Looking for a bolt action rifle that can be used in wet and gritty conditions, then left in a vacation cabin that will get extremely cold then hot and humid throughout the year with minimal care.

Thinking stainless steel action, synthetic stock, 30-06 caliber is preferred, and it needs to be cheap but not one of the very bad rifles whose synthetic stocks split and shatter easily (meaning Savage Axis is out).

Thanks

not sure if the Ruger American comes in stainless but i've heard good reports on accuracy.

maybe leave some rem oil at the cabin to give it a good rub down then throw it in a silicone gun sock?

Give Tikka T3 a try.

They have those Savage light weight hunters in stainless. I'd get one of them. Otherwise get an Ultimate Shadow win 70.

sounds like a recipe for a blaser - they need to be neglected brutalized and abused, then thrown away, or turned into chinese machinery parts

Thompson Center Venture Weathershield comes in .30-06 and has a $75 rebate until the end of the year. To me it was a lot of rifle for the money. I had a blued version in .270 Win and it was an amazing shooter. The thing I really didn't like about it is the bolt handle is short and too small for my liking. It really just made the bolt throw feel awkward. If I didn't already have two other good shooting .270's I'd probably have kept it and had someone thread on a new bolt knob.

I let a buddy shoot it and he wanted it far worse than I did. I sold it to him with a Redfield Revolution Accurange 4-12X40 for $575 which was what I had in the rifle after getting the rebate and buying some rings to mount the scope. He couldn't put together another factory rifle for that cheap

It has 5R rifled barrel, and a MOA guarantee, externally adjustable trigger, Weaver style scope bases, and a single stack three round detachable magazine. The ergonomics of the stock feel good, and the Hogue rubber panels give it excellent grip. There is a lot of flex in the stock like any other injection molded factory stock but it's far better than the Axis.

I'd just get an old mauser service rifle from WW2 and be done with it

That old Mauser has a lot of history and doesn't deserve to go out like that. OTH, that sounds like a good career for an injection molded plastic CNC machined POS from Thompson Center. America's master gun maker, my ass.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
sounds like a recipe for a blaser - they need to be neglected brutalized and abused, then thrown away, or turned into chinese machinery parts

The blaser is the only one of the bunch that would still be kicking after that kind of abuse... Your beloved remchesters and rugers would be a pile of rust. No need to abuse a finely engineered rifle like a r8 when there are so many throw away rifles available.

Many of the new metal coatings are actually better than stainless-

Look for a used stainless/synth Remington 700 ADL (no floor plat) or SPS synthetic. You can find one really cheap if you look around, especially in pawn shops. I make low ball offers on some pretty nice guns in pawn shops, and have made out well on a few. The worst they can say is no. You want this rifle to actually be serviceable, right? So I would find a cheap set of used take-off Remington barrel mounted open sight and/or a cheap used, but very reliable, fixed power scope, such as a Leupold M8 in 2.5x, 4x, or 6x. I have a super cheap old Tasco fixed 4x scope on a 35 year old 700 ADL, in 308, that has been beat to hell by me, friends, and family. It has never lost zero! You can get one for about $30. However, if you can afford a new or used Leupold, I would get one. The new name for their fixed power line is FX. The Leupold 2.5x also comes in an extended eye relief version (EIR), which you'll want to avoid. I have a, now discontinued, Burris 2.5x, that I love as well.

Having said all that, an inexpensive stock Yugo 24/47 or a BRNO VZ24 can be had for next to nothin, and with just the slightest attention with an oily rag and a bore snake, now and then, will remain serviceable for longer than you will. 8mm Mauser ammo for any reasonable application is common enough, and gives up practically nothing to the 06'. My scope comments for the Rem700 equally apply to the Mauser, except the EIR scope, mounted on the barrel just forward of the receiver, is not a bad idea. Good luck.

P.S
There are so many millions of Mauser battle rifles out there. I'd rather see a beater battle rifle get put to good use as a cabin gun than rott in an adick or closet corner.

Stainless and have it cerakoted.

My cerakoted Kimber Montana doesn't get the care the others get, and does't complain at all. Mind you, I am not quite that rough with it!

Winchester extreme weather.

A guy at the gun show in Boise this past weekend had several used 98's for less than $300 asking price. One was a decent VZ-24 with a shiny bore. No flies on an 8x57.

Other good ones, the Moisin Nagant or a 6,5x55 Swede..

Spray any with WD-40 and walk away.

I only paid 300 for my ruger aws.
the scope cost a bit more.
I take it on my pack-in hunts, it's only care during that time is I take it in the tent at night.
I completely degreased the whole rifle down and barely added any oil back to the moving parts.
I just wipe the dirt off it, and actually clean it every 250-300 rounds.

