Looking for a more expensive type of gun

cereal83

cereal83

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 97%
32   1   0
Location
Ontario
Hey all,

Well I have a Savage combo gun with a scope so I would say it's a little of the cheap side. I am looking to buy a hunting rifle (30-06 or similar) but something a bit more expensive that will last me a long long time.

I know there is Sako but is there any other rifle that is higher end?

I am also not sure if these high priced guns will accually be worth the extra money but I am thinking so. I am going to get a quality scope for this rifle also but thats a question for another day.

I guess I could set my budget at $6000, $3000 for the rifle and $3000 for the scope, or maybe $4000 for the rifle and $2000 for the scope.

Well any input will be great. Also I will not be buying this rifle in the next month or so but probably within 6 months but could be as long as a year.

Thanks all
 
In my opinion, if you're going to spend that kind of money on a gun, go custom. Yes you can get some pretty sweet off the shelf guns out there and they will be very impressive but in the end there may be little things that you'd still like to tweek a bit. With a custom, you can get exactly what you want right from the start. Trigger, barrel, action, stock, etc... it will all be your pick, what you want exactly.
 
Well unless you want a custom rifle, you really don't need to spend that much on a hunting rifle, since you are a new hunter. You are most likely going to scratch or mark it at some point. I would look at either a Sako, 1200-1600 range or a Kimber around 1150-1300 range. Both are excellent rifles and should you put a scratch on it, it won't be the end of the world.

For scopes you also don't need to spend that much money. Maybe look at a leupold Vx-ll or lll... somewhere in the 400-800 range. If you spend 6000 on a rig you are not going to want to take it into the bush.
 
With that king of budget,I would not even consider a factory rifle.In fact for much less than $6000,you can have a rifle made to your specifications with a match grade barrel,top quality stock,premium trigger and it will be made to fit you and at the weight that you desire.Even adding a top quality scope and good mounts,you will still have money left over.
If you want a factory rifle,it would be hard to beat a sako and for a scope the ziess conquest is a fine choice.
 
Last edited:
a custom rifle is for people that have a great experience with them and would like something of their (already seasoned) taste.

Is one of the questions you never ever ask if you know what you want in a custom gun. So I would not recommend it for you just now. maybe later in your hunting career.

If you still want to shed the money, look at the German beauties (too many to list) which you can fins in a ny decent Frankonia catalog, or go semi-custom with Dakota, HS Precision or sorts.

The optics are the last to choose, beacuse one usually accomodates them to the rifle, not vice-versa.

My advice would be to get a decent rifle and shoot the s***t out of it, replace the bbl and then think about it.... I base this on your previous posts. In no time you will spend a truckload of money and expect to be Bigredd in hunting. Don't ask how I know.... :redface:

the best hunting I've ever have was with cheaper rifles. Not innaccurate. just cheaper... while I had more dissapointments with ones that I had to "baby" in the woods.....and it might have been just my luck, but I never got any with them.

My 2c
 
There's no way I'd spend that kind of cash on a hunting rifle that I'm taking out into the bush with me and banging around. A target or varmint rig, sure, or maybe a safari gun. But not a north american hunting gun.
 
I think a Steyr-Mannlicher is a fine choice, and there are some on sale at a non-sponsor dealership. They are in 7mm RM, which is a great cartridge. The triggers on these rifles are top notch, and give up nothing compared to a custom rifle. They have accuracy guarantees and generally will shoot far under 1" groups with the right load. The wood on these rifles is something to behold. I am certain that if you were looking to get similar quality wood, checkering, finish and fit on a custom rifle you'd be looking at well over $1000 for just the stock. They are on sale: regular price is $2495, sale price is $1895, which is only a little more than a run of the mill Sako.

here is a picture:
steyrclassic.jpg


You can also get a Sauer 202 in that price range. They are also very fine rifles.

Look at the old quality rifles from 70-100 years ago. They are still held in great admiration and are valued by those in the know. Consider a Commercial Mauser. Or a Mannlicher-Schoenauer. Or a Rigby. The list goes on and on.

The next thing is the scope. Don't skimp on the scope. Buy a Swarovski and never look back. The model you get will depend on the use, but expect to spend between $1500 and $2000.

Good mounts are always important. I really like EAW, but they are a bit pricey. They are available from New Englan Custom Gun.

That will leave enough money to buy a nice set of Swarovski Binoculars and reloading equipment.

