My brother came to me for advice on a rifle and I wasn't sure what to recommend. This will be his first 30-06 and will primarily be used to hunt deer and bear in the Northeast. Shots will be under 200 yards.

He wants to keep the whole setup under a grand, including scope. My initial thought is go with a better rifle and a cheaper scope, as that can be upgraded later. Does the old stand-by Remington 700 make sense? Anyone have experience with the Savage 111 Hunter XP package? What other options should be considered?

Remington 700 with a 3x9 Weaver scope.

yes the savage 11 FCXP3 I bought years ago came with a simmons scope. fuggetabouddit.

I see savage has a combo with a nikon scope. that would be my minimum.

don't go cheap on a scope. it can ruin a hunt, or wound an animal.

Just my 2 cents - I'd go with the Winchester Model 70 over the 700. But that's a matter of personal preference. I'm sure a 700 would do fine, although be careful about the triggers - they recently had a safety recall on their triggers on rifles manufactured through April 2014 (I believe).

As for glass I'd recommend Leupold - they have both very high-end and very economical scopes. I agree with delloro - cheap glass is a no-no.

Wait for the right deal at an auction or gun shop, and you should be able to get this set-up for just under a grand.

No argument against using the best glass you can afford.

The most accurate .30-06 sporter I have ever fired was a Savage 111 syn rifle found at Dick's. I think my daughter's classmate spent around $400 on the package.

Sam

Nothing wrong with a 700, 70 or Savage. For the $$ I would pick up a Howa. Same barreled action that Weatherby uses in their Vanguard MOA. Their package starts around $550 and they also have a package that includes a Zeiss scope and still lists under $950.

As others said don't cut too many corners on the scope.

Model 70 Featherweight and a Minox 3-9x40 BDC from CameralandNY's open box specials.
@ $750 for the rifle and
@ $169 delivered, for the scope
@ $45 bases and rings
_____________
@ $964 all in for a beautiful, accurate rifle and a first class scope which you and your heirs will be proud of.
NOTE: My Minox scopes, to my eyes, are as good as Zeiss Conquest, Leupold VXII and VXIII, Burris, and Nikon Monarch.

What I would suggest is a rifle like I used in the Canadian woods...killed most of my moose with it as matter of fact. It was a
Remington Model 760 pump carbine in .30-06.

Frank Martinez currently has my old one, to sell & ship for me, and it has a scope already on it though I cannot remember whether a cheapy or a really good one. Anyway, he could shoot you a price, which wont' be anything near as high as a new Model 70 or Model 700 would be without a scope.

They are very popular with hunters in the NE U.S., so would be easy to sell if he ever wanted to spend more money and "upgrade"....which he probably won't when he sees how well they work and how well that one shoots.

Get a Ruger 77 and a Leupold VX-2. He will have it for his entire life. If you can spend about the same on the rifle (good quality used) and a better than average scope, he will be well armed. Everyone will have their preferences as I have mine, but stick with the above formula and you will not go wrong. Keep a close eye at the local gun shops and eventually the right rifle will turn up. Dont be in a hurry to buy and you definately dont have to buy new.

quote:

Get a Ruger 77 and a Leupold VX-2. He will have it for his entire life. If you can spend about the same on the rifle (good quality used) and a better than average scope

Make stainless and it well last several life times

What style of hunting there in the NE. Still hunting w/ hot carry? (that's how I still hunt here in Alaska). If so, then a M77 Mk-II or M70 classic. Can't recommend a 2-position safety for still hunting and hot carry.

A lot of good rifles have been chambered in the 30/06. I picked one up here. Be patient. There are many that you can find (here, gun shows, discount/big box stores, pawn shops ). Someone will feel the urge to 'upgrade' after watching some jackass on whiz bang at long range tv and get rid of a good 06. Their loss, your gain.

M70 Classic.

M70 Ultimate Shadow

Here is a good start, leaving a bit of room for a VX-2 and rings.

On another note, have him visit the local gun shop and handle a couple. There a several in that price range. Nothing wrong with the suggestions above, what feels right in the hand is what he should look for. Also, nothing wrong with buying used.

the CZ is a pretty nice one. Add a 3-9X Leupold and be happy...

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
What I would suggest is a rifle like I used in the Canadian woods...killed most of my moose with it as matter of fact. It was a
Remington Model 760 pump carbine in .30-06.

the Benoits swear by them. http://www.benoitsbigbucks.com/

They are common as dirt in PA. I don't like them much but they do the job.

quote:

Originally posted by Alberta Canuck:
What I would suggest is a rifle like I used in the Canadian woods...killed most of my moose with it as matter of fact. It was a Remington Model 760 pump carbine in .30-06.

