Rifle recommendations

[aclapper]

I am looking for advice for my next rifle - I already have a 30/06 Browning A Bolt that has taken a few elk over the years along with some wild pigs, always without fuss. But I am looking for a rifle that is a little different and is more comfortable to shoot, since I can't stand the recoil on an 8 lb rifle shooting 180 grain partitions for more than a few shots.

My budget is $1500 for a bolt action rifle that preferably is a 6.5mm caliber (I don't reload, yet) with a heavy contour barrel and a great fiberglass stock. I'd like for it to be comfortable enough to shoot for an afternoon but not so heavy that I can't go for a hike with it. I'd like to be able to spend some serious time with the rifle and grow confident out to 400 yards or so with it. Any thoughts?

[bobcat]

If you don't reload I'd recommend a 270, or maybe a 257 Weatherby if you don't mind paying twice as much for your ammo.

Another option but not as much fun as buying a new rifle- switch to 150 grain bullets in your 30/06. Recoil should be a lot more tolerable.

[JJB11B]

Grab one of the many 7mm-08 that are out there, Factory ammo available

[bobcat]

7/08 is a great option too. 

[Bob33]

I'm not sure why you want a heavy contour barrel. It adds weight and is of little value on a big game rifle.

[257wbymagkiller]

If you don't reload I'd recommend a 270, or maybe a 257 Weatherby if you don't mind paying twice as much for your ammo.

Another option but not as much fun as buying a new rifle- switch to 150 grain bullets in your 30/06. Recoil should be a lot more tolerable.

You can't go wrong with a 257 wby. Roy weatherby  took every big game animal with one shot    it was his favorite from what I've heard and has been mine since I first shot it

[elkaholic123]

6.5 X 284

[coachcw]

I'd look hard at a rem  700 in 260 rem  with a 2.5 lbs  timely trigger 24 to 26 inch pipe . 4x14 vx 3 glass .... I think  if you shop around you can fit the budget  .

[coachcw]

The savage long range is a good choice as well in 6.5 284  and would keep you in  the $600.00 glass market .if you go 6.5 I'd keep the pipe 24 plus .the light wieght hunters don't like the 140s

[aclapper]

I'm not sure why you want a heavy contour barrel. It adds weight and is of little value on a big game rifle.

I'm interested in a heavy contour barrel for the heat and harmonic properties that it has, not to mention the reduced recoil from the reduced mass.

[aclapper]

I'd look hard at a rem  700 in 260 rem  with a 2.5 lbs  timely trigger 24 to 26 inch pipe . 4x14 vx 3 glass .... I think  if you shop around you can fit the budget  .

That's what I'm leaning towards right now - a stainless 700 with a stock upgrade and a barrel upgrade. Are there any smiths you would recommend to do the work?

[bobcat]

Howa has a nice rifle with a heavy barrel in the 6.5 Creedmoor. Pretty sweet rifle, 8 pounds, recoil should be barely noticeable.

MSRP is $681.


http://www.legacysports.com/hogue

[coachcw]

I don't think you will mod  one for 1500 but a 24 pipe will shoot well in a 260 . You can  barrel down the road . I'd spend money on glass and trigger first. A good bypod  like a extreme  would be sweet to.

[coachcw]

700 are the most cost effective to customize as the budget allows if that's your fancy

[coachcw]

The  shooters shop can hook you up with a hart barrel  and accuracy  job .

[aclapper]

I don't think you will mod  one for 1500 but a 24 pipe will shoot well in a 260 . You can  barrel down the road . I'd spend money on glass and trigger first. A good bypod  like a extreme  would be sweet to.

Thanks!

[bobcat]

Does your $1500 budget include the scope?

[aclapper]

Does your $1500 budget include the scope?

I wasn't planning on it, I have a Nikon Monarch 3 3-12 I was going to mount for now and upgrade when I get the funds

[Bob33]

I'm not sure why you want a heavy contour barrel. It adds weight and is of little value on a big game rifle.

