which sub-.30cal would you buy?

which woul you buy

  • Winchester 70 featherlite .270WIN

    Votes: 83 49.1%

  • Marlin XL7 .270WIN

    Votes: 6 3.6%

  • Marlin XL7 25-06

    Votes: 6 3.6%

  • Weatherby .257WBY

    Votes: 35 20.7%

  • other (specify in post)

    Votes: 39 23.1%
  • Total voters
    169
Gary D

Gary D

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Location
Gagetown NB
I'm thinking I might be due for a new hunting rifle, and there is a noticeable gap in my collection between .223 and .30 cal. Here are four rifles that currently appeal to me, tell me which one you would buy and why...
 
.257 Weatherby is grossly overbore, and burns throats faster than nearly anything else you can find. It is also viciously loud- louder than my .375 H&H to my ear.

Marlin today is a complete don't-do-it under Remington's ownership, the quality has dropped to pretty sad levels.

The Winchester you'd be impressed with, great action, great quality, great value. The .270 is way too close to a .30 cal though in my opinion if you're looking for an in between. .243 Model 70? That's far more of an in between, good varminter, way, way more gun than your .223 with bullets up to 105gr, easy to obtain ammo, and even an acceptable deer rifle. Another great in between would be .257 Roberts, but not currently available in the M70 FW to my knowledge (may be wrong).
 
Is there a rifle called the Model 70 Featherlite or do you mean "Featherweight"?
Regardless, I'd get the Win 70 Featherweight, but in 7mm-08, just because I have no interest in the .270.
 
Kilo Charlie said:
Is there a rifle called the Model 70 Featherlite or do you mean "Featherweight"?
Regardless, I'd get the Win 70 Featherweight, but in 7mm-08, just because I have no interest in the .270.
Click to expand...

Yes my bad, indeed I meant featherweight, but you knew what I meant anyway. Also I didn't specify the Weatherby Vanguard (becasuse I sure as hell can't afford the the mkV). I would dig a Model 70 in .257 Roberts, but I don't think they offer that combination at present. Nor do they offer it in 25-06.
 
What about a 6.5 x 55 swede, good penetration, flat-shooting, good bullet selection, classic cartridge and rifles. It has even been used with great success for head shots on elephant, if you happen to meet one moseying around cold lake there. skokie, or try 6.5 creedmoor, 6.5-284 Norma, 7mm-08 rem, or .240 Weatherby Magnum.
 
Gary D said:
I'm thinking I might be due for a new hunting rifle, and there is a noticeable gap in my collection between .223 and .30 cal. Here are four rifles that currently appeal to me, tell me which one you would buy and why...
Click to expand...
A little more info on the game hunted and terrain would be the largest considerations in answering your question.


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Despite the previous warning in this thread to avoid the Marlin X7s there are MANY who own them and are very pleased with them. They represent a very good value in a no frills rifle and offer very good accuracy. I haven't heard an actual owner of one complain about them yet. I sure like mine.

Either the 270 or 25/06 in an XL7 would be a good choice and well priced.


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I voted for the Win m70 featherweight. I was faced with this same dilema about a year ago. Only I went with the 7mm/08 in the featherweight. Great rifle, great value.
 
The quality issues with Marlin seem to have been somewhat to do with Remington's ownership but especially to do with the move of production to the South with largely new production staff there. And I've only heard those complaints about the lever-action rifles. I haven't seen or heard of an owner complaining about the new XL/XS bolt actions.


None of those calibres or guns in the poll particularly appeal to me, and I don't actually need another hunting rifle between my .223 Handi-Rifle for coyotes and my .308 accessory barrel for it or my Enfields for big game. But if I had more space to keep guns and time to shoot them, I'd maybe get a .243 in between those, or more likely a lever gun in .45-70 or for curiousity, one of the Swedish surplus CG-63 Mauser target rifles in 6.5mmSwedish from Trade-Ex.
 
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