30-.06 -- what should I buy?

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Yukonsour

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I'm looking to buy a 30-.06 this spring and looking for advice. So far I own a couple .22s and a 12ga. Otherwise, I am new to owning firearms but that's why I am here.

Ideally I want a reliable and accurate bolt action rifle for hunting. The calibre is appealing because I can use it for moose and caribou next fall. Weatherby looks appealing. I am currently borrowing a friend's Remington 700 to try out at the range (shooting federal 180gr) and it is nice but I don't have much of a reference point.

I would like this purchase to be my go to rifle for a long time. Let's say my budget is up to $2000 without optics but I would be happy spending less. Can anyone suggest a rifle where price and quality come together? What are your thought?
 
theres some missing info. what kind of action do you prefer? bolt or semi? lever? what kind of hunting are you going to be doing? stalking and pushing bush or sitting in a stand or blind? do you want a top loader? mag fed?

personally for 2k id look into a sako finnlight, or a tikka t3. or even any sort of a savage. those would be my choices in that order.
 
Save a few bucks and get nicely broken-in Husqvarna 1600 from TradeEx. Essentially your getting a $1500 rifle ($175 in 1950s dollars) for $500. And you won't have to worry about putting the first scratch on it. ;)
 
If it was me I'd be looking for a good deal on a Kimber, but fly weight guns aren't a ideal starter rifle.

If you looked at a Vanguard, M700, Tikka or M70 you wouldn't go too far wrong and wouldn't be anywhere near 2 grand. Pick what feels good to you. Avoid the cheapest versions of each, because you're not broke and don't need to save those last few bucks. Spend the money on a good scope. With recent price increases most of the usual suspects of upper midrange have broke the 2000 dollar line.

Or take the easy path and look at the new 30-06 700 CDL I have on the EE.:p
 
Weatherby Vanguard or a Tikka T3 or T3 Lite. Stainless steel or blued is up to you. Add the detachable mag kit to the Vanguard.
Spend the remainder on good mounts and good glass.
 
As usual the gentlemen from the east have no idea what hunting is like in the Yukon. Run down to Hougen's and try out a bunch there for fit, see what you like for styling and you can check fit and finish at the same time. Remington 700s fit me like they were custom made for me, as do Mod 70 Wins, both excellent choices for a good reliable rifle you won't be looking to upgrade in 2 years. You need to decide between synthetic stock or wood stock, blued steel or stainless and in the Yukon a detachable magazine is not essential because of the laws like some provinces have. I personal dislike DMs as opposed to nice smooth floorplates, but again it's your call.
I really like the 700 CDLs such as Dogleg has on the EE right now, and own quite a few of them. You certainly can't go wrong with a 700 CDL, if you like wood and blued steel, Vanguards are well made rifles and have quite a varied selection of wood, synthetic, blued and stainless options, Model 70s come in lots of different configurations as well.
If you would like older high quality then look at Husqvarnas, 2 lug Sakos and 98 based Brownings, these are fine rifles and true heirloom quality and very well made. The search is half the fun, looking at dozens of rifles and comparing. Contact Ted (Why not?) on this forum and see what he might have in an old Husqvarna or something, you never know, and he is a great guy and wealth of knowledge and lives right there in Whitehorse.
 
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