I'm interested in a heavy contour barrel for the heat and harmonic properties that it has, not to mention the reduced recoil from the reduced mass.

Unless you're shooting more than a few rounds the heat won't matter. Suit yourself but after several days of several miles of hiking for one shot you may rethink it.

[coachcw]

One  thing to consider  about accuaracy  is your barrels  field prep. By that I mean your process to your cold bore first shot accuracy.  I clean my rifle and copper clean the barrel  then before I hunt I shoot one or two foul shoots and leave gun cool down over night . When checking my zero it's always first shot on a fouled cold bore . This way I know exactly how my weapon will perform on the mountain .  Seems anal but if you spend a day sighting in then assume your gonna be on you will be surprised ..... makes a huge difference when shooting 4,5 or 600 yards.

[slm9s]

700 are the most cost effective to customize as the budget allows if that's your fancy

I think thousands of Savage rifle shooters would disagree with you!  A $30 wrench and a barrel vice and you can headspace a barrel yourself in 5 min.   To get a custom barrel installed on a 700 action is hundreds of dollars.  Lots of stocks/dbm/triggers also.  That said, I much prefer the 700 platform!   

If elk are on the menu, I'd not go below a 270.    Like said above, I might try a ttsx or e-tip 150gr or so in your 30-06 before buying another rifle.

+1 on staying away from a varmint barrel on a hunting rifle.  Unless your sitting in a stand all day, you'll regret it very quickly walking up hills.  When I was young and dumber, I hunted elk with a Savage 10fp 308 one year.  It felt like carrying a shotput after the 1st hour.

I have two "standard weight" elk rifles, both custom 700s in 7STW and 300H&H.  I also have a light weight option, Forbes rifle in 30-06 if I plan to be doing many miles of walking.  It makes a difference!

For a $1500 budget, I'd look for a used full custom rifle.   If you want to buy new, research the new montana rifle company offerings.  Or find a Win Extreme Weather.  Or an early serial number Forbes rifle.  There are great deal on Sako 85s right now also - check euro optic.  Kimber Montana/Select is another great platform.  A stainless browning xbolt with the duratouch stock would be great in our rainy november elk seasons.

Good luck!

[theleo]

I'd say your best bet would be something like a Savage Long Range Hunter in 260 Remington. Great reputation for out of the box accuracy and a user adjustable trigger.

If you're going to customize things. Find a cheap, stainless model 700 in 308. Throw away the stock and barrel, get a new barrel coming (I'm a fan of Lilja, Krieger, and Pac Nor), a new stock (McMillan or Bell and Carlson would be good), get your gunsmith to cut the chamber, and adjust the trigger. You'll be into it close to 1500.00 and it will be a few months out.

If going custom and you want to hunt with it this fall, you really need to get the ball rolling.

[Curly]

Howa has a stainless steel rifle chambered in 6.5x55 with a #2 contour. Weight is 7.8 pounds. Won't notice recoil much at all with that.
http://www.legacysports.com/hogue-stainless

Or a hogue kryptek in 6.5x55
 http://www.legacysports.com/hogue-kryptek-rifles

[CAMPMEAT]

If you don't reload I'd recommend a 270, or maybe a 257 Weatherby if you don't mind paying twice as much for your ammo.

Another option but not as much fun as buying a new rifle- switch to 150 grain bullets in your 30/06. Recoil should be a lot more tolerable.

I can buy 257 Weatherby ammo for $ 40 a box all day long..I have many boxes for mine..

[Blacklab]

For $1500 you could build a very sweet rifle. 6.5 Grendel is my big game hunter and plinker. Shoots all day with out any recoil fatigue. Total weight is 7lbs 13 ounces unloaded 18 inch pipe.

[thinkingman]

700 are the most cost effective to customize as the budget allows if that's your fancy

I think thousands of Savage rifle shooters would disagree with you!  A $30 wrench and a barrel vice and you can headspace a barrel yourself in 5 min.   To get a custom barrel installed on a 700 action is hundreds of dollars.  Lots of stocks/dbm/triggers also.  That said, I much prefer the 700 platform!   

