And the winner is the A7

VanIsleCam

VanIsleCam

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Hey all:

So I did a bunch of research and went to the local shops near me looking for an SS/SYN. That includes Gone Fishing, Canadian Tire, WS, and Cabs and not necessarily in that order. I hefted everthing that each store had with makes including Rem/Ruger/savage/Weatherby/Browning/and Sako(Tikka).

This morning I wanted a rifle to add optics too. But after looking at what I could get around $8-900 pretax then add the scope plus mounting hardware I began to rethink things.

To begin, the rem 700 had crappy machining and the syn stock had burrs as did the bore.

The savage fell by the wayside as it felt like a big boys pants version of my son's rascal - with the same accutrigger.

Ruger was rejected for similar reasons to the rem though I might add that i took apart my 10/22 trigger assembly two days ago and it was an absolute pain in the posterior to get back together so I can only imagine how silly the assembly on their hunting versions is.

Weatherby offered a nice hefting rifle but the beaver barf stock was ridiculously ugly and felt strange with bare hands. Felt like I was gripping an alien meaning an extrateriestrial (yes I know speeling counts).

Browning stalker at $859 tapped me on the shoulder but the hunter in ss/syn was nicer and had a longer barrel at $1150 if memory serves.

That left the Tikka / Sakos. I had fired my buddies T3 lite in 30-06 and wasn't a huge fan. Cab has a Sako A7 with a silver burris 3x9 40 and when I put that to cheek I felt that the balance was close to perfect and a mere $1400 before tax.

Got home and google to the rescue delivers Al Flahertys with the same combo for $1149 in 30.06 for an after tax and shipping total of $1248. So Mastercard is sizzling and my hands are rubbing together.

Btw, AF had" out of stock" on a bunch of other calibers but 30.06 is what I wanted. I am thrilled to have the A7 en route. It feels right.

Signed, off for first moose in October,
Cam
 
Gotta ask. Was the Ruger you checked out an American or M77? M77s are robust and simple rifles, not at all like the internals of a 10/22.

Congrats though. The A7 is a good rifle, the Burris is a good scope. Assuming they use good quality rings and bases that will be a durable and ruthlessly practical hunting rig.
 
I had a Sako A7 SS in .270win. Mine was shooting very well with anything i've tried especially with Hornady ammmunition.

I know some guys have issues with accuracy because of the contact point under the barrel.
Mine was fine from the factory with the contact point.

I loved it but decided to let it go when i found a Sako 75 grey-wolf in the same caliber.

 
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VanIsleCam said:
Hey Cam - yeah only was offered/saw the American version.
Click to expand...

The American is Ruger's "budget" rifle, to compete with the Savage Axis, Rem 710/770/783 ect. The M77 is an entirely different design based on a modified M98 action. In short a much better rifle than the American.

Enjoy the A7, I'm sure it will shoot and work well. The good thing about your situation is; with a lightweight, stainless, synthetic and reasonably scoped rifle in a good cartridge you now have a rifle that is up to any hunting task in the world, in any weather too. Save for dangerous game, you could go on any hunt anywhere and that rifle would be a good choice. So now that you have that squared away you can start buying rifles until you fill every small niche (until you have about a hundred or so, that should do.)
 
Ha ha ha for sure Cam - love your logic. Indeed I was going for the all around best fit and there ya go. Problem is that I could spend a whole day picking up centre file rifles but the selection of examples on the island is limited.
 
I went from a browning hunter to the tikka lite 2 years ago, love it. If I had deeper pockets would have gone your way too. Very nice.
 
If you don't like the bolt shroud that comes with it you can order a sako 85 steel one that fits perfectly. I did just that.

20150523_151241-1_zpssxf4d5d3.jpg
 
Yeah - I asked AF and they said 2 months and $60 - thanks for the tip as I will change that part out eventually.
 
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