I Love the history, mistique, and classic Americana of a Winchester 70 "the rifleman's rifle" But! The retail price of them these days is way inflated.

If you gave me the money for the $1500 price tag I've seen on some new 70's I'd take the money and build a custom from a Savage, Remington, or Tikka action that would shoot groups inside that of the Winchester.

If I ever get my Remington sold, I'm getting another Savage.

Hahahaha! That's awesome! Go is more important than show.

Again thanks for all the responses guys.

Railhead - The 700 BDL is appealing to me, i really like the open sights and the overall look of it. They didn't have one at basspro but i'll search one out to look at in person.

Having said that, i have an irritating trait of never wanting to get what everyone else has. 700s being the most common rifle around puts me off somewhat, even if i know they are common because they are excellent rifles. My future father in law has a CDL and for that reason i wanted to have something different.

That being said, if I pick up a BDL and it feels right then thats the one for me. So far the x-bolt felt the nicest in my hands but there's plenty more for me to check out. I get the impression that quite honestly any gun is going to be more accurate than me so its really down to what I end up liking the most.

Thanks

It's not stupid to want a gun for a reason that you can't quite explain, or not want one for a reason you can't explain. Buying a rifle can be very personal. There's too many choices for you to buy something you're not completely satisfied with if you take your time and shop around.

I use a Mossberg 100 ATR in 30/06 and love it. Not the prettiest thing not the most fancified, but, it is one of the best shooting rifles I have used in a long time. Just an opinion.

P.S. Don't forget to check out Rugers offerings.

Another vote for the Winchester M70, especially the Featherweight. I may not have 10 of them like some people but I do have more then 1. I just think they are a notch above many others in fit and finish. I especially love how smooth the action is. Nothing wrong with the other choices mentioned either. My wife's Tikka is probably my second favorite, and my son's Remington has served him very well.

Chad,
I see in your signature that you professionally load and sell A-Max bullets.
So I’m just going to take that as an example to illustrate my point.
As you must already know, A-Max is very accurate, suitable for hunting and widely available at a reasonable price.

Yet Hornady doesn’t make any bullet for 270.

Here’s the link just in case someone would like to double check.
http://www.hornady.com/store/A-MAX/

Hornady makes many other 270 bullets that are just as accurate as an A-max. Why would an A-max be more accurate than an SST, or V-max? They all have the ability to shoot very well. The A-max has a higher BC than the others, but that doesn't make it MORE accurate than a lower BC bullet. It means that the A-max retains more energy down range and drifts less than a lower BC. But the fact that it's an A-max, doesn't make it more accurate than a non A-max bullet.

Greygooser, it sounds like you already have an idea on what you want. If you want something non-main stream, you will need to go look at them and handle them to make your decision. If you ask for general opinions on the rifles, you will get your common Rem 700, Savages, Tikka's and such. You could also look into a custom action build and make it exactly how you want it.

And the 30-06 is a great round. I think more people ought to choose it. It's not your latest and greatest sexy caliber, but it works very well and all new calibers are still measured and compared to it.

+1

I absolutely love my Browning A-Bolt II in .30-06, she is a thing of beauty in both form and function, and she is definitely nothing to be ashamed of at the range, unlike that other moped of an .06 in my safe...

-ww

Being from Ukraine you are probably familiar with CZ. They build their rifles like in the old days. I have a feeling that you are accustomed to the hogback stocks found on most European rifles. Witness the stock on a 452FS 22lr. Or the wood stock on the older steyrs or the Heckler 770 or SL7. These stocks are made to get your eye lower on the firearm. They feel like shouldering a shotgun. Incredible rifles for shooting running animals. Look at the Kentuckly long rifle, how the stock is way lower than the barrel. It causes the eye to stay just above the barrel. Bottom line, find a rifle that fits and feels right.

Who's from the Ukraine?

CZ makes a more traditional American model too.

Just get a Ruger.

I'm partial to my Ruger

Dude, UK means United Kingdom; England. I was born at Lakenheath myself, father U.S. Air Force. But got my butt back to Texas as fast as we could.

As always, thanks for all the replies.

Chootum, Bigbuck95 - I was interested in Ruger from the start. I've yet to get my hands on one but I will soon.

