If there were a classic, workhorse .308 bolt-action what would it be?

[JBT47]

Model 70 Super Grade If looking for wood stock. Or Sako Model 85 Classic Deluxe if really want to spend money on a great factory built .308 hunting rifle. I’d really like to own that Sako in a .308 or .30-06.

CZ 550 American are good rifles as well with controlled round Mauser type actions.

If looking for synthetic I’d go with a Tikka T3x CTR as these shoot well and have a nice action. Hard to beat the Tikka when considering the price vs quality and accuracy of these little rifles. I’ve shot many of these Tikka T3x CTR rifles in .308 and 6.5 and they have all been consistently accurate with a very smooth action and good factory trigger. I may even consider building a semi custom from the Tikka action as I’m quite fond of how it feels cycling…feels better than some custom clone R700 actions I’ve had.

 

[FNSafari]

I have been running Winchester post-64 actions for Palma/Long Range for decades. Could change to another brand and be more sexy but I have not because these are just about as bullet proof as one can find. Keep the lugs greased, keep your loads where they should be and you will be find. I AM running out of some parts but there are a lot of those around. My $0.02" after 40+ years in the game.

A few years ago you could buy complete post 64 early 70s vintage rifles for 300-400$. I bought a XTR mint for under 500. I walked out of the shop on a cloud! By the mid 70s Winchester got the model 70 cooking with gas imo. Great rifles, different than the pre but still great. Fit, finish, operation, barrels, accuracy all very good.

 

[joshb]

Thanks much for everyone's input. Highly appreciated!

And so, is seems the answer is to just learn to love the .30-06 and be happy, which is easy. Don't really need anything else. So, yep, the .30-06 can perform like a .308 if loaded to .308 specs, but can do more if desired. A versatile beast. Thanks for you folks kind replies and answers -

(But now you got me thinking about 6.5 Creed - what's up with that?)

If you ask ten guys, you might get ten answers. Pick the one you like. You’re allowed to change your mind later.
I think you should have 2 or three guns in a bunch of different calibers.....and I mean 2 to three guns in each chambering..just so you have some experience with different makes and models. Are you going to live your life taking some one else’s opinion as fact?
That’s one path to choose.
JOE says “ All you need is a shotgun.”
That’s another option.

 

[Intheshop]

We have a pretty durn bada$$ cabinet/furniture shop and have eaten a peck of sawdust over the last 60 years.... so,tend to gravitate towards synthetic stocks.

BUT....

There's always been a sweet spot for walnut and stainless. Just something about that combo.... it's the two ends of their spectrums brought together that for me is so perfect.

A CDL R700,or I think Winchester has this combo on their #70's.

Like my #3 son(all the boys are avid shooters) tells his friends asking about guns.... "buy something you REALLY like looking at", chances are you'll be looking more than shooting. And he's right.
Good luck with your project.

 

[ebb]

(But now you got me thinking about 6.5 Creed - what's up with that?) It's a nice little cartridge that shots a bullet that is smaller in diameter than the 308 and has better ballistics. It actually brings nothing to the table that the 6.5-47 Lapua and 260 Remington hadn't already but was supported by it's makers way better and had the benefit of an ad campaign that was second to none. Many that have read the write ups believe that just owning one makes them superior to all other marksmen. The Creedmoor is a good chambering that is supported well with factory loaded ammo that is quality stuff. As good as it is with good ammo and all the work done for you its still just a rifle and not a magical beast from the future.

 

[davidjoe]

If it’s the .308 Winchester immersive experience you’re after, then it would be hard to beat the bolt action Winchester itself considered its best, when the .308 was introduced, and after, the milled from steel, model 70, pre 1964.





That is the controlled round bolt, that clearly doesn’t rely on anything else to hold a round. For us that read the magazines before the internet, the “full length claw extractor” must have been singled out 1,000 times in print.




FN Herstal bought Winchester’s model 70 rights a long time ago, resumed the pre 1964, teamed up with McMillan, and produced the Special Police Rifle, or SPR. with steel bottom metal, box magazine, and chromed, heavy barrels. It is nice to combine a cartridge and a gun, both by their same maker. This one is cerakoted, with a gun period Leopold scope and period Badger Ordinance three screw rings.

It’s a 22 (I think) inch barreled “workhorse” that has shot everything from steel white Buffalo at Whittington (and all of their silhouettes) with a no click held off 100 yard zero, to a number of pigs. The only thing not American on that rig is the factory Lapua .308 round, because this is one of my SHF rifles, and that’s what you want when it may really matter.

 

[Loudenboomer]

Many commercial FN Mauser 98 rifles were imported into the US in the 60's and 70's. My .308 is called a Musketeer. Very rugged controlled round feed design. Takes a little shopping but prices are reasonable and looks are warm and traditional.

 

[tominboise]

That reminds me. Years ago, Winchester did produce a run of their Model 70 in the 6.5 Swede.

Classic on classic on classic.

I ordered a new one back then. A featherweight that was a lovely looking rifle. I had to send it back to Winchester twice as it wouldn't eject an empty no matter what. I finally sold it after never hunting with it. Disappointing. I have two of the Classic M70's - one a semi custom 270 and the other a stainless version 7mm Rem Mag that I put in a McMillan stock. Both are great rifles, which is why I bought the Swede in the first place.

 

[Loudenboomer]

In the original post price Was a factor so the Sako TRG 22 may not qualify, but for me anyway Its one heck of a "Workhorse".

 

[K22]

That reminds me. Years ago, Winchester did produce a run of their Model 70 in the 6.5 Swede.

Classic on classic on classic.

The 6.5 Swede is a great cartridge. I never owned one but a fellow shooter I know has one. Very accurate, mild recoil, and very adequate for eastern white tail hunting. It's also fun to shoot. Too bad it isn't more popular here in the US. I think a lot of shooters will like it and enjoy shooting it.

