Best accurate rifle that won't break the bank? - Page 2

Jay A. · 06-17-2004, 11:42 AM

As has been mentioned, $500 dollars, 30.06, fully floated bbl, adjustable trigger, built in scope rails and pre-drilled, silky smooth action, synthetic stock, out of the box -1 MOA w/ standard ammo. If you use match ammo, or reload, you can easily shoot 1/2 MOA. I use a Horizon (New name for Tasco) 16x. With a real scope this could be (in my opinion) the cheapest sniper grade rifle on the market. Of course I am prejudiced.

Major PITA · 06-17-2004, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay A.

As has been mentioned, $500 dollars, 30.06, fully floated bbl, adjustable trigger, built in scope rails and pre-drilled, silky smooth action, synthetic stock, out of the box -1 MOA w/ standard ammo. If you use match ammo, or reload, you can easily shoot 1/2 MOA. I use a Horizon (New name for Tasco) 16x. With a real scope this could be (in my opinion) the cheapest sniper grade rifle on the market. Of course I am prejudiced.

Okay, Jay A., you've perked up my interest. I noticed your image shows a rifle with a standard weight barrel. How does your accuracy hold up from a hot barrel compared to a heavy-barreled varmint/target rifle?

You mention built-in scope rails; are they machined directly into the receiver?
Are they Weaver standard or can only special rings be used?

As for the adjustable trigger: is it user adjustable or does it have to be taken to a gunsmith who has special tools?

Does it have a controlled-round feed like a Mauser or a push-feed bolt like a Remington?

Jay A. · 06-17-2004, 09:07 PM

Quote:

How does your accuracy hold up from a hot barrel compared to a heavy-barreled varmint/target rifle?

this is the one thing I do not like, I would prefer a heavy barrel, but this means more $. I think Tikka can provide heavy barrels, not sure.

Quote:

You mention built-in scope rails; are they machined directly into the receiver? Are they Weaver standard or can only special rings be used?

Mine has Weaver mounts in the pre-drilled holes. The rails are machined directly and I assume require a different ring. I knew the answer once but have forgotten. Someone else on this page can answer that one, I'm sure

Quote:

is it user adjustable or does it have to be taken to a gunsmith who has special tools?

It is user adjustable, fairly simple, just need a screwdriver. Set triggers are also available.

Quote:

Does it have a controlled-round feed like a Mauser or a push-feed bolt like a Remington?

I don't know the answer to this one. The round feeds loose, however there is no interference from the magazine like with a Mauser.

The only other thing is that the bolt is maintenance free, and should not be disassembled. In a perfect world you should never need to disassemble it, it is possible but difficult...
Also front sling pin for bipod mounting. Available in .308, 6.5x55, 300 Mag, 7mm mag, etc. All this right out of the box.

SilverRun · 06-17-2004, 10:04 PM

Sorry to hear about your bad luck on that out of production thing. You might want to check out this link. I think these are similar to what you were looking at. Probably much cheaper though. http://www.savagearms.com/le_home.htm

Later

Major PITA · 06-17-2004, 10:17 PM

My mind is almost made up: Savage 110FP Tactical.

No matter what magazine, website, or whatever I visit or read, I hear nothing but praise heaped on Savage's accuracy for the price. Although I prefer a Mauser-type feed for silently chambering a round so as not to spook game, I can't think of another rifle besides the Savage that will do so much for so little money.

I've heard of people's dissatisfaction with other brands, but the only complaint I've heard about the Savage is the poor trigger, and I believe most people are of the opinion that this has been addressed with the new Accutrigger.

ScottD · 06-17-2004, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Although I prefer a Mauser-type feed for silently chambering a round so as not to spook game

Come on I thought you were buying this rifle to shoot accurately from distance. At the distance you are going to be shooting from you can burp and fart and nobody is going to hear it, much less chambering a round.

Either you don't know rifles very much or you have never killed anything. So which is it? Newbie?

As I told you before don't get hung up on that Mauser action. It don't amount to a hill of beans, unless you are cycling the action upside down.

BattleRifleG3 · 06-17-2004, 10:32 PM

I have a 111G in 300 RUM. Wish I could sing its praises but haven't used it much yet. Have it all set up for hunting too.

