Help me find a stainless/synthetic bolt action rifle.

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Max-4

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Hey, I am basically looking to either buy or make a 30-06 bolt action rifle for hunting, here are the specs I would like to see.

- Stainless steel action and barrel
-Action drilled and tapped for scope mounts
- 22" sporter weight barrel no open sights
- Good quality black synthetic stock
- Not partial to CRF or push feed either way is good
- Rifle weight 7 to 7.5 pounds without optics

So the tough part is a rifle like a Kimber Montana, Tikka T3 and Winchester M70 don't fit me well because they have 0.5" drop at comb and 0.75" drop at heel. This is too straight for me I need to see at least 0.5" to 0.75" drop at comb and 1" or more drop at heel. Only rifle I can see is the Ruger M77 Hawkeye all weather has 0.75" drop at comb and 1" drop at heel, this would be the minimum drop I can handle. Im not even sure this is the real dimensions of the Ruger just sparse information I can find online.

The other options are to buy the Remington 700 SPS Stainless and replace the barrel with a 22" version and maybe the stock later with something nicer. The only gripe I have with this is how is Remingtons quality control with these SPS rifles, I've heard bad thing. I basically want to make a Remington 700 Mountain SS but with a 22" sporter weight barrel and not a pencil thin mountain barrel. I could also buy the 700 Mountain SS and replace the barrel but not sure if that stock will fit an aftermarket sporter weight barrel.

Has anybody owned or held the Ruger M77 Hawkeye All-Weather? What is that stock like, does it feel cheap and flimsy? Is there an aftermarket option I could put on that Ruger with the dimensions im looking for above?
 
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I've had a Ruger hawkeye for several years now, no complaints whatsoever. Stock is very rigid, no flexing unlike the Savages I own. Very solid feeling gun and not having to worry about rust is the icing on the cake.

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Max-4 said:
The other options are to buy the Remington 700 SPS Stainless and replace the barrel with a 22" version and maybe the stock later with something nicer. The only gripe I have with this is how is Remingtons quality control with these SPS rifles, I've heard bad thing. I basically want to make a Remington 700 Mountain SS but with a 22" sporter weight barrel and not a pencil thin mountain barrel. I could also buy the 700 Mountain SS and replace the barrel but not sure if that stock will fit an aftermarket sporter weight barrel.
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The STD SS SPS comes with a 24" bbl. in sporter contour. Cutting the bbl. back the 22" would be easy. Drop this into a Wildcat stock with bedding, top it off with Talley LWs and a FXII 4x and you're done.
 
The Ruger is a quality firearm. I would take it over a modern 700 any day and I have owned multiples of both.

An injection molded stock is an injection molded stock and they all leave lots to be desired. The Ruger is certainly better and stiffer than the SPS. In the end anything injection molded (even the Sako synthetics) is not ideal. A quality synthetic would go a long way and I would certainly spend the money there before thinking of changing barrels.
 
Max-4 said:
Hey, I am basically looking to either buy or make a 30-06 bolt action rifle for hunting, here are the specs I would like to see.

- Stainless steel action and barrel drilled and tapped
- 22" sporter weight barrel no open sights
- Good quality black synthetic stock
- Not partial to CRF or push feed either way is good
- Rifle weight 7 to 7.5 pounds without optics

So the tough part is a rifle like a Kimber Montana, Tikka T3 and Winchester M70 don't fit me well because they have 0.5" drop at comb and 0.75" drop at heel. This is too straight for me I need to see at least 0.5" to 0.75" drop at comb and 1" or more drop at heel. Only rifle I can see is the Ruger M77 Hawkeye all weather has 0.75" drop at comb and 1" drop at heel, this would be the minimum drop I can handle. Im not even sure this is the real dimensions of the Ruger just sparse information I can find online.

The other options are to buy the Remington 700 SPS Stainless and replace the barrel with a 22" version and maybe the stock later with something nicer. The only gripe I have with this is how is Remingtons quality control with these SPS rifles, I've heard bad thing. I basically want to make a Remington 700 Mountain SS but with a 22" sporter weight barrel and not a pencil thin mountain barrel. I could also buy the 700 Mountain SS and replace the barrel but not sure if that stock will fit an aftermarket sporter weight barrel.

