Saving for a new "factory" higher end rifle. What do you recommend?

[Danehunter]

I have looked and looked at this subject. And I've been to stores and compared rifles: TIKKA, Browning, SAKO, Begara, Kimber, Remington, Winchester, etc., etc.

My first choice is a Browning X-Bolt, Hell's Canyon Speed preferred (6.5 CREED.)
1. 3 lug bolt W/ short 70 deg. handle lift
2. very good trigger (new 3 lever design)
3. accurate barrels
4.** bolt lock/unlock while on safe (unlike my Ruger Amer. Predator which does NOT lock the bolt handle when loaded and on SAFE)
5. muzzle brake on some models like Hell's Canyon
6. smoother action feel than others tested including SAKO
7. Very reasonable price considering the quality

Eric B.

 

[sconnierider]

Steyr Pro-Hunter

 

[the hunter]

bergara b-14 or premier you can't go bad.

 

[jpfrog]

Thanks but don't want a heavy rifle nor such a harsh caliber for short range hunting. I already have a 7mmrem mag which shoots lights out but I hate carrying to the woods where short range shots happen due to its weight.

The same seller also has the same rifle in .308win...for a price that should be illegal it's so low. If I didn't already have the same rifle in .308 and .300wm that he is selling, I'd buy both. WELL UNDER your price range and already broken in/ready for load dev. I cannot believe this hasn't sold yet...probably too many people focused on a 6.5 SomethingElse and skip right over because it says 308.

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/rem-700-5r-gen-ii-24-308.206693/#post-1478990

With the money you save, buy a lighter weight scope to keep the weight down.

 

[Deviant]

I would check out the Fierce CT Edge. Under 6 lbs and guaranteed to shoot .5 moa with factory ammo.

 

[B-LOT Banga]

I was a diehard Savage fan until last year. I purchased my wife a Savage Ladyhunter and it just shoots pretty bad, even with reloads (best group was 1.5inches at 100 yards). It was sent back to them twice and they said their "test" rounds showed 1.25inches which was good enough for them. Well, I do not know what load they are using but I have tried 4 different types of bullets and 3 powders and nothing shot well. I would never sell it off to someone so I am going to have it rebarreled at some point in the future. Basically lost faith in Savage now.

Aloha, I just bought my 10 year old son a savage 110 storm lightweight in 6.5 creedmoor. I too am having a hardtime to get a group smaller than 2" no matter the powder, projectile, brass or primers I believed I tried maybe 30 plus combos in a period of 2 months. It also has a 20" pencil barrel and my god the muzzle blast from that short barrel feels like a muzzle brake. I just bought a replacement barrel from X-caliber and it looks awesome. I will be installing it soon and hopes it shoots as good as the barrel looks and the muzzle blast tames down a little. I got a standard contour with a length of 23". I too am losing faith in savage as this is my 3rd rifle that can't shoot sub moa.

 

[JMack]

Tikka Superlite upgrade stock since you don't like the Tupperware

 

[Bigeclipse]

I would check out the Fierce CT Edge. Under 6 lbs and guaranteed to shoot .5 moa with factory ammo.

Beautiful rifle but my wife would kill me if I spent 4K on a rifle lol

 

[Bigeclipse]

The same seller also has the same rifle in .308win...for a price that should be illegal it's so low. If I didn't already have the same rifle in .308 and .300wm that he is selling, I'd buy both. WELL UNDER your price range and already broken in/ready for load dev. I cannot believe this hasn't sold yet...probably too many people focused on a 6.5 SomethingElse and skip right over because it says 308.

https://www.longrangehunting.com/threads/rem-700-5r-gen-ii-24-308.206693/#post-1478990

With the money you save, buy a lighter weight scope to keep the weight down.

A light weight scope won't shave off 1.5lbs. I'm looking at rifles in the 7lb range

 

[Rum Man]

Remington model 7 or there mountain rifle in 308 or 7mm -08 ..put the balance towards a nice scope .

 

[Stk]

I have a Sako Finnlight in .270 WSM that's one of the nicest rifles I've ever owned. A standard 85 in in the caliber you're looking for should come in right under a grand and I doubt you'd ever regret it.

Don't get a Kimber.

 

[jpfrog]

A light weight scope won't shave off 1.5lbs. I'm looking at rifles in the 7lb range

Oh then this definitely wouldn't fit the bill. Sorry, I saw the request for light but thought the 5r would work (very light compared to some rigs out there!). I didn't see that 7lbs requirement, so I'd say try to find a used, older model (70's or 80's) Rem700 ADL or try some of the Tikkas or Savages. My go to deer rifle is a 1970's ADL in .270win topped with a plain and simple VX3 3.5-10x40...it easily weighs under 10 pounds total. Outside of those I don't have much experience as my other rifles these days tend to be around the 9 to 11 pound range before a scope...but I know the 7 pounders out there and the folks on here will steer you right. Good luck!

 

[Bigeclipse]

Remington model 7 or there mountain rifle in 308 or 7mm -08 ..put the balance towards a nice scope .

Already own a Remington 700 mountain SS in 3006. Like the rifle but accuracy is not great, even after bedding the B&C stock it came in. 1.25moa is best I got with reloads. I'm looking to rebarrel that one. Now looking into a 308 just cause I've always wanted one and do not really trust Remington or savage anymore.

 

[LongWalker]

Aloha, I just bought my 10 year old son a savage 110 storm lightweight in 6.5 creedmoor. I too am having a hardtime to get a group smaller than 2" no matter the powder, projectile, brass or primers I believed I tried maybe 30 plus combos in a period of 2 months. It also has a 20" pencil barrel and my god the muzzle blast from that short barrel feels like a muzzle brake. I just bought a replacement barrel from X-caliber and it looks awesome. I will be installing it soon and hopes it shoots as good as the barrel looks and the muzzle blast tames down a little. I got a standard contour with a length of 23". I too am losing faith in savage as this is my 3rd rifle that can't shoot sub moa.

I bought the same rifle and had similar problems. My first issue was not knowing the techniques to shoot a light weight rifle. Once I learned recoil management for a light weight rifle my groups tightened up. Then I started load development and got frustrated again. I was doing the work ups during the summer and after two shots the barrel would need to cool. When I finally committed to the time to let the barrel cool between shots (sometimes 15 minutes) I started getting good groups.

Having said all that I didn't have the patience to deal with it and put on a Wilson #4 contour finished at 22". Load development was a breeze and it shoots Berger 140 elite hunters sub moa all day (I've run it out to 600 yards so far). That was my first and last experience with light weight pencil barrel type rifles and FWIW all my other Savages shoot lights out.