Looking at getting a new rifle. Elk/Deer in 7mm Win Mag

[Wetwoodshunter]

I'm looking to setup a new rifle, complete setup for around $1,500. Currently I'm leaning towards a Sako A7 Roughteck synthetic, in 7mm win mag and putting a Leupold VX-2 or VX-3 maybe splurge for the cds dial depending on how much I want to spend. This gun is going to be primarily for medium to long range elk and mule deer hunting. Are there any other rifles that I should be looking at that are as accurate and bare bones around the $1,000 mark? I envision myself shooting game out to about 600 yards although I think that this setup could probably out shoot me.

Any thoughts? Also I want to stick with the 7mm win mag for multiple reasons. 1. Its an awesome round. 2. I have tons of brass for it. 3. When I reload I can buy all the components in bulk since my wife shoots 7mm 08.

[jackelope]

7mm remington magnum. It's not win mag.

[Colville]

I recognize people have some brand loyalties or other likes of a given rifle. But Tikka is Sako's other channel. Their rifles come about as accurate out of the box as you can get.  Mine was MOA on factory and far better than that on a worked up load.  It would save you $400 on the rifle and that can go tward glass, mounts, limbsaver etc.

[AWS]

You never know Jackalope, it could be a 7mm WSM (Winchester Short Magnum)

[Bob33]

It is available in 7mm Rem Mag, not WSM.

[Curly]

You might take a look at a Steyr Pro Hunter.  I quickly looked at gunbroker and see someone selling a NIB Steyr in 7mm mag for $1,195.  I think you can find them for under $800 if you look around.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=476211762

[magnumb]

I recognize people have some brand loyalties or other likes of a given rifle. But Tikka is Sako's other channel. Their rifles come about as accurate out of the box as you can get.  Mine was MOA on factory and far better than that on a worked up load.  It would save you $400 on the rifle and that can go tward glass, mounts, limbsaver etc.

 ..............every Tikka and Sako barrel come off the same exact manufacturing line.....per Sako.

[coachcw]

I'd look for a remington  700 .a d ad a timmey  trigger. A Vx3 in 4x14  would work sweet.

[ghosthunter]

I am planning the same thing only in  Remington 700 Long Range.

[coachcw]

that xbolt looks pretty sweet .

[C-Money]

Hard to beat a Browning A bolt. I like the composite stalker rifles.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Thanks for all the responses. I will be giving the x-bolt another closer look tomorrow. I haven't touched one but I love the feel of the A7 and thought it was a slight step up from the Tikka, although I do love Tikka the wife has one in .243 and it shoots like a dream. This is where that brand loyalty came in.

Also whatever I get will be in 7mm rem mag for all those I confused.  :sry:I think this is about the perfect round for hunting elk and deer with the same gun at moderate ranges.

[predatorpro]

i just bought a remington 700 7mm mag with a vortex 4x12 on it and i absolutely love it...

[magnumb]

Pretty sad Sako can sell plastic stuff and it out shoots their expensive stuff most of the time. I have yet to see a Sako off the shelf shoot MOA in a caliber one would hunt with. I'm sure there are those that have them and would disagree with me. I have personally played around with 5 Sakos that I have been asked to reload for and only got one under MOA. Tikkas do it out of the box usually.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 .............that has been exactly my experience, as well. 

I bought a new Sako 75 in 25-06 years ago and after owning a few T3's after that purchase, I sold the Sako and bought another T3 in 25-06.  Lighter, didn't quite care as much about keeping it pristine and spent about 1/3 of what I gave for the Sako back then.

Even though both barrels came off the same line, I could never get the Sako to shoot to my desired standards.  The T3 on the other hand, shoots tiny cloverleafs of my handloads all day long, just like all of my other T3's (from 25-06 through two 300 WSM's).

Strange and a bit odd, for sure, but it is what it is and I have never regretted that decision nor ever looked back.  Sako does build a beautiful, solid, well constructed rifle, but beauty itself, never put game on the meat pole. As Glocks are 'ugly' reliable, the T3's are also as 'ugly' reliable and accurate.

