Hi,

So I moved over from the UK around a year ago to be with my fine Texan lady. Her Dad is really keen on hunting and has a lease out by Ranger TX. After going out with him a number of times i can definitely say i've got the hunting bug.

I'm a country boy at heart having grown up in a very rural area in the UK and have always shot birds and rabbits with air rifles but gun laws being the way they are in the UK, no rifle action.

Despite the fact the future father in law is happy to let me use his rifle's I really want to get one to call my own. This being my first it will be my general purpose rifle and something i hope to pass on to a child at some point. That being said for now i'll mainly be shooting hogs and deer at 100-200 yards. I'm dead set on a bolt action with a wood stock (bit old fashioned in that regard). I'd like a stainless barrel but blued is acceptable. Seems like 30-06 would be a sensible caliber due to availability and its general versatility.

I looked at Remington 700s, wasn't that impressed. I took a look at Weatherby vanguard which i really wanted to like but again wasn't blown away. My final consideration was a model 70 Sporter which i liked, the finish was nice but I wasn't 100% on how it felt with the gun raised to my cheek.

The guy at bass pro suggested a browning x bolt and to my surprise it looked and felt great. For some reason Browning doesn't hold the same mystique in my mind as a Winchester but its hard to ignore how good it felt.

So, any opinions on either of these 2 rifles or indeed something else i should be considering? Bear in mind weight is not an issue for me being a young fit lad. Looking at anywhere between $500 - $1000.

Thanks in advance

find a Browning A-bolt in .270win, did you look at savage? base model 700s are overpriced IMO... good gun though

Definitely take a look at Tikka as well. It’s a refine weapon at a reasonable cost.

My opinion is you simply cannot go wrong with a .30-06.

It can and will do anything in North America (as will the .308 or .270).

I am a fan of the Rem. 700 and Winchester 70's myself, the Brownings have a following as well, as do Savage and Ruger.

Fit and feel is often overlooked but sounds like you are on the right track, welcome to the forum, Texas and hunting!

If you're not a great big person, try shouldering the TC Venture Compact in 7mm-08. 20" barrel feels almost like pointing an air rifle, but has the moa @100 yds guarantee...
If you want a well finished weapon, try the CZ 550 in your choice of calibers...

I’m not a big fan of .270.
If down the like you get into reloading (and probably you will), the bullet choice is very limited to develop accurate loads. I would stick with a .30 or 7mm caliber.

Thanks for all the quick replies.

Kevin - I checked out a Tikka, fit and finish was very nice but I still wasn't 100% on it. No good reason other than the name. Stupid really.

Navasot - Any reason why you suggest the a-bolt over the x-bolt? I only saw synthetic Savage's at the Basspro, i'll take a trip back soon and see about a wood stock. Were you thinking something like the 114 American classic? I'm pretty set on 30-06.

Hermano - I'll have to wait until a gun show rolls round to check one of those out, I don't think Basspro carries them.

It seems like everyone has their own favorites and there's no 'right choice'.

Take your pick on caliber.

For wood/stainless I'd look at:
Winchester Featherweight Wood/Stainless
Remington 700 CDL SF
Browning White Gold Medallion

Whichever feels best to you as they are all top notch.

BTW, CZs are amazing. Just no stainless models.

iliketohunt - Stainless is really more of a 'would like to have', it appears to come at a cost on most rifles so might just stick with the blued and save the money for the glass..

I checked out the rem 700 CDL SF model, it was pretty nice.

I also had a look at the model 70 featherweight and at the moment it seems to be a choice between that or the X-bolt. The xbolt white gold looks great but i suspect its just out of my price range.

If you don't have to have stainless I would hold a CZ before deciding. Cabelas carries them. Or used to anyway, might want to call and confirm first.

I see they have one listed on their site. I'll give the guys over in Fort Worth and take a trip over sometime if they have a few worth looking at..

I'm in no hurry here, doing the obligatory 3 months of research before i make a purchase.

Thanks

I can see what your saying but getting into reloading on the .270 id go with 110gr ttsx bullets. but why want to change anything when the 130gr factory loads have preformed for just about anyone thats ever used them in texas...dnt have a stat for that but id like to find someone that has not had good luck with the .270 with regular factory rounds...but that being said if your into reloading 30-06 will give you alot of room to do so. and is also a very good round.

As far as the x-bolt vs a-bolt i would say mainly because i see no improvements if any (handaling,shooting wise) when they went to an xbolt...i went and handled both of them before i got mine and the a-bolt just felt much better. and probably the biggest is that you can find some good deals right now on new or hardly used abolts...i use to guide at a ranch that used the 700 in 30-06 and that was it... they were easy to manage and always shot but kicked like a mule which in real life wnt matter to someone who has shot plenty but is something to take into consideration. i would put the abolt right up there with the 700s any day it just came down to it fit better when i put my hands on the abolt and it was cheaper.