I have a couple of Winchester Extreme Weather Model 70s. They don't see any real tough service like that, but they are built to take some tough conditions. If it was going to be as you describe it, then a trip to the cerakote gunshop should keep it running for years to come.

Stainless SYT stock is the way to go.
Store it dry and it well sit there fore years ready to go

Just to note, some stainless steel guns have regular old stainful (sic) steel parts in the innards. Especially to note trigger parts, springs , internal bolt parts, screws and pins.

Extreme cold and extreme heat isn't going to bother the rifle. Extreme moisture might if the rifle is prepared for it. But the question needs to be asked: Are you so busy that you can't spend 15minutes at the end of the hunt using a bore snake and hosing the entire rifle, inside and out, with WD-40?

As an addition to getting a rifle, invest in some good anti rust spray or wipe on. There are some pretty good ones out there, I use EzOx. I wipe a little on every gun I get, inside and out. Its a pretty good lubricant too. It leaves a barely noticeable coating. Re-do it every couple of years and you should be good.

Tikka T-3 or military surplus. But the surplus rifle will rust quicker.

Followed the formula and bought the Tikka T3 Stainless Lite.

If you really want to neglect the rifle, take the good advice here and buy used.
A 2nd hand Remington or Savage ought not be too heavy on the wallet....

- Lars/Finland

There is only one good rifle that fits your requirements, IMHO, a Winchester 70 Classic Stainless. These are the only rifles I am aware of that are ALL stainless. All the internal parts are stainless. The newer FN manufactured Model 70's do not have the original open style trigger, they have an enclosed Browning type trigger, hence you want a Classic.

quote:

Originally posted by mudstud:
There is only one good rifle that fits your requirements, IMHO, a Winchester 70 Classic Stainless. These are the only rifles I am aware of that are ALL stainless. All the internal parts are stainless. The newer FN manufactured Model 70's do not have the original open style trigger, they have an enclosed Browning type trigger, hence you want a Classic.

I think you are right on target, but he wants "cheap", and stainless Classic M70's ain't cheap.

Ruger M77 Stainless. Got one in a 358 Win that has been used and abused.

A different take on the question. I would suggest getting a rifle that you will enjoy using as that is a great part of the fun of hunting etc.
set it up like you want it and then get some of these bags.
https://www.zcorrproducts.com/

wipe the gun off put it in one of these and you are good to go rain or shine. Pull it out and you have a rifle you will enjoy and have confidence in.

If I was going to leave something in a cabin subject to theft, I'd also pick a military leftover for a "beater". I have a beat up WW2 GEW98 Mauser in 8X57 that has the bluing worn off that would fit the bill as the bore is in real nice condition and the bolt is nice and smooth. They are supposed to handle dirt and grit very well although I've not tested this theory.
No matter what rifle you choose, it is definitely a good idea to take 10-15 minutes to spray the crud away with WD-40 or BreakFree and then wipe it down and rub the metal with RemOil or the like and always clean the bore and leave a trace of oil in the bore before you leave for the year. Leaving dirt in any gun is just asking for trouble especially in the bore. Cleaning the bore is a way of making sure it is unobstructed.
My brother lucked out back in 1973 when he allowed a little dust & ice to build up in the barrel of his newly customized 1909 Argentine Mauser. He got the deer. But, the top of the .30-'06 barrel was blown away the entire length back to the chamber. Be safe.

Just get a Lee Enfield #4, have it NP3-ed, and be done with it.

quote:

Originally posted by A.J. Hydell:
Just get a Lee Enfield #4, have it NP3-ed, and be done with it.

I was thinking a Lee Enfield, too. Seems to me it is the ne plus ultra of beater rifles.

quote:

No matter what rifle you choose, it is definitely a good idea to take 10-15 minutes to spray the crud away with WD-40 or BreakFree and then wipe it down and rub the metal with RemOil or the like and always clean the bore and leave a trace of oil in the bore before you leave for the year.

Pretty much. But I used Turtle Wax for the metal's external surfaces.

I clean the metal I can get to (especially the outside of the barrel and receiver) of all oil, then coat it with a good car wax (like Turtle Wax). I'd also leave the bore and whatever metal I could not get to with wax, or which might cause a malfunction if waxed (firing pin & spring, locking lugs, etc.), with an oil coating.

Works for me.

Arisaka!! You can pick them up for NOTHING....

That's how I got my 1917 Enfield - for free. Well I did actually buy another rifle, the Enfield was later thrown in the deal.

