What action would you use.

[hunter4764]

I am going on a Elk hunt, in western Montana this fall. I am going to build a long range rifle. 7mm mag. with a no. 5 contour barrel with a 1-10 twist I plan on using 168gr. Berger VLD bullets. What action would you use, Savage, Winchester model 70, or Rem. 700. I need your help with picking out the action. Thank you.

 

[Coyboy]

Of that list, I would use the remington.

 

[RemingtonMagnum]

remington 700 is the way to go

 

[7STDUBBERU]

Remington.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

on that list Remington 700

 

[Kevin Cram]

From your list, any of those action will suffice. I'm a Remington man myself but, if you don't have one of these actions as a donor, a custom action might be a better way to go.

 

[bigngreen]

I'm a big Savage fan but have yet to do a true custom rig and have to do it all myself.
Be sure to practice for wolf size targets, you may have to shoot your way to the elk.gun)

 

[NONYA]

You cant do any better than the 700,you can go cheaper but no better quality on that list.gun)Where in MT you huntin?

 

[hunter4764]

You cant do any better than the 700,you can go cheaper but no better quality on that list.gun)Where in MT you huntin?

Whitehall, MT. going with Cargill Outfitters, I was told if I use the 700, or the 70, I would have to blue print them and if I use the Savage, it don't need to be blue printed. Thanks for the response, Jerry

 

[NONYA]

iF YOU GO WITH THE SAVAGE YOU COULD PROBABLY ASSEMBLE IT YOURSELF,THE 700 SHOULD BE ASSEMBLED BY SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE.gun)

 

[snowpro440]

Yea your right about the wolf problem , you might want to check with your guide and have him check the area your hunting for wolf population , you might need more than 3 rounds of ammo for protection from wolves. Went to idaho and i seen one elk and 32 wolf sightings , they would track me back to camp every night ,cause in the morning they would be there when i walked out.gun)

 

[johnnyk]

hunter4764,
The 700 is probably the most sought after and used to do custom rifles. If pushed to choose one action then it would probably be the 700, simply because more has been done with this action then any of the others. The Savage would be a close second, because of its versatility. You can swap the barrel and bolt head yourself. I've never heard alot about customizing the Winchester M70. I'm sure a meticulous 'smith could make it really "sing".
I started out as a Remington Man, but after owning an accurate Model 70 and several Savage 110's, I'm not so overly fastidious. Any of the three would make fine custom rifles, it just depends on what you have your heart set on. JohnnyK.

 

[yobuck]

The bigger question is, why a 7 mag. For a long range elk rifle?

 

[NONYA]

Why NOT?Many of my long range elk kills have been with a 7 mag.gun)Throw these 150,s in it,http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/rifle/tipped-tsx-bullet/ on top of 64 gr of IMR 4350 @ apprx 3300 fps and knock em down.Its John Noslers choice for a long range rifle,that should say something about it.Sure there are bigger longer shooting calibers but load the 7 mag properly and it will kill far beyond the distance most hunters consider long range.