Question about hunting rifles.....

Garth Reckner

Garth Reckner

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I have owned lots of rifles but I must admit that I have always been a Remington 700 guy. Have recently been looking at some other things online and was just curious if any of you guys could offer any feedback.

I have been checking out Sako, Tikka, Kimber, and Cooper but I really have no point of reference other than pics. If anyone owns any of these and could share your thoughts on them I would really appreciate it. Or if you have any other rifles that you think I should consider let me know.

Thanks guys,
Garth
 
IMHO, the best hunting rifle on the market is the Browning Stainless Stalker in .308... of course, i'm biased, but i think the 45 degree bolt throw, extremely light weight, sub-moa accuracy and complete resistance to any weather condition, makes it a good deal better than anything else i own

Of the ones you listed, i am partial to the Sako rifiles, but kimbers are VERY nice.

Tikkas are an incredibly solid, lower priced alternative. I have owned 2 and they were solid performers
 
I got to say Browning too on the commercial scale,but I shoot custom made rifles from mauser actions and even have a british enfield custom,, I've heard good things with the TC line also
 
Those Kimbers are 100 percent custom quality in a production cost. They will easily out shoot your Remingtons unless you have them very heavily modified. There balance is amazing to the point where you forget you are even carrying it. I would highly suggest you give one a try.


I owned the 84M Classic in 7MM-08 and it was hands down the best rifle I have ever owned. Right out of the box it was 1/2 MOA accurate, it was amazing to look at, and a complete joy to shoot. I can not recommend this rifle enough. I hate that I was forced to sell it but it was either sell that or the custom Ruger M77 MK2 my father and I built together, it was an easy choice but I do miss that Kimber a great deal.
http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/model-84m
 
It may seem silly but I think the thing that really draws me to Remington is the safety. I just find it to be so easy to operate. I have just never cared for the mauser or winchester style safety. Not saying they are bad just seemed to involve more work to operate. I have no idea what safety style these other rifles have.

Garth
 
PatrickKnight said:
Those Kimbers are 100 percent custom quality in a production cost. They will easily out shoot your Remingtons unless you have them very heavily modified. There balance is amazing to the point where you forget you are even carrying it. I would highly suggest you give one a try.
Click to expand...

That statement is purely subjective...I can do a trigger job and glass bed job that'll outshoot any Kimber...handloads help immensely...
 
Garth Reckner said:
It may seem silly but I think the thing that really draws me to Remington is the safety. I just find it to be so easy to operate. I have just never cared for the mauser or winchester style safety. Not saying they are bad just seemed to involve more work to operate. I have no idea what safety style these other rifles have.

Garth
Click to expand...

Commercial Mausers have the same style safety...
 
Garth Reckner said:
It may seem silly but I think the thing that really draws me to Remington is the safety. I just find it to be so easy to operate. I have just never cared for the mauser or winchester style safety. Not saying they are bad just seemed to involve more work to operate. I have no idea what safety style these other rifles have.

Garth
Click to expand...

That's why there are so many different types of guns. I strongly favor tang safetys on my rifles, and my father in law cannot stand them.

Good luck in your search sir. You're certainly looking at top quality rifles
 
PatrickKnight said:
Those Kimbers are 100 percent custom quality in a production cost. They will easily out shoot your Remingtons unless you have them very heavily modified. There balance is amazing to the point where you forget you are even carrying it. I would highly suggest you give one a try.


I owned the 84M Classic in 7MM-08 and it was hands down the best rifle I have ever owned. Right out of the box it was 1/2 MOA accurate, it was amazing to look at, and a complete joy to shoot. I can not recommend this rifle enough. I hate that I was forced to sell it but it was either sell that or the custom Ruger M77 MK2 my father and I built together, it was an easy choice but I do miss that Kimber a great deal.
http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/model-84m
Click to expand...

1SHOT1KILL said:
That statement is purely subjective...I can do a trigger job and glass bed job that'll outshoot any Kimber...handloads help immensely...
Click to expand...

I've seen a Kimber rifle in 17 Mach 2 that would keyhole at 40 yards. Owner even re crowned the barrel and it didn't do squat. A guy I work with has a Kimber .22-250 and it won't do anything under an inch a 100 yards even after 40 different handloads.

