I am looking into buying a new rifle in either .300 win mag or .300wsm. Anyone got a good recomendation as to the most accurate out of the box for under $500.

Thanx,
Mark

I would look at a Weatherby Vanguard or a Savage.

I have looked at the vanguards. What model Savage? They have alot!!!

Tikka - hands down.

quote:

Originally posted by toadhead:
Tikka - hands down.

I don't think you'll find a Tikka for under $500 unless maybe a used one.

I have all three of these rifles

Remington ADL (2) .243 win and 30/06
Savage 110 .270 win
Weatherby Vangaurd 7mm Rem Mag.

All are composite stocks and all have Leupolds atop of leupold dual dovetail mounts.

Of the three I will choose the Remington for these issues I have compared apples to apples best I could easily do.

The Remington has the best fit and finish in stock to metal of the three.

The Remington has a easy to adjust trigger and a smooth safty.

The Savage has a better barrel but the stock isn't as well fit and unless you buy the accu-trigger...well

The Vangaurd is about a solid pound heavier than the Remington and Savage but it does have bottom metal as the two others don't but the trigger is not adjustable below 4 lbs.

All are about $400 bucks...my savage outshoots all the others by just a bit but the Remingtons are close behind while my Vangaurd is not a good shooter at all at about 2" best.

quote:

Originally posted by akpls:

quote:

Originally posted by toadhead:
Tikka - hands down.

I don't think you'll find a Tikka for under $500 unless maybe a used one.

NIB Tikka .300 WM for buy it now price of $477.00 right now at www.gunbroker.com as well as many other Tikkas in most any caliber for less than $500.
You're just not lookin, dude.

I think I the Savage. So far it is winning the race fpr accuracy. I don't know anything about the tikka. Give me some other info.

Tikka:

- are made in Finland in the same factory as Sako. Pretty much same barrel.

- 1 MOA accuracy guarantee.

- action smoooth as butter and trigger crisp as a cracker. Can be adjusted but usually goood right out of box.

- synthetic stocks are not liked by some people and plastic magazine seems very cheap but hold up well under use. Can be had with wood stock as well.

- a rifle that shoots well without any tuning, with good handloads shoots even better.

I vote for the WBY Vanguard. I've scoped and sighted in 4 or 5 of them over the years and ALL of them shot well. Just saw one in .270 Win today at Wally World for $390!!

FN in MT

In wsm your choices are a bit more limited on the bargain priced rifles. If you shopped the used racks (which is perfectly fine, its like a barely used car, let someone else take the hit on the price) then look until you find what you want. New rifles...Rem 700 SPS can be had in 300wsm for around 500 and there are a few models of Savages available in wsm's for right under 500$

In 300 Win, you have a GREAT option! The Stevens 200. This is what the Savage 110 was before the accutrigger, they're the same rifle. These can be had for 300$ The stock has much to be desired, and its not an accutrigger model. BUT, you might be able to pick up a Stevens, and put it on an after market stock (thats if you don't like it, of course) and possibly even get a trigger job and still be around your 500$ mark.

I highly suggest the used route, most of the larger gun shops have their rifles inspected by a gunsmith before putting them out for sale. If you can wait, hold off until after your local big game season ends. There is likely to be a good selection of various magnum rifles. You'll find a lot of "hunters" who thought a bigger caliber would mean gut shot deer will die, or they lost that wounded animal last year cause they needed a magnum, or, they just got bad advice. So they go buy (more often then not) a fairly light, powerful gun, shoot it probably less then 20 times and turn it in because they're afraid of the recoil.

I'm with Toadhead.

Tikka's are hard to beat, you cant wear them out by regular use and you dont need to visit a gunsmith to make them shoot well, or any other matter.

i'd get the vanguard or savage. i can't get past all the plastic on the tikka.

So far after lokking at all the sugestions, I think I am liking the tikka most. But, I don't like the plastic either, plus after dry firing it the mag fell out. I know this must have been opperator error, and that is why I am still considering it. I really like the Savage as well, but I can't seem to choose which one. I really like the the Savage Model 116FHSAK, but I can't find it anywhere. I don't want to order one either without ever seeing it in person. Any other Suggestions?

