I'm looking into buying my first high powered rifle and I'm stuck between the Remington 750 and the Browning BAR Longtrac. I'd favor the Remington for the cost alone, but I'd much rather invest a little more and get the Browning. Any feedback, positive or negative on either?
30.06
- Thread starter Slipperyf1
- Start date
- Location
- Vancouver Island BC
The older Remington's are better fit and finish than the new ones,I would look in the EE first. If you buy Remington, you will likely never buy anything else. The gunnuts here are great and the stuff they sell is top shelf and prices can be very good as well.
lineofsight
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland, BC
Was looking at a BAR, decided a Benelli R1 would be worth the extra money (just have to get the extra money...).
Remys are kind of crude compared to the Browning but they both work. Supposedly the BAR is more accurate but variation between individual rifles may be more significant.
You're overall budget may factor into it too, does money saved on rifle translate to better optics (good optics may survive several different rifles).
Remys are kind of crude compared to the Browning but they both work. Supposedly the BAR is more accurate but variation between individual rifles may be more significant.
You're overall budget may factor into it too, does money saved on rifle translate to better optics (good optics may survive several different rifles).
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
have you read many reviews on these semis? pretty negative feedback overall for both rifles. never trust gun rags for honest feedback - youll rarely find a bad review from one since they dont want to lose their advertisers and stop getting test rifles.
if i had to pick i would lean towards the BAR, but the Longtrac is a modern cheapened plastic & aluminum monstrosity. id look around for one of the BAR Safari models which are all steel - a tad heavier but a much better made gun. better yet check the EE: for the price of a new BAR +tax ive seen mint condition BAR Safaris topped with Leupolds.
in your shoes - as a first gun - i would invest my money in a bolt action: either a Remington 700 SPS or Stevens 200. these rifles represent pretty much the best bang for your buck these days, and both should be MOA accurate which is more than i can say for either of the semis. as a gunnut you will inevitably buy more guns, but youll never regret spending the $285-450 on either of these two. both have a very good selection of new aftermarket parts as well as inexpensive factory take-offs and used accessories showing up in the EE all the time. after youve shot a few hundred rounds and carried it around for a season or two, youll have a better idea of what you want/need and can go from there. nothing worse than dropping $1200 on a gun and then realising it isnt what you want/need - been there, done that.
buy a good quality scope, since it will pretty much last you for life. cheap scopes and/or cheap mounts are nothing but headaches and after you add up all the time, frustration and ammo wasted - and their subsequent replacement - buying a good scope off the bat would have cost half as much. just remember not to overscope the rifle with a 6x18x50mm monstrosity. 2-7x35mm or 3-9x40mm is plenty.
if i had to pick i would lean towards the BAR, but the Longtrac is a modern cheapened plastic & aluminum monstrosity. id look around for one of the BAR Safari models which are all steel - a tad heavier but a much better made gun. better yet check the EE: for the price of a new BAR +tax ive seen mint condition BAR Safaris topped with Leupolds.
in your shoes - as a first gun - i would invest my money in a bolt action: either a Remington 700 SPS or Stevens 200. these rifles represent pretty much the best bang for your buck these days, and both should be MOA accurate which is more than i can say for either of the semis. as a gunnut you will inevitably buy more guns, but youll never regret spending the $285-450 on either of these two. both have a very good selection of new aftermarket parts as well as inexpensive factory take-offs and used accessories showing up in the EE all the time. after youve shot a few hundred rounds and carried it around for a season or two, youll have a better idea of what you want/need and can go from there. nothing worse than dropping $1200 on a gun and then realising it isnt what you want/need - been there, done that.
buy a good quality scope, since it will pretty much last you for life. cheap scopes and/or cheap mounts are nothing but headaches and after you add up all the time, frustration and ammo wasted - and their subsequent replacement - buying a good scope off the bat would have cost half as much. just remember not to overscope the rifle with a 6x18x50mm monstrosity. 2-7x35mm or 3-9x40mm is plenty.