It certainly seems like there's plenty of good options out there with everyone having a favorite for a particular reason. I appreciate all the feedback and i'll certainly post on here when i;ve made my final choice !

I have a number of different rifles but I have used a Browning X-bolt in 7mm-08 as my primary deer rifle for the last 4 years. If you go with an X-bolt, you won't regret it. Super accurate and a superb trigger out of the box.

A lot of people didn't like the fact that it used a polymer magazine but its magazine is actually another strong point in its favor. I have zero gripes about this gun.

Here's my X-bolt stainless stalker with this year's buck and a photobomber in the background.(No it's not high fence or tame deer)

I don't exactly follow the crowd. My rifles are Browning BLRs (lever action). I got 2, 358 Winchester and 7mm-08. The 7mm-08 has got Texas covered. 100 gr to 175 gr.

Moose and bear in Alaska to prairie dogs in the Panhandle. Two rifles got it covered

Give the BLR a look

Rusty
Texas, I luv u

Screwdriver, nice buck and nice caliber.

Rusty
Texas, I luv u

apologies, did not read UK. Thought he said Ukraine. I guess my eyes are getting old. Still does not change what I said about the fit of a rifle stock.

Gotta luv Chad's comments, as per usual he's dead solid on point.

Just to add something to this furball, Tikka's use the same barrels as SAKO's and have the same accuracy gaurantee. I've owned several Tikka's and have always been satisfied that every one of them met that accuracy guarantee.

I also favor Winchester M70's that as per usual given the FabriqueNationalle ownership of Winchester's US parent company Browning...have increased in price dramatically.

Ruger is also a good choice, price x value, but might need some minor tuning.

In the interest of full disclosure, right now all I own of the 60+ deer rifles I've ever owned over the last 50 years is a wood/blue SAKO 260Rem Hunter Grade, a SS/syn Tikka T3 Lite 270, a wood/blue Winchester M70 Fwt 300WSM, and a wood/blue CZ 550 American 9.3x62. They all shoot to my expectations or they go away is my 1st Rule. I've spent the most time with the T3 270 and it shoots 4 rounds UNDER a dime every time if I am up to it, & the big 9.3 can do the same thing with 3-4 rounds even though the bullets are .366 in diameter...and tear up meat less than either a 270 or 30cal magnum.

As far as caliber for a Texas deer rifle ...that's like arguing over how many angels can dance on the point of a needle... but a 30'06 is the common denominator these days that the 30/30 used to be....and notice I don't now and have not owned very many of them as a multi gun hunter.

Remember, It' ALWAYS more about the Indian shooting straight than it is about the arrow hitting the mark. JMHO & YMMV
Cheers
Ron

Haha that's awesome. You might get that deer in a few years, and it very well could be a big deer!

Honestly, these are the guns I like.
Rugers
Remmy 700s
Howas
Savages.

I've got a Remington 700 in 270 but don't use it much, I like my grandmas old howa 308, it's synthetic, not mine, and a tack driver. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one. Search up ruger m77, might find something you like. I suggest a 308. The ballistics are 200-300 ft lbs of energy better than the 30-06, and can be loaded down to varmint loads for a varmint gun. It's good from anything to bobcats(with the right load) to elk. That will definitely be my next caliber. Savages w/ the accutrigger are frickin sweet. My cousin had one in 204 and I LOVED it. The Remington 700 is not a bad gun, and "mine" is actually my old mans, that's why I don't use it much. I've never shot a ruger but haven't heard anything bad about them. The 4 I suggested will not let you down. Especially not in the 308 caliber.

375 ruger 4712
**308 win 2955
25-06 rem 2366
30-06 2500
30-30 1860
300 win mag 3547
6.5 //2492
50bmg 8189
458 socom 2404
375 h&h 4208
357 mag 783
338 lapua 4995
**270 win.   2937


The starred ones are with superformance ammo. This is the foot lbs of energy of the bullet. A regular 22 has around 150 foot lbs of energy. If the power matters to you I suggest the 375 ruger because its a hoss of a gun, but will still save meat. Unlike the socom, lapua or 50 cal.

The ballistics are 200-300 ft lbs of energy better than the 30-06, and can be loaded down to varmint loads for a varmint gun. It's good from anything to bobcats(with the right load) to elk. quote]


Is this not true with a 30-06?