Finally Time for a New Rifle

[AKHunter]

RUGER ! or build a Mauser.

[twyo]

Thanks again for the input. I have been taking all the advise to heart and have been attempting to at least hold and look at as many of the rifles mentioned as I can. By the way, I came across a couple of the Cooper rifles made in Montana. I have to tell you they look and feel very nice. Have any of you had any experience with them. I understand they have only been around since the early 90's.

[elmer fudd]

if i would have cought the pole in time i would have voted Winchester!!!!!

[Ron AKA]

I have a Remington 700 and a Browning Safari. The Browning looks nicer but the Remington shoots better. The Remington has a much better trigger, and I see they have just released a new and improved version. The Browning has probably appreciated in value more than the Remington. Not sure what type of hunting you plan to do, and how you rate accuracy vs looks. It sounds like you are looking for a varmint gun? That could be the deciding factor. Also how stuck you are on the .25-06 cartridge, as that will limit your choices. Savage make a precision varminter model that should shoot. This would be an example of function over looks (at least in my opinion).



I have a rimfire Savage and their AccuTrigger is a real good idea. As good as or perhaps better than the trigger on my older Remington. I also see Remington have a limited edition model that is more classic looking if you are willing to switch to a Remington 260 - which is a very good all around cartridge and under appreciated.



However you go I would save about $150 of your budget and get a good quality Lee reloading setup. It sets you free from having to buy that expensive factory stuff, and the limitation of buying the loads they think you need.

Good luck,

Ron

[Tim44]

Originally Posted by twyo

Thanks again for the input. I have been taking all the advise to heart and have been attempting to at least hold and look at as many of the rifles mentioned as I can. By the way, I came across a couple of the Cooper rifles made in Montana. I have to tell you they look and feel very nice. Have any of you had any experience with them. I understand they have only been around since the early 90's.

If you can afford a Cooper,check out Sako also.I've looked/handled Sako
rifles and they are fine pieces of art. I've seen pix of Coopers and if I
could afford one,it would be a tough decision indeed.FWIW,the actions of a Sako are like fine crystal,ssmoooooth!!!

[Ron AKA]

Tim, I think Sako was one of the original two preferred choices. I think I would look hard at US made stuff. The US$ has slid so much in the last two years, it makes the imported stuff much more expensive for what you get.

I guess no question was asked about the scope, but here are are couple of articles I found useful on scope quality. I think the Bushnell 3200 is a good tradeoff point for price and quality. Some scope prices are insane. In the budget range you indicated I would not spend any more than 50% of the cost of the gun on a scope.

The Optics Talk Forums: SWFA Riflescope Rating Scale

Recommended Riflescopes

Ron

[nc.hunter]

I would go with a remington, because they are very relible rifles, and outlast a lot of guns, plus you can find large caliber rifles in remington cheap, unlike the sakos.

[twyo]

I do like the Savage and Remingtons. To answer the question on if I am looking for function or looks, I am looking for both. After looking at the Coopers I could not affort their wood rifles, but I think I could swing the composite models. I was just wondering if any of you have had any experience with them? I want to get a rifle that I can pass on to my boys and that they are looking forward to having. I will be using this rifle for hunting Antelope and Mule Deer here in Wyoming. I don't want to start a caliber war, I know there are many great calibers for hunting such animals. I just personally love the 25-06 for open prairie hunting. I have lived and hunted in Wyoming for 30 + years, and I know you hear about Antelope being taken at 300 yards and more, but to be honest guys, these shots are rare. Most are taken at under 200 yards. So the 25-06 is more than enough to get the job done. Pronghorns are very hard to judge up close, let alone at over 300 yards. Even with a great spotting scope. Anyhow, I am getting off the subject. I think I will have a chance to travel to Cabelas in Nebraska in a few weeks where I hope to be able to compare some of the rifles side by side. Please keep the discussion going. Thanks for the scope info also.