Don't tell my 270 that. What bullets out there that are not accurate for a 270 that are in a 7mm or 308 cal? ?

Navasot - Thanks for the info, i'll definitely look into the a-bolt as well. I like the fact i can get the medallion series for the same as a standard x-bolt. Am I right in thinking the A-bolt doesn't come with the 'bolt unlock button' which is a new feature on the x-bolt? Seemed quite a nice little feature although not necessarily a deal breaker.

ChadTRG42 - Lets not turn this into a 'best caliber' discussion. I'm going with 30-06, not that i'm saying there is anything wrong with any other caliber.

Thanks

Tikka, Savage or Remington will all work fine.

Whilst you're mulling over your rifle choice, go by Cabelas and pick up a scope. On sale there is the Zeiss Conquest 3x9 for $299, and with the current discount of $20 (thus, $279) through Nov 13, this is the best deal on a top-notch scope I've seen in quite a while. You'll never need to buy another scope, I promise.

The choice in rifles mostly boils down to aesthetics and ergonomics. And of course, your budget. The Browning A-Bolt (or X-Bolt) is a fine choice, and it is available in stainless and wood. When you caress it, if it speaks to you, then go for it.


The .30-06 is NEVER a bad choice for North American hunting, although some might consider it a bit heavy for most Texas hunting. To them I say A POX ON THEIR HOUSE!, for I currently own 3 rifles in .30-06.

My cousin was stationed in England while in the Air Force. He met and married an English girl from High Wickham. After he retired, they decided to move to Texas, to Austin, where they've lived now for some 20 years. She says that she loves Texas and all things Texan, that is except for our mosquitos!

Dawaba - I have to admit that i'm really just learning the ropes, i've heard people say that about the 30-06. Even so, the overriding opinion appears to be that it will do most jobs. If i ever did find that it didn't seem fit for a particular job then i'd just have to buy another rifle wouldn't I, shame!

Funny you should mention your brothers situation. I met my women whilst she was teaching on a US Airforce base 30 miles east of Cambridge in the UK. We did the long distance thing for a while and then i decided to move here. I also love all things Texan. Got myself an f-150 and i'm a big shiner and cowboys fan not to mention chicken fried steak. Its all good!

You weren't born in Texas, but you got here as fast as you could!

On my abolt there is a button on the left side thats flush with the stock/chamber..you just push it and the bolt slides out. if thats what your talking about?

Sorry i meant the 'bolt release button'. From what I gather its a new addition. You can keep the safety on but still open and close the breach. I just thought it was an interesting feature.

Tikka would be my choice for bang for the buck buy. I like Winchester model 70's and Savages too. Remington 700 would be my last choice, honestly without any really good reason, I'm just not that big a fan of the newer 700's.

I know your set on 30-06 and thats fine, but I really like the .25-.27 caliber rifles. They are soft shooting, are typically accurate, and have very good killing power. My favorites are 6.5x55, 260, 270, and 7mm-08. Just throwing that out there.

Hello Greygooser and welcome to Texas. In my opinion a Winchester Model 70 is the ONLY choice!! I have 10 different Model 70's in various calibers. For Texas hunting I like the 270 or 270WSM in a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight.

I like Winchesters the best because of several reasons, control round feeding, 3 position safety, excellent adjustable triggers, very accurate, style and handling.

My next choice if I had to make one would be a Browning. If you have any other questions about different Model 70's I would be glad to give you any information that I know. Good luck in your choosing your new rifle and I hope you pick a Model 70!!

Remington 700 BDL in .30-06 is an excellent choice and will serve you well for many many years. Girlfriend (now wife) purchased new in 1982 for Christmas gift, been shooting it ever since, she's still with me too.

Dan-the bowhunter has a beautiful 700 30-06 for sale in the classified section. Check it out.

Good luck and Welcome to Texas.

How about them Texans!!

Browning is japan workmanship of an American gun. So thats how they feel. They are sharp.

A Remmy or Winchester is still standard of "chevy" American hunting rifles.

I suggest a simple Remington, BDL, gloss stock, open sights. In 270win or 243. Gloss black Leupold scope in leupold rings. Simple 3-9X...Good recoil pad(which usally look sharp.) Leather padded sling.

I'm forth generation Texan. Left over from the 1850's German immigrants. Elpaso for the first year of my life. Waco area most of the rest. Ive seen alot of Texas. From 10,ooo acre ranches to creeks. Cattle barrens, cowboys, to trotlines.

That Remington 700 I described, Is modern traditional of the rifles Ive seen.