SELL me on a Remington???????

[Buzzsaw]

OKay, here's the deal. I decided to spend this years rifle build money on a deer hunt for my daughter and I. Of course I want a new rifle to take. I'm never happy with what I got. I have my Dakota Predator bolt gun in 6.5 Grendel I had built last year, which I'll probably take, the 7WSM is too heavy, so since my $$$$ are going to the hunt, I need the most, bestes, rifle for under $1000. I have seen several recent posts here, everyone is suggesting the Remington 700 of some sort. Don't get me wrong, I cut my teeth on the 700, own one, with two clones on other guns. GREAT action. It seems, the Browning X-Bolt, Sako "Tecomate" which is a triked up A-7, Savage accustock/weather worrior, Weatherby , They all seem to be stepping up with accurate rifles. I am also looking at the 700 stainless fluted hunting rifle. Caliber will be in the 7mm-08 range. A semi-custom job would be at least $2,000, plus a long wait, which I hate.
I would love your comments, especially if you own a rifle, other than a 700 Remy.

 

[TEAMSENDIT]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

if you are going non custom hunting rifle and you want the best under $1000 i would highly recommend a sako 85 model of your choice. from the factory in this catagory nothing will feed as well, be as smooth or feel as good in your hands i would bet. i have loved everyone i have ever picked up and fired. My second choice would be the browning abolt or a winchester classic with controlled round feed 3 pos. safety.

Honestly both my match rifles are custom 700 clones but the 700 would be low on my list of hunting rifles. i would for sure take a sako, browning, tikka,cz, or even a savage before a 700.

 

[Buzzsaw]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

Glad to see a very honest reply. I love the Sako 85,and it would be a top choice but I thought they were around $1500. I need to check gunbroker. Thanks for your reply TeamSendIt

 

[GUNNER75]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

Remington Model 7 Deluxe in the caliber of your choice. Great compact deer rifle.

A7 Tecomate shoots better than I expected out of the box.

Tikka T3 is equal to the A7 on accuracy.

Kimber 8400 Nice overall hunting rifle (have several rounds behind one in 300WSM)

Definitly Sako 85 if it can be had for less than $1000!

 

[SnkBit]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

If you're anything like the rest of us, you will eventually modify whatever it is you buy. Do yourself a favor and go look around in the options and accessories for sale section. If you take note of the availability of stocks and other items for the 700 I think the choice will be very clear.

 

[jeepwilson]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

That is the thing with Remingtons.I have always had Winchesters til they went out and up.But if you are even considering upgrading or tinkering with whatever you get,and eventually you will,you mine as well get a remington.The parts are so easy to get and so many options.Where with others you are very limited.

 

[tpryder]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

If you are looking for a hunting rifle in short action caliber I would purchase a Weatherby Vanguard/Howa rifle. The Vanguard has a flat, base with an integral recoil lug action similar to a Winchester Model 70. Bell and Carlson and HS Precision make stocks for short action Vanguards, so upgrading the stock is available. The bolt comes with an AR-style extractor and the triggers are very good and easy to tune. A long action Vanguard will limit you to stocks, but I believe Manners is making them. Sako A-7, and Tikka’s are great rifles that come with detachable box magazines, the only problem is getting a stock for them. I don’t know any after market stock makers for them. The problem getting a stock for the Sako or Tikka makes them a close second and third.

 

[calebintn]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

I love my weatherby vanguard varmint, very accurate and budget friendly

 

[Tacticalrum]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

Sell you on a Remington.....OK.... I have owned probably 10 700's in my life and everyone shot MOA or less in there stock out of the box form. The odds are pretty good. I like the idea of buying a gun and a box of quality ammo and have it shoot lights out without having to work on it. JMHO

 

[tullius]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

I'm with M. Sebastian above: buy a straight factory 700 SPS tac in 308, fill out the balance of the $1000 with rail, rings, scope, ammo and learn the drops & wind. What more could you want out of a deer rifle?

 

[buffybuster]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

For a straight hunting rifle: Tikka T3

They plain shoot.

 

[kill_goose]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

Never seen a straight up factory 700 that wouldn't do MOA out of the box. Seen many that did better, and a few that did much better.

Upgrades are as numerous as 10/22 stuff, and many different manufacturers means lots of choices to fit personal wants/needs. Room for growth is almost infinite with this rifle/action as wants/needs/funds change.

That being said, I do feel Remingtons "attention to small details" has slid the last few years. Fit and finish, and other small minor cosmetic issues seem to really plague their newer stuff. Not that its the end of the world, but one should expect a nicely finished rifle with decent appearance for what they cost. The last new 700 I purchased had tool chatter marks on the face of the muzzle (NOT the all important crown). Not a huge deal, but something I think could be remedied easily and cheaply with some care.

 

[flyrodder]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

I have a 700 in .270, and, while I like it (as does my wife), I think there are other options to consider. My primary long-range rifle right now is a CZ-550 varmint in .308. It will out shoot the 700 (although the 700 has a lighter barrel contour), and the set trigger is very nice for those 1,000-yard gallon jug shots. I also have a Weatherby Vanguard in .30-06. The Remington is more accurate, although that is to be expected since I understand Weatherby culls the sub-MOA Vanguards and repackages them as, you guessed in, Sub-MOA rifles.