Jay A. · 06-17-2004, 10:37 PM

If I had known about the Savage, I would have tried it first, but only because of the heavier barrel. Now I'm going to have to save dimes and nickels again.

colt45 · 06-18-2004, 09:05 AM

i have a savage Tactical in 223. very nice shooter, and really smooth.
i still like the tika though. if i had one in a heavy bbl, the savage would gather dust.

Jay A. · 06-18-2004, 10:53 AM

Quote:

the savage would gather dust.

Does the Sav have as nice action as the Tikka?
From the catalog I saw it seems like the Tikka is better built, is this true? It's hard to tell from a picture.
Also, PITA, I need a cheek rest on mine, but that's an easily fixed problem.
Just for fun I shot this today to illustrate.

Major PITA · 06-21-2004, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScottD

Come on I thought you were buying this rifle to shoot accurately from distance. At the distance you are going to be shooting from you can burp and fart and nobody is going to hear it, much less chambering a round.

Either you don't know rifles very much or you have never killed anything. So which is it? Newbie?

I may end up using it for both hunting and target shooting. A friend of mine likes to "still-hunt" coyotes, and believe me, they CAN hear things from a good distance.

I think you could have replied without getting nasty. I've done plenty of hunting and yes, I have spooked game by trying to chamber a round. I've been out hiking/walking with my rifle, not really expecting to shoot anything, only to come upon a coyote that hadn't seen me yet. As soon as I shucked a round into the chamber, the sound made it take off. We're talking distances well within 200 yards, but on either side of 100 yards.

NRAJOE · 06-21-2004, 09:21 PM

Don't mind ScottD...he's from "illinoid"

Major PITA · 06-21-2004, 09:25 PM

Oh well, Scott D should sell some of his vinegar stash and buy some honey; he'll get more flies that way.

I may end up having to buy two rifles: one for hunting and one for target shooting.

Someone suggested a lighter weapon for hunting game, and the heavy barreled target rifle would be for long-range target shooting.

The only problem is: are lighter barreled rifles really all that accurate? Here is the one area that I can be considered a "newbie." I've never owned a standard hunting-grade bolt gun to have any comparison to anything else.

Shaun · 06-21-2004, 11:29 PM

Why not go to a varmint config like the VSSF rem. you get the fluted barrel which is more rigid than a bull barrel and it dispates the heat quickly. You have two uses in one -- the trade off with weight is recoil lighter rifle hit ya harder verse the heavy rifle.

Major PITA · 06-22-2004, 06:48 PM

I picked up a Savage Model 12 Something at the local sporting goods store today and looked at it (I don't know the exact model number; the clerk took it away from me too quickly). It had a heavy bull barrel and came with a scope from the factory. First, the heavy barrel did not seem to be all that awkward to fire from off-hand. The rifle was so well balanced that the extra weight to the nose was not as noticeable as you might think. The scope looked cheap and cheesy though, like the kind of scope you'd sell with your rifle at a gun show just to get it to move faster. The glass was somewhat cloudy indoors, with a slightly indistinct reticle. If one were to buy this setup the first thing to do is trash the provided scope and put a real optic on the rifle.

Other than that, I dry-fired the rifle. The Accutrigger is almost whisper-sensitive. I cannot think of a better trigger on an out-of-box rifle.

So unless someone can talk me out of it I'm thinking strongly of ordering a Model 110FP Tactical as soon as I've got the money.

SilverRun · 06-22-2004, 07:37 PM

If you have the available funds, I think you are on to something with the two rifle idea. I think for a tactical/bench rest gun or hunting from a shooting house, the 110FP would be a great choice. But, I don't think you going to want to pack that thing too far on your next hiking trip. You might want to look at a lighter weight standard barrel. I have several standard taper barrels in bolt guns. They all shoot very well. Certainly good enough for that coyote at 200 yards. I own one that would fit the bill nicely - Savage 110 in .243. It shoots around 1" - 1.25" at 100yds.

06-17-2004, 10:17 PM	#25
Major PITA Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 25 Trader Rating: (0)	My mind is almost made up: Savage 110FP Tactical. No matter what magazine, website, or whatever I visit or read, I hear nothing but praise heaped on Savage's accuracy for the price. Although I prefer a Mauser-type feed for silently chambering a round so as not to spook game, I can't think of another rifle besides the Savage that will do so much for so little money. I've heard of people's dissatisfaction with other brands, but the only complaint I've heard about the Savage is the poor trigger, and I believe most people are of the opinion that this has been addressed with the new Accutrigger. __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher; if it's in English, thank a soldier."

