Help me choose my first bolt action rifle - Which is best for me?

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Sharpie19

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Kamloops British Columbia
I know this question has been asked a thousand times but hear me out...

For $1000 or less, (if possible) what do you recommend?

Here is my criteria, in priority:

1. Accuracy. I love the sport of target shooting. I want to know that if I miss, it's my fault. 300 yards is fine.

2. Reliability. I live in a rainy climate so the gun will need to shoot when wet and knocked around.

3. Caliber that is available and cheap. .270, .30-06 or .308 are my top choices but I'm open to your advice. Deer, elk and black bear are my preferred hunting choices. Which caliber do you prefer? If I'm shooting targets I also want to limit recoil.

4. Quality and retains value. I really like to buy once and keep it for life.

5. Parts available for modding up or improving (ie, barrel or stock). I don't want to bye something rare that I can never improve or fix.​

I am basically looking for a good target shooting rifle (for sport) that is also reliable for a SHTF scenario.

I am suffering from paralysis by analysis, as they say. I don't want to make a novice mistake, so thanks a ton for your help.
 
Ruger M77 MKII in .308 with stainless finish..... if you don't like the trigger (the new ones are quite good IMOP), you can do an easy least trigger job after watching a YouTube video.... Rock solid action, great fit and finish and comes with a good set of scope rings and integral bases..... Plus you can get it in wood, laminate or synthetic stock depending on your preference....

Your grandkids will be handing it down to their kids, the action is that solid.....
 
I would buy Tikka T3 in .308 win just because it meets all your requirements, and ammo is everywhere, and a .308 will hunt anything on this continent except a Grizzly bear/Polar bear (at least I would feel comfortable shooting blackies, moose, elk, deer etc with it)

Plus they are light to carry, you can get extra mags, and short actions are easier to work than long actions (a T3 in .270 win would be my 2nd pick)

I have one of each as a matter of fact.....

Still leaves you with a couple hundred to buy a used VX-1 and you are on your way
 
Rem 700 for strong action, most aftermarket parts, but great out of the box

308 for excellent performance, and unlimited ammo choices from match ammo, to cheap surplus
 
Remington is the "jeep" of rifles, in that it has heaps of aftermarket parts available.

The savage will probably be the easiest/cheapest to swap out barrels later and is gonna be accurate.

I'd go with a stainless tikka or browning stainless fluted, or one of the white medallion versions, check out the GRS stocks for Tikka's they are pretty slick.
 
Bigbubba said:
I would buy Tikka T3 in .308 win just because it meets all your requirements, and ammo is everywhere, and a .308 will hunt anything on this continent except a Grizzly bear/Polar bear (at least I would feel comfortable shooting blackies, moose, elk, deer etc with it)

Plus they are light to carry, you can get extra mags, and short actions are easier to work than long actions (a T3 in .270 win would be my 2nd pick)

I have one of each as a matter of fact.....

Still leaves you with a couple hundred to buy a used VX-1 and you are on your way
Click to expand...

I agree, Tikka is a great option. A Weatherby Vanguard in stainless would be another option to consider.
 
Cleftwynd said:
Rem 700 for strong action, most aftermarket parts, but great out of the box

308 for excellent performance, and unlimited ammo choices from match ammo, to cheap surplus
Click to expand...

I reread your post OP..... Glossed over number 5, upgrade ability....... If that is what you are looking for CLefty hit the nail on the head here.......

The M77 is right for me..... And the action is far superior to the 700 IMOP... But there are way more readily available upgrades for the 700....
 
What exactly do you need to upgrade on the rifle? Trigger... perhaps stock? Both of those are available for most of the commercial options from Browning, Winchester, Ruger, Remington etc...

IMO, you don't need to take "modifcation" into consideration for this rifle. Make it a .308 Win, in any of the "7's"... M77, M7, M700, M70... you can't go wrong. My preference is the M77 or M70.
 
hoytcanon said:
What exactly do you need to upgrade on the rifle? Trigger... perhaps stock? Both of those are available for most of the commercial options from Browning, Winchester, Ruger, Remington etc...

IMO, you don't need to take "modifcation" into consideration for this rifle. Make it a .308 Win, in any of the "7's"... M77, M7, M700, M70... you can't go wrong. My preference is the M77 or M70.
Click to expand...

Good point...... Depends on what you want to upgrade.... And since you are in The hunting and sporting section, I will assume you hunt..... And there reaches a point where your precision build is no longer a hunter based on weight or other factors......
 
Savage 110 in 30/06. Easily upgradable. Lots of ammo choices. Even target match loads. However if you reload it goes 110 gr to 240 gr. Throws a 165-168 target bullet faster than th 308 for not much more recoil. Handles 180+ gr projectiles better than the 08.
 
Best buy for a good rifle that is relatively inexpensive, but not "cheap" is the Weatherby Vanguard/Howa 1500 (same rifle, both made by Howa). All the chamberings you listed are good for deer, elk, and black bear. Depending on your exact location in BC, stainless may be nice to have and isn't too much of an up-charge.
If I were you, I'd take a Weatherby Vanguard Stainless S2 in 270 WIN. The 270 WIN has a little flatter trajectory and typically less wind drift than the 308 WIN or 30-06 while still having the killing power you need. Remember the bullet choice is as important as the chambering you choose, don't use lightly constructed bullets for the bear and elk, they will work great on deer though.
With that said, there are many quality rifles out there and the three cartridges you're considering are good all-around choices for hunting in BC.
 
There is a Ruger M77 Hawkeye All Weather .308 with Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9X40mm scope in the EE for $800 shipped... great rifle, good price... it will be a keeper and will do all you want it to.
 
I think .30-06 would be the best choice in caliber. (It shoots the bigger bullets in the .308 spectrum better than the .308 as it has about 10 more grains of powder.) If you only plan on shooting 150 grain bullets, either choice would be fine. )
I have owned over 400 hunting rifles over the years (I do a lot of trading) and the best bang for the buck is the Howa Lightning/Weatherby Vanguard. I still own Howa 1500 in .300winmag that I've had for about 10 years. It has the Hogue stock and I just can't fathom the thought of getting rid of it.
I also am an equal fan of ANY of the Ruger rifles. I have a Ruger Alaskan (it's a Hawkeye action) in .375 Ruger that is my #1(b) choice, also sporting a Hogue stock. The Ruger and the Weatherby guns are no lightweights but not too heavy. Make sure to at least shoulder one before you choose.
 
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