I am pretty fussy about having CRF hence the options are limited to these.<BR><BR>As far as I can see, the Ruger has a shorter action which puts it at the top of my list at the moment.<BR><BR>I like the CZ rifles most, but their prices have gotten a bit high recently. The action is also standard length, which negates a great benefit of the .308 Win. cartridge -- its short length.<BR><BR>I have a Zastava .270 Win and I really like it. If I can find one for a good price I might consider it, but they have also become expensive here. For the same money I think he Ruger is better finished.<BR><BR>Another option is to buy an standard M98 ex-military sporter and have some change to fit Winchester-type safety etc.<BR><BR>I am also open to suggestions.<BR><BR>CheersI am looking at buying a .308 Winchester. In the R10,000 to R12,000 (new) price range I have the following options.Ruger M77 HwakeyeCZ 550Remington 798/ZastavaM98 Sporter

What about a Model 70 Winchester with CRF. If you could get one with a Boss on it then you could easily add a silencer?

Well I vote for the CZ550. Only because I took one to the Grassveldt and hunted small plains game there with Andrew McLaren.

On one windy day my sons rifle completely filled with blown dust. My son had to scoop it out of the magazine well of his Parker Hale Mauser 98 in .243 with his fingers. My .308 CZ was sealed against that level of ingress and still functioned.

quote:

Originally posted by larrys01:
What about a Model 70 Winchester with CRF. If you could get one with a Boss on it then you could easily add a silencer?

I did consider adding it to the list, but it is above the price bracket in which I am looking. (Though the CZ might be above it as well, if only just.) Lovely rifles those M70s.

quote:

Originally posted by Code4:
Well I vote for the CZ550. Only because I took one to the Grassveldt and hunted small plains game there with Andrew McLaren.

On one windy day my sons rifle completely filled with blown dust. My son had to scoop it out of the magazine well of his Parker Hale Mauser 98 in .243 with his fingers. My .308 CZ was sealed against that level of ingress and still functioned.

The CZ is a strong contender. I think the CZ rifle is, to local South African hunters, what the Winchester M70 is to American hunters.

quote:

Model 70 Winchester

IMO it's well worth the extra.....but it's well under 12,000 Rand!

If you can find a used Winchester in that action length you would be very happy with it (re barreling included).

I have had a few sporterized Model 98s in this caliber before. They really worked well.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Model 70 Winchester

IMO it's well worth the extra.....but it's well under 12,000 Rand!

He needs a 338 Federal.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Model 70 Winchester

IMO it's well worth the extra.....but it's well under 12,000 Rand!

I did consider the The M70 Sporter which retails at around R14,000 here. I suppose I could stretch my budget a bit.

quote:

Originally posted by scottfromdallas:

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

Model 70 Winchester

IMO it's well worth the extra.....but it's well under 12,000 Rand!

He needs a 338 Federal.

I really like this cartridge, but I can't find anything chambered in this locally. I could possibly go the route of re-barrelling an existing Mauser sporter to achieve this though.

quote:

I did consider the The M70 Sporter which retails at around R14,000 here. I suppose I could stretch my budget a bit.

The new M-70 can be had for about $650 here....and at 7 Rand/dollar it's under 5,000 Rand.....somewhere there's a very big hit coming on!....but I haven't checked the exchange rate for a while yet!

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:

quote:

I did consider the The M70 Sporter which retails at around R14,000 here. I suppose I could stretch my budget a bit.

The new M-70 can be had for about $650 here....and at 7 Rand/dollar it's under 5,000 Rand.....somewhere there's a very big hit coming on!....but I haven't checked the exchange rate for a while yet!

1 U.S. dollar = 7.1055025 South African rands.

Apparently import duties add much to the cost, but I suspect someone is still making a tidy profit.

If you decide on the Ruger Hawkeye in .308 get their "Standard" version and NOT the Ultra Light. I have a Ruger Ultra Light in .308 and it's barrel is so light & thin that if you use a full power .308 cartridge (Factory) the barrel "whips" around so much it's not accurate and groups "Walk" around the target. I had to use .300 Savage loads in my .308 to receive acceptable accuracy. You might consider a Browning A-Bolt in .308.

i'd get either a ruger hawkeye or an mk2. ime, they are great rifles, well built, accurate, and will give you a lifetime of use.

You should consider the Kimber 84. Scoped mine weighs in at 6 1/2 pounds and shoots 5/8" groups. Of all my rifles it has become my "go to" rifle.

If you stretch the budget to accommodate the M70, by all means do it and you won't be dissapointed! If not, I think a rebarreled 98 or a CZ will serve you well.

I think we Americans get too used to the fact that we have so many options readily available to us, must be a pain for some of the members to get exactly what they want

Also, If taken care of the M 70 is apt to go up in value more then the others?

Ruger Hawkeye. They really seem to shoot since they brought barrel-making back in-house. And I agree about being well-finished.

