Advice

[ajswenson]

So the girl friend just told me that she wants to buy me a nice gun as a wedding gift. I know we aren't getting married for a while (June), but she wants me to give her some ideas. I am thinking a nice rifle would be the way to go. Wondering what your thoughts on this are. I want it to be something that I can use for just about anything. the first that comes to mind is like a 7mm or .270 range, but maybe being a bit bigger wouldn't be so bad. I'm mostly a whitetail guy, but wouldn't mind getting into some bigger stuff out west some day.

 

Next what kind??? First thing that comes to mind is the good ol' Rem 700 but i think because it is a wedding gift maybe it could be a little classier if you know what I mean. I think the high end Win Model 70 would be nice. Also, I have been reading a little about Kimber arms, know anything about them? They are supposed to be pretty nice. A buddy of mine just picked up a Tika, but i'm not sure I'm sold on them 'yet' Browning and Savage have never really turned me on, but some swear by them. Or...What do you think about entering the Weatherby world. While we are on the weatherby subject. Wouldn't a .257 be pretty freakin sweet, probably not enough knock-down for a big bull at distance but sweet and unique in it's own right i think.

 

Anyway, sorry for the book...maybe i'm making it into a bigger decision than i need to, but I kind of have the opportunity to pick out a pretty special gun and want to make the right decision. So give me a few recommendations if you would. Don't worry about price when thinking about it. I don't think price is much of an issue within reason. Oh also New or Used? Thanks

 

Oh and remember this is more of a special gift than a functional weapon although I do plan on using it. I am not necessarily looking for the newest lightest composite stuff out there. I am more of a wood guy.

[Mckenzie]

I've heard a lot of good things about Kimber's 45 cal handguns, but idk about their rifles.

 

Ever thought of getting a nice Ar-15 tricked out with a nice scope and some other accessories?

[slemmer]

I guess it reallly depends on what you want to do. I wanted to do more than turkey hunt so I splurged and picked up a Benneli Supersport II to shoot clays on the non hunt days. I actually enjoy taking apart the shot gun just to polish the pieces

[renegadeking]

i recommend a 7mm. it is a great caliber, lots of power. the bullets shoot flat and don't drop for a while so its great for the prairies and open country, for the tree stand still a great gun, use a bigger grain lead and you will drop the animal where it stands.

 

picking the caliber of your gun determined on what you use it for,

some have big leads with slow speed and high power for bush and tree stand while some have smaller lead for prairies and faster speeds.

 

i have a browning 7mm. bought it this spring. very nice rifle. its designed great. and built strong. a couple of my friends that have sako are really impressed with the browning, it has a long barrel, something like a 28 inch barrel. the thing is dead accurate. i used two bullets and got two white tails. one was about 300 yards, and i dropped it where it stood. the other was a little buck with a huge body, it was running run out and on the other side of the hill about 250 yards away. i only saw about the top foot of the deer, aimed for the spine and shoot it where i aimed. that thing must of slide 10 feet on the snow.

 

i use ballistic tips. they will stop anything that you will shot at.

 

 

if you want a gun that will last you for the rest of your life buy a sako. i think there are the best gun out there. expensive as hell, but will last for ever no matter what you throw at it. you will have to throw in some money to help the girl friend.

 

Tika are a sub model of sako. same quality but more plastic parts. to save some money. an uncle has one and loves his.

 

savage's i think are a cheap gun. they have a very nice trigger tho. its called the aqua trigger, feather light pull, nice concept.

 

neighbour has a weather bee and he loves it. never heard much about them tho. one off my uncles has a 300 weather bee and swears by it.

 

rule of thumb is the more money you spend probably the better gun you will get.

 

i think its beretta. beretta owns a lot of the major gun brands. sako, benelli, browning, tika, and a whole bunch more, those are the only ones i remember.

 

i can go on for ever so i will stop now

[SouthCo]

Shotgun 12 ga mossberg 500 persuader, handgun sig sauer .40, rifle.... ak47 sks or ar15. or whatever you like

[Zembonez]

I can speak from experience regarding Kimber. I have one of their 1911s and it is superb. Other people I know have had similar success. I'd recommend them highly.

[randas]

I love CZs I have three of them. The single set trigger is great.

[tanked_darren]

Have you even considered 30-06? That would be the best all-around caliber for hunting IMO.

 

I got a Rem model 700 SPS myself.

 

Browning x-bolts are nice.

[ajswenson]

Already have a 30-06. Its a Rem 7600. I have heard good things about the x-bolts just never handled one might have to get one in my hands.

 

Have you even considered 30-06? That would be the best all-around caliber for hunting IMO.

 

I got a Rem model 700 SPS myself.

 

Browning x-bolts are nice.

[ajswenson]

Thanks for all the replies guys, i'm at work right now and a little slow so I have been researching. I am thinking a weatherby Mark V is the way to go. I want it to be that gun that when you pull it out to show someone who doesn't know a thing about guns says 'damn that is a nice gun' My dad has a 300 wby mag and he has always kinda said that if you are going to get a weatherby that it damn well better by a wby mag. But, as far as caliber goes i can't settle. I know it depends on what you are going to use it for, but there are benefits to all of them. For some reason i am really interested in the .257 I know it isn't the biggest, but i guess i don't know why

[mtiffinal]

I have a Weatherby .257 and it is an excellent choice, you have done you're research well. I think they can easily take the game out west with the proper bullet choice. Go for one of the Mark V grades if you want the wood, they look very nice but are expensive. Happy hunting

[8.1HD/ALLISON]

Haven't had much experience with alot of those guns. I do have a Savage 17 hmr and 22-250. Love them both with no complaints. I'm a Mossberg fan in the shotgun department. On another note, sounds like you found a great woman. Don't let her get away! lol Wish my wife would tell me to go buy another gun.

[Popeye77]

Don't sell that Kimber short, probably more accurate out the box than the Weatherby. Every test i have read on them had nothing but praises. I think they will do MOA with the right factory loads

My caliber choice would be 7mm WSM or 270 WSM

[renegadeking]

if you go with a smaller caliber i would deffinitly go with ballistic tips, but i say go for the 7mm, i have used 243, 30-30, 30-06, 270, 35 wallin, and my favourite is the 7mm. i have the browning x-bolt 7mm, and there is nothing i would change. It is so light. the foregrip is designed so it just falls into your hand and sets so comfortable. the clip is a bullet proof design, you could never jam that clip. the bolt slides smooth, i would definitely look into an X-bolt.

[wurgs]

Look into the Tikka a little more. It has an adjustable trigger, smoothest cycling bolt there is, and moa accuracy. It has everything the more expensive Sako has at about 2/3 the price. You can get it in wood stock and is light enough to carry all day long. I have owned Remingtons, Savage and Tikka and the Tikka is the one I bring out in the field every time.

I think the 7mm is the way to go also, can be used on everything from elk and moose down to pronghorn. Its a very versitile caliber.