Deer Rifle Recommendations

[GrayStangGT]

I've been looking around for a deer rifle and figured I would check here and see what yall recommend. The main 3 I have been looking at are Kimber, Sako and Tikka.

Here are the requirements

1. Wood stock, not glossy, would like something with a nice looking grain I'm ok with laminate too
2. leaning towards 30.06, but open to other common calibers
3. Under a $1000 (not including optics, already have an extra VX-1 I can use)
4. Prefer stainless, but can live with blued
5. No Junk
6. Don't want a 700, nothing against them I've just already had one and want to try something different this time


I've also considered getting one of the DPMS .308s since they can be had new for right around a grand, and just using that.

[soap]

Barrett m82?

[Chopped54]

Out of what you have listed I would start off by scratching Kimber off the list. Shitty wood, and hit or miss on accuracy. Second in your budget you can scratch Sako off the list. Leaves the Tikka which is produced by Sako, and is a nice rifle.
If you are going to do any hunting around any seasoned hunters I would not even consider the AR platform.
If you want something semi-auto check out the Browning, they make some really nice autos within your budget. I would throw in a little T/C Icon in the mix for consideration, I really like their products....

[GrayStangGT]

After looking, your right sakos are a little more expensive than I realized. Any opinions on a Ruger M77.

I really like the look and feel of the Tikka, but I was talking to a local gun store owner and he was just bashing hell out of them. He also doesn't carry them and academy does so I'm sure there is a little bias on his part.

I didn't realize T/C made a bolt action, I'll have to seriously look into that I've always been impressed by their Encore rifles.

[dee]

What about the Winchester model 70?

But out of your list I'd go tikka although they have some features I don't really like.

[bottlerocket]

What about the Weatherby Vanguard? 257 Wby Mag isnt a horrible round

[Chopped54]

After looking, your right sakos are a little more expensive than I realized. Any opinions on a Ruger M77.

I really like the look and feel of the Tikka, but I was talking to a local gun store owner and he was just bashing hell out of them. He also doesn't carry them and academy does so I'm sure there is a little bias on his part.

I didn't realize T/C made a bolt action, I'll have to seriously look into that I've always been impressed by their Encore rifles.

I like the Ruger, guy on my lease hunts nothing but the M77, has 5-6 in different calibers.

Tikka is a very nice, quality rifle. He is the first I have ever heard say anything bad about them.

I hunt with the Pro Hunter Encore, and if I were buying a bolt gun today it would be the ICON precision hunter in the 6.5 Creedmore....

[Chopped54]

I like the Win 70, actually for a hunting rifle I like them a lot more then a 700.
With a $1000 budget I would not even consider a Vanguard.

[bottlerocket]

I like the Win 70, actually for a hunting rifle I like them a lot more then a 700.
With a $1000 budget I would not even consider a Vanguard.

Vanguard sporter is a very nice rifle and the stock is awesome. Why wouldn't you consider it? its well under the $1000 limit. Hell even the step up from that (DBM) is only $50 more

[GrayStangGT]

Vanguard sporter is a very nice rifle and the stock is awesome. Why wouldn't you consider it? its well under the $1000 limit. Hell even the step up from that (DBM) is only $50 more

I think he means because you can spend more than a vanguard and get a better gun for under a grand. I've looked at the synthetic stocked vanguard Academy carries and was not impressed at all with how the action feels. I'm also not interested in any caliber that I can't readily by ammo for at any store, so none of the oddball weatherby calibers. Whatever I get will be either 30.06, 308 or 270

[Chopped54]

Vanguard sporter is a very nice rifle and the stock is awesome. Why wouldn't you consider it? its well under the $1000 limit. Hell even the step up from that (DBM) is only $50 more

I have two Vanguards, a 30-06, and a Howa 22-250. The 22-250 is probably the most accurate out of the box gun I have owned, and LOVE that gun, but there are better options in his budget.

I think he means because you can spend more than a vanguard and get a better gun for under a grand. I've looked at the synthetic stocked vanguard Academy carries and was not impressed at all with how the action feels. I'm also not interested in any caliber that I can't readily by ammo for at any store, so none of the oddball weatherby calibers. Whatever I get will be either 30.06, 308 or 270

That is exactly what I meant.

[dee]

My only downfall to the Tikka is it's got a lot of plastic on it, bolt shroud, trigger gaurd, and I'm not very fond of the factory magazine. The action is probally the smoothest factory action available but all calibers are long action only.

[Sleeper]

I posted a similar thread a week or so back. I've almost broke down to a synthetic stock. Nobody in my neck of the woods has the icon in stock. I really want to handle one.

I've narrowed it down to a tikka t3 hunter. The savages I looked at where nice as well. Fluted barrels stock.

[no4njnk]

You can get a Sako for under a grand if you search around. My friend picked one up at the gun show for $775. Guy had the tag on it for $1400 and my friend came back about an hour before the show closed and snagged it.

[Chopped54]

You can get a Sako for under a grand if you search around. My friend picked one up at the gun show for $775. Guy had the tag on it for $1400 and my friend came back about an hour before the show closed and snagged it.

A used, 10 year old Sako.