Your opinion on best $600-800 30.06 hunting rifle

[mac]

Im starting to kick the tires on a new 30.06 synthetic stock and stainless barrel. I may move up the price range above the standard Remington, Savage, T/C, Ruger models- kinda sick of recalls also.  Any opinions and experience with the Weatherby Vanguard S2 or Tikka T3Lite (add the limbsaver) ? or anything else . Mainly for deer and occassional range session. Trying to see what we are getting for an additional few hundred bucks vs the base brands listed above.

[ants]

I like the Ruger M77. The  Savage 111's and 16's are great too.. I hunt with an M77 (wood stock & blued…Im old school) But they are available in stainless with synthetic stocks. Great triggers and very accurate. Same with the 111's and 16's.

[G-Man]

browning a-bolt , but expect to pay 2-3x the value of the gun for good optics if your going to make a good combo

[NFA-ADK]

Savage is great for the price but I have to say the Browning A-bolt is one hell of a gun but higher range. Both accurate barrels but the fire mechanism and bolt action are vastly different.  I have the Savage 110 and it is very accurate since day 1 only complaint was the front sight kept coming off, scope made that a none issue.  In that range the Savage gets my vote but I am bias as an owner. 

[silent death]

Tikka t3 or a savage 10fcp....cant go wrong with eathier one....

But tikka rifles have the smoothest actions ...

[Ford]

browning a-bolt , but expect to pay 2-3x the value of the gun for good optics if your going to make a good combo

 

Browning X Bolt is a nice shooter as well. My cousin has one in 30-06, Leupold  scope. Nice set up. The trigger is very good, and is adjustable. Probably will be my next rifle, maybe in .308. Maybe in the Micro version made for girls and youth. (lol) I like handy rifles.

 

My current hunting rifle is a Savage 110, bought with a Simmons scope attached for 400 dollars in 1996 or so. That Simmons has been replaced with a Leupold, cost more than the whole combo. Shoots under a minute of angle if I do my part though.

[adkbuck]

I have had great luck with the Weatherby Vanguard, they send a target in the box with the rifle with a three shot sub-minute group.  Their barrels are made by Howa Machinery Company in Japan but are great barrels.  Form personal experience I know Browning A bolts have great out of the box accuracy and I'm sure their newer line is no exception.   Although I don't own a Savage they have a great reputation for out-of-the- box accuracy as Ford says.

 

Howa also makes there own line of rifles and are an exceptionally good value.  http://www.howarifles.eu/21.html.  If I were in the market I would probably check them out. 

[thphm]

The new ruger is pretty good from the reports from people on here that have them.I have had just about every model of there rifles #1 threw Ranch rifle, every one of them shot good.

Remington, had every version of the 700,but all were older rifles all were good.

Winchester model 70 ,older ones ,still have one of them

Savage never had one.

Bro has a A Bolt in 06 and loves it.

Tika had one in 06 and sold it in less then a year was not impressed with it.Store owner said save your pennies and buy a real Sako. should have listened to him.

Syn. stocks most are noisey ,some are junk.Unless they are made by H&S, Mcmillan or Howe.

Stainless Steel BBL.is heavier then reg. steel.and they do rust,if not taken care of.

Check and see what weight bullet you intend on shooting and find a rifle with the twist rate BBL. for that bullet although most over the counter rifles have BBL's for the popular bullets.

Scopes as said above you can spend more for one then the rifle.Had everything from B to Z brand and the best band for the buck is a bushnell 3000 or 4000 series.

[Mr VJP]

I don't know if you can go to $1000 or not, but the best rifle in synthetic and stainless, in my opinion, is the Kimber Montana.  They make a great one in .30-06.

 

A match grade chamber, great trigger, pillar bedding and air gauged barrel insures fantastic accuracy.  It is also the lightest .30-06 on the market, short of a custom rifle.  And just because it's light doesn't mean heavy recoil.  With the Kevlar composite stock designed by Melvin Forbes, of Ultra Light Arms fame, the felt recoil is minimal.  

 

And you don't need to put a scope on it that costs 2 or 3 times what the rifle did either.  A good Leupold VX-II in 3x9-40mm will be perfect and it's guaranteed for life.

 

You can find good prices on this rifle on www.gunbroker.com and should be able to get the rifle, scope, mounts and rings for about $1300 total.

 

That may sound high, but you will not feel that way after you own it.  It will last a number of lifetimes and will never be worth less than you paid for it.  When it comes to a good rifle, go for the best you can possibly afford.  Compromise somewhere else.

 

I may sound like I'm sold on the Kimber Montana.  I am.  I have 5 of them now.

 

[ATbuckhunter]

I would have said T/C Icon but those are no longer made. Remington 700, Winchester model 70 and T/C Encore are great for that price range. Browning A and X-bolt are amazing guns for just a little more money. 

[Terry]

I just bought a Ruger Hawkeye stainless/synthetic in 30-06. I haven't shot it yet, but I love how it feels. I put a Leupold VXII 3-9x40 on it and don't see needing anything more for a scope.

[ny hunter]

I shoot a T/C Venture in 30-06 and I love it...I won the rifle a few years ago and it is my main go to rifle.Yes it was recalled 2 years ago but T/C sent me a shipping label and did the repair in a week.I also own 4 Weatherby Vangaurds and love them all as well....There price has gone up in the last couple of years.But they are very accurate right out of the box..Take a look at the Venture I am sure you well be very happy with it..

[mac]

For those who shoot the Browning A or X bolt,  or the Weatherby Vanguards  -would you say the bolt is as smooth as the Tikka ? 

[gfdeputy2]

Not many bolt actions I would trade my Ruger M77 or my Ruger American for

[G-Man]

the browning action is extreemly smooth, i havent shot a tikka..but my browning is left handed... and the only guys i know that have one are right handed...

[ApexerER]

For half the price of what you are looking at I am not sure how you could beat the Ruger American. My buddy just picked one up and it is a great rifle.. The accuracy was really really impressive to me for such a low cost option. I am considering getting one for a back up rifle.

[mac]

i have a ruger and others that I mentioned. thats why i asked for opinions and insight on some other brands 

[ny hunter]

Mac to be honest I have never picked one up....

[ants]

Its hard.. a lot of good ones out there. Although I have been using an M77 Ruger, for the past 4 or 5 years, I have used an old (early 80's ) Rem 700 in 30-06 for years. Great rifle. I have also used an old Win. 70 and an older  Rem. 7400 . …all good. If I had to choose only one???.. the old 700 for sure. But thats just me. Everyone has their favorites. 

[BizCT]

I've only heard good things about the browning a bolt, Weatherby vanguard and tikka

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Edited June 18, 2014 by Biz-R-OWorld

[dbHunterNY]

Vanguard s2 is a great gun. Others can be good but it's like playing the lottery and most likely get something average

[defrazzle]

Wow - this is a difficult topic.  So many choices, so many good manufacturers.  I see the limiting factor is $$$'s........  You did not say whether you would want new or used?  I am sure that there are some good, fair prices out there for a used rifle you want.  Personally, I will continue to shoot my 1962 Remington 700 BDL in .308, wood stock and 20" factory barrel!  Good Luck in getting your gun.