its kind of like hooking up with a female, one that feels good and you can afford

I would highly suggest looking at Tikka as well. Guaranteed to shoot 3 shots under an inch at 100 yards. In the wood stock you can find them for around 619.00 at most retailers. All the guns you are looking at are great but it would be hard to pass on Tikka with their guarantee.

I think you have to consider the new Ruger American Rifle. I got one in 30-06. For $350 it is amazing. I put a Burris FFII scope on and it shoots moa right out of the box. It is a light gun so there is some recoil. Get a limbsaver. Here's some reviews...

http://www.gunsandammo.com/reviews/all-american-ruger-american-rifle-review/

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2012/05/foghorn/gun-review-ruger-american-rifle/

http://www.shootingtimes.com/2012/04/04/the-ruger-american-rifle-reveiw-a-new-american-rifle/

http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/gun-nuts/2012/03/review-ruger-american-rifle

-Fat

Oh yeah, Welcome to Texas!... now go get a gun. -Fat

Yeh!
When you come to Texas, at the airport, they check you for guns. If you don't have one....they give you one...

Bushmaster 450!!! Go Big or Go home....jkjk

I agree with Fat a Ruger 30_06 will do all of the damage you need from Mule's to hogs and the occasional turkey.

check out the Thompson/Center Icon, something you don't hear about to often. The Browning is a beautiful gun also. I don't have any personal experience with either of these two rifles, but they look great.

Both the Ruger American and Marlin X7 are darn good rifles for the money.

Again thanks for all the replies guys.

I've been out of town on business and then hunting the last week so excuse the late response.

Checked out the Ruger M77 hawkeye standard yesterday. Didn't impress me at all sadly so thats ruled out. Just felt average.

There's a gun show in Dallas this weekend and assuming i see nothing else there that really takes my eye its down to Browning A/X bolt or a 700 BDL.

Its going to be hard to pass up a BDL as i shot my first animal on American soil last nite with my future father inlaw's. 1 shot in behind the shoulder at 200yds dropped him on the spot. Moved but 3 yards kicking on his side. 7mm WSM short magnum xp3 i think.

Not a monster but i didn't care at all, was nice to finally get to shoot. They've been avoiding me the last 3 trips out.

I'll stick the proper photo on the varmit board but here's the iphone job.

Thanks

After reading this whole thread I have 2 thoughts:

1) I still have Jeff Cooper in my head going on about the styr scout in 308

2)I'm surprised to be the first to say this.... but you don't plan on actually buying your rifle at Bass Pro or a gun show right? Both those places will jack up the prices a few hundred per rifle.

Scary Poppins - I'll buy it wherever I can get the best price. Care to suggest some places I might get better deals? I'd appreciate it.

I was lead to believe that deals could be had at gun shows due to the competing businesses all under one roof.

Thanks

I won't ever pay more than it sells for at Buds Gun Shop Free shipping and no tax there too.

Alternatively, stalk the for sale adds here. I've bought and sold many many of things, and all I've met have been grade A good guys.

Scary Poppins - Generally speaking i've yet to see anywhere with a better price on things than Buds. So i'll be going to the show with those prices in mind.

As for the sale adds. Unless its new i wont be buying from there yet. This being my first rifle and all, i want a new keeper.

Sounds like you've already decided on 30.06. No problem with that from me. It will do for just about anything with legs on the North American continent. As for brand I think you're headed in the right direction by putting each and every one to your shoulder and seeing how it feels TO YOU... It's your money!

...also like the "may buy more" attitude - "Man can't have too many guns"

Good Hunting

I own a 700 BDL in .30-06 w/ a Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 scope mounted using a single piece base. With this combination I have taken down many various critters. It is a workhorse and a fine looking rifle.

I came back to edit this because I will also admit to owning an A-Bolt in .270 Win. While it is a fine rifle, with the same optic I have on the 700, the .30-06 BDL is my primary hunting rig.

Good luck to you.

My vote would be Savage model 12 BVSS in .308. Beautiful and reliable!

Info Overload ...

CZ .243 (walnut stock)

Grown up enough to put meat on the table.

Fun enough to play when your able.

Great to look at, ... groupings that make things go splat.

Simple enough?

Not sure if anyone is still watching this. Anyway i have another question if y'all could rack your gun vault brains.

Anyone think of a rifle with both iron sights and a detachable mag?

I like both of these features on a rifle for a number of reasons, they are not game breakers but i'd love to have a look at something with both.

The only one i've really seen is the one my FFIL owns, an older 700 BDL. They no longer come with the DM.

Irritatingly the CDL comes with a DM but you cannot get it with iron sights!

Any ideas? And before anyone says it, i don't want to get a gunsmith to add the sights after the fact.

I'm just seeing if there are options.

Thanks

Some CZ rifles have both.

But as soon as you put a scope on it the iron sights can't be used. Don't use the see-through mounts. Those things are retarded.

270, 7mm-08. I love the Weatherby Vangaurd s1. First ones. Idk about the new ones. I like the fit of the stocks on the Rem 700s and Browning A-Bolt. Have heard/seen that the X-bolts shoulder nicely. Hope that helped.

The older BDL's (mine) are more of a trap door than detachable mag. I'm surprised not more available with iron sights. Those that do seam to be "compact" rifles. I removed the rear sight from my 700 when I mounted the scope. "Dan the bowhunter" still has his for sale. I know you want new, still a pretty gun. I may need to buy it. And congrats on the pig kill.

Good luck, keep us posted

As always, thanks for the replies.

The Iron sights is more of an aesthetic thing and therefore not a deal breaker. However, i like the look of iron sighted rifles so much more even when they have a scope.

Unfortunately Iron Sights seem to be more of a Compact rifle or a Safari style huge caliber thing. Other than that its a BDL or CZ.

Went and checked out the Xbolt again, T3 Hunter, Winchester 70 standard. Still pretty undecided really, i want to have a look at the CZ and TC Icon before i make my final decision.

Is it weird that I've found many of these rifles to feel too light? Like they aren't solid enough or something.

Lighter is better for me.

nothing wrong with light if it's a quality rifle.

600 nitro express. Cover all areas