I have a 7600 in .30-06 and one of the first .35 Whelens when they came out. Of all the guns in my arsenal, those two 7600's are the only two that will never be sold. They both wear 2x7 Burris Compacts.

There are many decent choices. The M700 you mentioned is one of them. Another is the Vanguard for a little less money.

The rifle that has been impressing the hell out me lately in the Winchester M70. They've had decades of lackluster execution, but they sure seem to have learned how to build a rifle now. The featherweight would work nicely.

If it does not have to be new, then look at gun shops, pawn shops, etc. Last August I picked up like-new Colt Light Rifle in 30-06 for $510 and that left plenty of money for a decent scope. I believe I put a Zeiss Conquest on it for another $400.

Win 70 and Leupold. Even Saeed seems to go Leupold with his modest budget.

Weatherby Vanguard or Howa 1500 is pretty tough to beat.

quote:

posted 19 June 2014 22:50 Hide Post
What I would suggest is a rifle like I used in the Canadian woods...killed most of my moose with it as matter of fact. It was a
Remington Model 760 pump carbine in .30-06.

This. I have several and all are as accurate as most of my bolt guns. Buy one used at a reasonable price and spend ALL of the rest of the money on decent glass. If you can find it a Meopta 1.5-6x42 is about as perfect as it gets and runs about $400 last one I saw.

- Winchester M70
- Talley Light Weight Rings
- Vortex Viper 3-9x40mm (You can get an open box one from CamerlandNY for about $250. An excellent piece of glass for the price and warranty same as Leupold.)


As time comes he can upgrade the stock, but he will have a very solid rig with the above formula.

Lots of great advice, thanks. The gun does need to be new, not used - that was one of his parameters. The Model 70 on gunbroker is interesting for sure. Thanks again for the assistance.

A Ruger 77 or win. mod 70 and pick up a used 4X Leupold. Leupolds guarantee is good for the life of the scope regardless of how many times it has changed hands..besides fixed 4s don't break as a rule.

My first centerfire rifle was a .30-06. For about 30 years many deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, and a couple of moose fell to that rifle. Most of its life, it was under a 3-9x Weaver scope.

I've had three Rem 700 rifles. I still have two of them. I've used all of them on hunts in Africa. Two of them were chambered in 7mm Rem mag, and both of them wore 3-9x Weaver scopes. I also bought both of the 7 mags from pawn shops, and they looked new when I bought them. I got all of the 700 Rems to shoot 3 shot moa groups with hunting loads.

I've never had a trigger issue with any of my Rem 700s. My current Rem 700 7RM trigger is set to break at 2 1/2 lbs, and my Rem 700 .375 RUM trigger is set at 3 lbs.

My favorite rifle is my .300 Weatherby Vanguard. It is under a Leupold VX-1 4-12x scope. It is a great rifle, and before I put a Fancy custom walnut stock on it, the basic rifle and scope cost well under $1000.

Overland,
Unless your brother is recoil tolerant stay away from the light-weight rifles. My '06 is a ten pound rifle and I have never noticed the weight while carrying it up and down the mountains in the Cascades. I have noticed the recoil when practicing at the range. Some guys don't even notice the recoil of the '06 but I do and if I had gotten a light gun it would stay in the safe and never get shot.

Find the very best scope you can buy for $700.00. Then go find a used rifle for $300 or less.

You can't shoot it if you can't see it. Also, inexpensive scopes fail regularly. Usually when you needed it the most. New rifles tend to fail at the range in the first 50 rounds or not at all.

In fact, WalMart has new rifles in that price range. The last 2 Rem 700s I bought were $297.00, one being a 30-06. Any inexpensive factory rifle will kill rabbits at 200 yards, much less things as big as deer.

Leupolds, Weavers, Burris, and Nikons are cheap scopes by comparison to those foreign monstrosities that weigh a ton and have huge ocular lenses..Scope are a suckers buy IMO, I can see a big game animal in most any of them, if they hold up I don't care if the optics are crystal clear as long as they have a cross hair.

I am the opposite, buy a good rifle and a med. priced scope..I been buying used Leupolds for a couple of ions without complaint, and I hunt a lot all over the world and I'm rough as hell on even good rifles. My all time favorite scope is a 3X fixed Leupold followed by the 4X fixed..Never have I had any reason to change my mind on that. I have never made a shot that would have changed a thing with a 12 X..

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
Leupolds, Weavers, Burris, and Nikons are cheap scopes by comparison to those foreign monstrosities that weigh a ton and have huge ocular lenses..Scope are a suckers buy IMO, I can see a big game animal in most any of them, if they hold up I don't care if the optics are crystal clear as long as they have a cross hair.

I am the opposite, buy a good rifle and a med. priced scope..

