okay guys, I've decided on one of two calibers...just need help to pick the rifle.

Mr. Friendly

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I have about $600 to get my rifle and scope in .243 or .25-06. I have thought of the Savage III package with the thought of moving the scope over to my .22 and buying something like the Trophy or Legend 3-9x50. I particularly like the box magazine. makes it a lot easier to load unload if we're road hunting then the internal.

I've also thought about the Stevens 200, the Mossberg 4x4 (I really like that skeleton stock) or a Howa (tho Frontier doesn't have it in either caliber while they do have the Mossberg in .25-06).

can you help me sift through these and other suggestions you may have, please? thanks! :redface:
 
The 25-06 will give you a little more reach and a little heavier bullets.
yup...and the recoil is lighter, so I can learn to shoot on it without difficulty and with reloading it will be more inexpensive to fire too. but, like I said, I know the calibers I'm interested in, either is fine with me, I just want to figure out which rifle is best for my budget. :)
 
I have a stevens 200 in a 25-06 with a Falcon Menace 4.5-18 on it...rather large scope, however, it is so light to begin with it kinda helps it out...one thing i will say is that the recoil is rather harsh to me the butt is like a hockey puck and it beats you up pretty good but man can that ugly gun shoot and the total package is around 750..the stock is crap as you probably know but it still shoots plenty good for hunting..i to would also recommend the 25-06 over the .243 but either should do fine.
 
I'd look for a used 270Win in the EE and shoot 130gr bullets. Low recoil, lots of ammo everywhere and has the option of heavier bullets down the road.

Since you were asking about the type of rifle, I suggest a 700, so you can fix it up later when funds allow.

Forget the huge "x50mm" scope. They are big, heavy and require you to lift you face off the comb to see through it. A smaller scope (like a 2x7 Leupold) as low to the bore as possible is much more comfortable to shoot.


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A friend of mine has a Stevens 200 in .223 and I've handled it a fair bit. It's cheap but it shoots really well. Would I hunt varmints, I would seriously consider one of those.
As for the savage, never handled one.

Good choice of calibers by the way.
Goodluck!
 
I'd look for a used 270Win in the EE and shoot 130gr bullets. Low recoil, lots of ammo everywhere and has the option of heavier bullets down the road.

Since you were asking about the type of rifle, I suggest a 700, so you can fix it up later when funds allow.

Forget the huge "x50mm" scope. They are big, heavy and require you to lift you face off the comb to see through it. A smaller scope (like a 2x7 Leupold) as low to the bore as possible is much more comfortable to shoot.


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Again with the off topic suggestions!!;):)

Mr. F,

Of the two calibers, I'd pick the 25-06. But then I've got a bit of a thing for the round, having owned a couple. And fully intending to own another some day soon.:)

As far as the rifle, keep an eye on the EE for a good used Rem700, Win70 or even Stevens 200. If you're dead set on new, of the models you mention, I'd go Howa first, Savage/Stevens second.
 
So sue me for having my own agenda w/o any regard for the wishes of others. :dancingbanana:

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Naawwhh, meatcutters turned 270Win pushers probably aren't worth the hassle......:)

Seriously, we've got to help you kick that plain vanilla 270 addiction.:D

I suppose it's some what hypocritical of me, picking on your 270 'fanboydom'. As I always said I would NEVER own a 30-06............. I have 2 of them.:redface:
 
mossberg 4x4 are cheap guns. the action seems ok, triggers brutal, tiny little safety that seems like it'd be hard to move with gloves on...cheap plastic magazine, cheap plastic stock...you get what you pay for with a $400 gun

If I was you I'd pick up a 700 SPS in 243 Win for $550 and buy a used 3200 3-9x40 for $180...sell some #### you dont need, stop buying tim hortons coffee, go pick cans in the ditch...if you cant afford that combo
 
mossberg 4x4 are cheap guns. the action seems ok, triggers brutal, tiny little safety that seems like it'd be hard to move with gloves on...cheap plastic magazine, cheap plastic stock...you get what you pay for with a $400 gun

If I was you I'd pick up a 700 SPS in 243 Win for $550 and buy a used 3200 3-9x40 for $180...sell some s**t you dont need, stop buying tim hortons coffee, go pick cans in the ditch...if you cant afford that combo
alas I have nothing I can sell TB...so it's the $600 I know. on the aside, while it has no scope, there is the Tikka T3 Lite for $600 exactly.
 
grab a garbage bag and stroll down the ditch of the cloest highway and pick up the beer cans, to put towards the cost of a decent rifle/scope that you will not be ashamed of using
 
if you want a .25-06, LeBarons has been clearing out a lot of them.
they have a Ruger M77 Mark II RS in .25-06 on sale for $599. keep in mind you will also save about $100 since Rugers come with their own rings and integral bases. its a control-feed Mauser style action and a better gun than a Savage, SPS or Tikka. the RS model also comes with iron sights (a rarity on a gun these days) so you can use it without a scope until you save up some more money.

lebaron.ca/pdf_files_fall08/specials/discguns_specials_4.pdf

thats the best deal youll find on a new .25-06, youll be able to recoup it easily if you ever decide to sell it. i dont think they even make the RS models anymore.
 
It sounds like you already have a preference for the Mossberg 4x4, so if you can find one to handle before you buy, and it feels like a good fit, go ahead and buy it. It's your money, have what you want.

If your budget is rigidly limited at $600 including a scope and you want a brand new bolt action magazine rifle then you'll only be looking at that Mossberg and the Stevens 200 and the Savage package rifles. If you can get one actually in your hands to try for size, go for the one that feels like it fits you best - that's the one that you will shoot best. (It doesn't matter if one shoots groups half the size of the others from a vise, if you can't shoot it that well because it doesn't fit you.)

If you want a wider selection, look at used guns.
 
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