New Bolt action. What to get?

I'm sure everyone in this room can tell how they would spend your $1000.

Personally I don't see how you can go wrong. There really isn't a dimes worth of difference in any product available for your purchase, IMO.

You have the bottom wrung of the premium group, MDL 70, MDL 77, Sako A-7. You also have the upper tier of the middle group. Rem, Savage, Vanguard/Howa, Tikka, TC, ect. Everyone has their pet.

You should get out there and pick them up. Shoot them if you can.

You didn't say if you were going to hunt or shoot for pleasure or both. There are plenty of rifles perfectly suitable for both.

You have to decide what you want.

Seeking experienced opinion is valuable, but remember what granny said about opinions. Good luck.
 
I suggest the Winchester Model 70 featherweight for an 06 or 06 based round.

IMHO, machined better in N Carolina than ever in New Haven Ct. That even if currently assembled in Europe. A great gun. A classic, control feed. The featherweight is a beautiful stock, for those who appreciate wood. To get a nice classy stock from CZ, you have to go hump back (hog back) and they now charge a big premium for the 550 control feed. That leaves the cheeped out 557 pos from cz. Almost everything else is plastic these days.
 
forebore has it right!

If it is AMERICAN MADE it's at least on my look at list, I can't get excited about spending money for a made across the ocean product. I just picked up another Winchester featherweight that was made in Morgan Utah inscribed on the barrel. Genuine Winchesters made in America will raise my blood pressure plus they are a WINCHESTER! If you haven't figured it out I have three of them, wish the rest of my rifles were Winchesters too but I can't afford to spend that much money for a rifle just because I want one. I usually put money away for something special for me and try very hard to pick up a new rifle every couple of years. The gun Cabinet is about full, room for only one more!! Happy shooting!! William
 
Savage 14 or 12 that way you will have more money for a very good scope.They are very accurate out of the box!
 
If it is AMERICAN MADE it's at least on my look at list, I can't get excited about spending money for a made across the ocean product. I just picked up another Winchester featherweight that was made in Morgan Utah inscribed on the barrel. Genuine Winchesters made in America will raise my blood pressure plus they are a WINCHESTER! If you haven't figured it out I have three of them, wish the rest of my rifles were Winchesters too but I can't afford to spend that much money for a rifle just because I want one. I usually put money away for something special for me and try very hard to pick up a new rifle every couple of years. The gun Cabinet is about full, room for only one more!! Happy shooting!! William
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I looked at one a month ago (win 70) and it said machined in N Carolina and asembled in Portugal. I saw one today and it said imported by xxx Morgan Utah and made in Portugal. Very nice metal finish. Stock was a little on the red side?

Now, bill is not the OP, but if the country of origin matters:

My follow up suggestion is for Kimber 84L, nice wood, nice action and very light well balanced rifle. I may get one in 7mm-08, short action, 84M some day. Maybe.

And, fwiw, on a 2k budget and more global minded buyer the Sako is just super nice. Nice wood and top finish on the metal and accurate by reputation.
I suppose that is a pretty hefty up charge over the Tikka. But its not my money :)
 
Made in America Winchesters are out there

Stamping on the barrel "Made in the USA" Baco (Browning arms Co.) Morgan Utah, that was stamped on the right side of the barrel. Cabelas had 4 Winchesters mine was the only one stamped made in America, fit and finish was better too, I did not expect to find a made in America rifle but glad I did. I should add it groups better than I would expect a featherweight rifle to group, pleased, no other way to say it.. I don't know if this rifle was a new old stock Winchester or current production.. Just keep looking and you may find exactly what you want, I wanted a 30/06 and that's what caliber this rifle is.. William
 
Winchester Model 70, make sure it's American made!

If Browning leaves the manufacturing of Winchester firearms here in America and turns out a quality product there are thousands like myself that will continue to buy the rifles.. Never liked the idea of Portugal in the mix, never liked machined in America and assembled out of Country either, makes me shudder to even think of the costs cutting that has handicap the Winchester product!! FWIW I have a model 9422 Winchester and a model 94AE .307 both rifles look good and shoot even better.. William
 
I'm another one who would point you toward Winchester. Ive hunted with an older model 70 sporter in .30/06, but just bought a brand new feather weight in .30/06 ...I find I'm slowly swapping things out for lighter weight models. Anyway, these new Winchesters could very well be the best one ever made. They're owned by FN, and are held to FN's quality control in their plant in Portugal. A lot of beautiful firearms come out of Portugal...including some spanish double barrels. Anyway, I havent really shot my new rifle yet aside from 10 break in shots out back, with cleaning in between each shot. I just mounted a Leupold scope on it this evening. I obviously cant speak to the accuracy, but the qua;ity and finishing is outstanding. Even the bedding job they do is great...sweet trigger too...and wow such a nice blueing job. I ordered mine from Buds Gun shop and saved a ton over what the shops wanted, and I ended up with a particularly nicely figured walnut stock on mine. Looking forward to this weekend and trying her out off the bench.
 
A 30-06 hunting rifle wants a featherweight 22" barrel and a soft recoil pad such as a Decelerator.

I prefer the three position M70 type safety or at least a Ruger 77's.

Here is my current favorite for hunting near the car. It's a custom on a 98 Mauser action with a 22" octagon barrel in a well done stock.
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Another vote for the CZ 550 series. As far as Winchester being "superior" to "lesser" gun, well, the Model 70 is about as pedestrian as you can get.
 
Don't own the CZ 550, but I've shot several of their models and own the 455. CZ is a lot of fun for the money, the quality is excellent, lots of accessories for it and they're extremely accurate.
 
If you are hunting that so called fine accuracy is mute (3 shots if you are lucky)

Reality is the Rugger is probably the best field gun (M77). Very robust and accurate enough.

You still need an optic I assume to get something in the $600 range and get a good Leopold Scope (or the right USA made Redfield Revolution I think it is)
 
Get the Ruger American with the Redfield Revo and save yourself $400. If your truly looking for a "hunting rifle". If you just want to impress someone go ahead and spend $1000 for a rifle that will do the same job as a less expensive one will. Its your money :D
 
Never seen a tikka that wouldn't shoot sub moa. I like sako the best but winchesters are a very close second. Ruger m77 are great guns just don't expect them to be great shooters. It's more hit or miss and my personal experience their cheap American rifles out shoot the m77's. If you are going for best wood the x-bolt medallion is best grain for the money but accuracy belongs to sako, tikka, and savage. It's sad when the day has arrived that very few people would not recommend a remington but it has fell upon us. Still if you go to any competition u will mostly model 700's donning gold rings. Just my obamas worth.
 
ok just my two cents

lots of rifles below 1k are good and very accurate


one that i was initially introduced to by a fellow member has been one Ive really enjoyed both using and playing with

still havent modified it....

its a Howa 1500 (they come in 308, 30-06, 338 and few more i bleieve)

i picked mine up a few years back fully ready to go for 610

i added a magazine kit to have detachable magazine for 80$(now like 50$)

its a great setup and is very accurate (more so then i thought it would be)

heres the model i have

but there are quite a few setups now

http://www.legacysports.com/hogue-gameking-package

it will save some $$$ and still be very fun
 
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