Need advice on choosing a bolt gun.

S

sundance43.5

New member
After careful deliberation, I've decided to make my next purchase a bolt gun. I would appreciate your recommendations. I'll be using it for animals as big as mule deer, though not that often.

Here are the criteria:

1) It has to be under $550

2) Caliber has to be .243, .270, 7mm Rem. Mag., or 30-06

3) Needs to be semi portable and light, for use in woodlands

4) Would prefer short action, but not a must

Thanks

Chris
 
After using abusing fixing and failing a broad spectrum of bolt action rimfires and centerfires I seem to come back to the Mauser 98 design if not the rifle itself...

Your choices are mainly long action cartridges. I'm partial to the .30-06 because you can find the bullets anywhere (and sometimes on sale), accuracy, and although it kicks you, it doesn't knock your teeth out or slap you silly...

If you have a knowledgable friend or gunsmith handy to help you search, you could probably come up with a well made, basic sporterized .30-06 Mauser and stick a Leupold 4x Matte for around $550...

My second choice is a well inspected Winchester Classic .30-06 Stainless which is usable out of box and with serious tweaking potential if you find you need that later...
 
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Remingtons ADL line of bolt guns come in those calibers, and are less than $400.
For light and handy, the 700 ADL Synthetic Youth fits the bill. It comes in 243, and 308 which is the one I bought for my son, no complaints. Check them out.
 
I'm confused because only one of the rounds you name will fit in a short action!?!?!?!

If the medium length action is acceptable, I'll agree with DeeBee and suggest you go with a rebarrelled Mauser which you should be able to turn up in any pawn shop or gun show for a reasonable price. Once you've shot a Mauser you'll be spoiled because no action made today is as slick and well-fitted as these old actions.
If the barrel ain't pitted, buy it!
 
While a rebarrelled Mauser is a nice choice, it can run into alot of $$$ to rebarrel, restock, drill & tap, bend the bolt and scope a military mauser.

if your going with new, look at a Savage. they are priced right, accurate, and come in a variety of configurations, and will leave you with enough money for a OK scope.

The only cartridge that you listed for the shorter action is the .243. If your going that route, I would step up to the .260 Remington. It is the same case as the .243, necked up to take a .264 bullet. This makes for a very versital round, with heavy bullets for Mule deer, and light bullets for varmit use, and many target bullets available, if thats what you need.

Good luck.
 
Personnally, if in the same boat, I would look for a used, but well preserved Model 700 Remington or a recent Winchester Model 70 (push feed OK) in .30-06. Both are well proven. Easy to get parts for if needed.

Both have dozens and dozens of accessories and scope mounts available. .30-06 is the most popular reloading die request, and loaded factory cartridges can be found anywhere you find .30-30. Additionally, it will serve for any North American game except the big brown bears. Actually, it will work on them, but you better be very, very good and using top notch ammo. For your stated uses, the 150gr. and 165gr BT. will do very nicely.
 
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