 

[K22]

I have heard alot about mod70s, but have never shot any of them. I have to ask, what itnis you prefer about the post 64s. They are non controlled round feed am I right?

Yea, my first center rifle in the late 60's was a Win Model 70 in a push feed. While I would have much prefer a control feed, I never had an issue with this rifle. It functioned and shot well. In those days, I hadn't started reloading yet. I used 80 Rem for varmints and predators (foxes in those days) and 100 Rem for deer which was the standard fare in those days for the 243 Win.

Once I began reloading, I made significant improvement in accuracy.

 

[ebb]

What exactly is the 308 Immersive experience? I have 3 or 4 308 wins and I must have missed this.

 

[joshb]

What exactly is the 308 Immersive experience? I have 3 or 4 308 wins and I must have missed this.

That’s where one thinks it’s the “be all end all”, it’s all you shoot and all you talk about.
Someone took a left turn an suggested the venerable “pre-308” 6.5 x 55. I took a deep dive into it, buying old military Mausers and building a custom. It’s a great round!

 

[davidjoe]

What exactly is the 308 Immersive experience? I have 3 or 4 308 wins and I must have missed this.

So, when Remington would make its best bolt gun, the 40-X, back in the day, the two extremely popular calibers were the 300 Winchester Magnum and the .308 Winchester.

I have a number of these, and I always got the impression that the Custom Shop was less than enthusiastic about the overwhelming preferences and demand for their rival’s cartridges.

I will supplement this shortly to explain.

Winchester created and named the .308, arguably the single best and, “if you could have only one”, last cartridge standing, of all time.

While I do appreciate my TRG and 40-X repeater .308’s, for largely the exact same role, Winchester created the .308. They would have developed it in their model 70 and rolled it out to the world that way, and while I have no memory of it, there typically would have been a time when other companies resisted it, maybe denigrated it, tried to beat it, then quietly and nonchalantly started selling it and profiting off of it, too. And then, a shift to making most of their money off of it, because if you can’t beat ‘em.

*** An added example, basically the whole world loves to rib the overly ambitious little 6.5 Creedmoor and its obviously naive fan base, but eventually, that will simmer down and then the new folks, some not even alive yet, will only regard the creed as another old fashioned choice they have, because memories are short, but grandpas of the future cannot be allowed to say oh yes, this was always their favorite, after they have become recoil and powder price sensitive, and no one remembers otherwise. ***

So, in a sense, a Winchester 7 mm Rem Mag or a Remington .308 Win - these aren’t the vintage bottle, table-side uncorking-for-authenticity, genuine occasions, the companies wanted to be known by; these are reluctant, acquiescent, “are you thirsty or not, here’s your wine”, compromises, that probably had a booger wiped on ‘em before being taped shut .

 

[Will Henry]

1. A flat bolt Ruger, with sights.
2. post 64 Winchester Model 70 featherweight.
3. Mid-70,s Remington 700 BDL
4. Not a bolt action, but a Ruger No. 1A would be very nice. I would want to find one from the early '70's, if I could.
Among new rifles, the Kimber Montana in 308 is one I could like. WH

 

[Doug Casner]

Another vote for a featherweight mod. 70. The twist on the new ones is 1 in 12. Mine likes lighter shorter bullets. I shoot 125s in it . Shot a few light Bergers .5 inch. Target bullets. Im getting old and dont like the recoil anymore. Doug

 

[Adam in WI]

If it’s the .308 Winchester immersive experience you’re after, then it would be hard to beat the bolt action Winchester itself considered its best, when the .308 was introduced, and after, the milled from steel, model 70, pre 1964.


View attachment 1389030


That is the controlled round bolt, that clearly doesn’t rely on anything else to hold a round. For us that read the magazines before the internet, the “full length claw extractor” must have been singled out 1,000 times in print.


View attachment 1389031

FN Herstal bought Winchester’s model 70 rights a long time ago, resumed the pre 1964, teamed up with McMillan, and produced the Special Police Rifle, or SPR. with steel bottom metal, box magazine, and chromed, heavy barrels. It is nice to combine a cartridge and a gun, both by their same maker. This one is cerakoted, with a gun period Leopold scope and period Badger Ordinance three screw rings.

It’s a 22 (I think) inch barreled “workhorse” that has shot everything from steel white Buffalo at Whittington (and all of their silhouettes) with a no click held off 100 yard zero, to a number of pigs. The only thing not American on that rig is the factory Lapua .308 round, because this is one of my SHF rifles, and that’s what you want when it may really matter.

That there is just pure candy coated kick-ass...

 

[Liven The Dream]

Build an M40aX ......but not with a period date coded action.

PTG had some 700 Actions for that Period for a Build .

 

[Tesoro]

The 6.5 Swede is a great cartridge. I never owned one but a fellow shooter I know has one. Very accurate, mild recoil, and very adequate for eastern white tail hunting. It's also fun to shoot. Too bad it isn't more popular here in the US. I think a lot of shooters will like it and enjoy shooting it.

I have a Sauer 200 ( incredible rifle) which is a switch barrel. Non magnum bolt so I shoot 30-06. I wanted to get a swede barrel for it but what I have found with the older barrels is they dont have the twist to accommodate the new 6.5 bullets that would make the swede shine.

 

[10XSHOOTER]

The 30-06 is in a long action. Get a Rem 700 in a short action. If you want to spend some money on it. Send the bolt to LRI,Inc, have chad put in a M-16 extractor. extraction will be as solid as a pre-64 Winchester. Put a barrel on of your choice (sporter, Varmint, MTU, M-24) put it in a stock of your choice and go have fun!