Has anybody owned or held the Ruger M77 Hawkeye All-Weather? What is that stock like, does it feel cheap and flimsy? Is there an aftermarket option I could put on that Ruger with the dimensions im looking for above?
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steyr pro hunter?

http://www.steyrarms.com/index.php?eID=tx_cms_showpic&file=uploads%2Fpics%2Fprohunter_v2.jpg&md5=8c3ae9f6c421bd9ed43ad5b68ead602c986ee1aa&parameters[0]=YTo0OntzOjU6IndpZHRoIjtzOjQ6IjgwMG0iO3M6NjoiaGVpZ2h0IjtzOjQ6IjYw&parameters[1]=MG0iO3M6NzoiYm9keVRhZyI7czo0MToiPGJvZHkgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbjowOyBi&parameters[2]=YWNrZ3JvdW5kOiNmZmY7Ij4iO3M6NDoid3JhcCI7czozNzoiPGEgaHJlZj0iamF2&parameters[3]=YXNjcmlwdDpjbG9zZSgpOyI%2BIHwgPC9hPiI7fQ%3D%3D
 
Max-4 said:
Im looking for a 22" barrel.
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Nothing that 25 bucks wouldn't fix.

Awhile back there was LSS in 30-06 that had a 22" sporter barrel, not the pencil barrel. You might be able to find one of those and restock to a synthetic if you wanted. The LSS stock would sell in a heart beat. I got one a couple years ago at a fire-sale price, then quickly rebarrelled with a 26" benchmark. Still got the 22" barrel sitting around.

Snipping off a SPS barrel would an easy way to get where you want to be. Pick whatever stock you want and throw the Tupperware away.
 
Dogleg said:
Nothing that 25 bucks wouldn't fix.

Awhile back there was LSS in 30-06 that had a 22" sporter barrel, not the pencil barrel. You might be able to find one of those and restock to a synthetic if you wanted. The LSS stock would sell in a heart beat. I got one a couple years ago at a fire-sale price, then quickly rebarrelled with a 26" benchmark. Still got the 22" barrel sitting around.

Snipping off a SPS barrel would an easy way to get where you want to be. Pick whatever stock you want and throw the Tupperware away.
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That would be my choice for a no nonsense get it done meat getter!
 
Buy the Ruger M77 Hawkeye All-Weather just the way it comes from the factory... do nothing to it except mount a Leupold VX-2 3-9X40mm and go hunting, cause you are done...
 
Dogleg said:
Awhile back there was LSS in 30-06 that had a 22" sporter barrel, not the pencil barrel. You might be able to find one of those and restock to a synthetic if you wanted. The LSS stock would sell in a heart beat. I got one a couple years ago at a fire-sale price, then quickly rebarrelled with a 26" benchmark. Still got the 22" barrel sitting around.
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I do really like the looks of that rifle in 30-06 if it came with a 22" barrel. I would NEVER find one new anymore looks like they discontinued them in 2004. I am looking for a new rifle or if its gotta be used I would like "MINT" condition. Im also gonna put it out there that I would consider a nice laminate stock and stainless steel rifle but that doesn't change my options much unless there is something im not seeing. I wish Ruger made a M77 Hawkeye Laminate Stainless with a 22" barrel in 30-06. Closest thing they have is the Gunsite Scout or Laminate Stainless Compact.
 
hoytcanon said:
Buy the Ruger M77 Hawkeye All-Weather just the way it comes from the factory... do nothing to it except mount a Leupold VX-2 3-9X40mm and go hunting, cause you are done...
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That's hilarious because that is the exact scope I have coming for whatever rifle I choose. What about the Sako A7 Synthetic Stainless? Do you think it has the same stock dimensions as the Tikka T3?
 
I'm not ruling out laminate stock and stainless steel as long as it has a 22" barrel and weighs under 7.5 pounds without optics. I don't this that changes my options any though.
 
Max-4 said:
I'm not ruling out laminate stock and stainless steel as long as it has a 22" barrel and weighs under 7.5 pounds without optics. I don't this that changes my options any though.
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Another question Sir is... what is your preferred price range for such a rifle ?
My Forbes was if I remember correctly slightly over $ 1800 incl. tax & shipping, now some may think this is a bit steep for an ugly plain jane '06.
I did until I saw what it could do, it is far and away the most accurate '06 I have ever had my hands on....
 
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