Need a new rifle -- Recommendations!

Hello all,

I'm in the market for a new hunting rifle, chambered in 7mm rem mag. I hunt black bear, deer and elk and I would like accuracy capabilities on game out to 500-600 yards and steel out to around 1,000. I plan to use handloads as well.

I had my eyes on the Bergara B14 Hunter, but just recently heard some less than satisfactory things about them and I am now directing my eyes elsewhere. For my budget, I'd like to stay under $700, but if it's really worth it I can move up to $800.

Please let me know your recommendations.

Much appreciated!


I would buy a Weatherby. I have 7 of them and I love each one of them.
 
Nice rifles Campmeat. What were the build costs?
MDT CHASSIS on both=$400each
Barrels are Blackhole Weaponry out of St. Helens OR.$300 each polygonal rifling.
Rock River Operator Buttstocks=$85 each.
Scopes= Leupold Mark 4 $750 on the 284. 6.5 has a Millett ( very good beginner scope ) $400.
Rifle Basix in the 6.5 $100.
$1850 for the 284 with donor action of $350
$1200 for the 6.5
This is even paying headspacing and trigger install on the 6.5.


I forgot something. The 6.5x284 was a donor action when I bought it. It was the package deal with the Nikon Scope for about $350 after rebate.
 
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MDT CHASSIS on both=$400each
Barrels are Blackhole Weaponry out of St. Helens OR.$300 each polygonal rifling.
Rock River Operator Buttstocks=$85 each.
Scopes= Leupold Mark 4 $750 on the 284. 6.5 has a Millett ( very good beginner scope ) $400.
Rifle Basix in the 6.5 $100.
$1500 for the 284
$1200 for the 6.5
This is even paying headspacing and trigger install on the 6.5.

I think you just spent my next paycheck for me!
 
Yuppers. Lots of different ideas when asking a question,,, that's why I did my own research and seeing what """sometimes""" dosen't work in the kill fields... LOL

I call it weighting my options of wants and needs to end up with something practical. Its been Remington Country's up here in the far reaches of the North,,, lots of Winchesters,,, Weatherby's,,, Brownings,,, and the odd teka / sako's along with a few others...

I weigh my plinking needs up against the big game and predator control... Actually,,, most of the cartridges are able to pull this off,,, so the trick is to find 1 or more that fill those needs...

Find a rifle that suits the fancy along with optic and ammo and get at it...

Lifes to short to worry about getting it correct from the get go since a person """Normally""" changes things up 2 or more times in their life time,,, that's not saying that some folks don't get it right / right off the batt.

I'm back to old school of simple basics with things with in my budget. Hopefully I stay the course with the odd work overs on the plastic,,, wood ,,, and iron I own...

The left over funds go towards distance and being out there now days...

No time to waist finding the 2 to 10 ish % of a fraction better... The only time I look at those % numbers is when I bunker down to plug a critter or go after the the top secret V rig. Ha

Finding what works is golden.
Exactly.
 
Hello all,

I'm in the market for a new hunting rifle, chambered in 7mm rem mag. I hunt black bear, deer and elk and I would like accuracy capabilities on game out to 500-600 yards and steel out to around 1,000. I plan to use handloads as well.

I had my eyes on the Bergara B14 Hunter, but just recently heard some less than satisfactory things about them and I am now directing my eyes elsewhere. For my budget, I'd like to stay under $700, but if it's really worth it I can move up to $800.

Please let me know your recommendations.

Much appreciated!

Check out the Remington 700 Long Range. They shoot great and you find them online for around 675.00
 
I know a lot of people have been lucky with Savages, but I have had 3 that all had to go back to the factory. And, I had less than satisfactory results from them. They are friendly enough, but they did not listen what was going on and when they came back, they were not much better than when I sent them.
 
