Pump or Bolt for 30-06 hunting?

I hunted with a borrowed 760 for my first general deer season, and it was OK, but I wasn't too excited about buying one. Next season I hunted with an M1 Garand, which was great during the day, and sucked in low light (lack of scope). My next rifle was a Tikka bolt, with good glass, and it has killed a lot of deer for me in the last 10 years. Pumps and semis have their place, but it's not when you want to load your rifle quietly. If that doesn't matter, then the pump will be OK. You should be able to find a good used one easily enough, if you want.
 
Winchester model 70 is a classic rifle, the 7600 pump is for people who are afraid of semi's and don't understand the concept of first shot placement.
 
martinbns said:
Winchester model 70 is a classic rifle, the 7600 pump is for people who are afraid of semi's and don't understand the concept of first shot placement.
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I guess thats good then cause I am afraid of semi's. Im afraid of horrible accuracy, im affraid of jamming evrey second or third shot. The pump seems to be the way to go for me, plus they still make is in the classy gloss and blued metal!!!
 
I think the 760/7600 is a great hunting rifle, it's accurate and dependable, and a pleasure to carry. Having said that I'm a die-hard bolt gun fan, so I would suggest you purchase the rifle based on your hunting and shooting practices. If you are a rifle enthusiast, a handloader, and the rifle is going to be used year round, the M-70 is the better choice. On the other hand, if the rifle is going to be fed store bought ammo and only fired seasonally to verify its zero and take game, the pump might be the better choice. If the shooter practices at getting good with his bolt work, it is unlikely that the pump would be any faster, but a novice can empty the pump quicker, whether or not he would hit anything is another matter entirely.
 
Boomer is right about the speed factor; as far as speed goes there's semi's and there's everything else. In the real world fellows who are practiced with their bolts, or pumps or even Ruger #1's all put rounds down range about the same speed in hunting conditions. So if speed really is a major factor (most guys don't seem to care) then forget the pump and get a semi. Personally I'd give a slight edge to the Model 70, but if a really great deal came up on the pump, well, then I might go for that instead.
 
martinbns said:
Winchester model 70 is a classic rifle, the 7600 pump is for people who are afraid of semi's and don't understand the concept of first shot placement.
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Thats funny. :D

I love 7600's. My most fun gun to shoot though is my SP10 from a sitting position. Scared of semis :D

Us 7600 guys rock! :dancingbanana:
 
savage-man said:
I guess thats good then cause I am afraid of semi's. Im afraid of horrible accuracy, im affraid of jamming evrey second or third shot. The pump seems to be the way to go for me, plus they still make is in the classy gloss and blued metal!!!
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That's what I meant about the semi. Seriously with a bolt, and practise
how fast you can get of an accurate second shot would surprise people who have never really taught themselves to do it. I practised or the better part of a year shooting 200 metre chicken gongs with two quick shots from the bolt action sako 300 win I took to africa and when we got there I surprised the PH how fast I could put a followup shot on the money.


I was being kind of snarky about the 7600, they work, are very tough and reasonably accurate, but not like a good well tuned model 70 featherweight.
 
martinbns said:
That's what I meant about the semi. Seriously with a bolt, and practise
how fast you can get of an accurate second shot would surprise people who have never really taught themselves to do it. I practised or the better part of a year shooting 200 metre chicken gongs with two quick shots from the bolt action sako 300 win I took to africa and when we got there I surprised the PH how fast I could put a followup shot on the money.


I was being kind of snarky about the 7600, they work, are very tough and reasonably accurate, but not like a good well tuned model 70 featherweight.
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Martin,
Good for You! I believe every responsible bolt owner should do their best to replicate the kind of shots that come natural to us 7600 guys. We Rock! :dancingbanana:
 
Guys need to understand that wide open shots can be few and far between in Ontario. Deer could be running. Shooting a moving animal you have a great chance of hitting a tree during your swing. So second shots are better than likely.

Even you ace crackshots with proper shot placement would be humbled.
 
Boomer said:
If you are a rifle enthusiast, a handloader, and the rifle is going to be used year round, the M-70 is the better choice. On the other hand, if the rifle is going to be fed store bought ammo and only fired seasonally to verify its zero and take game, the pump might be the better choice.
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I shoot have loaded for both pumps and bolts for years. They are quite easy to load for requiring no different techniques than required for a bolt action other than FLR the spent brass. I have never used a small base die for any of the pumps and am always surprised at the heavy loads they will accept.

For a shooter/handloader, you can't go wrong either way. :)


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I had a 760 308 carbine that failed to lock up properly once. It blew a hole out the base of the case along with enough gas to disintegrate the plastic bolt cover. It was the only scary firearm malfunction I have ever had. With all that said I plan to buy a 30-06 carbine this year. Oh and by the way, experienced hunters are scared of semis because they are always the first to malfunction on follow up shots!
 
marlin said:
I had a 760 308 carbine that failed to lock up properly once. It blew a hole out the base of the case along with enough gas to disintegrate the plastic bolt cover. It was the only scary firearm malfunction I have ever had. With all that said I plan to buy a 30-06 carbine this year. Oh and by the way, experienced hunters are scared of semis because they are always the first to malfunction on follow up shots!
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This experience should be viewed for what is was, a malfunction rather than a reflection on the integrity of the 760/7600 line, but undoubtedly it shook your confidence at the time. Your decision to stay with the same model after such an event says much for how much these rifles are appreciated by their owners.
 
marlin said:
I had a 760 308 carbine that failed to lock up properly once. It blew a hole out the base of the case along with enough gas to disintegrate the plastic bolt cover. It was the only scary firearm malfunction I have ever had. With all that said I plan to buy a 30-06 carbine this year. Oh and by the way, experienced hunters are scared of semis because they are always the first to malfunction on follow up shots!
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I know lots of guys who use them where I started hunting and they are very reliable. They don't jam/malfunction like the 740/7400 series, something bad can happen to any rifle in an example of one.
 
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