Good dilemma

[sticky]

I have the cash to buy a new rifle & scope but I am not sure what to do.  I have a Savage 111 lefty 30-06 with a Nitrex 3x9 on top.  I paid $200 for it at a pawn shop five years ago and shoots well.  I hunt deer, elk, & bear with it.  I'm thinking about going A or Xbolt or CDL with a VX III, Monarch, or Conquest. Should I buy another 06 & keep the Savage as a backup, or picking up a different caliber?  Considering some coyote hunting maybe in the future.

Thanks for your input.

[bobcat]

I think I'd upgrade the scope on the Savage, and keep it as your big game rifle, and then get a 223 for coyote hunting.

[DoubleJ]

I'd buy the best glass you could for the Savage, buy a 25-06 barrel for your savage ($50-$100 at the most) and learn to barrel swap, and spend the rest on something else.  Barrel swapping is easy once you get the hang of it.  Very short learning curve.

[sticky]

One idea I toyed with was buying a Savage 11 w/Nikon in.243 ($500) and spending more on the scope.  Budget is around $1200.

[DoubleJ]

Leupold VX-2 3-9x40 - $300
25-06 barrel for yotes - $100
$800 to spend on other things.  a pistol perhaps.  Clothing for hunting.  GPS.  Gas for scouting.  Who knows

 

[Biggerhammer]

One idea I toyed with was buying a Savage 11 w/Nikon in.243 ($500) and spending more on the scope.  Budget is around $1200.

There you go! I would take a .243 over a .223 any day for varmints and it seconds on a deer rifle.

[sticky]

DoubleJ:  Why 25-06?  I realize the case compatibility, but what does the cartridge do for me?
Thanks

[DoubleJ]

Nothing more than a .243 really.  A little more oomph maybe.  In my mind, there's no reason to drop $500 on another gun when you could spend $100 and get pretty much the same thing.

[sticky]

Ok, thank you for the suggestion. I'm definitely going to consider the option.

[DoubleJ]

While you mull it over, watch these 2 videos:

barrel swap video

barrel swap 2

They were made by our very own yorketransport.  IMO, the swap is even easier than it looks in the video.  He taught me how to do a barrel swap.  You don't even need the go-no go mentioned in the video.  Get an already fired 25-06 shell from someone on here (I'm sure there are plenty) and use that as your go-no go.  I have been swapping between .308 and .243 for a couple of years now.  It's very easy.