Advice on New Rifle

[OutHouse]

I'm buried in research on all the knowledge you guys have supplied me. Thank you! I am tempted by both Nicz and another Wrchinook have in the classifieds but its hard to decide and my budget keeps changing.

[Buck Rub Jr]

I put together a .270 last year and I love it. I went with the weatherby vanguard and got the first lite model since it came with a brake. Figured it would be something really easy for my wife and kid to shoot when he’s older. Topped it with a viper pst gen 2 5-25x50 and it’s a tack driver. Right around that original price range you mentioned! I also love having the brake on a lighter caliber, I have got to watch Bullet impact on 2 blacktail, a whitetail and a bear all in the scope cause There’s such little kick. Super fun to shoot! And has loaded up the freezer for me these past two years. Dropped that bear in it’s tracks at just a bit over 400 yards

[OutHouse]

Thank you to everyone for your fine commentary and advice. I was over on the west side this weekend and went to Bass Pro in Tacoma. The selection and inventory was excellent. But the service was abysmal. I don't blame the workers I think there must be a shortage and some new policy on taking tickets and standing in line without the ability to get simple questions answered first. Everyone at the counter was noticeably upset by the service, many of whom were pretty vocal about it.

Waited for a long time and then my name got called. Employees were great got to handle a ton of rifles of many of the brands mentioned on here. Ended up getting a Tikka Tx3 Light D18 in .270 (think the tikka website describes it different as "Light Veil Wideland" or something like that).

Also picked up a new scope that may or may not go on this rifle. Its a vortex in 2.5 by 10 by 44 which might be really good for many areas I hunt where shots or going to be in the 50 to 150 yard range.

[Stein]

That's pretty much how Cabelas has always sold firearms, I think they have perfected making it take as long as possible.

[phildobaggins]

I put together a .270 last year and I love it. I went with the weatherby vanguard and got the first lite model since it came with a brake. Figured it would be something really easy for my wife and kid to shoot when he’s older. Topped it with a viper pst gen 2 5-25x50 and it’s a tack driver. Right around that original price range you mentioned! I also love having the brake on a lighter caliber, I have got to watch Bullet impact on 2 blacktail, a whitetail and a bear all in the scope cause There’s such little kick. Super fun to shoot! And has loaded up the freezer for me these past two years. Dropped that bear in it’s tracks at just a bit over 400 yards

That's a sexy two-sev!

[OutHouse]

That's pretty much how Cabelas has always sold firearms, I think they have perfected making it take as long as possible.

My only recent experience was at the Cabelas in Union Gap near Yakima. Bought the kiddo a .22 and they were fully staffed took about 1/2 hour or so. At Bass Pro they made guys take tickets where they had already purchased and were just waiting to pick up their order. Those guys were irate!

[OutHouse]

I put together a .270 last year and I love it. I went with the weatherby vanguard and got the first lite model since it came with a brake. Figured it would be something really easy for my wife and kid to shoot when he’s older. Topped it with a viper pst gen 2 5-25x50 and it’s a tack driver. Right around that original price range you mentioned! I also love having the brake on a lighter caliber, I have got to watch Bullet impact on 2 blacktail, a whitetail and a bear all in the scope cause There’s such little kick. Super fun to shoot! And has loaded up the freezer for me these past two years. Dropped that bear in it’s tracks at just a bit over 400 yards

That's a sexy two-sev!

Thanks. I am very happy with it. It feels so light. I was close to buying a savage with the heavier barrel. I think it was listed at just over a grand and the guy was going to give a 10% discount because of a tiny mark near the end of the barrel but the gun was something like 8.5 pounds.

[phildobaggins]

I put together a .270 last year and I love it. I went with the weatherby vanguard and got the first lite model since it came with a brake. Figured it would be something really easy for my wife and kid to shoot when he’s older. Topped it with a viper pst gen 2 5-25x50 and it’s a tack driver. Right around that original price range you mentioned! I also love having the brake on a lighter caliber, I have got to watch Bullet impact on 2 blacktail, a whitetail and a bear all in the scope cause There’s such little kick. Super fun to shoot! And has loaded up the freezer for me these past two years. Dropped that bear in it’s tracks at just a bit over 400 yards

That's a sexy two-sev!