There is a Tika available with a dark grey laminate stock and SS barrel. It might be a bit more, but if you like the Tika but not the plastic that might be the way to go.

I saw several Savage 11's in WSM's today for 459-499$ at Gander Mountain, not sure if you have one near you or not.

Your best bet might be handling similar models you like, then order it in the stock you want. There is also always the option of putting on another stock, unless you're buying fancy claro walnut or exhibition grade stocks, you can usually get a new one for under 150$ That gives you some more flex room on what you like.

Go with the Tikka T3 in the LS model. Costs more. I have 2 T3's in the LS model (270WSM's) and buddy had one in a 300WSM and a few in the Varmint and Tactical models-AWESOME SHOOTERS.

If not go SAKO! I have 5 of the model 75 (3 in the SS and 2 in the Greywolf models)...LOVE THEM SAKOS!

Cant go wrong for the money with the Tikkas

I would put the extra money and buy the best factory rifle in the best medium bore caliber of all time-a new Win mod 70 chambered for the 300 Win Mag.

No gander mountains in AZ!!! It is not the plastic stock that I don't like. It is the plastic mag.

Hello,
I have a Tika T3 Tactical w/ the plastic magazine and it was mentioned that it fell out, but you will need to seat it firmly in the front area(where the catch is located.) Some of us locally shoot our rifles in pretty rough conditions, realistic field/tactical applications on large farm available to us and ranges vary from 100 yds on out to 1000 yds and beyond. I am sure one could break the mag, but mine and others have been dropped from rope/line and swung against rocks, hard earth, etc. and taken a beating and not damaged to date. Tough stuff. As for performance in the accuracy department, stays right with the other brands costing two to three times what the Tika does. Can't speak with experience of the sporting rifles Tika offers, but if they are half as good as the Tactical versions, outstanding rifle in all respects. Excellent value for the dollar spent based on what I have seen so far.

quote:

Originally posted by Markhpb:
I am looking into buying a new rifle in either .300 win mag or .300wsm. Anyone got a good recomendation as to the most accurate out of the box for under $500.

Thanx,
Mark

Buy a 7MM Mag. or .300 Win mag. Stay away from 300 WSM. Possible poor feeding and bullet seating hassle.

IMO, best buy in a rifle is the Savage. Best to build your own. This is what I just did:

- Bought a Stevens 200 in 7MM Mag.@ $300.00
- Bought Lee RGB dies in 7mm Mag. @ 18.00

Going to shoot my moose, elk and deer with this gun.

Then next summer going to build my own 338-06:

- Buy Adams & Bennett 338-06 barrel @ $130.00
- Buy Bell & Carlson Duramaxx stock @ $120.00
- Buy .473" bolt head @ $19.00
- Buy Timney trigger @ $104.00

Don't buy Savage barrel nut wrench or Go-No gauges. Ask around. A gunsmith will have the parts to do the job. Offer him the easiest $10.00 ever made for a 5 minute job.

Total to have custom rifle w/ good stock, good trigger and shoot 0.5-1.0 MOA : $650.00

.338-06 is a much better big game caliber than a .300 Win. Mag.

You could also buy a Stevens 30-06 and only change the trigger. $400.00 MOA rifle. I asked for a 30-06 but they had none so went 7mm Mag.

While looking at the Stevens 200 I really liked the stock design. It has a huge gap all around the barrel. This is touted as unsightly and cheap but this is exactly what you want in a free floated barrel! Even a cheap plastic thin stock is not going to touch the barrel.

Weatherby Vanguard

My Tikka t3 (270) has been pretty good to me. I've beaten the hell out of it too, and it still holds to 1" or less with Fed Premium or Fusion.

quote:

I would put the extra money and buy the best factory rifle in the best medium bore caliber of all time-a new Win mod 70 chambered for the 300 Win Mag.

+1 or a .270 or the grand ole '06
It will be worth more in the long run.
God forbid you have to sell it.