Very well said. In one of the other forums, it seems the conventional wisdom is to buy a $200 Wally special, put it in a $500 Mcswirly stock, and top it off with a 6x24x50 eight pound $1500 eurotrash scope and actually brag about it.

Lots of good suggestions. I agree, you can't go wrong with a decent bolt rifle. I will mention that I have had bad experiences with two of the Model 700s and I am still getting recall notices from Remington about them. I got rid of those rifles a while ago and good riddance.

For the sort of hunting you specified, I suggest a rifle with a shorter barrel and a low to medium power 1" diameter scope. Leupold has some decent ones. I've been using their little 1-4X20 VX-HOG model on one rifle. I really like the Pig-Plex reticle and the scope is pretty decent all-around. Customer reviews at various retailers coincide with my opinion of the scope. For example, the reviews here: http://www.midwayusa.com/produ...g-plex-reticle-matte

I am a a guy who says get the best scope you can afford. My 06 has a 2.5x8 leupold VX3.
Its also a real nice rifle. An old jc higgins Fn built. I bought it at a gun show for 325.00 i think.
I gradually improved it over time, added a timney trigger had it blued and had an mpi stock bedded to it.
The same type of thing can be done with a sporterized mauser.VZ 24. Or similar.
There are lots of nice 06s that are a little crude. Put a quality scope on one and you are ready to hunt. Then over time gussy it up a bit.
that's my 2 cents worth. ...tj3006

I like the old all steel FN Mausers sold by Sears and Monkey Wards. If I could find a BRNO 21 it would be even better. I would hunt with iron sights a few years to afford a BRNO.


I think expensive scopes are a waste of money.
Expensive to repair. In a decade or two they might not even be repairable. It is money down the toilet then.
The top of the line for me if I did not expect to hunt varmits would be a 3X Leupold but I could get by with a K2.5 Weaver until I could find a good deal on the Leupold.

My take.....please don't buy a quality scope and connect it to your choice of rifle with a questionable mounting system.

Tally Lightweights eliminate one point of fail as do dual dovetail for front and rear


Take an accurate rifle and add a quality scope then join the two together with anything less than a rock solid mounting system and you will surely give yourself a future headache

Agree price and weight (they seem to go hand in hand) have increased beyond levels necessary for most hunting purposes. The old advice to spend more on the scope was well-intended. But now some fairly inexpensive scopes are plenty good.

Still, there is a sensible minimum quality level.......and you sure as heck don't want to find it!

Ditto the mounts. To be fair, problems with mounts are as likely to be user-induced as they are to be a quality issue.

As to those $200 Savages, the most accurate .30-06 I've ever encountered was a Dick's 111 rifle/scope package. Nothing wrong with that Bushnell scope, IMO.

Sam

Winchester is making the best rifles they have ever made and Remington is making the worst. That's a clue.

quote:

Leupolds, Weavers, Burris, and Nikons are cheap scopes by comparison to those foreign monstrosities that weigh a ton and have huge ocular lenses..Scope are a suckers buy IMO, I can see a big game animal in most any of them, if they hold up I don't care if the optics are crystal clear as long as they have a cross hair.I am the opposite, buy a good rifle and a med. priced scope..I been buying used Leupolds for a couple of ions without complaint, and I hunt a lot all over the world and I'm rough as hell on even good rifles. My all time favorite scope is a 3X fixed Leupold followed by the 4X fixed..Never have I had any reason to change my mind on that. I have never made a shot that would have changed a thing with a 12 X..

Words of wisdom do appear on these discussions from time to time, those above are some of the best I have seen in a while.

In Overlands op there is no mention as to how much hunting the person wanting the rifle will do, all that is mentioned is that the rifle will be used for deer and bear at ranges of 200 yards or less. I have been hunting for a little while and most of my guns are equipped with used steel tubed-El Paso built-K6 Weaver scopes, and I have had no problems.

Overland, go with your brother to a few gun dealers and let him handle a few different rifles and look thru a few different scopes and let him decide what he wants.

Asking folks on these sites about what kind of gun/scope rig to get, gets to be as worthless as tits on a boar hog, especially if it is a persons first center fire rifle.

Your brother needs to find something he is comfortable with on all or most levels including price, for the job he is planning on using the rig for. Then as his experience grows he can make adjustments if they are necessary to the rig he puts together.

quote:

Originally posted by RyanB:
Winchester is making the best rifles they have ever made and Remington is making the worst. That's a clue.

ROFLMAO Do you have any facts or are you basing your comment on the fact that you own A Winchester?

quote:

Originally posted by RyanB:
Winchester is making the best rifles they have ever made and Remington is making the worst. That's a clue.

I don't know about Remington to as to the best Winchesters ever.....bull shit called