Shopping for a new rifle - input rifle/caliber?

[j.galloway]

I realize that each gun/caliber are not really a one size fit all, so Ill describe what I'm looking for in this rifle.

Endurance
In the areas around here it rains quite a lot. I want to be able to go on a hunt where I might be camping over night for one or two days, and have the rifle survive torrential downpours, climbing through thick brush ext.

I have read about individual parts of guns (ie stocks, barrels triggers ext) and what makes them fail, and what makes them last a long time..
http://www.chuckhawks.com/firearm_stocks.htm

So I am looking for people that know more about these rifles than I do  particularly if a rifle is made from good materials or not

Caliber
I would be hunting Deer, Elk, possibly cougar and black bear in maybe several years but I would like a caliber that can handle anything that is willing to eat me while on hunts 

Preferably I would like .30-06 or bigger. I have looked at .338 caliber mags (more or less for cartridge envy than anything) and guessed they where more than enough for the smaller blackbear. I seriously considered the .300 win mag and have been comparing it to the .30-06. I have read the winmag has less barrel life (like a lot) than the 06 yet gaining only marginal performance. Similar though is the 06 compared to the .308. However I'm not sure, I want enough gun to be able to handle bear (in Washington area anyway) and elk. ( I also want a caliber that is popular, so that brass, bullets and cartridges can be found anywhere.) ( Though I would never say no to a gun that sounds 'like a cannon from hell' anyway- mostly for cartridge envy  )

Before anyone says anything, recoil is not much of a problem, I actually just looked this up:
Federal ammunition field and target multi-purpose load 12 guage 3 dram 1 1/8 oz 8 shot in a 7.5 lb shotgun recoils nearly the same as a .30-06.

12 gauge, 2.75" (1 1/8 at 1200)   7.5   23.0
from:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/shotgun_recoil_table.htm

I first started trap shooting a few years ago and after about 50 rounds I started feeling it in my shoulder. Now I can go through a whole case of 100 without even flinching.

Cost
I don't need a $10k rifle, but I rather take quality over price... all under around $1k (scope not included)

Guns
Ok now with that said, I have looked at a few options, first debating over SS, or which finish to get with carbon steel. It looks like some finishes even have a difference on barrel weather resistance. Now I just as
I have been looking at either Browning or Remington, but I am open to any other suggestions.

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?fid=023B&cid=035&tid=201&bg=x#center
http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/detail.asp?fid=001B&cid=035&tid=012&bg=x
www.remington.com/products/firearms/centerfire/model-700/model-700-sps.aspx
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/57_981/products_id/62455/Remington+700+XCR+II+3006+BLK
(looks like the XCR was discontinued, and they have a XCR2 but no link to it anyway)


Of these I really interested in the Xbolt. My Dad has an A-bolt thats older than me (22 in two months)
What I was most impressed with his was that it had a dropout magazine, which I found really nice, and a bolt that rotated like 45° or something.

Does anyone have opinions comments criticisms of these few choices? .. and/or comments about caliber, factors I may have not considered.

Sorry for the long post, but I have been turning over every factor in my mind and it gets lengthy after a while. 

[GEARHEAD]

keep it simple, i'd vote for a remington 700 stainless with synthetic stock, as for calibers, heck theres alot, i'd have to vote for 30-06, shooting Hornady superperformance 165 gr btsp, or IB. id expect quite alot of advise to follow, lol.

[krism83]

You can't go wrong with a Remmington 700. Now .30-06 was the most popular round for a reason for decades and it is reliable. I like a little more punch in my rifles personally so I like the 7mm Rem Mag, .300 win mag, and .308. However, there is an increasnig price difference between those and an 06. I guess the real prefrence is up to you and what your typical hunting shot is going to be distance wise and how flat of a trajectory you want out of your rounds. out to 150 yards if I remember correctly there isn't going to be to significant of a difference.

[Wazukie]

I would say, a rifle in 300wsm or 7mm wsm, just my preference.  The model 700 is a good choice and can be had for under $400 at Bi-Mart.  That being said my deer rifle is a model 700 .243 and my other rifle is a Browning A-bolt 300 wsm.  I like them both very much.

[Bob33]

I would suggest at least considering a Tikka T3 stainless synthetic.  Caliber of your choice, but 270, 270 WSM, 7MM, 30-06, and 300 WSM would all meet your requirements.

[j.galloway]

Most likely shot would be under 100 yards, and at max maybe 400. After that I would have lost too much confidence on making a clean kill shot.

As for cost per round, I in a way factor that in when shooting for target practice with my 223, but Ill reload my rounds (I already have press and non-consumables, just need lead, proper powders, brass, dies ext) for better accuracy primarily but for cost savings as well.

I also looked into number of reloads out of brass and it looks like most say they can squeeze 10 out of 30-06 and less out of the .300 win-mag, maybe 5ish. Primarily because of the belt, but I also read to set the sizer die to adjust at the head, not belt then it would work better.

[Bean Counter]

....Sorry for the long post, but I have been turning over every factor in my mind and it gets lengthy after a while. 

I say good for you  Make a good decision now and you'll only need to buy one hunting rifle for decades to come. Then your next purchase can then be a quality (expensive) scope.

My mantra for hunting weapons: Cheap guns, cheap rounds, and expensive glass.

I hunt with .30-06 and love it. I fire cheap soft point rounds in 180 gran for everything.

You don't NEED a .300 Win Mag to kill any of the animals you listed. The simpler calibers such as .270 Win, .308, .30-06 will all get the job done just fine. There will be less kick on your shoulder, and your wallet will be happy so you will keep shooting. Magnum rounds are expensive.

[Wazukie]

My 300 wsm rounds only cost me about .50 each 

[elkslayer069]

I think if i were to buy a rifle tommorow it would be a kimber ss synthetic stock in 325wsm with your choice of 4.5x14x50 leupold

[Curly]

I would go for the X-bolt if I were you.  I really like the A-bolt, but I think the X-bolt is an improvement.  (Although I haven't shot an X-bolt yet).  I'm a big fan of the 3-position Tang safety, and the trigger is supposed to be improved over the A-bolt.  If you get the A-bolt, there is an aftermarket spring that will fix the A-bolt trigger (cost is about $25 if I remember right).

I also think you can't go wrong with the 30-06.  Here is a Link

[RockChuck]

another vote for 300 wsm and stainless synthetic, rounds are kind of expensive but not if you reload

[hunting4sanity]

The Remington 700 XCR II would be a good choice from the ones you mentioned, if you want something with a lot of bark & bite get the 300RUM, but only if you're going to reload - otherwise factory loads get spendy. Then get a good scope, I really like the custom elevation turrets that are available for many scopes like a Leupold VX3 or a Vortex Viper HS.

[GHETTO GUIDE]

Red Hawk Rifles  Alaskan TI. 

gunbroker .

[Bofire]

X bolt 30/06 will do fine.
Carl

[TwoSixFourWins]

Ruger Hawkeye all weather in 30-06. Redfield 3-9x50 scope with good handloads.