3 Options and must decide by the weekend...opinions welcome.

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brent4hire

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OK - I'm not trolling, and don't want to open a case of popcorn here. I'd like a little feedback on a decision I'm about to make RE a good low-cost hunting rifle set-up. Our season opens next week, so I will be buying this weekend and running some rounds to sight in. Trying before buying is not an option, and the rifles are not close to each other, so lots of driving is in store.

Option 1 - Savage 111 (non-accu) with the Simmons POS scope set in .270. Synthetic, matte barrel, new condition. No case. $400

Option 2 - Remington 7600 with a Bushnell (probably a Trophy or some other cheapy) with the peep-through rings in 30-06. synthetic, matte steel, great condition. No case. $400

Option 3 - Older Remington 700 in 30-06 with open sights but not base, rings or scope. Walnut stock, re-blues steel. Condition is described as excellent except for the re-bluing. It has a nice looking stock by the photos, with a monte-carlo cheek and an upgraded recoil pad (all work was done by a reputable smith). With case. $450

Option 1 is a 10 minute drive - the others are 1.5 in opposite directions. I've owned a couple Savages, and while not pretty, I've always appreciated their bang/buck and accuracy. I like the .270 - it's as deadly on moose with the right bullet and bullet placement as a 30-06, although I do like the versatility and range of loads in the 06. I'm a wing shooter who burns a couple cases of 3.5" 12g every year, and I'm 6'3, 230...recoil not a concern in the discussion. Most of the guys I hunt with run '06...nice to know, although I'm not one to forget my ammo. I like the quick back-up round of the 7600, an the ones I've fired have been every bit as accurate for hunting as bolts I've owned. I like the idea of not spending extra on rings and scopes right now, but up-grading over the winter. That being said, the older 700 has a great deal of appeal, and I would be willing to buy good rings and a base with a decent scope and upgrade the scope over the winter for use next season.

Anyway - again, no sentimental wars please, but I'd love some good opinions and insight. I'll check in this evening because I work at a school and the server has anything to do with hunting and firearms blocked...
 
If it were me i would go with number 1, with number 2 a close second choice.

For number one, i like savages, already has a scope, good price, i personally usually hunt with a .308, but .270 would be my second choice, basically a tie between 1 and 2, but the 10 minute drive bumps it up a little. Con would be i don't have much experience with simmons scopes, so it's an unknown for me.

For number two, the pumps are reliable, fast to cycle, lots of good things about them. Only cons for me would be i prefer the .270 to 30-06, 1.5 hour drive to get it, and i have heard some bad points on see through rings, but it's more from word of mouth that actual experience, YMMV. On the plus side, the 7600's are a little rarer than a savage 111, which you can find anywhere/anytime, and i trust even lower end bushnells more than simmons, but that's just because i have used bushnells without any problems, but don't know simmons.

Number 3, no scope/bases, blueing repairs, 1.5 hour drive, there's nothing about it that makes me want it over the other two.
 
rem 7600...great rifles for hunting with. As mentioned the see thru sights are not great as they put the scope pretty high off the receiver.
 
I would go with the 30-06 (option 2). I'm a fan of synthetic stocks for hunting (except for the hollow sound if you bump it) compared to wood for scratching and other finish degradation. My 30-06 is scope-only, no iron sights so I'm always at risk of a scope malfunction (so I always take a second rifle to hunt camp) whereas the one you are considering has iron sight back-up and as long as the higher scope height doesn't bother you it's a good combo. Also, develop the habit to "jump to irons" for quick target acquisition as changing to the scope is easy if you have the time. I am typically a solo still-hunter so don't usually need a super fast target acquisition and have time to find the target in the scope whereas if you hunt in a fashion that results in faster moving targets iron sights are faster.

I used to have a Parker-Hale .270 many years ago and if it was good enough for Jack O'connor, it must be okay, lol.
 
I'd go with Option 1 - I like the .270 (altho prefer the .308 if I have to choose...). I have 2 Simmons scopes and they've been great, and the Savage 111 action is sturdy and reliable.
 
id go number 1

best price point, the scope will do for a few years ( i had one and i shot over 30 animals with it before changing), theres all kinds of aftermarket stuff for a 111 compared to a 7600.

.270 is an amazing cartridge, almost every deer i shot was with a .270 and 2 bears one was over 300 pounds.
 