If elk are on the menu, I'd not go below a 270.    Like said above, I might try a ttsx or e-tip 150gr or so in your 30-06 before buying another rifle.

+1 on staying away from a varmint barrel on a hunting rifle.  Unless your sitting in a stand all day, you'll regret it very quickly walking up hills.  When I was young and dumber, I hunted elk with a Savage 10fp 308 one year.  It felt like carrying a shotput after the 1st hour.

I have two "standard weight" elk rifles, both custom 700s in 7STW and 300H&H.  I also have a light weight option, Forbes rifle in 30-06 if I plan to be doing many miles of walking.  It makes a difference!

For a $1500 budget, I'd look for a used full custom rifle.   If you want to buy new, research the new montana rifle company offerings.  Or find a Win Extreme Weather.  Or an early serial number Forbes rifle.  There are great deal on Sako 85s right now also - check euro optic.  Kimber Montana/Select is another great platform.  A stainless browning xbolt with the duratouch stock would be great in our rainy november elk seasons.

Good luck!

Sako 85 would be a much better choice than a franken700.
Better product out of the box and better resale if you want to trade it.

[Curly]

Nosler model 48 liberty rifle might be a good choice. Might be able to find one for close to budget. Available in 260 rem and 6.5x284
http://www.nosler.com/m48-liberty-rifle/

[aclapper]

After more research and looking at everyone's well thought out replies, I think I am going to go for a Tikka T3 in 6.5x55. I am drawn by that caliber's low recoil and great availability of reloading components if I go that route. There also seems to be a lot of surplus-style ammo around that can be picked up for cheap compared to other high power rifle calibers, meaning lots of practice for each dollar. Spending +/- $650 on a rifle also leaves a lot leftover for glass and ammo.

Any reason this is a bad idea?

[bobcat]

I'd go with the 270 Win or 7/08 Rem over the 6.5x55, unless you really just want to be different. Factory ammo will be more consistent and probably just as cheap, or cheaper, especially with the 270. Even handloading data is very inconsistent for the 6.5x55, I have heard, and it just seems like for someone who is going to be getting into reloading for the first time, it would be much simpler to have reliable and consistent data to use. Recoil and ballistics will be very close with any of the three. 260 Rem is another option if it's available in the Tikka.

[jay.sharkbait]

I'd go with the 270 Win or 7/08 Rem over the 6.5x55, unless you really just want to be different. Factory ammo will be more consistent and probably just as cheap, or cheaper, especially with the 270. Even handloading data is very inconsistent for the 6.5x55, I have heard, and it just seems like for someone who is going to be getting into reloading for the first time, it would be much simpler to have reliable and consistent data to use. Recoil and ballistics will be very close with any of the three. 260 Rem is another option if it's available in the Tikka.

You do know that 6.5x55 has been in production for well over a hundred years? That there is extensive loading data available and is one of the most popular hunting cartridges in the world?

Most of the factory ammunition is loaded pretty light as it can be chambered in one of the hundred of thousands of military Mauser based rifles that were built for that chambering.

[bobcat]

I'd go with the 270 Win or 7/08 Rem over the 6.5x55, unless you really just want to be different. Factory ammo will be more consistent and probably just as cheap, or cheaper, especially with the 270. Even handloading data is very inconsistent for the 6.5x55, I have heard, and it just seems like for someone who is going to be getting into reloading for the first time, it would be much simpler to have reliable and consistent data to use. Recoil and ballistics will be very close with any of the three. 260 Rem is another option if it's available in the Tikka.

You do know that 6.5x55 has been in production for well over a hundred years? That there is extensive loading data available and is one of the most popular hunting cartridges in the world?

Most of the factory ammunition is loaded pretty light as it can be chambered in one of the hundred of thousands of military Mauser based rifles that were built for that chambering.

