I have been an AR guy for many years, but have in the past year become more interested in bolt guns for long range shooting. A friend has a 400 yard range and I have access to another range at a relatives that can go out to 800 yards when the crops are off.
About a year ago a Remington 783 popped up in the INGO classies and I bought it on a whim. Found that I really enjoy the longer range shooting that a 30-06 allows. I put a 4x12x44 Vortex Crossfire II on it and found that I enjoyed the "Boom...wait...PING" that the 30-06 boltie afforded....
All was well until that darned Alan at A&A Optics offered me a refurb Vortex Viper PST 2.5x10x44 at a price I could not pass up. Now I am shopping for a higher quality rifle in 30-06 than my Remington 783. It just seems wrong to put a $600 scope on a $250-$300 rifle.
The wife was going to surprise me with a Remington 700 SPS for Christmas, but the deal fell through. So, I am shopping for a new rifle.
I started with the Remington 700 because I am familiar with the Remington product and really grew up shooting Remington rifles. I had a Remington 742 semi auto from 76 until 84 and loved it (it was one of the few that worked very well).
Since I am new to the bolt gun side of shooting, what are the equivalent rifles to the Rem 700 made by Winchester, Savage, Howa, etc?? I am looking for equal (or better) quality of the Rem 700 SPS in 30-06. I want to stick with 30-06 because I already have all the dies, cases, powders and boolits for this caliber.
I know I could Google this question, but I would rather have the opinions of my fellow INGO'ers than random strangers on the internet that may be fan-boys to certain brands.
Sooooooo, in a very wordy fashion, if you didn't buy a Rem 700, what would you buy in it's place?? Budget is $500-$800...Maybe a little more???
This rifle will mainly be used for long range target practice, from prone or a bench, with the chance of occasional hunting (wife owns a little property in Montana) or wasting Yotes at my Dad's place.
About a year ago a Remington 783 popped up in the INGO classies and I bought it on a whim. Found that I really enjoy the longer range shooting that a 30-06 allows. I put a 4x12x44 Vortex Crossfire II on it and found that I enjoyed the "Boom...wait...PING" that the 30-06 boltie afforded....
All was well until that darned Alan at A&A Optics offered me a refurb Vortex Viper PST 2.5x10x44 at a price I could not pass up. Now I am shopping for a higher quality rifle in 30-06 than my Remington 783. It just seems wrong to put a $600 scope on a $250-$300 rifle.
The wife was going to surprise me with a Remington 700 SPS for Christmas, but the deal fell through. So, I am shopping for a new rifle.
I started with the Remington 700 because I am familiar with the Remington product and really grew up shooting Remington rifles. I had a Remington 742 semi auto from 76 until 84 and loved it (it was one of the few that worked very well).
Since I am new to the bolt gun side of shooting, what are the equivalent rifles to the Rem 700 made by Winchester, Savage, Howa, etc?? I am looking for equal (or better) quality of the Rem 700 SPS in 30-06. I want to stick with 30-06 because I already have all the dies, cases, powders and boolits for this caliber.
I know I could Google this question, but I would rather have the opinions of my fellow INGO'ers than random strangers on the internet that may be fan-boys to certain brands.
Sooooooo, in a very wordy fashion, if you didn't buy a Rem 700, what would you buy in it's place?? Budget is $500-$800...Maybe a little more???
This rifle will mainly be used for long range target practice, from prone or a bench, with the chance of occasional hunting (wife owns a little property in Montana) or wasting Yotes at my Dad's place.