Looking to trade my Remington 740 in for a stainless bolt action: suggestions?

[screedler]

So my dad's old 30-06 Remington 740 that he gave me is not as accurate as I'd like it to be, the first shot's always off by a mile and then the groups aren't ever any better than 6" at 100 yards.  I was hoping a new scope on it would be enough to hunt confidently but with the first shot being so damn unpredictable at the range each time I'm deciding to stop my hunt short.

I want to get a modern bolt action rifle in stainless and I've been looking at Savage and Tikka rifles, are there any other brands that I should keep in mind? Gonna go with stainless even if it's more expensive just for the peace of mind when I get rained on out there. The Tikka T3 Superlite with a camo stock I was looking at at cabela's seemed mighty nice. Not sure if it's worth paying extra for the camo stock though, it's $200 more!

What does everyone think when it comes to investing in a new hunting rifle?

[Dan-o]

I'm a savage fan. 

Camo stocks are a gimmick. 

Think very carefully before getting rid of a gun from your dad.   I'd pay 10X the value for my dad's old '06 or my grandpa's browning shotgun...........

[Boss .300 winmag]

My son bought a Tika several years ago, we both have killed several deer with it , nice guns, great accuracy. 

[Hilltop123]

Accurate or not, it was your dad's. Hang on to it.

[screedler]

Think very carefully before getting rid of a gun from your dad.   I'd pay 10X the value for my dad's old '06 or my grandpa's browning shotgun...........

Honestly,  he never shot it!

The story with this old 740 is that the former owner of my dad's family home passed away and the wife gave all the old guns to my dad because she didn't have any sons or other people to give them to. This was back in the 80s before I was born. My dad just kept it in his safe and didn't use it so there's not really any real emotional attachment to it, he's glad I've been using it since I took an interest in hunting.

With the concerns on shot placement I think a bolt action might perform more satisfactorily, there's reasons the 740 was replaced by the 742 very soon after it was initially released. 

Maybe I'll just take the scope off and see how the irons perform... Still interested in getting a bolt action regardless! Might sell one of my ARs to make room in the safe. Are there any particular savage models you'd suggest?

[Blacktail Sniper]

Don't think you could go wrong with this if just purchasing one is an option:

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,218522.0.html

[bobcat]

Don't think you could go wrong with this if just purchasing one is an option:

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,218522.0.html

I was just going to post the same thing! Was looking at that this morning, thinking of how often people are looking for a good rifle on here, and I find it hard to believe that this one hasn't sold yet. Wish I needed another rifle, but four big game rifles is enough.

[Dan-o]

That one they posted is a really good deal. 

[700xcr]

So my dad's old 30-06 Remington 740 that he gave me is not as accurate as I'd like it to be, the first shot's always off by a mile and then the groups aren't ever any better than 6" at 100 yards.  I was hoping a new scope on it would be enough to hunt confidently but with the first shot being so damn unpredictable at the range each time I'm deciding to stop my hunt short.

I want to get a modern bolt action rifle in stainless and I've been looking at Savage and Tikka rifles, are there any other brands that I should keep in mind? Gonna go with stainless even if it's more expensive just for the peace of mind when I get rained on out there. The Tikka T3 Superlite with a camo stock I was looking at at cabela's seemed mighty nice. Not sure if it's worth paying extra for the camo stock though, it's $200 more!

What does everyone think when it comes to investing in a new hunting rifle?

Hang onto your dad's rifle. Give the bore a good cleaning. May be fouled with copper. check the muzzle crown for damage. Muzzle crown can be re-cut. Also you can put a Timney adjustable pull weight trigger in it too!
https://www.timneytriggers.com/shop/timney-remington-870-trigger-fix-replacement-trigger.aspx

[Blacktail Sniper]

You mentioned a different scope, did you actually mount it a give it a try and then got the same results?

I know giving it a good cleaning was mentioned, and checking the crown for damage, but did or have you removed everything down to the receiver and remounted the bases and rings making sure they are tight?

Then try a different, hopefully proven scope and see if you get better results.

Keep us posted, chasing gremlins can be frustrating, maybe we can help.

