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Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
#7402452
01/12/19 07:36 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,182
Tactical Cowboy
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,182 |
Well, deer season is about wrapped up. What (in your esteemed opinion) is the best factory hunting rifle?
I’ll admit, my hunting guns are pretty much stock. My favorite ones that I have/had are:
TC venture 30-06. This one is very new but has great accuracy potential; a rigid free floated stock; and a somewhat user adjustable trigger.
700 ADL .223 Walmart special. A little sandpaper to the barrel channel, poor boy bedding job, and my handloads delivered 3/4” groups at the most. The trigger is kind of heavy for my liking.
So, what’s the “best” factory hunting rifle?
The secret to a long life is to try not to shorten it.
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402455
01/12/19 09:56 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 155
buckmaster07
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 155 |
Right now for the money, I’d say a Tikka T3. I got a Christensen Mesa, but from all I’ve heard Tikkas are the best bang for your buck!
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402468
01/12/19 12:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,585
hetman
"Trash Master"
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"Trash Master"
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5,585 |
agree Some flavor of Tikka . I started with a T3x in 308 and now have t3 in 22-250 & 223 to go with it.
Add scope Adjust trigger to what ever you like & your pretty much done
Last edited by hetman; 01/12/19 12:14 PM.
"Lesser mortals are pitied for the misfortune in not being born Texan."
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402481
01/12/19 12:38 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,270
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,270 |
Since you didn't mention price, I would say a Weatherby.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402488
01/12/19 12:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759
snake oil
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759 |
Barrett Fieldcraft Legendary Arms Works
And I agree Tikka for a budget minded (not cheap) buy. I own one in .260.
Last edited by snake oil; 01/12/19 01:57 PM.
"You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas".
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402492
01/12/19 01:01 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,945
Jgraider
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,945 |
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Jgraider]
#7402499
01/12/19 01:32 PM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 420
cheetah577
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 420 |
God bless John Wayne!
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402501
01/12/19 01:33 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 11,658
GusWayne
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 11,658 |
The guys on here have me believing in Tikka but I don’t own one but I do believe them
There are just so many good choices these days
I mean for $450 sometimes less, a budget Ruger American will lay down an inch group and there’s many more that will too
Heck my DPMS LR 308 I paid $600 for will flat out shoot
It’s more a what do you like I guess anymore because a bunch of them shoot good
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402502
01/12/19 01:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,394
booradley
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,394 |
Tikka T3x and Weatherby Vanguard.
Don’t roll those bloodshot eyes at me.
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402507
01/12/19 01:56 PM
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Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 691
Anton Chigurh
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 691 |
From personal experience I’d say tikka is the best value. It’s not a budget rifle but they’re not that expensive either. T3x lite SS MSRP is $750, you can do better especially if you look for a lightly used one.
A Remington 700 SPS stainless retails for $600+ and is going have a poorer stock, trigger, general fit and finish and may have worse issues like seriously crooked scope base holes. I really like a worked over 700 but it’s just not worth it to mess with one anymore if starting from scratch IMO. It’s Different if you’re setting out to build with a prefit barrel or something and plan to upgrade triggers etc. m700 still way ahead in aftermarket parts availability, but even then I think it makes more sense to spend a little more for a custom action like a bighorn origin
Savage is savage. I wouldn’t
Other good rifles for less than $750 would be Ruger American, Weatherby Vanguard, Howa. But I would and have gone tikka over all these.
Browning Xbolts are said to shoot and function well, but they cost more than tikka. $800-1050
No price limitation factory hunting rifle, I’d look at Barrett Fieldcraft.
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402508
01/12/19 02:07 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,993
ImTheReasonDovesMourn
Snarky Mark
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Snarky Mark
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 3,993 |
There are nicer and fancier factory rifles than Tikka, but I'd put Tikka's action, barrel/chamber, and trigger against any factory rifle out there. I think Tikka has the best factory trigger ever made.
Haha yea I polished that thing for hours.
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402512
01/12/19 02:15 PM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 672
glb1955
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 672 |
Will let you know how my new Bergara B 14 Ridge in .308 does when I can get it to the range. Looks and feel are great. Trigger came set a 2.5 lbs.
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402519
01/12/19 02:19 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,354
onlysmith&wesson
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,354 |
Tikka. Hunted with a CTR (.308) for three seasons, just bought a T3 Lite in 6.5 Creedmoor. Both have great triggers that are easy to adjust and stocks that are rigid enough for a bipod and required no modification to the barrel channel, plenty of clearance. They both shoot 1/2" groups, (sometimes less) with Hornady off the shelf ammo.
An unethical shot is one you take, that you know you shouldn't.
