Help me narrow down the rifle I'm after...

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bigredchev

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to say the least im picky about rifles. ive had rem 700s, model 70s, rugers, an xbolt and more to count but ive never been satisfied with any of them enough to keep. Lets hear some out of the box knowledge and suggestions to narrow down my search.

calibres: from 7mm mag to 300wsm including 300WM. It will be used for moose, bear eventually grizz and the odd deer. I like it to be able to have factory ammo in a pinch.

finish: I strongly like stainless barrels and a laminate/comp stock. looks great and classic. Ive had blued/wood rifles and they are ####kicked in 2 seasons.

action: bolt only, I fell in love with the browning magazine system but the only downside to that gun was the dinky small worthless bolt knob. I hated it.

Barrel: I am biased to short barrel but overall a shorter gun is nice in the bush, so long action magnums are a bit of a piss off to have the added inches in the thick bush. I had short action bolt and it swung perfect.

the rifle doesn't have to be a factory magazine gun, but it has to be magazine capable ie: kwik klip.

Im not brand specific, but please no tikkas or sakos. Im not a fan of em.



thanks. happy hunting
 
You like the X Bolt, but not the knob?

I'd suggest an X Bolt in 30-06.
Send it to the smith for a bolt knob, and trim the barrel to 22".

And forget the, "what's the budget". You're too picky for a budget. ;)
 
You don't like:
-Remington 700's
-Ruger 77's
-Winchester 70's
And don't want:
-Sako's
-Tikka's
But the Xbolt was good except for the Bolt handle....... Trust me, save yourself some time and $ , just get a Browning X-bolt and have someone put a bigger handle on. If the X-bolt platform fit you, build off of that. The detach mag you want it to have (that's not some bulky box) is a limiting factor.

Older T/C Icon?, or spend some $ and go Cooper are other possibilities too.
 
budget im not worried about as long as it isn't comparable to my mortgage.

who does xbolt knobs? ive looked around lightly and came up with sweet FA, if I find a smith im laughing.

thanks again and happy hunting
 
If you don't want a Winchester, Remington, Ruger, Tikka, or Sako take a look at Cooper.

Stainless or just stainless barrel, good factory mag and a big knob. Composite stocks available, just about any cartridge and barrel length you could name, specified LOP and trigger set to your specs at no extra charge. Other options available. Accuracy warranty. That should take care of your pickiness.

I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss the Sako 85. It seems to meet your spec sheet rather well.

A stainless Steyr Pro-Hunter might suit you.
 
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I dont see a Weatherby on your list of "don't wants". I bought a Vanguard S2 a while back and have been extremely happy with it. I would imagine their higher end models would be even better.
 
I checked out the Vanguard S2 right off the hump and found a stainless model, but you would have to get an aftermarket laminate stock from Boyd's and order the Weatherby detachable mag kit for it. Bad news on the mag kit......3 round only and not in magnums. Do-able in 30-06 though.
 
I know you aren't into Sakos, but consider looking at a Kodiak in .338. Stainless steel, laminated stock, short barrel 21.5" +/-, detachable mag which has a safety system to prevent release if the catch is bumped, proper express sights, barrel band, integral bases (dovetails) and typical Sako accuracy and trigger.
 
What DIDN'T you like about the Rem/Ruger/Win rifles? What don't you like about the Tikka or Sako rifles?

I've owned lots of all the ones you mentioned except Tikka and Browning (have handled both extensively... they turn me off.)

It's an odd exercise to define what you want by what you don't want, but if you can be more specific, it's a start.
 
6mm airsoft...

And remember to keep your mouth closed when you attack the cardboard city... getting shot in the tongue stings...
 
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Don't like most common brands, want a big knob. Hmmm...

You need to make a trip to a gundealer that will FIT you with a rifle rather than just sell you one.

Length of pull, scope height, oversize bolt knob, barrel length etc... can be had on any bolt action rifle.

List what you did not like about the brands you tried and go from there...
 
I didn't like the length of my 7mm stainless rem 700 cdl sf, but I do love the idea of a stainless/lam rifle.

the model 70s where heavy and the bell and Carlson stock on my extreme weather was too bulky.

Im going to look into some savages and see what pops up.
 
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