[BrandonWatts]

I just put this rifle together for just around you budget and man is it a shooter.
It's a Remington 700 sps in a bell and Carlson stock with a timney trigger and a vortex viper hs. With hand loads it shot under 1 inch at a hundred yards. I'm very happy with it.

[BrandonWatts]

Here is the group with hand loads.
H1000 and 162 amax bullet

[Karl Blanchard]

The 7mag is just one of those calibers that is easy to load for and very accurate.  Rem 700, Savage 111 or 116, Tikka, etc., will all do what you want them to do.  In my personal opinion, glass is as important as the gun.  If you can't see your target, you can't hit it.  Also, if your shooting past 400 you should have a scope that you can dial.  Whether its in yardage or just MOA, when your talking about 4ft+ of drop, you need an accurate aim point and just holding over the animal is not accurate.  Whatever you get, toss a trigger in it.  Good luck and keep us posted on what you end up with.

[Killmore]

Just buy a American made gun!!!!!

[Karl Blanchard]

Just buy a American made gun!!!!!

.     way to many great rifles made here in America to not make this a top priority.

[Wetwoodshunter]

Today I shot a rem 700 think it was the  bdl in .300 win mag. The gun had a 3x9 vx-2 50mm on it. I took two shots and handed the gun back. The gun shot great 2 shots touching at 100 but the action was terrible and I did not like how there was not a clip and I was forced to top load.

Typically do the rem 700's have a super stiff action? I felt like I had to force the bolt in place.

Currently after this go around I will be marking the 700 off possible choices. I guess I hold say I already shoot an encore pro hunter in 7mm rem mag. I'm looking for a bolt gun so if I need follow up shots I can do it without coming off my rest.

So, currently looking at.
Tikka t3 - synthetic
Sako a7 - roughteck
Anything else I need to shoot? I'm leaning towards the A7.

[Wetwoodshunter]

The brown in x-bolt is still a contender. I have a buddy that has one in .300 wsm I'll try to shoot it in the upcoming week.

[Karl Blanchard]

Were they hand loads or factories you shot out of the 700?  All my Remington bolt guns are very smooth.  If they were hand loads it could have been the brass, not the action?

[hunt6226]

I have an X-bolt in the 325WSM with a 4x12 vx-2 and love it. Sweet shooter

[Damnimissed]

I've got a Sako A7 and Browning X-Bolt. Both are great shooters but the Sako has a much, much smoother action, not even comparable.

[Wetwoodshunter]

I shot the 700 with rem core lockt 180 grain. Factory loaded ammo.

[PiNkPaNtHeR]

Today I shot a rem 700 think it was the  bdl in .300 win mag. The gun had a 3x9 vx-2 50mm on it. I took two shots and handed the gun back. The gun shot great 2 shots touching at 100 but the action was terrible and I did not like how there was not a clip and I was forced to top load.

Typically do the rem 700's have a super stiff action? I felt like I had to force the bolt in place.

Currently after this go around I will be marking the 700 off possible choices. I guess I hold say I already shoot an encore pro hunter in 7mm rem mag. I'm looking for a bolt gun so if I need follow up shots I can do it without coming off my rest.

So, currently looking at.
Tikka t3 - synthetic
Sako a7 - roughteck
Anything else I need to shoot? I'm leaning towards the A7.

