Post by: j.galloway on March 25, 2012, 01:29:41 PM
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 :chuckle: )
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. :o
Post by: GEARHEAD on March 25, 2012, 01:57:36 PM
Post by: krism83 on March 25, 2012, 02:08:40 PM
Post by: Wazukie on March 25, 2012, 02:23:16 PM
Post by: Bob33 on March 25, 2012, 02:56:26 PM
Post by: j.galloway on March 25, 2012, 02:58:11 PM
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.
Post by: Bean Counter on March 25, 2012, 03:25:09 PM
....Sorry for the long post, but I have been turning over every factor in my mind and it gets lengthy after a while. :o
I say good for you :tup: 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.
Post by: Wazukie on March 25, 2012, 03:31:52 PM
Post by: elkslayer069 on March 25, 2012, 03:32:45 PM
Post by: Curly on March 25, 2012, 03:55:31 PM
I also think you can't go wrong with the 30-06. Here is a Link (http://www.davidsonsinc.com/consumers/subsites/inven_product.asp?dealer_id=409680&item=035202226&instock=all&manufact_combo=Browning&mod_ser_combo=X-Bolt&category_combo=2&model=X-Bolt&g_type=Rifle&act_type=&finish_type=Stainless+Steel&calib_combo=30-06&sight_class_combo=None&price_range=None&left_handed=&youth=&Offset_rec=0&num_rec=50&item_num=)
Post by: RockChuck on March 25, 2012, 04:02:49 PM
Post by: hunting4sanity on March 25, 2012, 04:11:09 PM
Post by: GHETTO GUIDE on March 25, 2012, 04:19:52 PM
gunbroker .
Post by: Bofire on March 25, 2012, 06:43:16 PM
Carl
Post by: TwoSixFourWins on March 25, 2012, 07:22:43 PM
Post by: buckfvr on March 25, 2012, 07:45:00 PM
Post by: Bean Counter on March 25, 2012, 08:39:18 PM
My 300 wsm rounds only cost me about .50 each :dunno:
For factory loads or just bullets for which you then have to go buy brass, powder, and primers?
Post by: thinkingman on March 25, 2012, 09:43:57 PM
Post by: 30.06 on March 25, 2012, 09:52:33 PM
That being said, I sometimes use my Model 70 .300 Win mag for elk and bear. Nice confidence builder.
Heavier rifle settles down easier when my lungs are still burning. Brownings are quality. Capital Q. Luck!
Post by: bobcat on March 25, 2012, 09:59:40 PM
Post by: losdaddy7 on March 25, 2012, 10:43:43 PM
second; .338
Post by: deerslyr on March 25, 2012, 10:55:13 PM
Post by: whitetailslyr on March 25, 2012, 11:11:00 PM
Post by: coachcw on March 26, 2012, 06:45:07 AM
Post by: Wazukie on March 26, 2012, 07:08:29 AM
My 300 wsm rounds only cost me about .50 each :dunno:
For factory loads or just bullets for which you then have to go buy brass, powder, and primers?
I don't have to buy brass or primers, so that is for powder and bullets. Even if you have to buy your brass it'll only cost about a buck ea. for your first 50 rounds then about 40-50 cents ea. after that. That's my experience anyway.
Back to the op, if your budget is 1k,, you have pretty good options. I would go fondle some rifles and see what feels best, then do the same with some good glass.
Post by: demontang on March 26, 2012, 11:57:21 AM
Post by: bod on March 26, 2012, 04:21:54 PM
Post by: j.galloway on March 26, 2012, 06:51:23 PM
if you want something with a lot of bark & bite get the 300RUM,
:chuckle:
look at the cost to by ammo and how offten you see the cal at little stores in case you forget your ammo at home :chuckle:
Good point about that, largely places around here only have a few calibers in stock. I just will make sure not to forget ammo :)
So it pretty much sounds that any of these rifles can stand the elements well.
I know a shop here in town that may have a Rem 700, I think I will go by and check how it feels before thinking about committing. I had my Dads A-bolt when hunting in ND and it was real nice. Only thing I could say negatively about it, was it was heavy... but when I saw some deer... it was light as a feather. ;)
Post by: demontang on March 27, 2012, 10:55:44 AM
Post by: bobcat on March 27, 2012, 10:58:50 AM
It's the same with the recoil of the big cal's don't feel it when you have game in the sights.
But the issue is that a rifle is shot more often at targets than at game animals (or should be). If you develop a flinch from sighting in your rifle from a bench, you'll most likely still shoot with a flinch when shooting at game.
Post by: Miles on March 27, 2012, 11:12:27 AM
:yeah: Nothing better than listening to someone swear up and down that they don't flinch, then loading the "dummy round" in their rifle for them. Their face usually looks like this after they're done jerking themselves around.... :yike:It's the same with the recoil of the big cal's don't feel it when you have game in the sights.
But the issue is that a rifle is shot more often at targets than at game animals (or should be). If you develop a flinch from sighting in your rifle from a bench, you'll most likely still shoot with a flinch when shooting at game.
I've found my rifle caliber that I'll probably stick with for a very long time. It's the 6.5 x 55, and I'd hunt anything and everything from coyotes to moose with it. Very little recoil, and great ballistics. It's not a "popular" cartridge, but with a little planning you'll never run out of ammo.
Post by: birdwacker on March 28, 2012, 10:03:33 AM
Good advice check out a Tikka t3 stainless or a TC Icon with weathershield in 6.5 creedmore.:yeah: Nothing better than listening to someone swear up and down that they don't flinch, then loading the "dummy round" in their rifle for them. Their face usually looks like this after they're done jerking themselves around.... :yike:It's the same with the recoil of the big cal's don't feel it when you have game in the sights.
But the issue is that a rifle is shot more often at targets than at game animals (or should be). If you develop a flinch from sighting in your rifle from a bench, you'll most likely still shoot with a flinch when shooting at game.
I've found my rifle caliber that I'll probably stick with for a very long time. It's the 6.5 x 55, and I'd hunt anything and everything from coyotes to moose with it. Very little recoil, and great ballistics. It's not a "popular" cartridge, but with a little planning you'll never run out of ammo.
Post by: TikkaT3-270Shortmag on March 28, 2012, 10:12:52 AM
Post by: coachcw on March 28, 2012, 11:54:34 AM
Post by: gunnarnewt on March 28, 2012, 12:36:35 PM