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: onlysmith&wesson]
#7402524
01/12/19 02:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,354
onlysmith&wesson
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,354 |
Tikka. Hunted with a CTR (.308) for three seasons, just bought a T3 Lite in 6.5 Creedmoor. Both have great triggers that are easy to adjust and stocks that are rigid enough for a bipod and required no modification to the barrel channel, plenty of clearance. They both shoot 1/2" groups, (sometimes less) with Hornady off the shelf ammo. Since we're talking hunting rifle here, I did take my CTR to the THF hunters rifle challenge last year and would have taken my new T3 lite this year were it not for a scheduled hunt. I only scored 30, but learned that my all factory set up with off the shelf ammo was plenty good for the hunting I do. On the shots that I would take on deer, my misses at the challenge would have been kills on deer. The dot drill comes to mind.
An unethical shot is one you take, that you know you shouldn't.
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402525
01/12/19 02:50 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,179
scottfromdallas
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,179 |
Buy what you like. Almost all modern rifles are plenty accurate with good triggers.
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402527
01/12/19 02:53 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,360
bronco71
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,360 |
With no price range I would say Sako, then Tikka and Weatherby
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402531
01/12/19 02:57 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,752
603Country
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,752 |
Of the rifles I’ve owned or otherwise been familiar with, I’d put Sako in first place and Tikka in second place. And recently I traded into a Bergara B14 Hunter in 6.5 CM that is very impressive. The synthetic stock is better than the Tikka stock. Action is almost as smooth. Trigger is excellent. And, if it matters to you, the Bergara is a Rem 700 clone, so Rem 700 stuff fits the Bergara. My brother hasn’t come to get his Bergara yet, and I hope he forgets.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402543
01/12/19 03:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,389
joshf303
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,389 |
Tikka hands down for an all arounder....
I was all in on the Barrett Fieldcraft for a LW packing rig. Loved the ergos, 3" mag box with appropriate twists per caliber, etc, etc. Both had HORRIBLE bolt lift on a dead bolt and were sent down the road.
Last edited by joshf303; 01/12/19 03:34 PM.
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402549
01/12/19 03:33 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,779
P_102
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,779 |
Best factory hunting: Tikka, best bang for your buck: Ruger American. Sure, the Tikka action is nicer, but you can buy 2 Rugers for the Tikka price (maybe) and their accuracy is more than adequate.
Do not trifle in the affairs of dragons, for thou art crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402571
01/12/19 03:53 PM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 34,046
Buzzsaw
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 34,046 |
SPACE FOR RENT
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Buzzsaw]
#7402573
01/12/19 03:57 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,529
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,529 |
Love my Cooper, wish I had more of them
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402580
01/12/19 04:18 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,353
RJH1
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 1,353 |
Winchester 70 featherweight or remington 700CDL, either of them in 3006 cause it is the best hunting caliber
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: P_102]
#7402582
01/12/19 04:20 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,354
onlysmith&wesson
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 6,354 |
Best factory hunting: Tikka, best bang for your buck: Ruger American. Sure, the Tikka action is nicer, but you can buy 2 Rugers for the Tikka price (maybe) and their accuracy is more than adequate. Gotta shop a little, I paid $589.00 for mine new from Grabagun. Granted I don't pay ffl xfer fees or shipping since it's convenient for me to pick up at their location.
An unethical shot is one you take, that you know you shouldn't.
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402588
01/12/19 04:28 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,217
J.G.
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,217 |
Best bang for the buck is Tikka. I've yet to see one not shoot sub-MOA.
I believe it is a better rifle than some that cost more.
I have four custom, semi-custom rifles (whatever you want to call them) built on T-3 actions. One is the right hand rental rifle, three are rifles for my use as a lefty. They are one of, if not the best option for a lefty to build a rifle. The only extra cost associated is that they only come available in stainless, not blued. But a left hand stainless costs the same as a right hand stainless. They are usually an order item, which is what I have done twice. And they arrived in a week or less.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: Best Out of The Box Hunting Rifle
[Re: Tactical Cowboy]
#7402606
01/12/19 04:56 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,040
Texas buckeye
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,040 |
I have handled but never shot a tikka. While it may shoot well, the ones I handled the action seemed janky, loose, just not right.
I know it’s a lot more money than a tikka, but when I picked up my cooper for the first time I knew it was a good rifle. When I shot it I knew it was a winner. It doesn’t cease to amaze how easy it is to shoot really well with factory ammo. It came in a box, so I would say Cooper is my answer.
If we are talking best bang for the buck, we’ll thats a whole different ballgame. And the question was best out of the box rifle; we all could take just about any action and customize it to be a good shooter. That wasn’t the question @fireman. Cracks me up how folks take a question and make it their own.
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