My Rem 700 'Mountain Rifle' in .243 is smooth as butter. So is my Weatherby 7mm. I must say I'm surprised no one has suggested looking at the Weatherby. Mine is an older VGX in 7mm Rem Mag and I love it. I used to have a Ruger M77 in 7mm Rem Mag. It about beat me to death. 20-30 shots with the Weatherby is less abusive than the Ruger was with just about 6-7 shots. Don't get me wrong - the Ruger was a nice gun, but would have needed some customizing to get to where the Weatherby already is stock, right out of the box. If I had the money, I'd own another few (Weatherbys) in various calibers and at least one Mark V - probably in the .270 range +/-. So I guess I'm suggesting that you at least handle a Weatherby & see how it feels, how smooth the action is, and ask about the moa guarantee that comes with every Weatherby, and as far as I know, always has. They were probably one of the first to ship a factory test target with every gun. All of mine have come with one.
I think the 7mm Rem Mag is about the same as a .30-06. I don't currently own a .30-06, but would like to have both that and a .308 eventually. IF you're dead set on the 7mm, then you might want to take a long hard look at the available factory ammo and/or look at reloading to suit your particular prey. You'll find the bullet weights just a little less than the .30 calibers.
Like any other gun/caliber out there, the point of impact will change quite a bit with different loads, so a nice turret type scope will help if you're going to maximize the use of the rifle. Personally I like most of the premium 175-grain loads. The gun can shoot better than me, but I've put plenty of 3-5 round groups into an inch or less at 100 years. It grows to about 1 1/2"-2" at 200 yards - and about 6-8 inches at 500 yards. I'm confident that, with practice, I could get better. Hopefully you're more steady than this old man. I've been telling myself I'm going to get some bipods. That's something to consider, too. If you're going to reach out and touch something at 500+ yards, a bipod would really help.
Anyway, I'm rambling. Was just thinking I'd share some of the things I think about when I go through the process.

[chester]

Today I shot a rem 700 think it was the  bdl in .300 win mag. The gun had a 3x9 vx-2 50mm on it. I took two shots and handed the gun back. The gun shot great 2 shots touching at 100 but the action was terrible and I did not like how there was not a clip and I was forced to top load.

Typically do the rem 700's have a super stiff action? I felt like I had to force the bolt in place.

Currently after this go around I will be marking the 700 off possible choices. I guess I hold say I already shoot an encore pro hunter in 7mm rem mag. I'm looking for a bolt gun so if I need follow up shots I can do it without coming off my rest.

So, currently looking at.
Tikka t3 - synthetic
Sako a7 - roughteck
Anything else I need to shoot? I'm leaning towards the A7.

Why not stick with Thompson center and look at the venture? It's a pretty good shooter with a great warranty and a decent price.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CAMPMEAT]

7MM, 7STW, 7RUM. I'd go 7RUM myself, if you're dead set on a any 7. I'd buy a Remington, Savage or a TIKKA and leave everything stock, unless it has a real crappy trigger. My triggers are pretty much stock or lightened up a bit. No new triggers, don't need them for shooting a couple times a year.

But, that's just me...

[Wetwoodshunter]

So I did something unexpected and picked up the .300 of my buddies that I shot. it is a llike new rem 700 adl in .300 win with a vx-2 3x9 50 mm mounted on it. After I put some oil on the bolt it worked a lot better and the rifle grew on me after talking to some other buddies.

We struck a deal at $475 after I shot it again yesterday. The gun shoots well.

Now that I own a rem 700 adl scoped For less than 1/3 of what I was looking at are there some upgrades to this rifle I should do before testing it out on mule deer?

I was thinking maybe getting a new stock or sending the scope in and having leupold add a CDS dial.

[PiNkPaNtHeR]

Did your buddy tell you what kind of ammo shoots the best in it? I'd think that the next logical step is to shoot the load you intend to use and get it zeroed in using that specific ammo.
Dial it in at the distance you think is best & learn what the bullet drop is for that particular load. If you don't already own a rangefinder, I'd think that would be more important than a pretty stock. Just my humble opinion.
Are you going to be hunting open country or dense brush country?

[7mmstalker]

If that is an early 700 adl with wooden stock, I would recommend bedding the action and  free float the barrel. No guarantee of more accuracy, but will help it stay consistent with the load you choose to hunt with, especially if you are going out in the O.P. fall weather.

[Karl Blanchard]

I'd at minimum drop a timney trigger in it.  CDS dial would be a good addition to the gun as well.  New stock would be nice but probably not necessary.  Spend the extra coin on ammo.  You will grow to love the 300 Winny!

[Wetwoodshunter]

I don't know what works best in the rifle yet. It has only had six shots through it total including the 4 I shot through it testing it. I have two boxes of rem core lock that came with the rifle I'll put them down range in the near future to get a baseline from there.

I did however already mount a bipod on it.