That being said, I know 2 people who had Remington Model 7s in 17 Remington Fireball and they even bedded the rifles, cryo'ed the barrels, and recrownded them and they couldn't do anything under 3" at 100 and Remington wouldn't warranty the barrel because it had been modified (even though the Remington employee admitted that he would have done the same with a rifle that wouldn't shoot). Also had a custom Remington 308 come through the shop that was shipped with one damn fine test target, but had no chamber :foot:

Weatherbys that wouldn't shoot under 2" groups at 100 be sent back 3 times, rebarreled twice, then receive a letter from Weatherby saying that these are hunting rifles and not target rifles.

EVERY company puts out an accurate rifle, but turds with any company will happen.

Out of the box, Savage has been great rifles. Same with Browning A-Bolts. Out of moral reasons I'd stay away from Remington just because everything Freedom Group touches gets herpies and dies.

Sakos are nice, but being part of Beretta.......makes my skin crawl..

I guess another question is what are you hunting?
 
Everyone has different opinions on this.
I have a couple Remmington VSSF's that I put Jewel triggers in and are very nice.
Out of the box, I will pick 2 manufactures, with the custom loads the manufacturer recommends that are hard to beat.
Cooper & H&S Precision with NF Scopes, very hard to do better.
Mostly with these, the rifles can outshot the shooter.
 
Mostly looking for something for deer. Gonna be carrying this thing up and down some decent hills so weight is also a determining factor.

Garth
 
Tikka T3 stainless in .300 short mag. She is a beast and has killed at distance. I would feel very comfortable shooting a 650 yards or so with it in a hunting situation. I have owned many rifles of all types and out of the box the T3 has hands down the smoothest action in an out of the box bolt gun. I don't want to get to carried away but I would stack it up against a custom rifle in quality, reliability, and accuracy for a lot less cash. For the $$$ you have to consider the Tikka line.
 
Everyone likes different stuff.

I like flat bottom actions with huge integral recoil lugs and Mauser style extractors.
 
don't rule out Savage.
Straight out of the box I am a firm believer that for the price there is nothing better.
 
Have a few Savage rifles and I love them. They are great rifles. Just thinking about expanding into something new to me.

Garth
 
Garth I am a big Remington 700 fan.My favorite rifle is my Weatherby Mark V accumark in 300 Winchester magnum. I bought it for caribou,elk and moose. It is over kill for deer but is hands down the most accurate rifle that I own.At 100 yards I can put 3 rounds into less than a half inch.Like I said I am a big fan of the Remington 700 having them in 7 mm Remington Magnum,30-06 and 308 anbd they are all sub moa guns.
 
In that list, Cooper hands down. Exceptional quality, exceptional walnut, they are fantastic. Everyone I've handled has been hard to put down. Kimber is a close second, but, in my humble opinion, they are clearly second. I've never been impressed by any Sako. They don't suck, but they aren't Coopers or Kimbers. I can't speak to the Tikka since I've not handled any.
 
M67 said:
I've seen a Kimber rifle in 17 Mach 2 that would keyhole at 40 yards. Owner even re crowned the barrel and it didn't do squat. A guy I work with has a Kimber .22-250 and it won't do anything under an inch a 100 yards even after 40 different handloads.

That being said, I know 2 people who had Remington Model 7s in 17 Remington Fireball and they even bedded the rifles, cryo'ed the barrels, and recrownded them and they couldn't do anything under 3" at 100 and Remington wouldn't warranty the barrel because it had been modified (even though the Remington employee admitted that he would have done the same with a rifle that wouldn't shoot). Also had a custom Remington 308 come through the shop that was shipped with one damn fine test target, but had no chamber :foot:

Weatherbys that wouldn't shoot under 2" groups at 100 be sent back 3 times, rebarreled twice, then receive a letter from Weatherby saying that these are hunting rifles and not target rifles.

EVERY company puts out an accurate rifle, but turds with any company will happen.

Out of the box, Savage has been great rifles. Same with Browning A-Bolts. Out of moral reasons I'd stay away from Remington just because everything Freedom Group touches gets herpies and dies.

Sakos are nice, but being part of Beretta.......makes my skin crawl..

I guess another question is what are you hunting?
Click to expand...

Not for nothing...what your friends were doing had no bearing on the problem...Do you know why bullets keyhole? It's because they are unstable...its a bullet length vs. twist issue. Weatherby issues...don't get me started on freebore...once everyone understands why bullets do what they do and what works on what rifles the easier accuracy becomes.
 
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