Good factory rifle?

[JASmith]

A lot depends on what your neighbor already shoots and what hunting he plans to do.

If he is new to the business, then a light-recoiling rifle and cartridge combination makes more sense than something he will be sure smashes his shoulder with every trigger pull. The 6.5 caliber gets a good balance for hunting under 600 yards.

If light weight and recoil are both important, then the 6.5 Grendel on a Howa Mini will do very well. Going with the Creedmore on a Savage will add some range at the expense of greater weight and recoil.

 

[West Calamus]

Shot a Savage ultra lite a couple months ago and was very impressed with it's out of the box accuracy shooting boxed ammo. Impressed enough that I would not do any more builds before I bought one. List price shows 1500 dollars but he said he paid 1200 dollars new in the box in December. Savage does not make it in a 300 PRC but does in 300 WSM, 6.5 prc and 280 AI. Not sure you can go wrong with a Proof research carbon wrapped barrel and factory blue-printed ultra lite. I know I spent a lot more on custom barrels and gun smiths and am not sure my rifles can out shoot it and I reload. Just sharing.

 

[rustyshackleford]

Model 70 extreme weather in 30-06 or 300 WSM

 

[300grains]

Tikka T3 or T3X

 

[Fedwell]

Weatherby Vangard in 300 Mag ( Either Weatherby or Win.)

 

[MIBirdhunter]

I think you are on the right track with the Savage Ultralite. My 280AI shoots under MOA with a number of factory loads and under 3/4 inch its favorite factory load.

 

[martinakl]

Browing Xbolt would be my pick in that price range. Get the replacement trigger spring.
they've done a good job covering the 30 cals: 300 WSM, 300 Win Mag, 30 Nosler, 300 PRC. 30-06 could be enough at 600 yards but I'd go magnum.

I'd lean towards a cartridge you can get ammo or components for.

Current Production — X-Bolt Rifles

www.browning.com

 

[Shooter 69]

If you can find a Tikka T3X or a Sako A7 300 Winchester.

 

[ratso000]

Model 70 extreme weather in 30-06 or 300 WSM

I have this rifle with a HD5 Zeiss 2x10x42..300WSM..shoots half inch with factory 165 grain Trophy Bonded Tips..took an Impala at 225 yards

 

[Carlos88]

I have a Howa Back Country in .257 Weatherby and it is ridiculously accurate. Use RL25 and 100 gr Barnes TSX. It's a death ray. It's properly bedded and free floated.

An Official Journal Of The NRA | Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Back Country

Among 2013’s additions to the revamped Weatherby Vanguard was a lightweight reintroduction of a model for which hunters from mountainous regions clamored: the Back Country.

www.americanrifleman.org

 

[Carlos88]

Model 70 extreme weather in 30-06 or 300 WSM

I have the EW in 30-06 and it's a great rig. 60grs H4350 and 150gr Interlock.

 

[vancewalker007]

So my neighbor has about $1200 to spend for a semi light weight rifle to use for mostly elk and deer. He does not reload and already has a scope. Something he can shoot up to 600 or so yards. I never buy factory rifles so I don't know what's out there. I was thinking a Savage Ultralight in 300 WSM and put a muzzle brake on it. Is there decent factory ammo for that or no? He could go 300 PRC too. I can usually find ammo if needed. Any suggestions or anything coming out that might be around that price range ish? Is the factory ammo in 300 WSM pretty short COAL where it will be a turd? Looking for a bare rifle under 8lbs. Any 30 cal rifle suggestions?

Thanks, Cory

The Tikkas are great rifles. Their barrels seem to be pretty consistent. The Bergara B14 Wilderness line looks good as well and it comes in 300 PRC.

WILDERNESS RIDGE - Rifles Bergara International

WILDERNESS RIDGE

www.bergara.online

 

[Carlos88]

The Tikkas are great rifles. Their barrels seem to be pretty consistent. The Bergara B14 Wilderness line looks good as well and it comes in 300 PRC.

WILDERNESS RIDGE - Rifles Bergara International

WILDERNESS RIDGE

www.bergara.online

They are both nice rigs no doubt.

 

[freddiej]

the calibers I would look into are 270 Win, 270 WSM, 300 WSM, 308 Norma, or 300 PRC
the rifles/companies I would look into are: Tikka T3 Light, Winchester 70 Featherweight, Bergara, Browning, Christianson Mesa, and Savage 110.