Ruger American stainless in 30-06 for $399 if you shop around. Buy it and never look back!

quote:

Originally posted by Biggs300:
Ruger M77 Stainless. Got one in a 358 Win that has been used and abused.

Finally, someone that has the correct answer.
The only rifle that can stand up to the conditions you described. ( Which I've subjected my rifles to for years)
Is the stainless Ruger M77 MkII. Or Hawkeye.
The only prep you need to do is pull the fireing pin assembly out of the bolt. Decrease, dry and coat with Corrosion Block® . take out the mag box and follower spring and do the same. . Reassemble the rifle after the 2nd cost dries on and your very good to go!! With the synthetic stock you don't have any worry's about swelling or shrinking. And the action will take a lot of grit, sand , hemlock needle . Snow and extreme cold /snow .
My 458 that started life as a 338 has seen abuse that even Phil wouldn't subject Ole Ugly to. 23 years after I first started packing it it still works like new.
Grit,sand,snow,ice conditions. Completely forget enclosed bolt face actions with little tiny springs ,plungers and hooky little pieces of metal. You need a battle rifle. .
Aside from that. The P14 or 17 are close. You don't want trigger systems with little dinky parts that are enclosed so u can't get at them to clean them.
I've seen Savage Weather Warriors that spent a couple years on hand and power trollers. They didn't work any more. Too many little dinky parts.
The only other thing you should do on the Ruger action . IF THE RIFLE WILL BE IN A VIBRATION ENVIRONMENT. take retaining screw out of the bolt release and put a couple drops of red or blue lock title on the threads and reinstall.
The older stainless Model 70s are close. But the safety is very fragile compared to the M77 Mkll. . And it is up and exposed to the elements and abuse.

Oh ya, the Turtle wax thing. Corrosion Block® is much better. . Clean the steel with brake cleaner, ect let it dry. Have the rifle at warm dry room temp and hose it down with Corrosion Block® . let it dry to a film and recoat. Let dry and reassemble the rifle.

Oh ya and the WD40 doctrine. Since water is the carrier agent for the refined fish oil that is WD40. And it is a penetrating oil. That easily penetrates its way into primer pockets and duds primers like no ones business . It's best to keep it away from your guns. I have seen dozens and dozens of misfires caused by WD40.

I know I'm slaughtering many sacred cows here. But spend decades around commercial fishing boats, tug boats heavy welded aluminum skiffs, 3+4wheelers ,loggers crummys and tree thinners camps. And you learn about what works and what fails miserably when an accurate, hard hitting rifle is an absolute necessity of life!!!!
So far the only rifle that can stand up to the abuse of working men that aren't rifle centered ( guides) is the Stainless Ruger M77s. Nice old model 70s get kept in the wheel house or berth. You can keep Rugers in the engine room, cockpit, bait shed, seine skiff ect. Or on the handle bars of the 3 or 4 wheeler. And stand it up next to the wood stove . I've packed my 458 for hundreds of miles hanging on the towing post of my skiffs. . had to break inch thick frozen salt spray off them when I finally saw deer on the beach and turned them into supper.
Rugers " M77 MkII s are as tough as a pro grade Stihl or Husqvrna power saw. Most of the others aren't even as good as a Home Depot ,Poulan.

quote:

Originally posted by Cold Trigger Finger:
Oh ya, the Turtle wax thing. Corrosion Block® is much better. . Clean the steel with brake cleaner, ect let it dry. Have the rifle at warm dry room temp and hose it down with Corrosion Block® . let it dry to a film and recoat. Let dry and reassemble the rifle.

Thanks. Never heard of the stuff before, but I'll be giving it a try. The reviews make it sound like the best think since sliced bread.

Actually Weatherby has a SS composite stocked rifle in all WBY calibers for $549.00....You just cannot build one for that kind of money, and The 300, 7mm, or even the 257 WBY are all great killers of all that walks, crawls or swims.

quote:

Originally posted by B L O'Connor:

quote:

Originally posted by A.J. Hydell:
Just get a Lee Enfield #4, have it NP3-ed, and be done with it.

I was thinking a Lee Enfield, too. Seems to me it is the ne plus ultra of beater rifles.

This is the way I would go or a No.5. They have served the Canadian Rangers well for years. They do not have close tolerances so will keep functioning when modern sporting rifles cease to work.

This makes sense to me. Use what ever you want then put away.

quote:

Originally posted by els:
A different take on the question. I would suggest getting a rifle that you will enjoy using as that is a great part of the fun of hunting etc.
set it up like you want it and then get some of these bags.
https://www.zcorrproducts.com/

wipe the gun off put it in one of these and you are good to go rain or shine. Pull it out and you have a rifle you will enjoy and have confidence in.