Thanks. I am very happy with it. It feels so light. I was close to buying a savage with the heavier barrel. I think it was listed at just over a grand and the guy was going to give a 10% discount because of a tiny mark near the end of the barrel but the gun was something like 8.5 pounds.

You don't really need a heavy barrel on a hunting rifle, only need one accurate shot through it. You made the same choice I would've made. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not that I need more rifles but I bought a Bergara. In a .243 ! That gun dots right out of the box with factory ammo . I was really surprised ..

I actually like it a lot . I have to do little modification in the magazine since they seem to have sharp edges that scratch the heck out of my casings ..other than that , for the money ,they are sweet rifles ..

[OutHouse]

Not that I need more rifles but I bought a Bergara. In a .243 ! That gun dots right out of the box with factory ammo . I was really surprised ..

I actually like it a lot . I have to do little modification in the magazine since they seem to have sharp edges that scratch the heck out of my casings ..other than that , for the money ,they are sweet rifles ..

I thought those were excellent as well but for one reason or another preferred the Tikka. I think I was at a sportsmans in Milton when I looked at the Bergaras and Franchis. They all seemed very good to me like it didn't matter which one I wanted so it was hard to choose in the end. The brownings were also very nice.

[idaho guy]

nice choice on the rifle. I don't have a tikka but I am going to buy one. I have just heard too many good things about them especially for the price. I have not had good experiences with vortex scopes- something to think about if you could still swap it out. I do have some vortex binos that I like but the scopes have been a no-go for me and a few buddies that tried them. I don't know, some people probably love them, just passing on my experience. Enjoy the new gun!   

[OutHouse]

nice choice on the rifle. I don't have a tikka but I am going to buy one. I have just heard too many good things about them especially for the price. I have not had good experiences with vortex scopes- something to think about if you could still swap it out. I do have some vortex binos that I like but the scopes have been a no-go for me and a few buddies that tried them. I don't know, some people probably love them, just passing on my experience. Enjoy the new gun!   

I hear ya on vortex. I was told don't buy one if you want to go long range. Thus I went with the 2.5 by 10. When the time comes I think I'll by a higher end scope for my 7mm.

[birddogdad]

here is another consideration:

i am late to the party here but i would consider working it this way if you want a rifle for life....

1) buy the nice rifle caliber you have desired period.. spend the wad on it...

2) start with CHEAP scope.. most will work and you wont have many serious "chances" outside of prob. 300yds and you can suffer thru it. Build the bank role and decide what scope you really want on your very nice rifle...

hope this arrives before you pull the trigger on new stuff to consider~!

Cheers      Bruce

[Stein]

I've had more frustrations with cheap scopes than I care to think about.  I do have one $250 scope that has performed very well, all the others have resulted in at least three missed animals and countless frustrating hours figuring out what went wrong.  From my experience, the glass itself looks perfectly fine, its the reticle that is all the trouble, both not returning to zero but also just moving around on it's own.  This is verified by sending the scope back where the manufacturer does their magic and admits, yes, the reticle was loose and moved around.

Personally, I wouldn't put a cheap scope on a rifle I was going to shoot at big game.  What "cheap" means is up for argument, I'm not sure what a guy has to spend to get a scope that he can bank on but from my experience it's at least more than $500, maybe even higher than that.

[timberfaller]

Cheap scopes, hummmmm

Bought a $75 Weaver at Kelly's Hardware in Chelan back in 1971,  4 to 12 power adjustable obj. brand new.  That scope has never failed on any firearm it was put on.  Sold it to my brother in law, he in turn gave it to one of his sons.  Still in use today.

Of all my present optics,  never paid more the $200( a red dot) the most I paid for a new scope is $150 for a Nikon on sale.  Have some great Leupold scopes, never went over $140 for them, M8 six powers.   Love fixed power scopes, less things to go wrong with them! 

Just my