Option 1 for sure if these are the choices available.
Might want to consider a axis combo better scope included and less
and now thanks to boyds easily upgradeable on a budget

cheers
 
There are a couple packages in the EE right now that are decently priced.
Pay overnight freight and have them in the morning.
Talk about the 11th hour.
None of them appeal to me, but the third one if it was me would be my pick.
 
I have owned the top two in the past.

I just sold a Savage, because I was not too enamoured with the newer magazine design. I still own a Predator Max1 in 243 and with the exception of the three shot magazine (pushing to four with those magazines seems to result in major feed failures). Personal choice there, but make no mistake, these rifles are very accurate for the price.

A couple years ago I bought a new 7600 in 243 and it had a headspace issue. Gravels replaced. The replacement was better, but found that for 'yotes, the thing was light and had a noticable kick (243), the cycling was too noisy and when prone, very hard to cycle and keep eye on target. Sold it too for a bolt rifle. (the Predator Max1). The 7600 rifle was also surprisingly accurate.

Kamlooky is spot on, but will depend on delivery times.

In the end will be your personal favorite. If you were to ask my opinion....It would have to be the Savage, by the narrowest of margins. If you are going to buy either in store...also buy some snap caps and load four into the mag and see how they cycle.
 
The 7600 "Amish Machine Gun" ... but get rid of the "see-thru" rings immediately. New rings are not expensive.
Re-mount the scope as low as possible and add, if not already present, sling swivels & a comfortable sling.

I've been toting a 7600 rifle in 35 Whelen for the past 20+ years ... surprisingly accurate and absolutely reliable.
Mine wears a 1x-4x Leupold VXII scope in QR mounts.

Second choice would be the 700 and have a decent scope mounted.
 
Thanks for the input guys.

I've sighted in 7600's in 270 with the look-through rings. I agree they aren't the best, but that being said, they were plenty accurate out to 200, which will probably be the absolute max for this gun given where I hunt. This option does come with a nice leather sling on it - have to check whether it's around the barrel or a real sling nut was installed. It would definitely see a ring and scope upgrade over the winter.

The Savage has the plastic bottomed mag box. My friend has the same gun in 308, and it's an absolute tack driver. My old 270 110 was as well, albeit a damned ugly one. If I go with the Savage, it'll be getting a Boyds laminated stock and Timney trigger over the winter. I can't say I'm enthused about the rings or the scope on the Savage combo, but I'm sure it'd be good enough to get through this season.

The older Rem is the furthest away of the group. I have yet to hear back from the seller...I'd like to know its age and the condition of the barrel. I guess it's true of any age gun, but I always worry with older guns that the barrel has been hot-fired to death...especially one where I know there's been work done on it...that being said, I know these older 700's are great guns with great reputations, and while I appreciate the durability of synthetic, I like the classic look and feel of wood, and this would be a nice rifle to give to one of my boys when he's old enough...

Please, keep it coming.
 
Another vote for the 7600 and pitch the rings. Get a nice scope with good eye relief (scope sits a little too far forward on this gun for some).
Some 7600's need a trigger job. CGNer Guntech did mine (by mail) for a reasonable cost.

The big advantage of the 7600 is the detachable mag, much more convenient in the field.
Repeat shots are almost as fast as you can do with a semi auto. Nothing wrong with the bolt actions you mention, but these things give the advantage to the 7600. Like, when there is more than one deer...

The only trick with the 7600 is to always work the pump hard when pushing forward, so that you get a complete lockup when loading the next shell. Otherwise, you can have a jam at the most awkward time.
 
I vote for the Rem 700. I am a Savage fan as well but with the options listed, I would pick the 700. For some reason open sights seem to be going to way of the dodo bird. I can't tell you how many times I've brought an open sighted rifle on a hunt and have my own friends look at me like I have two heads. A set of open sights that are sighted in correctly are worth their weight in gold. Many of my set-ups have scopes in quick detach rings, but if I'm after an animal, I rarely find myself with a rifle that doesn't have a set of irons.
Food for thought.
 
"...700 in 30-06 with open sights..." BDL. Good rifle you can add to with no fuss. A 165 grain bullet out of a .30-06 will kill any game you care to hunt.
"... the Simmons POS scope..." It's a low end scope, but a POS it's not.
 
Go for the bolt - #3. I don't think you can go wrong with that rifle in the long run if it's in decent condition. Run open sights for your hunt this year and save for decent scope and mounts for it on next years hunting budget
 
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