I like the Model 70's, 98's/Remington Zastavas, and CZ's too. Not really a bad choice out there. My experience is that the Model 70's tend to be the better shooters than the others, but it's not on your list. I'd want the short action for a .308, too.

Steve

i have a zastava from the 1960's (imported by herters) in .308.

paid too much for it. love it. wouldn't trade it for anything.

CZ would be a very close second choice.

quote:

Originally posted by DRS:
If you decide on the Ruger Hawkeye in .308 get their "Standard" version and NOT the Ultra Light.

+1 While I like the Winchester Feather Weight, some of the the other light weight guns are designed for midgets who only hunt mountain goats. I like the way the Winchester and Ruger feel, to me the CZ feels too big, like it should be at least a .375.

Right now I'm tempted to build a new .308 on a Winchester action with iron sights and QD mounts that weighs in at around 7-8# scoped. It should be just as comfortable shooting a woodchuck at 300 yards as it is a whitetail at 30 in a size that I can carry around all day long for normal hunting.

I voted Ruger but not because the others were any less capable. The Ruger is the better selection for that round and none of the others really fit the round.

+1 on why win m70, Rem 700 or 7 are not considered. These too would be better selections for a 308.

Also, what is the end result suppose to be? A bench rest target gun or light weight hunter.

Ill vote other. Ive got a few 308s and hands down my favorite is my rem model 7 stainless synthetic. Its an absolute tack driver and is a joy to carry in the woods. couldnt think of a better whitetail or black bear rig.

At the exchange rate quite a few rifles should be in your budget. Is it only american rifles that have import duties. The CZ is imported to S. Africa as well I think. If so there are other
Euro rifles out there. Sako, Tikka, Steyr sbs pro hunter in a mountain rifle. This is a great little rifle for the money.

quote:

Originally posted by larrys01:
What about a Model 70 Winchester with CRF. If you could get one with a Boss on it then you could easily add a silencer?

What Larry said, a 308 Featherweight is a NICE rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by Lloyd Smale:
Ill vote other. Ive got a few 308s and hands down my favorite is my rem model 7 stainless synthetic. Its an absolute tack driver and is a joy to carry in the woods. couldnt think of a better whitetail or black bear rig.

Carbines don't get any better than that.

quote:

Originally posted by Captain Finlander:
I voted Ruger but not because the others were any less capable. The Ruger is the better selection for that round and none of the others really fit the round.

+1 on why win m70, Rem 700 or 7 are not considered. These too would be better selections for a 308.

Also, what is the end result suppose to be? A bench rest target gun or light weight hunter.

Sorry, I should have mentioned that it would have to be a lightweight hunter.

As much as I love the CZ rifles, the advantage of the shorter .308 Winchester (vs e.g. .30-06 Springfield) is not realised as the CZ .308 is built on their standard length action, as is the Zastava.

The Ruger Hawkeye action has been shortened by .75" for the .308 Win & family cartridges, so that adds points for the Ruger. I see that the Ruger .308 Win has a 1:10 twist which is an advantage as well, as I plan to use the rifle with 180 grainer - 200 grain bullets. (I have a .270 for 150 grain and lighter bullets.)

I've shot quite a few 308's, and I bought a Winchester Model 70 Extrem Weather last year. I am extremely happy with it. Factory ammo first day was 1/2" @ 100 shooting 150grn Nosler Customs. (Accubonds)

Really like it, and it is fairly light and has a great feel.

Gidday umshiniwam,

Get a Sako forrester, or Sako 85 if you are worried about action length. One like this

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Sport...uction-323549022.htm

Anything else is just mucking about and this would be perfect in the bush. Its a classic and you wouldn't be stuck with that rough as guts crap made to used by those without class.

I had a look at this rifle yesterday and you can probably still see the drool marks. I just wish I didn't have to do the repairs on the Landcruiser otherwise it would be going into the safe.

Happy Hunting

Hamish

The rifle that would top the Sako 85 .... the Schultz & Larsen M97-DL at £1,850.00
Not cheap in comparison with standard factory offerings, but it is in another class.
A high quality Danish made rifle and those that have them should comment/share their opinions.
Seldom seen in the USA, but market in the UK and now also in SA.
These rifles are highly sought after in Europe.
The M97-DL has some special design features in their actions.


These rifles are in use throughout NZ for long-range shooting and hunting including F-class target shooting.

Standard Action:

22-250 Rem
.243 Win
6mm N Br.
25.06
6.5x55
6.5-284
.270 Win
.308 Win -------->
.30.06
9.3x62 mm

Magnum Action:

270 wsm
7mm Rem Mag
7mm wsm
300 Win Mag
300 wsm
338 Win Mag
358 N Mag
375 Dakota
458 Win Mag

Warrior

Savage American Classic Short Action .308 Win. Most accurate out of the box rifle on the planet..!