Shopping for a rifle

Ribstaylor said:
Honest question because I actually don't know the answer. With the Rem 700 Missfire problems, when buying old or used Rem 700 do I need to have them checked out? Sent in for warranty? Main reason I don't own one is I don't wish to buy a rifle that just goes off when using the safety. Is this still an issue one has to worry about?
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This is news to me. The M700 has a miss-fire when taking the safety off, and this is a known common problem?
 
Butcherbill said:
Southpaw here, I just started shooting left hand bolt rifles and it’s so much more natural feeling. That said I’ve shot and hunted with RH rifles since I started and it’s not that big of a deal, target shooting from a bench or prone is no different. It’s hunting if there’s an optic mounted, you have to drop the rifle and reach over to cycle the bolt and loose your sight picture. Not a deal breaker but if you need a quick follow up shot you’ll be slower. RH pumps and semis are actually easier to operate as the loading port and charging handle is on your support hand side. Pros and cons to both but I much prefer a LH bolt over a RH now.

Savage, Rem, Tikka, Browning, Ruger all make LH versions of certain models, so it’s not that hard to find something with a LH action.
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Makes sense to me. I will be looking for a LH bolt action, but if i come across a great deal RH I wont pass it up. This purchse will be my first bolt action rifle, just wanted to get some input from more experienced shooters.
 
Ribstaylor said:
Honest question because I actually don't know the answer. With the Rem 700 Missfire problems, when buying old or used Rem 700 do I need to have them checked out? Sent in for warranty? Main reason I don't own one is I don't wish to buy a rifle that just goes off when using the safety. Is this still an issue one has to worry about?
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The issue of accidental discharge when the safety was disengaged in some Rem 700 eifles was resolved decades ago,but,this thing keeps reering it's ugly head every now and then. All affected rifles were recalled and trigger assemblies were switched out. It's interesting to note that lawsuits against Remington were dismissed citing negligent handling and tampering as the cause of the trigger malfunctions. Similarly, a lawsuit by Remington against NBC for liable,slander after a fake news hit piece was aired that was full of incorrect data represented as fact was upheld. The media tried to bury the story after that,but,they were caught in a bald-faced lie for which they paid a tremendous price. It was the first time the media was caught red handed making "fake news". Not much has changed with the mutts,either.
 
IvoB said:
Target shooting with a 30-06 doesn't scream precision accuracy the round was designed for hunting and it's good at that.
If your looking at target shooting look at the Savage 12FV models budget friendly current offering are in the 6.5 Creedmoor/308 Winchester not sure how much shooting you will be doing unless your already set up for reloading since ammo is around 2-3 dollars a trigger pull
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I know it's off topic, but the 30-06 was developed as a military round and was adopted into the civilian crowd following WW1.
 
meatsticks said:
This is good advice. So is a used Winchester 70. I have even bought some later model USA made controlled feed actions and one featherweight for around a grand by being patient and acting quickly when I see what I want. To be honest even the push feed winchesters are excellent actions and typically shoot pretty well. A model 70 XTR is typically a nice used rifle if it’s been taken care of. I’ve tried the vanguards, the cheap salvages and even the ruger American. They work, typically shoot well, and have all the character of a cinder block. I’d take a used model 70 or ruger 77, maybe a rem model 7 over any of the budget guns!
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Me too! It is nice to find a quality jem in a good used rifle!
 
Buy a weatherby vanguard over any of the ones you listed in your original post. Those are cheap rifles designed and machined cheaply. They use barstock with multi-piece bolts and not super great triggers. Barrel nuts: anything to be made cheaply. The bolt on the Ruger sounds like a zipper. Badly machined.

How about a weatherby vanguard S2? Made in Japan to very high standards. The bolt is one piece (yes, even the handle - no braising), easily disassembled bolt for field cleaning with no tools. Receiver is a solid piece of machined steel (not bar stock) with a proper flat base and a proper integrated recoil lug. The barrel is properly turned in not using a cheap barrel nut. The trigger on the S2 will make you VERY happy. I find the ruger and savage et al safety triggers aren't made very well and the surfaces aren't properly honed. The safety blade means they can safetly be set light but because they don't rely on a properly honed mating surface, they have a creepy feel. You'll be much happier with the Vanguard S2 trigger which is high quality and feels like it.

Also consider a second hand Winchester Model 70. Virtually all the same as above (bolt handle braised though) but they ad CRF in many periods and the safety is superior to most because the wing safety pulls the firing pin back away from the sear which completely eliminates the possibility of an accidental discharge, even if the trigger is adjusted too light.

I have a modern CRF M70 which is absolutely excellent and a 1980s vintage (push feed) XTR model 70 which is EVEN BETTER if you can believe it.

However, I believe a lot of places have the vanguard at about $750 which is definitely where I'd go in your price range.
 
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ALBERTA BOY said:
Buy a weatherby vanguard over any of the ones you listed in your original post. Those are cheap rifles designed and machined cheaply. They use barstock with multi-piece bolts and not super great triggers. Barrel nuts: anything to be made cheaply. The bolt on the Ruger sounds like a zipper. Badly machined.