[Ron AKA]

I know exactly the country you would be hunting in. Some of it extends up into our province in Canada. The problem with antelope is that they are a damn small target, and you do see them a long ways off. You certainly want a flat shooting cartridge with a reasonable amount of punch if being used for mule deer as well. The 25-06 is a good choice but there certainly are others. In the Remington line the Sendero would likely be a good fit for your needs but does not come in the 25-06. In a scope you may want to think about a Mil Dot reticle. If you take the time to learn how to use it, it would be helpful with estimating the range of those long shots and determing any needed hold over, and allowance for wind drift. They are a bit of a technical challenge, and I suspect many don't really understand them. A bit of info on them here:

Mil-dots and Minutes-of-angle - From a Technical Perspective

If you are able to shoot with a rest a 4-16X scope would also be nice.

You may want to ask your question about Cooper experience at the forum at the link below. It is rimfire Coopers, but I would expect there will be owners of centerfire Coopers there as well.

Cooper - RimfireCentral.com Forums

They seem like a nice gun, but I know nothing about them.

Ron

[lefty o]

just to make corrections. bravo mentioned winchester being made out of brownings "plant" in utah. browning makes ZERO guns of its own, and the new mod 70's are being produced at the FN plant in the carolinas. just an FYI.

[twyo]

I am not following you. What do you mean that Browning makes zero guns of their own? Do they put their names on other manufacturers products?

[Magnumsrule]

Which manufacturers gun is basically a howa? I remember hearing it somewhere was it like the weatherby vanguard or somethin?

[turner]

Originally Posted by Magnumsrule

Which manufacturers gun is basically a howa? I remember hearing it somewhere was it like the weatherby vanguard or somethin?

Yes, to the best of my knowledge, Howa manufactures the Vanguard for Weatherby. The guns are identical and use the exact same type stock (dimension-wise)

[SwedeSteve]

Another great scope to look at: THE ONLY RANGE FINDING SCOPE THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE 3 HANDS TO OPERATE

[Hotled]

Personally I would buy 2 rifles and 2 scopes for that much:P

Savage in 25-06 with accu-trigger would be the very first choice I would make. I am the type that won't spend extra cash on nothing but names. Yes the furniture may be a bit nicer but they will shoot the same or even better with the savage trigger.

[Nathan123]

I have not seen them mentioned yet so i will put this out there. Have you looked at Kimber's line of rifles? A Classic will cost you $1172 (they are $1600 over here in Australia) That leaves about $900 for a scope. They have match grade barrel, chamber and trigger. Pillar and glass beded. Floated barrel. Hand rubbed oil stocks (which look 10 times better than the picture) hand cut checkering. Model 70 type safety, full length Mauser claw extractor. Or they have a carbon fibre/kevlar stock stainless model for $1312 if that sort of thing tickles your fancy. Both are offered in .25-06

I have a 8400 Classic in .30-06 and i could not be more impressed with it. I have a Leupold VXIII 3.5-10X40 on mine with a duplex reticle.

Here is their website Kimber - Continuing The Legacy

[Savagebolter]

I have owned and shot a few of many makes, I stand strong and many others will agree, " The best out of the box accuracy" SAVAGE period. I love remington, they are my next pick, heck i still shoot my rem 700 all the time, but i would seriously look into getting a savage with the accutrigger have heavy free-floating barrel. It will save you money for a great scope. you wont regret it at all. I promise.

[twyo]

I will look at both the Kimber and Savage. Thank you

[pphreed]

You want pretty rem, sako weatherby with wood stocks are fine if you want utility accuracy and a great price savage is the way to go i have several my 243. has shot ............................250 groups my 3oo wsm sub .....500 groups and the 308 is in between those 2 if you don't like the the accu trigger go with a even less expensive stevens and put a custom trigger on it also a good gun at a good price is cz and they have set triggers good luck in finding exactly what you want Fred

[338RemUltraMag]

Personally I would get a SAVAGE rifle in 25-06, then get a competent gunsmith to chamber it in 25-06 AI, that is a good round I love it did it to my browning, got it back yesterday, should get about 250 fps more...