Need your advice on an accurate off the shelf rifle...

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sns2

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Thinking of getting a heavy-barreled rifle mostly for shooting paper off the bench that would offer the potential to be used on deer as a back-up / loaner.

Was in Cabelas the other day and the options include in no particular order:

Tikka T3 Varmint Stainless
Browning ABolt Target
Remington 700 SPS Varmint
Savage Model 12

I would welcome your thoughts/experiences on any of the above guns.

Cartridges I am interested in is likely .308, but I am hoping that if I choose the Tikka, Prophet River can get it in 6.5x55.

Thanks for indulging me.

sns2
 
You asked for advice on an accurate off the shelf rifle and in my experience that's a Savage. Plenty of Savage haters here though that will tell you otherwise. I have rifles I "like" more but my Savages are the most accurate and not by a little bit either.
 
If you have the cash, get the T3 Varmint in 6.5x55 Swed. In modern rifles the cartridge begs to be handloaded unless you can find the hotter loaded commercial 6.5x55 SKAN rounds. The 6.5x55 Swed is a highly under-rated cartridge and too often pushed aside for more modern but less capable choices!

Every now and then Wholesale Sports in north Edmonton will have the T3 Varmint in 6.5x55...worth giving them a call too!
 
If your budget allows for a Tikka or CZ in 6.5 Swede, then have at 'er. However you'd be hard pressed to
beat a Savage 11/111 Hunter in .260 Remington for the money vs accuracy deal. The .260 Rem. is ballistically
similar to the Swede & brass is easier to come by. I would go the Savage route myself cause I'm thrifty.;)
 
I've had very good luck with Remington 700s and haven't been quite so impressed by the reliability of some of the Savage's I've come across. One advantage that Remington has over the rest of the field is the aftermarket products made specifically for it. Stocks, triggers, bottom metal, rails, if you can think it up, someone makes it for a 700 Remington.

I'm a little amazed that you would consider a dedicated bench gun as a loaner rifle on a deer hunt. I have the vision of some boob who isn't interested enough to buy his own rifle dragging your one-holer through the bush, banging the expensive high powered optics off trees as he searches for a 75 yard shot at a deer. If you are so inclined however, the Remington 700 SPS Tactical in .308 with its 20" barrel is probably the best one for off range use.

The Tikka has much going for it, but I sold a Tikka Continental in .308 because although it was wonderfully accurate and pretty rifle, there was no provision for adjusting the creep out of the trigger, it was adjustable for weight only. For me a rifle can have many faults, providing I can fix em or live with em, but I won't tolerate a poor trigger. I frankly don't know if the trigger on the T-3 is fully adjustable or not. I do know that magazines for a T-3 are frightfully expensive, and when the boob is finished pounding your S&B or Nightforce off spruce trees, he'll probably loose your $75 magazine. Oh well, hopefully he won't attempt to shoot the barrel obstruction clear.

I haven't had all that much to do with Browning bolt guns, but the one's I've seen and shot have all shot exceptionally well despite being hunting rifles with light barrel contours.
 
Since you did no stated you budget, an incredible rifle for the money the Sig SSG 3000 in 308, it dont get better than that for a sub 1800.00 rifle... JP.
 
I shoot ragged holes with a 375 and a 30-06 in the new FN Winchester. I am sure a 308 would do the same......Can't comment about the others as I haven't shot one. I have never heard of an un accurate Tikka.
 
I would add the Weatherby Vanguard S2 to your list with a #3 barrel.

P.S - I second, questioning using your bench gun as a hunting loaner... Buy a beat up Win 94 that can shoot and loan that out...
 
I had a browning a-bolt medallion in 300wsm, fantastic shooter. I could shoot sub moa with. I would think that the .308 would shoot the same.

Also, pick up an old 303 as a loaner, who cares if that sucker gets thumped around.
 
I've owned a Savage Model 12, Model 10 PC, Browning A-Bolt long range hunter and my advice is if your long range shooting is under 600 yd., forget the heavy barrel and find a rifle that's comfortable for you and buy the best glass you can afford. You will have a balanced rifle that will shoot as good as the heavy barrel but can be used for hunting. I don't loan any of my rifles. Good Luck
 
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Of the few new rifles I've ever bought, Savage has the best track record with me in terms of accuracy. No real problems with other major brands honestly; just have bought more Savages new and they all shot like a house on fire.

At my place, loaners are a sporterized Lee Enfield with a well worn scope, and a franken-shotgun mostly made of mossberg 500 parts. :)
 
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