Last edited:
.30-06
+1
Good choice on ctg but I'd get a Remington 700 CDL or SPS stainless myself.....
Great caliber choice. Your choice of rifles suck.
+1
Good choice on ctg but I'd get a Remington 700 CDL or SPS stainless myself.....
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
for the $1600-1700 youd pay for a Benelli R1 with taxes (no scope), you can buy a very nice bolt action topped with a VX-III.
That new 750 is a good looking rifle. It's supposed to be more reliable than their old autoloaders too. The Browning just looks too gawdy for my tastes, but the Winchester Super-X rifle is essentually the same rifle, but more traditional looking. Probably around the same price too.
shortaction
CGN Regular
- Location
- Manitoulin Island, Ontario
I think your choice of caliber is fine and your choice of a Semi is outstanding.
I have and had several Bolts, Pumps, Levers and Semi's and last on the list would be a Bolt for me personally. No matter how much I practice I just can't get confident with cycling them quickly. I get pretty good on the bench but as soon as I shoot off hand I want to drop the gun from my shoulder and look down and no amount of practice seems to be able to break me of this habit.
My go to gun right now would be a Browning Shorttrac Stalker in 300 WSM with a Leupold 3-9x40 VX-II. It shoots really well and functions flawlessly. I am not a big fan of recoil and the Semi really soaks it up. I find the recoil no worse than my model 700 in 280 REM. It shoots 3 round groups of about 1" - 1.5" with cheap 180 gr Federal's at 100 yds and a touch better with Winchester Supreme 180gr Accubonds.
I had a Browning BAR in 308 WIN and a Model 7400 REM in 280 REM. I sold both of them this week as I knew neither would see any use now.
If you haven't handled the Stalker version you really should. I was never a synthetic fan but these guns are nimble and quick handling. The Grip inserts are in the right places and the forearm & Pistol Grip shape and design are well thought out. It comes with a shim set that allows you to adjust the Stock for cast and drop so you can customize to your own build (I like that a lot).
So in closing, I am a big Remington fan when it comes to Bolts and Pumps but I would take the Browning when it comes to the Semi's. As the old saying goes "I have never regretted spending a little extra on a firearm but I sure have for not spending enough".
Good luck
I have and had several Bolts, Pumps, Levers and Semi's and last on the list would be a Bolt for me personally. No matter how much I practice I just can't get confident with cycling them quickly. I get pretty good on the bench but as soon as I shoot off hand I want to drop the gun from my shoulder and look down and no amount of practice seems to be able to break me of this habit.
My go to gun right now would be a Browning Shorttrac Stalker in 300 WSM with a Leupold 3-9x40 VX-II. It shoots really well and functions flawlessly. I am not a big fan of recoil and the Semi really soaks it up. I find the recoil no worse than my model 700 in 280 REM. It shoots 3 round groups of about 1" - 1.5" with cheap 180 gr Federal's at 100 yds and a touch better with Winchester Supreme 180gr Accubonds.
I had a Browning BAR in 308 WIN and a Model 7400 REM in 280 REM. I sold both of them this week as I knew neither would see any use now.
If you haven't handled the Stalker version you really should. I was never a synthetic fan but these guns are nimble and quick handling. The Grip inserts are in the right places and the forearm & Pistol Grip shape and design are well thought out. It comes with a shim set that allows you to adjust the Stock for cast and drop so you can customize to your own build (I like that a lot).
So in closing, I am a big Remington fan when it comes to Bolts and Pumps but I would take the Browning when it comes to the Semi's. As the old saying goes "I have never regretted spending a little extra on a firearm but I sure have for not spending enough".
Good luck
I "moved up' from a JC to a 742. The semi sucks in freezing conditions e.g. raining at the base of a mountain and ####ty cold halfway up. The semi was a fair bit heavier than my old Enfield and I cut my thumb a couple of times trying to cycle the frozen bolt. Sold it, bought my first Savage and never looked back. I bought into the "quick follow-up shot" idea but a well placed 30-06 does not need a follow up. Cycling a bolt is pretty quick anyway. Reloading for a semi is more PITA than for a bolt.
I hate semi-autos. Now here's a story about a couple...
My brother set out on an elk hunt, down the Pembina R, years ago. There were two guys in canoes, loaded with gear. My brother had a Remington 760 (I guess is the model) .30-06.
They rounded a bend in the river and the current was strong. Before they could do anything they were swept towards a bunch of big sweepers that were out in the current.
My brother's canoe went into them, struck them and he went head-first into the river along with all his gear. As he went in he grabbed the most important thing he had, his rifle. But the canoe conked him in the back of the head as is it flipped. His reaction was to grab his head to protect it and he let go of the rifle. It went to the bottom.
He returned a day (or so) later along with our brother-in-law. He had made a grappling hook and had it on a long, stiff piece of steel cable.
So they dragged the river. After quite a while he felt the hook grab onto something and he proceeded to pull in a rifle. It was a semi-auto Browning, .30-06!
The rifle was inspected and found to be packed absolutely solid with mud and fine river silt. He took it home, went to a gunsmith, who said it couldn't be fixed. But my brother decided to try anyway. After a lot of work he got the thing cleaned out and found that it functioned perfectly. It had some rust issues and minor pitting but otherwise it was fine. He hunted with it for 6-8 years, as I recall.
Now where the story gets interesting is the owner of the Browning hired a diver to look for his lost rifle. He ended up pulling my brothers Remington .30-06 out of the river!
Same deal, the rifle was packed tight with silt. He was also able to clean the thing up and found that it functioned just fine. He hunted with it too.
Eventually they each learned about the other guy having their missiing rifles and they met and exchanged them. I think my brother still has that Remington semi-auto.
I still don't want a semi, but those things are more dependable and can go through a lot more abuse then people give them credit for.
Now as far as the .30-06, it is a fabulous cartridge. Best all-around really.
I'd recommend buying a good used bolt action off the Equipment Exchange. Savage, Remington, Ruger, Winchester, it doesn't much matter. Just get a good one for a decent price. Mount a 2-8x or 3-9x scope on and you're good to go.
My brother set out on an elk hunt, down the Pembina R, years ago. There were two guys in canoes, loaded with gear. My brother had a Remington 760 (I guess is the model) .30-06.
They rounded a bend in the river and the current was strong. Before they could do anything they were swept towards a bunch of big sweepers that were out in the current.
My brother's canoe went into them, struck them and he went head-first into the river along with all his gear. As he went in he grabbed the most important thing he had, his rifle. But the canoe conked him in the back of the head as is it flipped. His reaction was to grab his head to protect it and he let go of the rifle. It went to the bottom.
He returned a day (or so) later along with our brother-in-law. He had made a grappling hook and had it on a long, stiff piece of steel cable.
So they dragged the river. After quite a while he felt the hook grab onto something and he proceeded to pull in a rifle. It was a semi-auto Browning, .30-06!
The rifle was inspected and found to be packed absolutely solid with mud and fine river silt. He took it home, went to a gunsmith, who said it couldn't be fixed. But my brother decided to try anyway. After a lot of work he got the thing cleaned out and found that it functioned perfectly. It had some rust issues and minor pitting but otherwise it was fine. He hunted with it for 6-8 years, as I recall.
Now where the story gets interesting is the owner of the Browning hired a diver to look for his lost rifle. He ended up pulling my brothers Remington .30-06 out of the river!
Same deal, the rifle was packed tight with silt. He was also able to clean the thing up and found that it functioned just fine. He hunted with it too.
Eventually they each learned about the other guy having their missiing rifles and they met and exchanged them. I think my brother still has that Remington semi-auto.
I still don't want a semi, but those things are more dependable and can go through a lot more abuse then people give them credit for.
Now as far as the .30-06, it is a fabulous cartridge. Best all-around really.
I'd recommend buying a good used bolt action off the Equipment Exchange. Savage, Remington, Ruger, Winchester, it doesn't much matter. Just get a good one for a decent price. Mount a 2-8x or 3-9x scope on and you're good to go.
Like Demonical said.
I usaully use a bolt gun to hunt becasue I have more of thsoe than the otehr kinds. Usually after taking a shot I don't even think about cycling the bolt. If I do, it is done slowly so I can pick the empty case out of the action.
If a shot is well placed, a second, quick shot is not needed.
But if I am shooting a semi, for some reason I am trying to fire a second shot right away.
I Savage, Remington or Winchester bolt with a 2-7 scope woudl be tough to beat. The only rifle I can think of that might shoot better, out of the box, is the Remington pump. I have 3 of them (35 rem, 308 Win and 35 Whelan) and if I could only hunt with one hunting rifle ( I have over 100 to chose from) the 35 Whelan pump would be on my short list.
I don't do hardly any shotgunning, but if I did, and if I used a pump shotgun, the similarity of the gun and safety placement would be big advantages.
Ever gone to take a hunting shot and the safey was still on? Nice if all your guns use similar safeties.
I usaully use a bolt gun to hunt becasue I have more of thsoe than the otehr kinds. Usually after taking a shot I don't even think about cycling the bolt. If I do, it is done slowly so I can pick the empty case out of the action.
If a shot is well placed, a second, quick shot is not needed.
But if I am shooting a semi, for some reason I am trying to fire a second shot right away.
I Savage, Remington or Winchester bolt with a 2-7 scope woudl be tough to beat. The only rifle I can think of that might shoot better, out of the box, is the Remington pump. I have 3 of them (35 rem, 308 Win and 35 Whelan) and if I could only hunt with one hunting rifle ( I have over 100 to chose from) the 35 Whelan pump would be on my short list.
I don't do hardly any shotgunning, but if I did, and if I used a pump shotgun, the similarity of the gun and safety placement would be big advantages.
Ever gone to take a hunting shot and the safey was still on? Nice if all your guns use similar safeties.
I believe that any rifle you choose in 30-06 will more than do the job. I also believe that a semi-auto is a fine rifle for certain types of hunting, but not all. The more moving parts you put into something, the more likely it is to fail. I would recommend a good bolt, but IF I was to buy a new Semi, it would likely be a Browning, and probably the carbine with the 20" barrel. It looks like a thick bush type of rifle.
lineofsight
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland, BC
I just sold my Remy SPS DM .30-06 as bought an R5 in .308 (which is now my only rifle calibre). Out of a dirty coolish barrel it was consistently (shot 30 rounds) shooting 1.4" (measured outside to outside so really 1.1" or .55 MOA) groups at 200m, needless to say I was impressed - light synthetic stock, light sporter barrel... Little sad to have sold it. May have been lucky with this particular rifle but do like Remington bolt guns.
That said, would still save up a bit and buy a Benelli before a Remy or Browning (and BAR Safari if budget constraint).
Note if buying the BAR from the EE that the magazines changed (think sometime around 1992) which may affect ability to get extra ones).
That said, would still save up a bit and buy a Benelli before a Remy or Browning (and BAR Safari if budget constraint).
Note if buying the BAR from the EE that the magazines changed (think sometime around 1992) which may affect ability to get extra ones).
Northman999
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Yukon
Personally I think either of these rifles with a good scope is a great first gun. Seriously; a guy could hunt his whole lifetime and not need another rifle. I've been using semis forever and I have found that they are nowhere near as "unreliable" or "innacurate" as some people will tell you. I've got semi's that I've had for twenty years and have never had one FTF. Take care of your rifle and it will take care of you, yeah, even if it's a semi.
My Ruger 77mk II stainless was my choice partly because I could get a leftie bolt action but they are also known for reliablilty. The lam stock makes it a tad heavy but that sucks up some of the thump too. MOA is more than adequate for a hunter. So many choices and so little money...
