Way back a ways I found a blued/synthetic Weatherby Vanguard, 30-06, Leupold VX II 3 - 9x 40mm duplex in a pawn shop. "All guns, 20% off."

At least 85%, and $350 out the door.

This quickly became one of my favorite rifles, practical, accurate, and "the right caliber."

And so my nephew, a hard working kid with a wife and family, says, "Hey! If you see a nice bolt 30-06 at a decent price, pick it up for me and I'll pay you back."

He knows I shop a lot, and he likes my Weatherby. Well, Christmas was coming up, Thanksgiving, all that "holiday stuff."

I gave him the Weatherby. It's a great rifle and exactly what he had in mind.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yeah, it will give me a reason to shop for a replacement."

And so I looked, and looked, and looked. Lots of gun shops, pawn shops, gun shows. Basically looking for another Vanguard, or a Rem. 700, Win. Mod. 70, in 30-06.

Then I looked at 7mm, 7mm RUM, 270, .338, 340 Wby, even a .375 H&H. Looked at several Browing A Bolts, but decided I prefer the "Mauser style" of the Rem, Win, or Vanguard. Thought about a Ruger M77, thought about new guns.

Looked at a lot of really nice rifles with cheap scopes. That's like a good looking woman in K-Mart polyester.

Thought about a synthetic / stainless Rem. 700, new, and a new Leupold scope. And getting into March, April I'm thinking I'm not finding what I'm looking for. Maybe I should buy yet another AR --

And then on the rack one day, a Win. 70 "Stainless Classic." These were reintroduced by Winchester in 1992, synthetic and stainless, went back to the positive feed and full-length extractor. 30-06 Spfd. "God's caliber."

Winchester has moved out of the plant in New Haven, but this gun sports "New Haven, Conn." on the barrel.

Leupold VX II, 3 - 9x 40mm, duplex, silver finish.

I adjusted the trigger down to about 1.5 lb, and no over-travel. This for bench and target, not a field gun for hunting.

165 gr. Speer boat-tails, Hodgdon 4895 in Lapua brass w/ Federal primers, and this gun shoots sub-MOA, easily.

I paid a bit more for it than the Vanguard. But price doesn't matter if it's what you're looking for. And this is what I had in mind.

We all have a rifle like this, don't we?

I am a pre 64 Winchester 70 fan but I really like the 1990's vintage Win 70 Classic Stainless Fwt 30-06 in the Walnut stock. I keep threatening to get another; yeah I had one and sold it!!! They are a beautiful, accurate, handy gun!

I have a blued 30-06 mod 70 classic fwt. I've taken quite a few white tails and a mule deer and pronghorn just this last fall (330 yd on the antelope). I've gone back and forth over trading/selling for something else, but it seems to have a permanent place in my safe. Good choice in my book.

Except for the Jennings 22 pistol, which I got in a trade for some hand-tied flies, I don't think there's a gun I've sold that I wish I hadn't. Ohhhhhh, wait -- The Glock 22. I'll never own another Glock.

I have a stainless 270 with a wood stock. Not going to sell it. Have looked for a 30-06 at gun shows, but so far no luck. I have only shot 150 grain bullets in it.

I have looked at a few of these of late. What does it take in the way of work to get MOST of them to shoot 1- 1.5 MOA? I would not want to spend $2-3000 on one for a new stock and barrel.

I already have Winchester projects LOL!

jd - i'd say you have a fine rifle, one that will last you and your children their entire lives.

tex - all reports i have seen, read, and heard regarding the new south carolina m70's have been positive regarding accuracy. as with almost every rifle, you might have to try a few different factory loads to find the one your rifle shoots best, i do believe you'll find a couple accurate loads though, considering the quality of factory loads today.

when you decide on a rifle, get a couple boxes of different factory loads (assuming you don't reload) and try them. if yours is a 30-06, consider a box of win power points (or whatever) and a box of rem 180gr corelokts. lots of ammo choices out there. you are only limited by you bank account. shoot the rifle first, then, if accuracy isn't what you want, start tinkering. for many, initial accuracy is more than sufficient for a lifetime of hunting. good luck.