I agree with all the above given advice. You can't go wrong with any of the Tikkas or Savages for a factory build.
But If I wanted to build a custom driver on the cheap, here's what I would do:
-Find an old shot-out Remington M700 (BDL preferred):
$300-$350
Find a new Bartlien M24 Contour on here, SnipersHide, or Accurate Shooters classifieds:
$300-325
Hop on LRI's website (Long Rifles, Inc. - Chad Dixon) and fill out his online build form for his Group Buy pricing (see build sheet copied from website below):
GROUP BUY: Remington M700 Blueprinting, Barreling, Fluting, and Coating service
Action Serial Number:Xxxxx
M700 Recoil Lug:Resurface Factory Lug
Tactical Bolt Knob Installation:No
Tactical Bolt Knob:No
Time & TIG Bolt Handle (Highly Recommended):No
Bolt Fluting:None
8-40 Scope Base Holes:No
Barrel Information:Barrel Manufacturer:Bartlien, M24 contour
Barrel Serial Number (Not Required):Xxxxx
Barrel Fluting:No
Barrel Fluting Pattern:None
Chamber: 28 Nosler
Muzzle Threading:None
Barrel Finish Length:26"
Barreled Action Finish (See NOTES):As Machined
Bolt Finish:As Machined
Bolt Knob Finish:As Machined
Bolt Shroud Finish:Same As Bolt
$ 448.00
You will have a custom-built barrelled action by one of the top gunsmiths available today with one of the best turnaround times you'll find, with an upgraded foundation that you send in and add to as money allows down the road:
Have an extra $90? Send in your bolt and have it fluted and a Tactical Knob installed.
$115? Send in your barreled action and have it TIG and timed for smooth and perfect extraction.
$175 Add M16 extractor.
New bedded stock. Barrel fluting to lighten it up.
The list goes on and on.
Also, if you noticed, I changed the chambering to a 28 Nosler. I mean, if we're open to recommendations and all :D
Hey, HAPPY EASTER!
 
Hello all,

I'm in the market for a new hunting rifle, chambered in 7mm rem mag. I hunt black bear, deer and elk and I would like accuracy capabilities on game out to 500-600 yards and steel out to around 1,000. I plan to use handloads as well.

I had my eyes on the Bergara B14 Hunter, but just recently heard some less than satisfactory things about them and I am now directing my eyes elsewhere. For my budget, I'd like to stay under $700, but if it's really worth it I can move up to $800.

Please let me know your recommendations.

Much appreciated!
I have a B-14 Hunter is 7mm Rem mag and it shoots sub MOA. Took me a bit to dial in the right load but it's great now. Bergara guarantees is and they are a great company from a customer service standpoint. It's light enough for a mountain rifle. I looked around quite a bit and at Remington and Tikka but went with the B-15.
 
Just be careful about weight when comparing models. The xbolt long range weighs significantly less than a Remington 700 long range and is purposely meant for hunting (the barrel is thinner and will heat up much faster if stringing shots at the range). The Remington long range is built to be a great entry rifle for long range shooting but is a bit heavy for strenuous terrain hunting in my option. I really like my Tikka, Howa, Browning, Ruger, Remington and Savage hunting rifles. Savage is good quality and definitely the easiest/cheapest to customize but probably holds it's value the least. Good luck to ya
 
Hello,
Seriously consider this: Keep your present rifle, get a custom barrel ( Bartlein, Krieger etc. chambered in 7mm mag to fit it. Spend the rest of your money on an upgrade to your scope if you want to have the capabilities to shoot at game and targets at 1,000 yards well. The results should be superior to purchasing new rifle, if you load to precise standards and your gunsmith is capable of fine work (benchrest, target etc.)
 
Looks to me that you are on the right path with the Bergara. Xbolts are good shooters in my opinion and I just picked up a Mauser m18 in 6.5 prc for $500 that shoots lights out. Seems to be a lot of rifle for the money. Good luck on what ever you chose. There are a lot of shooters out there in your price range, but it seems like quality control is lacking sometimes. It's like playing the rifle lottery
 
Aren't the howas and the weatherby vanguards the same rifle?
Same barreled actions yes....but Legacy buys the barreled actions and mounts them in all the popular stocks, GRS, KRG BRAVO,now the new MDT ORYX, AND HOGUE. Everything I have bought is 26" heavy barrel. Well worth looking at!
 
Hello,
Seriously consider this: Keep your present rifle, get a custom barrel ( Bartlein, Krieger etc. chambered in 7mm mag to fit it. Spend the rest of your money on an upgrade to your scope if you want to have the capabilities to shoot at game and targets at 1,000 yards well. The results should be superior to purchasing new rifle, if you load to precise standards and your gunsmith is capable of fine work (benchrest, target etc.)
THIS
 
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