Something a little "more"

Stewie333

Stewie333

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Tried to search for an answer, but couldn't find one.

I have owned maybe 20 rifles over the last decade, .22lr up to .30-06 being the most powerful. Most have been somewhat utilitarian in function and purpose (ie: cheaper) costing no more than about $700. Tikka, Savage, Stevens, Remington, Mauser, Marlin, they come and go. Now I would like to get something a little "more" in a rifle. Nicer fit and finish, smoother function with a nice slick bolt throw, and a stock that doesn't double as a canoe paddle. I have handle the new Winchester M70 Featherweight with the nicest, smoothest bolt I have ever cycled. A Kimber Mountain Ascent, so light, with impeccable fit and finish and a couple of Sako's which were also very nice. The Winchester is less than half the cost of the Sako and Kimber. But at this point it is no longer about cost savings, but more about pride of ownership.

So, my question is for the guys that may have taken the long road of having dozens of rifles before finding that perfect gun (if such a thing exists).

Where did your search lead you?

I don't care about caliber for what it's worth, as long as it is suitable for whitetail.

Cheers
 
I have been down the same road as you except 70-80 is my turnover so far. I'm now down to the basics, and after all the testing and picking apart what I didn't like here is what's left:
-Sako A7 in 7mm08 for all season all round hunting.
-Remington 700 XCR II with laminate in 30-06 for Elk
-Marlin 336ss for the thick stuff.

I know what you mean about wanting something with a beautiful stock, and a reputation / track record to be proud of. I found it hard to take that type of gun trudging through the woods on a rainy west coast day.

The only other rifle that took me a while to part with was the Browning X-Bolt,
 
Steyr, Sauer, Heym, Merkel are all good places to start looking. I myself have steyr and sauer as my go to rifles after many other entry level rifles some of which just sit in the safe still,
 
There is nothing wrong with the M70... and no reason you shouldn't be proud of it... get it in .308 and it will do everything you need it to... chasing the perfect gun or a "better" gun is a neverending and expensive pursuit.
 
Anyone that calls themselves a Gunnut has or will take this path. I have to agree with GMC403, most of my too pretty to scratch guns have left. Inspired by a cousins boyfriend that scratched my pretty back up rifle.

There is nothing any of us can or should say to stop you. Buy the one that appeals the most. The pricey ones also hold most of their value, so you should not loose too much cash.

I try to limit my safe queens for pretty, safe queens for collectable, and my reloader only calibers.
 
I've been thinking of downloading a few and getting a Cooper in 338/06 or 35 Whelen and a er Shaw in 264 wm.

There are a lot of makers that make amazing guns that go mostly unheard of as hunting guns. Rigby. Ferlach. Chapuis. Verny charron think I butchered that spelling.

If you want a truly romantic hunting gun that you can be proud of I'd suggest investing in a nice double rifle. They can be had for $6-8000 and go considerably higher. Merkel. Hyem Krighoff and again other makers.

I can only afford a baikal double but it is one of my favorites and I believe I owe my life to it

Btw. There is no perfect gun lol
 
I would put my vote in for a Sako Grey laminate 708 for a few reasons.

1. It's a Sako not only will it hold its value, you and everyone you hunt with will recognize it's quality.

2. The Grey laminate has the warm feel and looks of wood with most of the benefits of synthetic.

3. 708 is enough of an odd caliber to non gun nut hunters that it will seem a little mysterious but gunny people will recognize it's potential and it's common enough to get some assortment of factory ammo.

My 2c
 
My wife thought I was nuts going through all those rifles in 2 years, but just holding a rifle at the gun counter is no way to find your perfect setup.

I know the OP is looking for that "something nicer" rifle, but after spending tons of money on "beautiful" rifles, and sacrificing some basic features I required. I ended up having a jealously inducing rifle at the range, that I didn't particularly enjoy in field. I had to really search for what worked for me (regardless of the brand)

For me I found out that my requirements for a hunting rifle is:
-Weatherproof and lightweight (stainless w/ composite or laminate)
-Raised cheek piece on stock
-22" barrel
-Drop mag with top loading option
-Saftey that locks the bolt

As far as calibre......
That's a whole different ball of wax.

For my needs, 7mm08 is perfect
 
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hoytcanon said:
There is nothing wrong with the M70... and no reason you shouldn't be proud of it... get it in .308 and it will do everything you need it to... chasing the perfect gun or a "better" gun is a neverending and expensive pursuit.
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Absolutely true. I find that no matter how badly I want to "downsize" to the few "perfect" rifles, I am alway left with 10 to 12 rifles to cover all needs.
I recently spoiled myself with a custom made rifle, and it really impacted on my tastes. As Brian put it, you can never go back. There are exceptions, like Sako, Kimber, Cooper, Sauer, or Merkel, but if you really want to preserve your marriage, don't go custom! :)
 
I did a brief tally of the number and cost of what has gone into and out of the gun cabinet. 22 total that I can remember to the tune of about $9000. Not including a couple grand more in scopes, rings and other accessories (crap) that gets accumulated. All sold except for the FR8 Mauser brush gun. When I think of what I could have gotten if I was more patient! LOL!
 
There is a Mannlicher Schoenauer 1950 for sale now in EE. If its in good shape it would be an option to look at
 
Stewie333 said:
I did a brief tally of the number and cost of what has gone into and out of the gun cabinet. 22 total that I can remember to the tune of about $9000. Not including a couple grand more in scopes, rings and other accessories (crap) that gets accumulated. All sold except for the FR8 Mauser brush gun. When I think of what I could have gotten if I was more patient! LOL!
Click to expand...
22 rifles for $9000 would be a dream to me, I'm lucky if 9k would get me 4 (probably more like 2-3 in reality)
 
I have no problem justifying the price of my stainless Forbes 24B in do it all 30.06. I could honestly become the one gun hunter with it.
 
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Being a machinist isn't helping. I have a meticulous nature with a high level "anal retentiveness" when it comes to how things look, feel and function. Seeing burrs and rough edges or tooling marks, poorly fitting stocks. The very small things that can quickly ruin how I feel about what I'm shooting.

Forbes is definitely on the list. They are reasonably priced.
 
I'm on the poorer end of the scale. I don't want to take my blued t3 in the rain yet lol. For me if I'm scared to throw it behind the seat I don't want to own it. Personally I can't afford safe queens, nor do I want them. In the future stainless will be the material I buy.
 
I was (and am) a milsurp guy most of my life, and that's from when they were comparatively inexpensive. Around 20 years ago, I got a good deal on a Ruger M77 heavy barrel .308 NIB (the old one with blued steel and a walnut stock) with an unused Leupold Vari-XIII 2.5-10 X 40 and that has nailed me a lot of whitetail over the years. It's still a better rifle than I am a shooter, and though it weighs a fair bit it's not heavier than an unmolested No.4 Lee Enfield. As I tend to get to my overwatch and sit, it's perfect for that and I'm confident out to 300 yds. When I'm walking, or pushing, I still go to my customized No.4 or my 20 Ga. slug gun. That Ruger set-up was the most I'd ever spent on a rifle up to that time and my first foray into a commercial hunting rifle, and I love it. I don't think an expensive Tikka, Sako, Heym, Steyr, Weatherby, or what not will do better in getting game nor be more attractive IMHO.
 
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