Hunting rifle, which model do you suggest?

I don't have a lot of money to spend, around $400. Wal-Mart has several hunting rifles in their racks: Weatherby Vanguard, Remington 700 ADL, (and maybe BDL),Savage 110, Winchester 70. The guns range in price from around $340 for the Savage (with 3x9 scope) to $380. The Winchester also includes a scope. I'm looking at either a .308 or 30-06, (I haven't decided yet). What suggestions do you have. Any of the four would fit into my budget, (I should be able to come up with extra for a scope if I need to). I'm surprised that they are offering so many models at this price, but my problem is deciding which one.

You said a hunting rifle. Any one of them will be a fine hunting rifle. Buy the one which you find the most appealing and which feels the best when held in position. Also consider, for all of them, wood or synthetic for stocks, and game you want to hunt (be realistic). The 308 will do everthing in hunting the 30-06 will except at the top end requiring 220 grain rounds and do it with a shorter action. The least expensive of those guns may actually be the most accurate out of the box (but probably not with that scope).

I would buy the Remington 700 BDL in a heartbeat. Most accurate rifle made right out of the box. Looks Great!

The BDL variation is great for loading and unloading.

Your only consideration should be if it is a wood stock. The wood stock models are prettier than a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. But the synthetic will be better if hard knocks are a consideration.

This is only my opinion, but my next rifle WILL be the 700 BDL 30/06. You can find shells everywhere, and at good prices.

Look at them all, then buy what you like that fits in with the budget, and even there consider you will be looking at this rifle for a lifetime. If you want something a little pricier, bide your time, save your money, and you won't be saying, ' I coulda had a V8!'

Take your time. This is a major long term investment. Unless you're just dripping with cash. In that case, can I come live with you? : )

Steve

Pride is when I know what I can do; Ego is when I need to tell anyone about it.

<snipped per moderator requirement, posted Thursday 1-20-00 10:31 EST>

Where are you hunting? Thick woods with 60 yard shots or open plains with 400 yard shots.

..308 and 30.06 will work for 60 yard shots 30.06 will work for 400 yard shots (assuming you have practiced a bit and know your bullet/rifle's performance (bullet drop) at that range).

Hello,

Check out the Remington Mountain Rifle, light, not to expensive & accurate.

I have a winchester m70 in 30-06 and i really like it, but it is a little much for most hunting (not trying to start any arguments) around here. i would definately go with the 308. all those guns you mentioned are really good. as i said, i love my m70. my buddy shoots a savage 110 in 7mm mag and its really nice too. even with the low-end scope it came with, it is very accurate and it also came with some extras like a sling and hard case.

Weatherby Vanguard, Remington

I never met a Remington 700 that I did not like. I have owned cheaper guns,and more costly ones. The 700 is dependable,economical choice.

I own a Savage 10FP (it's the same as the 110, except short action .308 and it's a tactical (heavy barrel and synthetic stock))

It's INCREDIBLY accurate, and other than the heavy trigger (which can be adjusted) it's a great rifle out of the box (you can adjust it yourself. Takes about 1 minute, plus some testing, and I am not responsible for anybody shooting their foot off, so I am not explaining how.) I put a 4x12 target scope on it, and it's capable of much better groups than I am.

IMHO, for the money, you can't buy better.

As far as caliber goes, I am partial to the .308. It's got a proven track record as a long range round, it's used around the world as a tactical rifle round. It's got a wider range of grain weight for bullets than the 30.06 hands-down. It's flatter, and while it may not hit quite as hard, the right combination of speed and placement makes up for it.

That $380 is a good price for it, BTW. Esp. with a scope. I shelled out just over $400 for my rifle bare, which is still a little below the Savage MSRP for the 110FP. It's a little more expensive than the wood-stocked, regular barreled hunting rifle.

The Savage is a very good buy for the money.

dear sir- i shot over 40 whitetail buck in vermont with thr remington 700 adl in a .30-06 caliber. its an old friend to me like the field & stream pipe tobacco i smoke. u cant go wrong with this choice.

Very much agree with the entire post except the above. The .308 is used as a tactical round all over, true. But it cannot handle with equal ability bullets in the 180-220 grain class, it simply doesn't have the case capacity. Bullet weights in the 125 -165 grain range can be said to perform very similarly to the 30-06, given equal bullet weight and construction. And to say it shoots flatter but doesn't hit quite as hard is to contradict oneself in the same sentence. Flatter shooting is a byproduct of higher velocity, among other things. The .308, in all bullet weights, shoots 200 or so fps slower than the 30-06. Therefore, it cannot possibly shoot flatter than the 30-06 given same bullet weights and shapes. The 30-06 is a more versatile round because it can deliver heavier bullets at higher velocities than can the .308. But for most deer and black bear there is probably no significant performance difference, again, assuming you use bullets in the 150-165 grain class. And you are correct, perfect bullet placement makes almost everything else moot. Dave Remy and Chesty (GSPs) and Mauser (GSD) http://www.geocities.com/shrthair/ Earth First! We can hunt the other planets later.

for the one who said "And to say it shoots flatter but doesn't hit quite as hard is to contradict oneself in the same sentence. Flatter shooting is a byproduct of higher velocity, among other things" a 22-250 is one of the flatter shooting rifles out and it dont hit hard all just because you got velocity dont mean nothin on impact that would all lay on the weight of the bullet instance 22-250 45 gr 4000 fps ft lbs 1206 a 7mm 150 gr 3100 fps 3100 ft lbs speed dont mean a thing as far as energy it all on twist load and aim that is the only thing that will make a difference