06-17-2004, 10:32 PM	#27
BattleRifleG3 Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Western PA Posts: 11,401 Trader Rating: (0)	I have a 111G in 300 RUM. Wish I could sing its praises but haven't used it much yet. Have it all set up for hunting too. __________________ Trust is earned, not... GIVEN away. - Worf

06-17-2004, 10:37 PM	#28
Jay A. Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Montana Posts: 116 Trader Rating: (0)	If I had known about the Savage, I would have tried it first, but only because of the heavier barrel. Now I'm going to have to save dimes and nickels again. Last edited by Jay A.; 06-17-2004 at 10:42 PM.

06-18-2004, 09:05 AM	#29
colt45 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Occupied Territories of New York (Buffalo) Posts: 2,898 Trader Rating: (0)	i have a savage Tactical in 223. very nice shooter, and really smooth. i still like the tika though. if i had one in a heavy bbl, the savage would gather dust. __________________ "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity" -Sigmund Freud, General Introduction to Psychoanalysis "If guns cause crime, all of mine are defective." - Ted Nugent "Self-defense is Nature's eldest law." -John Dryden

06-21-2004, 09:21 PM	#32
NRAJOE Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Toledo,OH Posts: 19,014 Trader Rating: (0)	Don't mind ScottD...he's from "illinoid" __________________ U.S. Army 1976-1979 237th Combat Engineers Heilbronn, Germany

06-17-2004, 10:04 PM	#24
SilverRun Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: AL Posts: 1,659 Trader Rating: (0)	Sorry to hear about your bad luck on that out of production thing. You might want to check out this link. I think these are similar to what you were looking at. Probably much cheaper though. http://www.savagearms.com/le_home.htm Later

06-21-2004, 09:25 PM	#33
Major PITA Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 25 Trader Rating: (0)	Oh well, Scott D should sell some of his vinegar stash and buy some honey; he'll get more flies that way. I may end up having to buy two rifles: one for hunting and one for target shooting. Someone suggested a lighter weapon for hunting game, and the heavy barreled target rifle would be for long-range target shooting. The only problem is: are lighter barreled rifles really all that accurate? Here is the one area that I can be considered a "newbie." I've never owned a standard hunting-grade bolt gun to have any comparison to anything else. __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher; if it's in English, thank a soldier."

06-21-2004, 11:29 PM	#34
Shaun Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 8,585 Trader Rating: (0)	Why not go to a varmint config like the VSSF rem. you get the fluted barrel which is more rigid than a bull barrel and it dispates the heat quickly. You have two uses in one -- the trade off with weight is recoil lighter rifle hit ya harder verse the heavy rifle. __________________ "Homeland Security is the responsibility of an armed citizen" ME http://webpages.charter.net/s.s.v/

06-22-2004, 06:48 PM	#35
Major PITA Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 25 Trader Rating: (0)	I picked up a Savage Model 12 Something at the local sporting goods store today and looked at it (I don't know the exact model number; the clerk took it away from me too quickly). It had a heavy bull barrel and came with a scope from the factory. First, the heavy barrel did not seem to be all that awkward to fire from off-hand. The rifle was so well balanced that the extra weight to the nose was not as noticeable as you might think. The scope looked cheap and cheesy though, like the kind of scope you'd sell with your rifle at a gun show just to get it to move faster. The glass was somewhat cloudy indoors, with a slightly indistinct reticle. If one were to buy this setup the first thing to do is trash the provided scope and put a real optic on the rifle. Other than that, I dry-fired the rifle. The Accutrigger is almost whisper-sensitive. I cannot think of a better trigger on an out-of-box rifle. So unless someone can talk me out of it I'm thinking strongly of ordering a Model 110FP Tactical as soon as I've got the money. __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher; if it's in English, thank a soldier."

06-22-2004, 07:37 PM	#36
SilverRun Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: AL Posts: 1,659 Trader Rating: (0)	If you have the available funds, I think you are on to something with the two rifle idea. I think for a tactical/bench rest gun or hunting from a shooting house, the 110FP would be a great choice. But, I don't think you going to want to pack that thing too far on your next hiking trip. You might want to look at a lighter weight standard barrel. I have several standard taper barrels in bolt guns. They all shoot very well. Certainly good enough for that coyote at 200 yards. I own one that would fit the bill nicely - Savage 110 in .243. It shoots around 1" - 1.25" at 100yds.