Thoughts on current factory bolt rifles

[john 800]

I am considering either re barreling a rem 700 I have or trading it. The gun will shoot minute of deer for my needs, however unfortunately it doesn’t like the loads or bullets that I want to shoot.
With that in mind, what should I be looking at for a reasonably priced factory deer rifle? Would like sporter barrel, prefer stainless, I want something that just shoots decent for hunting in 270win. (Maybe a 308) Maybee under $850ish before my trade, could go a bit higher if quality warrants but dont have the budget for a full custom.
Ruger American? Tikka? Savage? Winchester?

 

[BeefyT11]

Out of your options provided. Tikka, for fit and finish.. but I will say I own a ruger american and have been around 2 others, They all hammer and will do everything you ask them to for a very modest price

 

[okie]

send it to stan at douglas if you like the rifle. the turnaround is awesome. you will be pleased.
idk about whats out there, but hard to beat a 700. my 2 cents

 

[john 800]

send it to stan at douglas if you like the rifle. the turnaround is awesome. you will be pleased.
idk about whats out there, but hard to beat a 700. my 2 cents

Any idea on a rough cost? I have mulled this over before and ended up just throwing it in the closet and shooting other rifles haha.

 

[okie]

Any idea on a rough cost? I have mulled this over before and ended up just throwing it in the closet and shooting other rifles haha.

Pricing and Services

 

[okie]

probably best to just call---I do not know if these are current. ask for Stan

 

[INTJ]

A gunsmith rebarreled rifle will almost always shoot better than a factory rifle. If you want accuracy get a good quality barrel and have it chambered by a good gunsmith. Pick as heavy a contour steel barrel as you are willing to carry around.

 

[FNSafari]

I'll second the rec on Tikka. The problem is finding what you want. You prolly can but will need to search the internet sales outlets. I have a 6.5x55 SM and the rifle is incredibly accurate and the barrel cleans up almost as fast as any benchrest hand lapped barrel I've ever had. Smooth as silk actions. Highly recommend the T3i

 

[Ironman308]

I would try bedding the action before I gave up.

 

[tsyarnall]

I have a Tikka in 7mm RM. It is a great rifle that is in your price range and very accurate. Also, have a Ruger and Remington 700. Both are nice, but the Tikka is just a step above in my opinion.

 

[Adam in WI]

Voting for rebarreling your rifle. If not that, Model 70 Featherweight stainless or Extreme Weather. EW isn't exactly cheap though.

 

[spudgun]

Tikka is a great rifle but you may not hit the price point your looking for.

For a budget rifle that will shoot flat out, look at the Savages, with Accu-triggers.

6.5 Creed, 308 win, 270 and 30-06 are tack drivers.

I know this because I sell them and have many customers come back and tell me how please they are with the gun.

My first Savage was a Model 12 F/V, 6.5 CM. with the right glass and my reloads I was shooing 6" groups at 600 yds. This got me hooked on long range shooting 3 years ago.

If you look around you will see the big sports stores having specials and if you lucky you could get a factory rebate from $100 - $150.

Is there a better rifles Heck yes, but your going to pay for it.

 

[joshb]

Tikka! I own 7or 8 Tikkas. Great rifles!

 

[rjtfroggy]

My vote is with Spudgun's but I don't sell them. I have at least a dozen Savage rifles and all of them shoot small. The only one that was ever a problem was a 22 hornet but the factory fixed it with no problems ( seems they all had the ejection problem).
I would offer you one of mine but they may be to heavy to carry around good for stand hunting but not walking.

 

[john 800]

I would try bedding the action before I gave up.

It is bedded in a bell and carlson stock. It will shoot, just not with the loads/bullets i like, and not at a lenth that will feed from a mag.

 

[darkangel_r2]

I am considering either re barreling a rem 700 I have or trading it. The gun will shoot minute of deer for my needs, however unfortunately it doesn’t like the loads or bullets that I want to shoot.
With that in mind, what should I be looking at for a reasonably priced factory deer rifle? Would like sporter barrel, prefer stainless, I want something that just shoots decent for hunting in 270win. (Maybe a 308) Maybee under $850ish before my trade, could go a bit higher if quality warrants but dont have the budget for a full custom.
Ruger American? Tikka? Savage? Winchester?

A quality aftermarket barrel will make a 700 shoot really well. So you may want to go that route.

If you want a strait factory sporter profile gun its really hard to beat a tikka.

 

[drop_point]

I would take a 700 with a barrel job over most all factory guns.

TIkka is an excellent rifle Most of the time they shoot, but I have seen a few that are quite picky. Very nice action and the trigger is good out of the box.

 

[HTSmith]

I'd also recommend a custom barrel. There ain't never been a better deer round than a 270 Win. If you don't believe it just ask Jack O'Conner. You can have your 'smith throat it to suit your preferred bullets and cartridge OAL.

 

[STOMP442]

I love a nice Remington but I would take a Tikka any day and twice on Sunday. Excellent rifles right out of the box with a factory trigger that is able to be adjusted down to 2lbs. Even the plastic stocked ones shoot fantastic. Everyone I have ever messed with has shot under MOA right out of the box with no break in or work done. Just mount a scope and start killin.

 

[Forum Boss]

I'd consider a Tikka with the new lightweight stock, and I like the Zeiss scopes for hunting -- very sharp and good in low light.

We improved accuracy on our Tikkas by modifying the recoil lug and bedding the action.