Buy it for life- bolt action rifle

CowboyMaxy said:
thanks all.
Are the newer guns built to last.
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I second all above recommendations for several quality ones like the Ruger M77s, Winchester M70s, etc. Older Sakos and Husqvarna are also great. From what I’ve seen and handled, I would have to recommend spending a lot more to match the quality of most of the older quality rifles if buying new. The cheapest one I can think of is the Weatherby Vanguard/Howa 1500.

Due to the safety margin of firearms construction most are built like a tank, and few hunters will get to outshoot a barrel. Actions tend to outlive barrels so you’re pretty much guaranteed that any of these solid actions are a lifetime purchase if the barrels are in good shape.

Look at the wrist of the stock to make sure it’s not cracked.

After you find what you’re looking for, report back your success!
 
Actions and stocks might last a lifetime, but barrels and main springs are wear items that will need replacing if the owner is more that an occasional shooter.
 
conor_90 said:
Style counts Joel. No spreadsheet for that

While new guns are not built to break, they are almost universally built with the bottom line and ease of production in mind
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You aren’t wrong but there’s also technology in that production. How many of those older guns were produced with a SUB moa guarantee and sold sub $1000.

I’m just saying a Howa 1500 is hard to beat out of the box for an $800 tack driver considering it’s just an improved R700.

Mind you it won’t win any beauty contests, nor will it feel as great in hand.
 
CowboyMaxy said:
I’m wanting to buy my first wood stock bolt action hunting rifle (likely in 308 calibre). Wanting to get something built to last the test of time.


Are the newer guns that are in my price range of used below $1,200 worth getting ; browning hunter/browning x) or should I stick to a classic that is older- that was probably built to a better quality, as old is gold.
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Keep an eye out for a sporterized Mauser that catches your eye.
 
Im a die hard M70 fan, second choice is a 700 from the good years. But to be fair to Tikkas, in the 11 years behind a gun counter i sold A LOT of T3's, back when the syn/blued was $599. In all those years i only ever encountered 2 issues of magazines breaking. 1 was straight from the factory and the other the owner dropped and the way the gun fell the mag smacked the edge of the bench as it fell. Never an issue with cold weather, which was most peoples concern. " its just as cold and colder in finland" was my standard reply. I also witnessed one suffer a severe failure and was very impressed how it handled pressure. A 338 fed was fired in a 30-06. Shroud blew over the shooters should mag blew out the bottom. Shooter wasnt wearing eye protection but no gas in the face. Had to hammer the bolt open case was fused in the chamber.

Overall, compared to pretty much ever other maker i saw very few tikkas ever come back for warrenty service, and the ones that did stoeger took care of promptly.
 
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MosinMan13 said:
You aren’t wrong but there’s also technology in that production. How many of those older guns were produced with a SUB moa guarantee and sold sub $1000.

I’m just saying a Howa 1500 is hard to beat out of the box for an $800 tack driver considering it’s just an improved R700.

Mind you it won’t win any beauty contests, nor will it feel as great in hand.
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The howas are great, cheap and give you metal everything alright.

On the Tikka front never had a mag or plastic problem yet. Have talked a lot with guys who use them very hard too.
 
Spend a little extra and get a Tikka T3x. I’d recommend the Hunter model but you can get one of the polymer stock ones for slightly less. If you’re looking for a “lifetime” rifle, buy once cry once.
 
Ah the sub moa marketing thing…. It is for sure nice that the manufacturers “guaranty” that lol but in real life, hunting life that is at reasonable( for me 0-300m) hunting distances, sub moa doesn’t mean much! If my rifle shoot between .75 to 1.25 or so inches at 100m I’m really happy, if it shoots inside of 2” I’m happy… above that I’m not necessarily dumping it but I might use it as a camp gun!
As most of you guys know by now I have no interest in plastic, mat finish no sights protruding magazine with pic rail and huge heavy scopes(nothing against them but not for me).
Any rifle today are pretty much multiple life time rifles or can be, even the cheapest one, like the savage axis, but to me I would t be happy with that, looking at it, hunting with it, it is too generic….
As for the rifle of a life… well I thought my rigger no1’s were it… until I found something that excited me more… so I sold them all 🤣
 
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