[Blacktail Sniper]

Don't think you could go wrong with this if just purchasing one is an option:

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,218522.0.html

I was just going to post the same thing! Was looking at that this morning, thinking of how often people are looking for a good rifle on here, and I find it hard to believe that this one hasn't sold yet. Wish I needed another rifle, but four big game rifles is enough.

Think of them as underwear, there are 7 days in a week, so you are actually short 3 big game rifles.

At least thst is the logic I use (try) at home.... 

 

[fish vacuum]

I'd be very tempted by a new Ruger American if I was in the market for a new rifle.
My primary hunting rifle is a Savage and the only complaint I have is that it has some minor rust issues if it gets wet and I'm not diligent about cleaning it. But it's a blued model too.

[screedler]

You mentioned a different scope, did you actually mount it a give it a try and then got the same results?

I know giving it a good cleaning was mentioned, and checking the crown for damage, but did or have you removed everything down to the receiver and remounted the bases and rings making sure they are tight?

Then try a different, hopefully proven scope and see if you get better results.

Keep us posted, chasing gremlins can be frustrating, maybe we can help.

So it originally had an ancient 4x weaver scope on it with a reticle I couldn't name. I replaced that with a whole new mount, rings and a Vortex Diamondback 3.5-10x50 (mounted at cabelas when I got the scope) and it works quite nicely as far as I can tell, only after getting this sighted in. Good god sighting in a 30-06 is expensive. Now shooting it every weekend at the range after the first shot on the cold barrel every time is never where I expect it to be. Just most recently it was about 6" left at 100 yards. I get decent/mediocre groups from the bench with it after the barrel is warm but that first cold shot being way off is steering me to want to opt-out of using this rifle for anything seriously. The crown on the barrel might have some damage, gonna pull it out and check...

If that fella sellin' the used savage 116 ever logs in and gets back to me that may be the route I go with...

I'd be very tempted by a new Ruger American if I was in the market for a new rifle.
My primary hunting rifle is a Savage and the only complaint I have is that it has some minor rust issues if it gets wet and I'm not diligent about cleaning it. But it's a blued model too.

So far in feeling the bolt on ruger americans at different retailers it has always felt really gritty and not smooth, do they shoot nice? The price sure is right on them but I dunno...

[CAMPMEAT]

I've got a Remington 700 Mountain S/S in 25-06 I'll sell you. $850 + shipping.


Sold...

[Blacktail Sniper]

You mentioned a different scope, did you actually mount it a give it a try and then got the same results?

I know giving it a good cleaning was mentioned, and checking the crown for damage, but did or have you removed everything down to the receiver and remounted the bases and rings making sure they are tight?

Then try a different, hopefully proven scope and see if you get better results.

Keep us posted, chasing gremlins can be frustrating, maybe we can help.

So it originally had an ancient 4x weaver scope on it with a reticle I couldn't name. I replaced that with a whole new mount, rings and a Vortex Diamondback 3.5-10x50 (mounted at cabelas when I got the scope) and it works quite nicely as far as I can tell, only after getting this sighted in. Good god sighting in a 30-06 is expensive. Now shooting it every weekend at the range after the first shot on the cold barrel every time is never where I expect it to be. Just most recently it was about 6" left at 100 yards. I get decent/mediocre groups from the bench with it after the barrel is warm but that first cold shot being way off is steering me to want to opt-out of using this rifle for anything seriously. The crown on the barrel might have some damage, gonna pull it out and check...

If that fella sellin' the used savage 116 ever logs in and gets back to me that may be the route I go with...

I'd be very tempted by a new Ruger American if I was in the market for a new rifle.
My primary hunting rifle is a Savage and the only complaint I have is that it has some minor rust issues if it gets wet and I'm not diligent about cleaning it. But it's a blued model too.

So far in feeling the bolt on ruger americans at different retailers it has always felt really gritty and not smooth, do they shoot nice? The price sure is right on them but I dunno...

If you are confident that the fellow at Cabelas tightened everything properly and it is still tight, then you may be on to something in regards to retiring it.

Good luck, hope you get something worked out before the late buck so this year isn't a complete bust for you.