Cal30

quote:

Originally posted by ar corey:

quote:

Originally posted by Markhpb:
I am looking into buying a new rifle in either .300 win mag or .300wsm. Anyone got a good recomendation as to the most accurate out of the box for under $500.

Thanx,
Mark

Buy a 7MM Mag. or .300 Win mag. Stay away from 300 WSM. Possible poor feeding and bullet seating hassle.
.

People still won't give this up? Buy a rifle that was designed for the WSM, not just modified from a .308 and you'll be fine. N E V E R had a single feeding problem in my A-bolt. Actual real verified feeding problems, are rare. Most people who say stay away from them for these supposed problems....didn't own one. They know a guy who knew a guy whose brother had one that gave them the fits. Seating depth problems are NOT limited to WSM's, they exist in nearly all calibers. ANY 6.5 has seating depth issues, x57 rounds on short actions have issues, heck .243's have issues if you use heavy bullets. Its all just bollocks.

As far as out-of-the box accuracy goes, the reported leaders of that pack are Savage, Tikka and Weatherby Vanguard. I don't own a Tikka or a Savage, but every posting by someone who does own them says they are VERY accurate. I have a buddy up here that has a Tikka in 22-250. Last summer he showed me a target he shot that had four groups shot at four different bulls at 100 yards. All were three shot groups that measured 1/4". I was blown away as factory rifles aren't supposed to be that accurate...
Savage is the same as Tikka, accuracte, by reports from all who own them.
A few months ago, one of the rifle magazines did a test of several factory rifles where the Weatherby Vanguard came out on top for accuracy. I found a Weatherby Vanguard on sale at my local gun shop in 223, so I bought it. It was glass bedded at the lug when I got it; a synthetic stock. Not many manufacturers do this. I loaded up some ammo and shot it at 100 yards and got several three shot groups that measured 3/8". I shoot with a 20x scope when load testing. So, based on my own experience, I would point you to a Weatherby Vanguard. Mine is the one that has two stocks, a regular length of pull stock, plus one that a kid could use as it is a short length of pull. The barrel is 20 inches which makes it perfect for a carry rifle, along with great accuracy.

Don

Originally posted by MileHighShooter:

quote:

People still won't give this up? Actual feeding problems are rare. They know a guy who knew a guy whose brother had one that gave them the fits.

Never owned one. Wanted one. Read and read on Internet and their is lots written by hunters on numerous forums concerning the topic. The person asking about a cheap gun has limited knowledge based on his questions. Best to recommend a more reliable gun. Also based on his caliber request, probably used for danger bears. If your A-Bolt is good, that is good.

NEVER found a word written about feeding problems with a regular .300 magnum.

.300 Win Mag. also operates on lower pressure.

quote:

Seating depth problems are NOT limited to WSM's, they exist in nearly all calibers.

No. Many do not have feeding problems.

WSM class have sharp shoulder angle, Ackley as well.

quote:

ANY 6.5 has seating depth issues

Buy a 270. Cheaper brass, more power, same recoil, better rifle choice.

quote:

, x57 rounds on short actions have issues,

Round not designed for short action.

quote:

heck .243's have issues if you use heavy bullets.

But has a good shoulder angle.

I really like the savage weather warrior with the break on it, but it is $600 from walmart. I think I am leaning twards the weatherby Vanguard in .300 Win mag as it is only $390 at wally world. If I could find the savage for under $500 I would get it.

quote:

338-06 is a much better big game caliber than a .300 Win. Mag

It is quite obivous that you have a fair amount of experence with both as per your statement above. I am currently thinking of a another new rifle and both calibers mentioned are in the running to fill the spot in my gun safe. Can you relate your on game performance with both calibers and comparing size of game which killed better or for lack of a better term more efficently.

quote:

Originally posted by Markhpb:
I am looking into buying a new rifle in either .300 win mag or .300wsm. Anyone got a good recomendation as to the most accurate out of the box for under $500.