Yes, and that's why loading data and factory ammo is inconsistent. Some is intended for old military rifles, some for modern rifles, and then there are apparently differences between European and American made factory ammo.

I'm sure it's a great cartridge and none of the things I mentioned are a real big deal, but just something to be aware of. I used to like oddball cartridges myself, but as I got older I have gravitated towards making my life simpler.

 

[aclapper]

I'd go with the 270 Win or 7/08 Rem over the 6.5x55, unless you really just want to be different. Factory ammo will be more consistent and probably just as cheap, or cheaper, especially with the 270. Even handloading data is very inconsistent for the 6.5x55, I have heard, and it just seems like for someone who is going to be getting into reloading for the first time, it would be much simpler to have reliable and consistent data to use. Recoil and ballistics will be very close with any of the three. 260 Rem is another option if it's available in the Tikka.

You do know that 6.5x55 has been in production for well over a hundred years? That there is extensive loading data available and is one of the most popular hunting cartridges in the world?

Most of the factory ammunition is loaded pretty light as it can be chambered in one of the hundred of thousands of military Mauser based rifles that were built for that chambering.

Yes, and that's why loading data and factory ammo is inconsistent. Some is intended for old military rifles, some for modern rifles, and then there are apparently differences between European and American made factory ammo.

I'm sure it's a great cartridge and none of the things I mentioned are a real big deal, but just something to be aware of. I used to like oddball cartridges myself, but as I got older I have gravitated towards making my life simpler.

The reason I'm eyeing the 6.5x55 over the 270 & 7-08 is recoil, both of the latter seem to generate at least 15 lbs of energy in most rifles, a level that is hard to tolerate for more than a few rounds. The 260 and the 6.5 generate about 20 percent less.

[Alchase]

In these threads it is always stated that the lighter the rifle the worse the recoil. In general this is accurate, but in a well designed well balanced rifle the "recoil is minimized".
I have had many stainless and composit rifles in belted magnums, and have a few with wood stocks. I can tell you my Sako Finlight in 300 win mag has Substantially more manageable recoil then my browning A-bolt in 300 win mag, or my Ruger M77 mkII in 7 mm mag both a couple pounds heavier with wood stocks.
I can't say that with the other composit/synthetic stocked rifles though.

[aclapper]

In these threads it is always stated that the lighter the rifle the worse the recoil. In general this is accurate, but in a well designed well balanced rifle the "recoil is minimized".
I have had many stainless and composit rifles in belted magnums, and have a few with wood stocks. I can tell you my Sako Finlight in 300 win mag has Substantially more manageable recoil then my browning A-bolt in 300 win mag, or my Ruger M77 mkII in 7 mm mag both a couple pounds heavier with wood stocks.
I can't say that with the other composit/synthetic stocked rifles though.

That's the hard thing about buying guns in general - so much of it comes down to personal preference and fit. It's crazy to think about these tools launching projectiles accurately hundreds of yards when people are all so different.

[Alchase]

In these threads it is always stated that the lighter the rifle the worse the recoil. In general this is accurate, but in a well designed well balanced rifle the "recoil is minimized".
I have had many stainless and composit rifles in belted magnums, and have a few with wood stocks. I can tell you my Sako Finlight in 300 win mag has Substantially more manageable recoil then my browning A-bolt in 300 win mag, or my Ruger M77 mkII in 7 mm mag both a couple pounds heavier with wood stocks.
I can't say that with the other composit/synthetic stocked rifles though.

That's the hard thing about buying guns in general - so much of it comes down to personal preference and fit. It's crazy to think about these tools launching projectiles accurately hundreds of yards when people are all so different.

For the most part almost all will launch projectiles fairly accurately.
Sub-MOA (0.5 or better)  is a different kind of accuracy.
I would suggest you find a range and go shoot a few different rifles, preferably in the same caliber for comparison. Compare the fit, finish, and action, then price. To be honest, I have never considered recoil when buying a rifle.