Looking for Opinions

[JackEllis]

Now that I have the time and money, I've started doing some hunting. Two deer trips this fall, one in the East Humboldts in Nevada and one on Kodiak Island in Alaska, had lots of wet weather. I currently have a Winchester 670 in .30-06 Springfield with a Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36 scope mounted, and as I learned on Kodiak, wet weather can be tough on blued steel firearms.

The fellow I normally hunt with has a stainless Remington 700 in .300 Win Mag and he's suggested I get one for wet weather hunts. I've done a bunch of research and some ideas about what to do but I'm interested in other opinions. A new firearm would be a tool, not a showpiece, so the budget for rifle and scope would be in the vicinity of $1000 (not $500 and not $2,000). I want something that shoots well out of the box, with no need for work by a gunsmith or aftermarket modifications other than installing a scope. I'm not inclined to shoot at anything that's more than 200-250 yards away.

I'd be interested in people's thoughts on stainless versions of the Tikka T3 Lite (with an aftermarket Limbsaver recoil pad) or a Tikka T3 Hunter or a Remington 700 in .30-06 , mated to either a Sightron SII Big Sky 3-9x42 or Vortex Diamondback 3x9-40 or Vortex Viper 3x9-40 scope.

[MongooseV8]

Tikka with a decent scope is what you're after.

[hermosabeach]

If it is a tool,use what you have....


A college fiend moved to New Zealand....it pains me to hear his stories of rifles covered with duct tape... Rifles used as walking sticks when crossing streams...


Due to the heavy brush, most shots are under 70 yards....

They beat up their rifles......



I would keep what you have and use oil on the bluing and graphite on the action.... Or some oil that will not freeze up on moving parts.....


Wipe again with oil at camp....



Dings, dents, wear proves use.... Not a safe queen

[ilikerugers]

I don't own one, but a Browning BLR in .30-06 in stainless has always caught my eye, especially after they started making them in a takedown version. They cost about $1,000. Look on Bud's, they have them.

[TMB 1]

Ruger M77 Hawkeye Stainless http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...E+BOLT+3006+SS
Savage 116 stainless http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...ducts_id/14487

[micro911]

I believe you can buy a Remington stainless steel rifle for a lot less than $1,000. I like Nikon scopes. Very good for the money value.

[pacrat]

Here's a hint.

Stainless steel firearms are "rust resistant". Not "rust proof". Stainless steel firearms will rust if not properly cared for.

My ex BIL was a fireman and part time guide in Ak. I took his advice back in the 1970s and use Johnsons paste wax to waterproof my rifles when going hunting in wet conditions. Same same for shotties and pistols.

Disassemble, coat with Johnson's heat up with hair drier. Repeat. Reassemble and go hunting.

JM2c

[killshot44]

The options in the bottom of your post are fine - but properly pre-treating the metal parts of your present gun(s) with a moisture-resistant coating before the trip and a thorough disassembly/cleaning after, would keep a lot of $ in your pocket.

[ar15barrels]

I'd be interested in people's thoughts on stainless versions of the Tikka T3 Lite (with an aftermarket Limbsaver recoil pad) or a Tikka T3 Hunter or a Remington 700 in .30-06 , mated to either a Sightron SII Big Sky 3-9x42 or Vortex Diamondback 3x9-40 or Vortex Viper 3x9-40 scope.

Hard to beat a 30-06 Tikka T3 stainless with a 2-7 or 3-9 type scope in the $400-$500 price class.
Looks for a scope made in Japan, Korea or the Philippines but NOT Taiwan or China.

[micro911]

Hard to beat a 30-06 Tikka T3 stainless with a 2-7 or 3-9 type scope in the $400-$500 price class.
Looks for a scope made in Japan, Korea or the Philippines but NOT Taiwan or China.

I agree. I have a Nikon scope made in Japan. It is a very good scope.

[Sir Toast]

Most any bolt action rifle will do the trick. Tikka, Ruger, Winchester, Browning. It's your personal preference. Tikkas are really nice and priced right. No argument there.

Check out the Vortex and Nightforce lines of hunting scopes. You can get a really nice hunting scope for the same price as a Nikon. The warranties on the Vortex and Nightforce scopes are second to none.