That is the way I'd go.
 
Very sweet :cool: , The only 202 I ever handled had a beautiful stock, but the forend which does not have aloth of wood had moved to one side of the barrel , leaving a huge gap on one side , and tight on the other. Now this was a new gun, and the gunshop owner was not concerned ,LOL gotta love 'em :)
 
Better yet, go for a Kimber, just IMHO. The above people are right, custom rifles can really be a crap shoot sometimes. All of the above rifles are fine. Don't overlook the budget priced Tikka T3 rifles either. Incredible value for the money and I've yet to se one that won't shoot really well with factory ammo. You must do your part and take proper care of any rifle to keep it shooting well though and I'm not implying that you don't or don't know how to. bearhunter
 
If you are going to go to a custom gun, expect to do a bit of travelling. Unless the gunsmith that you are dealing with is close by. You will need to go to see the progress of the rifle on several occasions and also have the stock fitted to you.

I suggest that you try out several rifles and pick one that fits you best.
 
I would also advise against spending that much money at this stage of your hunting career cereal'. I like your style though, and everyone deserves a nice rifle.;)

As others have said a custom rifle can be a wonderfull thing but save it for later on and several thousand rounds down the road so you can build up your list of likes and dislikes.

Hit the gun stores and try out some higher end rifles like Sako, and Kimber. See what feels right for you. Also ask if they have any used high end rifles for sale. I've seen some pristine used stuff and often times the older high end guns are better than anything you can buy new.:cool:
 
I had a go with a Sauer 202 in 300 WM (Stainless/Synthetic) and a Kimber 8400 Montana in 300 WM (Kevlar stock/Stainless). For the money, the Kimber is the nicer of the two rifles. It sells retail for almost $1000 less and shoots like a dream for an off the shelf rifle. One of my biggest surprizes was the trigger. Its THE best I've tried on a stock rifle. I have to give it to Kimber here, they really did their homework. Only complaints are that the mag is a blind mag with no floor plate and the gun is very light for a Magnum caliber. Other than that, It is as functional as the Sauer 202, a very nice rifle, and just a smooth.

For a gun I'm hauling through the bush, good enough.

Topped it off with a Leupold VXIII 3.5-10x40 and a way we go!!

Gun loves Swift A-Frames, even better.
 
Blackcloud said:
I had a go with a Sauer 202 in 300 WM (Stainless/Synthetic) and a Kimber 8400 Montana in 300 WM (Kevlar stock/Stainless). For the money, the Kimber is the nicer of the two rifles. It sells retail for almost $1000 less and shoots like a dream for an off the shelf rifle.
Click to expand...


P & D has a Sauer 202 Synthetic in .300 WM for $1799; that is about $400 more than the Kimber. I have to admit that I haven't handled a new Kimber. Somehow 255 years of tradition and history has a nice ring to it. Kimber, on the other hand is a new upstart. Correct me if I am wrong but they went bankrupt once after building a whole bunch of POS rifles.

The 202 also has an interchangeable barrel and bolt head system. The flexibility offered is truly outstanding. Here is a list, directly from their web site.

You can choose from:
5 fore-ends
5 butt stocks
3 stock materials
10 wood grades
8 bolts
3 triggers
11 receivers
10 barrel contours
5 barrel lengths
4 surface finishes
3 sights
23 calibres
 
I have a custom M70 in 7mm rem mag and i bought it off of a fellow gunnut and he put $4000.00 in to it, I paid a fraction of that, it has the best of everything you can't buy a gun with the options mine has for near that much money from any factory.
 
I got a kimber 8400 montana 300wsm
a leupold vxIII 4.5-14X40
it is a wicked gun
light, acurate, good trigger, smooth action, and a crf
the scope is light, clear, lots of eye relief and very easy to get a good open veiw though
all for about 2200 bucks
Ive been hunting with it this year and have shot it alot
Ill keep it for ever it is worth it
 
I'm with 1899 on the idea of a Steyr-Mannlicher, but that's just my experience and taste. Only you can pick the one that's right for you. When you see it, you'll know.
 
Cereal - Six months ago you couldnt afford spending a few hundred bucks to join a range. Que pasa? Not sure if you've even managed to go hunting for big game yet - you really havent had enough experience to establish what you truly want in a hunting rifle.
In the meantime, I suggest you invest any surplus funds you have on women and beer, assuming you're of age.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom