Too many .30-06 choices!

RedneckRem

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Gidday folks!

After 22 years of hunting with a Savage 99e that is older than me, I'm finally ready to move on to a semi. About half the lads I hunt with use .308 and the other half use .30-06. After trying some of their rifles, I'm leaning more towards to the '06. Where my trouble starts is which one to buy. I originally looked at the Browning BAR Longtrac and loved it. But a lad in Richmond said I would be overpaying (which I don't completely believe) and that I should get the Remington 750. The lads in Nepean almost threw me out of the store when I asked if they had any 750s and recommended the Browning ("Oh, but we don't have any in stock and don't know when we're getting more") or the Benelli R1. I'm certain that if I go to yet another store, they'll tell me to forget all three of those and recommend yet another bush cannon. I'm hoping to learn what makes one manufacturer better than an other, and I believe personal experience counts. Thanks for any and all help!
 
I would keep using the 99 before I ever carried a semi auto afield.

The savage 99 is a classic rifle and is never bad choice.

Don't get me wrong - I still love my 99. But with the way the deer fly with hounds at their heels, I'm thinking the semi will let me squeeze off a few more rounds before the deer gets back into thick brush.
 
...Guess I'll state my two cents worth.....my 30-06, Ive used since I was a kid. It was my fathers, Love it! Its a WW1 1903 Springfield...Its loud as an M1 Abrams and kicks like a Clydesdale but it's ridiculously durable,takes a beating,extremely accurate,and the range is sick. Whatever it hits falls. My opinion-You can never go wrong with a good 30-06
 
I've tried/owned most of the semis on the market today.

The Longtrac is nice, very accurate, and can be used with sxr magazines so they are fully detachable. Have to take it apart quite a bit to clean it.
The Benelli is also nice, not as accurate as a BAR, mags are tight snapping in. They are very easy to clean disassemble. The new guns have a 2 piece piston which is better than the old single corrosive piston.

I hunt with an R1 because it fits/feels best for me, but I think the BAR Longtrac is a better rifle.
 
Speed wise there is no disadvantage to using a pump action because you cycle the action as it recoils. Get a Remington 7600 in 30 06 instead. Lots of good ones are available used.
 
... But with the way the deer fly with hounds at their heels, I'm thinking the semi will let me squeeze off a few more rounds before the deer gets back into thick brush.

Shooting any 30-06 in hunting situation, you will have to do some target acquisition after each shot, semi, bolt or otherwise. A little practice can make the difference negligible.

Having said that, I love my BAR. Keep hearing good things about R1. Stay away from 750.
 
A member of my gang missed a chance at a nice buck last year with his remington semi because he didn't let the bolt slam closed hard and it failed to fire allowing the buck to walk off. Then he said it wasn't the first time that had happened. Hoping he shows up this year with something else, if that happened to me once I know I'd be gun shopping. I've heard several BAR owners who prefer the safari to the longtrac but dont know the reasoning behind their preference.
 
A member of my gang missed a chance at a nice buck last year with his remington semi because he didn't let the bolt slam closed hard and it failed to fire allowing the buck to walk off. Then he said it wasn't the first time that had happened. Hoping he shows up this year with something else, if that happened to me once I know I'd be gun shopping. I've heard several BAR owners who prefer the safari to the longtrac but dont know the reasoning behind their preference.


To play devils advocate it sounds like he needs more time at the range getting more familiar with his hunting rifle.

A rifle not firing because it may be out if battery is a good thing IMHO.
 
Go with the BAR over the 750, its worth the extra cost IMO! I've had a BAR for many years, although it doesn't get used every year it has never failed me. Mostly my hunting with the BAR is one shot kills but it is nice to know if you need a quick follow up shot it is there with nothing more than a second pull on the trigger.
 
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