortgage on your house.... It's all gonna depend on your expectations, intended use, & budget.
Good luck, & don't be scared off by high rollers shootin ferrari cartriges. There's plenty of room in the LR world for a budget gun too. You just need to figure out where you stand, so you know what direction to jump.
I'm not a Savage fan personally, but I know a lot of well respected LRH members, & shooters here that are. There's even a few threads about LR on a budget. Do s search for Tikkamike, & look for a thread he started about a super budget build on a savage if you want to go that direction. Savage had to earn thier accuracy reputation. It wasn't just given to them. For a cheap, ugly, rough as a cobb gun, they flat out shoot good. Bigngreen Loves em too. He's got video of him smokin an Elk at like 850 ish with his Savage 270 WSM.
Do some research, & call Ted. Good luck.