Thanx,
Mark

I know a couple of fellows who each bought a Rem 700 SPS Stainless in 300 WSM both shoot quite well with handloads after trigger work on both. I have one in 30-06 and it is one of the most consistant rifles I have, once again with the trigger adjusted and the handloads that it likes. You could look at one in the standard sps line and if you do not reload fed premimum ammo should give you good results for accuracy.

Good luck in your search

I am fully convienced that there are only two good rifles available. I base my opinnion on over 60 years of hunting and shooting all mannor of rifles...They are the Win. M-70, preferably the pre 64 and my favorite of all the custom 98 Mauser....Like I said that is just my personal opinnion...I own no other bolt actions these days.

I own several makes an Models of firearms .Out of the Box the only thing ever to come close to

the accuracy of my commercial Mauser has been Savage an Tikka .

A tip when sighting in DON'T use a black bullseye !. Use a proper sighting in target .

I laser sighted my Savage Weather Warrior at 25 yd. proceeded to adjust elevation for 200 yd.

Went too the bench set up my rig with my favorite hand loads . Forgot my spotting scope

DON'T leave home with out that either !.

I fired #3 rounds into the target turned up the power on my Nikon couldn't see any holes .

Messed with the windage shot # 3 more saw them through the scope barely !.

Went down to fetch the target there was #1 hole dead center where my first #3 shots had gone !.

I couldn't have poked the paper with a pencil any more accurately than those first #3 shots .

Kicked myself for a week using a Black center target !. Knowing I had everything just right

and messed with the scope was what really pissed me !.

Doc224/375,

What model is that Weather warrior?

Off the top of the semi old memory chip, 116 FLSS I believe is the model .

Now I want to be up front when I say out of the box !.

I first remove it from it's box , clean the bore with a swab of acetone . I then take a special rod

and bore guide along with a muslin cloth patch that's slightly over bore tight when dry .

It has grooves cut into four sides of the swab .

I then use a slurry mix of jewelers rouge an Finese polishing compound . I then run the wet swab

down the bore unscrew the swab draw the rod back repeat. about 25-45 times ,

Always keeping the patch impregnated with the slurry and in the bore guide .

I then clean everything up with a simple solvent mixture . Dry swab head too the range fire

1 clean fire 2 clean until I reach # 10-12 Clean the bore with Shooters choice or Mil Spec bore

cleaner , dry swab . Then fire one fouler and proceed too a series of 3 # 5 round groups and

then measure .

I know a lot of people who will consider me a whack job , yet it works for me .

Having re loaded for so many years . I'm pretty familiar with twist rate bullet weight an design

an of course which powders are best burn rates for the intended purpose .

All I can tell you is I was impressed with Both of those Rifles out of the Box .

My Remingtons and Winchesters not even my Browning A Bolt was in the same accuracy league .

I sold a custom built Cooper and Dakota Rifle as they would never meet a consistent accuracy ,

I was thoroughly disappointed in those expensive Rifles . Maybe just my experience .

The most rifle for the money is a CZ550. The most rifle for low dollars is the Weatherby Vanguard ($399 at a local big box store).

I have a Vanguard in the .257 Wby Mag and it is a shooter. I've had a Savage .223 and it was a shooter. I vote for Vanguard then Savage.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by ted thorn:


"The Vangaurd is about a solid pound heavier than the Remington and Savage but it does have bottom metal as the two others don't but the trigger is not adjustable below 4 lbs."

Got my Vanguard .338wm down to just under 3 lbs!

Johan

Absolutely the Savage. Out of the box they shoot better (at least the one's I owned) than ANY other stock rifle reguardless of the price.

I'd probably go with a Savage or the Remington in 300 WM if I were locked into new. But, on such a limited budget I'd consider a used gun and scope combination. Lots of 300 WMs show up on used racks around here because lots of folks who buy one find out the recoil is uncomfortable and it's more gun than they really need. What are you planning to hunt that requires that much gun?

I'd recommend the Tikka as well. I bought two last year and while these 2 are not ravingly accurate as many say, they are good shooters and seem to be dependable thus far.

Good Luck

Reloader