I have just started shooting a Savage Model 10 in .308 with the Choate tactical stock, and it was showing promise right up until I started getting baffle strikes - hell on accuracy - so that is headed back to YHM for diagnostics and repair. I bought the Savage with the idea that I can swap barrels myself and plan to ultimately turn that into a .260 Remington.

Interestingly, I bought my twin 13-year-old sons Savage Axis rifles in .270 to celebrate their first deer hunt (both successful), and I was amazed to find that both of these $300 rifles will shoot half-inch 3-round groups at 100 yards with handloads, right out of the box. Both will outshoot the 700 and the Weatherby and will give the CZ a run for its money. Yes, the 7-pound triggers are horrendous and were ultimately replaced with Rifle Basix units, and the stocks are a bit flexible through the wrist, but those half-inch groups were with new barrels, the factory stock, and the factory triggers.

Personal preference obviously is important, and buying a platform with readily-available parts and accessories is handy (try finding a 30-MOA Picatinny scope base for a CZ - I ended up making my own using a Nightforce blank), but if a rifle is accurate it certainly makes up for a lot of other issues!

Good luck with your choice, and, as I continually tell my wife, why does it have to be "or?" I still have room in the safe!

 

[whitt91]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

If you want it a solely a hunting rifle
1. browning A/X bolt (personal preference which one you like)
2. Weatherby vanguard
3. Winchester model 70

All 3 are excellent hunting rifles that will be more than accurate enough for any job you want to through at it, and in my opinion the fit and finish on them is much better than what you get out of the box from a remington and many other brands.

 

[tango0202]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

I would put my Remington 700 SPS tact. .308 straight out of the box up against any comparable(price wise) rifle out of the box. Mine will shoot 1/2 MOA or better (If I can do my part) all day long! It is bone stock with a leupold scope shooting match ammo...nothing fancy...just a damn good shooting gun.

 

[n8lusk]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

Since it's also for your daughter...my wife has a Remington 700 30BR, Ruger M77 30-06 spr, and a Sako 85 7-08. She likes the Remington the least. She liked everything about the Sako except the safety was hard for her to operate. She loves her Ruger...escpecially the 3-position safety. She has killed deer and plains game with the Sako and Ruger without even a hick-up. She doesn't ever really shoot the Remington.

Also, the Sako was the most accurate out of the box rifle I have ever shot.

Good luck with whatever you choose!!

 

[Lucks]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: buffybuster</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For a straight hunting rifle: Tikka T3

They plain shoot. </div></div>

I strongly agree, I've got two and they are both shooters...

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

Tikka T3 is nice.
One that is being overlooked is the Thompson Center Venture.
It is less that $500, has a 5R one MOA guarantee, a decent synthetic stock, adjustable trigger and comes with weaver style bases for your scope. It is available in lots of calibers, long or short action. I have one in 30-06 and it is one helluva a hunting rifle for the money.

 

[trigger time]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

Hey Buzz. Long time, I'd have to say tikka all the way. Then if you want to play with it later you have most the options of a 700, stocks and bottom metal aren't a problem anymore.
Take Care
Tony

 

[GunKnowledge]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

I believe all the rifles mentioned here will be sufficiently accurate and then some, for your hunting purposes.

You have a fairly high budget for such a simple requirement, so it looks like personal preference. Don't pick a base/entry grade of whatever company you choose, and you'll be fine.

You've mentioned your other toys, so it doesn't sound like this rifle needs its own scope/rings, you sound like you can borrow from another rig, so max it out.

I don't know why people are recommending heavy barreled 308s, not the application it sounds like we're looking for here guys.

My opinion:

Support your fellow citizens, get a premium 700 of your choice, and enjoy the hunt!

I would personally get a MTN LSS (lightweight tapered in stainless and laminate, more compact dimensions and easier to carry than other 700 variants) in 7-08. Looking at $500+ used, and $800 NIB.

 

[jeffersonv]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

They shoot pretty good. Almost as good as a Savage with a little work.

 

[Buzzsaw]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

Thank you all for the great opinions and suggestions. I went to Cabela's Saturday, the gun counter was 4-5 deep with shoppers wanting to fondle the merchandise. I will head back on a weekday and do some fondling of my own. I guess it will really come down to which one feels the best. I will post what I end up with in the future. I have a giant new Cabela's opening up close to me in April, so I won't have to Drive to Ft. Worth. They are about the only one who keeps a decent stock of all the rifles mentioned, exept the Sako 85. I'll have to put on a suit and head down to the Barreta gallery to see what they have on the shelf. Keep em coming, I'm all ears.
Thanks Again

 

[Sleeper]

Re: SELL me on a Remington???????

The new win mod 70 by FN is a hell of a stick. It can be had for a little under a grand. I have two, one in 300 wsm and the other is a semi custom in 6.5-284. I have the all-weather versions with B&C stocks with bedding block.