Need advice...My precious Wife told me I can have a rifle for Christmas...

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Dearhunter61

New member
So my wife just told me I can have a rifle for Christmas for $900 or less. So I'm looking for something equal to or less than the recoil of a .270. I'm thinking of Weatherby 257 mag or 25-06 perhaps in Remington BDL. As for brands I'm thinking of CZ, Browning or Weatherby. I'm not a big fan of Savage and wasn't real pleased with the performance of the only Ruger I've ever owned.

Your feedback is appreciated....
 
Christmas present

I love my CZ's - have several - For under $900 you could get a 527 and scope, and still take her to dinner
 
Weatherby 25-06 without scope will cost over $1,000 but would be more than worth it if you really want the Weatherby quality and a great round. Top it with a Bushnell 4-12X40 scope and you have a nice long range gun.
 
Little Billy

If your going to spend approximately $900.00 on a rifle may I suggest the 25-06 caliber which I have owned for many years. I have loaded the Sierra 90 grain hollow point boat tail with 52 grains of H4831 for shooting prairie dogs. This worked very well for 200-300 yard shots; very gratifying to make the hits at such long ranges.

At first I had a Mauser action on a 25 caliber barrel just an off the wall gun; but shot really good. Then I got the Weatherby Vanguard, older models that look like a piece of furniture in the 25-06, that shots and looks great; however the price is to high for these guns now so I would look very closely to the Savage with the Acutrigger that is just a gem of a rifle and trigger; very smooth and nice. I would buy the Marlin in the X7 series in a 25-06 with the Proform adjustable trigger just as nice as the Savage but less money.

With the $900.00 budget you could buy the Marlin in the 25-06 Remington and one in the 223 Remington and still have money left over to get a thumb hole laminated stock for each from Boyd's rifle stocks.

I just bought a Marlin X7VH in a 223 Remington that is beautiful for less than $350.00

I would get an inexpensive rifle scope perhaps a Eagle Eye sniper scope in a 6-24 zoom with a 50mm optical that is great for those long shots.

With my 25-06 I have shot a Mountain Sheep, prairie dogs; just a great caliber. I have an old Redfield 6x18 on my Weatherby 25-06; love it.

I hope this helps with your decisions.
 
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Little Billy

If your going to spend approximately $900.00 on a rifle may I suggest the 25-06 caliber which I have owned for many years. I have loaded the Sierra 90 grain hollow point boat tail with 52 grains of H4831 for shooting prairie dogs. This worked very well for 200-300 yard shots; very gratifying to make the hits at such long ranges.

At first I had a Mauser action on a 25 caliber barrel just an off the wall gun; but shot really good. Then I got the Weatherby Vanguard, older models that look like a piece of furniture in the 25-06, that shots and looks great; however the price is to high for these guns now so I would look very closely to the Savage with the Acutrigger that is just a gem of a rifle and trigger; very smooth and nice. I would buy the Marlin in the X7 series in a 25-06 with the Proform adjustable trigger just as nice as the Savage but less money.

With the $900.00 budget you could buy the Marlin in the 25-06 Remington and one in the 223 Remington and still have money left over to get a thumb hole laminated stock for each from Boyd's rifle stocks.

I just bought a Marlin X7VH in a 223 Remington that is beautiful for less than $350.00

I hope this helps with your decisions.
 
Guys I want to thank you all for the responses...

I need to clear up some stuff...

I already own the following:

Rem BDL .223
CZ 550 22-250
CZ 550 .243
CZ 550 6.5x55
Browning BBR 270
CZ 550 .308
Browning BBR 7mm Mag
Win 300 SM
CZ 300 SM
Rem BDL 300 MAG

So I'm actually trying to find something between the .243 and .270 and that's why I'm thinking about the 25-06 or 257 Mag.

All these rifles are pretty darn accurate for hunting rifles. Back in the day I put three rounds in the same hole with the 7 mag with hornady factory ammo at 100 yards...it was the gun! I've had neck surgery and just don't want to take the pounding anymore so I'm looking for something with a little less recoil that'll shoot a ways.

Thanks
 
Christmas Rifle?

If your neck continues to cause you problems I would like to make a suggestion. You mentioned that you don't particularly care for Savage, however I suggest you look at the Savage model14 American Classic in 250Savage. The 250 Savage is an excellent low recoil whitetail round, good out to 250yds, no problem.
 
Does your wife have a sister?

I'm going to rock the boat and suggest a CVA or TC muzzleloader with a nice scope on it. They are a blast to shoot, accurate (in-lines) and you can use them where shotguns are permitted only.
 
There are some good buys on Brownings and Tikkas lately. I've shot both lately and they're very accurate, though I don't care for the shiny finish on wood-stocked Brownings. I own two Rem 700s and have had them for a pretty long time. The stainless models of the Tikka and Rem are my preference for hunting in the East and other damp climates.

For cartridges, I'd suggest .260 Rem or 7mm-08. There's not much of a difference in recoil between the .25-06 and .270 Win.
 
I like the .250 Savage suggestion , though if you're not a handloader , the ammo supply can be spoty . There is no more pleasent cartridge to shoot than the old .250-3000 Sav. . Break the mold a little and go short action , maybe the 7mm-08 !
 
You already have a .270 Win and 6.5x55, so maybe you just need to get into reloading, so you can shoot reduced recoil rounds in many of your larger calibers.

In any case, I'd recommend against Weatherby Mag calibers, due to case availability and outrageous ammo cost.

You could also get factory reduced-recoil rounds for .270 Win, .308, 30-06 and others. I've tried some and they work fine, but shoot to a slightly different POI at various ranges.
 
You can pick up a Weatherby Vanguard S2 for around $450. Nine is accurate, well made and has a great trigger. If you get one in stainless or with a bull barrel it will be a good deal more.
 
What is the rifle going to be used for?
Are you wanting to go bolt, single shot, lever action, semi auto?

Savage has some real accurate rifles. Though if for hunting I would say get the thinner barreled ones. When carrying them the bull barrel rifles get heavy.

CZ has been mentioned. They make some fine ones. I have a 527 American with a Walnut stock that is one pretty rifle. It shoots same hole groups if I do my part.

If for just plain paper punching then I would say get a .223 Rem, or .308 if you do not hand load then ammo is still available at a not too awful bad price. .243 Win is another that is fun to shoot without the punishing recoil. I have a Remington Model 700 with a custom Walther barrel that my entire family fights over during deer season. It is like a death ray for accuracy. Not too heavy to carry, and it is not punishing to shoot.

Heck for the price you stated there are so many options it is not funny.
 
By all means, go for the 25-06. Its a great cartridge. You might find the 257WBY to be a bit pricey and not as user friendly (ammo cost and avilability etc). Recoil will be less too. Very little difference in recoil between 25-06 and 243, but definately more energy downrange.
 
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