How about a weatherby vanguard S2? Made in Japan to very high standards. The bolt is one piece (yes, even the handle - no braising), easily disassembled bolt for field cleaning with no tools. Receiver is a solid piece of machined steel (not bar stock) with a proper flat base and a proper integrated recoil lug. The barrel is properly turned in not using a cheap barrel nut. The trigger on the S2 will make you VERY happy. I find the ruger and savage et al safety triggers aren't made very well and the surfaces aren't properly honed. The safety blade means they can safetly be set light but because they don't rely on a properly honed mating surface, they have a creepy feel. You'll be much happier with the Vanguard S2 trigger which is high quality and feels like it.

Also consider a second hand Winchester Model 70. Virtually all the same as above (bolt handle braised though) but they ad CRF in many periods and the safety is superior to most because the wing safety pulls the firing pin back away from the sear which completely eliminates the possibility of an accidental discharge, even if the trigger is adjusted too light.

I have a modern CRF M70 which is absolutely excellent and a 1980s vintage (push feed) XTR model 70 which is EVEN BETTER if you can believe it.

However, I believe a lot of places have the vanguard at about $750 which is definitely where I'd go in your price range.
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Good call, the vanguard is very nice. I saw that the MeatEater crew hunts with weatherby rifles, pretty cool. So many good suggestions from the community. I need to get my hands on some of these options and see what feels "right".

thanks for the advice its appreciated
 
Been in this game for a while now and my tastes, funds and priorities have changed greatly over the years. Here's what I have extrapolated from many trades, sales purchases and BIG errors in judgement. What I say will not be accepted by all and I really don't care as these are personal observations based on personal purchases. Today's guns are WAY overpriced for what you get. Wood adds to the beauty of any gun and the industry takes every chance to promote synthetic stocks simply because they are cheap as hell to manufacture. The aluminum chassis are very cool and I accept them for the ergonomic factor because I find the pistol grips easy on my wrist BUT.....Holy Hell!!!! the prices for those things are disgusting when you consider the computerized milling processes these days are pretty much program-and-walkaway. I have some high-end Steyr-Mannlichers that are absolute works of art that for some reason they slapped plastic bottom "metal" and trigger guards on and even the rotary mags are all plastic. I value each of these around $2300 without the scopes and mounts......meanwhile I just picked up a brand new old stock Savage 111 with wood stock that has mint metal everywhere including the magazine, bottom metal and trigger guard. I guess what I'm trying to say is instead of blowing the cost of a small car on a piece of plasticky crap with no flair and assembled by 2 robots programmed by 15 year olds in the Philipines simply because you get to be the one to open the box and unwrap it, look around for that old school rifle that a couple people actually crafted in a shop 60 years ago. They're everywhere.
 
handofzeus said:
Been in this game for a while now and my tastes, funds and priorities have changed greatly over the years. Here's what I have extrapolated from many trades, sales purchases and BIG errors in judgement. What I say will not be accepted by all and I really don't care as these are personal observations based on personal purchases. Today's guns are WAY overpriced for what you get. Wood adds to the beauty of any gun and the industry takes every chance to promote synthetic stocks simply because they are cheap as hell to manufacture. The aluminum chassis are very cool and I accept them for the ergonomic factor because I find the pistol grips easy on my wrist BUT.....Holy Hell!!!! the prices for those things are disgusting when you consider the computerized milling processes these days are pretty much program-and-walkaway. I have some high-end Steyr-Mannlichers that are absolute works of art that for some reason they slapped plastic bottom "metal" and trigger guards on and even the rotary mags are all plastic. I value each of these around $2300 without the scopes and mounts......meanwhile I just picked up a brand new old stock Savage 111 with wood stock that has mint metal everywhere including the magazine, bottom metal and trigger guard. I guess what I'm trying to say is instead of blowing the cost of a small car on a piece of plasticky crap with no flair and assembled by 2 robots programmed by 15 year olds in the Philipines simply because you get to be the one to open the box and unwrap it, look around for that old school rifle that a couple people actually crafted in a shop 60 years ago. They're everywhere.
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IMO Zastava is the last of the reasonably priced rifles available with all steel parts, and nice wood. They have good synthetic stocks, and those were selling for less than Savage Axis rifles, and were way nicer in every respect. Now virtually sold out everywhere, and no more imports on the horizon, it is a sad day indeed. I hope the world straightens out, and some of these can find their way to Canada.
 
Ribstaylor said:
Honest question because I actually don't know the answer. With the Rem 700 Missfire problems, when buying old or used Rem 700 do I need to have them checked out? Sent in for warranty? Main reason I don't own one is I don't wish to buy a rifle that just goes off when using the safety. Is this still an issue one has to worry about?
Click to expand...

I've not once had a "missfire" or accidental firing from any of the many 700s I've owned over the yrs. Have you personally experienced this problem?
 
OP .... As you are a lefty, I would suggest buying a LH T3. It may be a bit more expensive than you want right now, but you won't want/need to buy another rifle down the road and thus be less expensive in the long run.

The EE is full of good 2-7, 3-9, 4-12 scopes. Hint.
 
I really like my American predator (shrug)

Got it used for 500$ but not a mark on it. Shoots within 1/4" of where I aim at 100y. Lighter then most so I can hike and scout for 2-3 hours without my shoulder noticing

I feel like" bad" rifles don't exist anymore. How many deer have been taken with SKS' and other blown out barreled Lee Enfields?
 
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