New rifle advice

[Kbl3509]

New to the forum and don't know too much about custom rifles. I have 20 years experience in firearms and shooting. I have a pretty tight budget but I am in the market (birthday/anniversary gift) for a multi purpose rifle. The specifics I can give are: left handed bolt action, detachable box magazine, heavy barrel, free float barrel. I'm wanting this rifle to hunt (not worried about weight too much), entry to long range shooting, and a rifle I can use at work in the future when I take the proper training and get certified.

Im leaning toward a production rifle for simplicity purposes that I can customize a little down the road vs spending the time and money building one. Because I'm not that knowledgeable on what parts to get and what works in conjunction. Any help is much appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Temper]

Budget?

 

[Kbl3509]

Around $1000 give or take

 

[Temper]

Requiring left handed will limit you but most here would recommend the Bergara HMR anyways and it's available LH.

 

[ShtrRdy]

What size animals are you intending to hunt with this?

 

[Kbl3509]

Deer. This rifle will be more of a "tactical" rifle to practice marksmanship with.

 

[JMGlasgow]

I'm left handed. The market for your budget and left handed is very slim. Bergara was mentioned and is a good option. You'll be hard pressed to get a better rifle in your budget.

Having said that, stay away from Savage. I went down that road and wish I never did. It's a turd that no matter how much you try you just can't polish.

I ended up customizing a Remington 700 and was right at $1300. That included a new Criterion prefit barrel, Grayboe stock, PTG bottom metal, and a Tubb trigger. No truing work was done. No mounts, rings or optics.

 

[htowncoog]

agree on the Bergara on that buget. Not a lefty but did own the HMR and it is a good rifle for the price. Wasn't a fan of the trigger but that can be replaced later down the road and you can look at the PX section and find one at a good price almost all the time. Good luck!

 

[Kbl3509]

I had a Savage heavy barrel .308 and sold it. Not for performance issues just didn't really need it at the time. I have considered Tikka, Remington, Savage and Bergara IF I wasn't going to build one.

 

[ShtrRdy]

I would suggest a 6.5mm cartridge. The 6.5 Creedmoor or .260 Rem would be a good choice. If you wanted more power with a reduction in barrel life consider the .264 Magnum, 26 Nosler, 6.5 PRC.

 

[b6graham]

Tikka CTR in 260 or 6.5Creed. Mountain tactical scope rail. Yo Dave trigger spring. Sterk Bolt Handle. KRG Bravo. Thunderbeast Ultra 7.

You're welcome.

Yupppp and the best part is you can upgrade over time and you'll always have a tack driver

 

[Kbl3509]

How about a Remington 700 SPS and getting the action trued? Is there any comparison? Im also leaning toward the .308 round but open to options.

 

[Kevins750]

I shoot left handed with right handed rifles, don't know why just do.

Anyway don't listen to these guys and "The savage hate" . Out of the box accuracy is very good and the accutrigger
Works well. They complain about bolt lift, my new savage bolts are no "heavier" than my new Howa's or R700's.

If your are not competing with the rifle get a nice threaded heavy barrelled savage, remington,bergara and shoot
The shit out of that barrel and then get a new stock and barrel and wear them out too.

 

[JMGlasgow]

Sure Savages will shoot. What they do have issues with is weak ejection, scope bases coming loose constantly, a lack of upgrade parts like triggers (especially for lefty's), and their customer service is by far the worst.

I've tried the "bolt upgrade kit" from SSS, it doesn't work. I've tried a few different scope bases, they all came loose eventually even with loctite.

I genuinely tried to like my Savage and make it a good rifle, i gave up and sold it. I replaced it with Remington and the 700 is a better design and a better rifle plain and simple.

 

[Greg Langelius *]

Savage 10 BA Stealth LH (.308/20") $1229 list, but checking with individual sellers may net some price relief.

Multi purpose rifles abound, but are basically a compromise (I.e. something that does many things, few of then especially well...). The 10 BA Stealth is better suited to target shooting.

My hunting rifle is a very basic Savage Axis II 30-06, with a 20MOA EGW extended steel base, and a Boyd's Savage Axis Laminated stock (which transforms the ergonomics so that the rifle becomes a very handy and economical hunting rifle).

Savage Axis 11 30-06 LH. Note; the Boyd's stock will need to have a bolt handle relief performed to accommodate the Axis LH action.

An example of the kind of scope that could do the job on your hunting rifle. I prefer the 50mm objective because I find that most of the best shots I get to take on deer are at dawn or dusk.

Greg

 

[Wags]

I'm in a similar situation, I'm a lefty in search of a QUALITY rifle in 7mm Remington mag, there isn't one.... Bergara doesn't make a 7mm lefty. Tikka does, but then I need to thread the barrel and replace the stock... the Remington SPS is junk, I dont like Savage's , Browning only makes lesser models that would also need to be stripped and rebuilt and Christiansen only makes short action lefty's. Long story short there isn't much in the way for us lefties and options are slim at best.

Being left handed sucks...

That said, I'd go with the Bergara or the Tikka in your situation. I have a T3 lefty and love it.

 

[kingston]

Tikka T3X TAC A1 for a few more Benjamins.

 

[b6graham]

Tikka T3X TAC A1 for a few more Benjamins.

But for less benjamins you could put a donor/ctr in a real stock/chassis and maybe even thread a new barrel on it

 

[kingston]

But for less benjamins you could put a donor/ctr in a real stock/chassis and maybe even thread a new barrel on it

At that point, I’d be looking for a bargain on something already screwed together in the PX.

 

[b6graham]

At that point, I’d be looking for a bargain on something already screwed together in the PX.

also a very very good option

 

[Kbl3509]

Well I'm pretty set on a Remington 700 now after researching. I can get a left handed, blued action for around $375. Trying to decide on an adjustable stock now, rings and scope base (one piece +20 MOA). I was really wanting to buy something already put together but I just can't decide on anything. If anyone knows of any LEFT handed bolt guns in 6.5 CM or .308 let me know I'll consider anything at this point.

 

[JMGlasgow]

Get a Nightforce steel base ($116) and call it a day. There are several good ring manufacturers to choose from. As far as a stock, that's personal preference. I personally like the McMillan A5 or Grayboe Renegade, and Manners T4A

 

[Kbl3509]

Yeh that base is what I had on my last rifle. Opinion, Tikka, Bergara or Remington 700?

 

[JMGlasgow]

I like Remington on the simple fact that barrels are easy if you want a prefit, parts are plentiful, and there's a reason they're the most popular bolt action in the world.

I like Bergara, but there are no prefit options...yet. Also the left hand options from them are limited.

Tikka on the other hand has some of the worst customer service I've experienced next to Savage. I don't know much about their aftermarket and I don't care to.

 

[b6graham]

I like Remington on the simple fact that barrels are easy if you want a prefit, parts are plentiful, and there's a reason they're the most popular bolt action in the world.

I like Bergara, but there are no prefit options...yet. Also the left hand options from them are limited.

Tikka on the other hand has some of the worst customer service I've experienced next to Savage. I don't know much about their aftermarket and I don't care to.

Remington being most popular. Maybe. Years ago. And among hunting crowd who doesnt know better

Guys buying them on here? Slim to none unless they're from Chad or Mike and that's a totally different thing

Just think. For what hes gonna spend on a BLUED non tried R700 he could save a few and get an Origin and shoulderprefit and have way more options down the road

 

[Wags]

Well I'm pretty set on a Remington 700 now after researching. I can get a left handed, blued action for around $375. Trying to decide on an adjustable stock now, rings and scope base (one piece +20 MOA). I was really wanting to buy something already put together but I just can't decide on anything. If anyone knows of any LEFT handed bolt guns in 6.5 CM or .308 let me know I'll consider anything at this point.

Bergara HMR or Tikka Varmint.

 

[JMGlasgow]

Remington being most popular. Maybe. Years ago. And among hunting crowd who doesnt know better

Guys buying them on here? Slim to none unless they're from Chad or Mike and that's a totally different thing

Just think. For what hes gonna spend on a BLUED non tried R700 he could save a few and get an Origin and shoulderprefit and have way more options down the road

Why do you always assume a 700 action must be trued to shoot well and compare them to "custom" actions? A 700 receiver with a bolt is $375, a Criterion barrel is right around $300 ($400 with a lug and barrel nut. An Origin action is $800, more than double the price and for what? Savage threads and a floating bolt head.

Are Tikka actions perfectly true from the factory? How about Bergara? Odds are they are as "out of spec" as today's Rem700 action.

 

[JMGlasgow]

You should buy a Remington action.

I own 3 and would own more.

 

[JMGlasgow]

Cool. Have fun with them.

Same to you and your Tikka. Hopefully it won't blow up on you with factory ammo. I've seen 2 do that, one was mine. Different calibers, different brands of ammo.

 

[JMGlasgow]

Good luck then.

 

[chevy_man]

Remington being most popular. Maybe. Years ago. And among hunting crowd who doesnt know better

Guys buying them on here? Slim to none unless they're from Chad or Mike and that's a totally different thing

Just think. For what hes gonna spend on a BLUED non tried R700 he could save a few and get an Origin and shoulderprefit and have way more options down the road

It's not necessary to spend 2-3x the price for an aftermarket action.

Benchrest? Sure, do every little thing you can.
Practical? He has a budget that doesn't fit a custom action. I'd put money down a good barrel will still return 1\2 moa or better with no blueprinting.


700 receiver, $400 for a barrel and nut from any of 4-5 manufacturers, krg bravo, and his budget is done.

Probably get more practical accuracy spending the extra $200 for a trigger than the extra $500 for a blueprinted action.

Not every situation warrants a custom. Sure, is nice when you can afford it, but not always a necessity.

 

[b6graham]

It's not necessary to spend 2-3x the price for an aftermarket action.

Benchrest? Sure, do every little thing you can.
Practical? He has a budget that doesn't fit a custom action. I'd put money down a good barrel will still return 1\2 moa or better with no blueprinting.


700 receiver, $400 for a barrel and nut from any of 4-5 manufacturers, krg bravo, and his budget is done.

Probably get more practical accuracy spending the extra $200 for a trigger than the extra $500 for a blueprinted action.

Not every situation warrants a custom. Sure, is nice when you can afford it, but not always a necessity.

necessary? nope. but why get a R700 when you can get a tikka that actually takes shouldered prefits cause its true. and feels a shit ton better

 

[b6graham]

A. Who shoots factory ammo?

B ..... really......?

I think it'll be alright.....

i think what he meant to say what he put a different caliber of ammo in his tikka an blew it up. hmm who'd have thought 7-08 doesnt shoot too well from a 6.5creed

 

[JMGlasgow]

i think what he meant to say what he put a different caliber of ammo in his tikka an blew it up. hmm who'd have thought 7-08 doesnt shoot too well from a 6.5creed

Wrong....

 

[spife7980]

necessary? nope. but why get a R700 when you can get a tikka that actually takes shouldered prefits cause its true. and feels a shit ton better

Because I prefer the rem 700.
Not everyone agrees that a tikka feels a shit ton better either.

 

[chevy_man]

necessary? nope. but why get a R700 when you can get a tikka that actually takes shouldered prefits cause its true. and feels a shit ton better

I like Tika, they're great out of the box.

They haven't caught up in the aftermaket and it's simply easier to find parts and info about the 700.


I'd recommend a Tika for a buy and shoot, the 700 platform for home semi-custom builds to shoot out barrel after barrel.


Neither choice is bad, just different.

 

[Kbl3509]

Well like I may have mentioned above, I'm running out of time before coyote hunting gets good in my neck of the woods and I'm leaning toward a factory rifle I can buy, attach a good set of rings and a scope and go shoot. But I also want something I can easily customize later. Caliber choice is another issue. I just wish I knew as much about precision rifles/shooting as I do pistols and AR's. I'm learning. Thanks for the replies folks.