New Hunting Rifle_Please Help

[Phone Man]

Those tikkas shoot sweet as do the Winchesters. I love ruger firearms, but I am not a fan of a ruger centerfire bolt gun. I've had 3 and im not impressed.

[The Conservative]

Kimber is a pistol company that started making rifles, Remington/Browning/Winchester/Ruger are rifle companies that tried to make pistols. If you want a good rifle, get it from a company known for rifles.


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[walt4dun]

Salty's Winchester M70...

But if it must be new, a Sako 85...

[Saltydog235]

Kimber is a pistol company that started making rifles, Remington/Browning/Winchester/Ruger are rifle companies that tried to make pistols. If you want a good rifle, get it from a company known for rifles.


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Browning has never been a "rifle" company, Browning is a gun company. They do a lot of things very well but not one thing exceptional.

[The Conservative]

Browning has never been a "rifle" company, Browning is a gun company. They do a lot of things very well but not one thing exceptional.

I agree with that, it was a general statement in regards to Kimber rifles.


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[trkykilr]

That Sako 85 stainless hunter is gorgeous

[Buckin Bronco]

There's a ruger with a wood stock in the trading post. I think its a 30-06. Not a tack driver but good enough for deer.

[walt4dun]

You really short change yourself by demanding it must be new.
Must of the new stuff doesn't hold a candle to the old models

[Saltydog235]

You really short change yourself by demanding it must be new.
Must of the new stuff doesn't hold a candle to the old models

Truth, that SG I have for sale is a $1,400.00 rifle new. Hit the pawn shops, Gunbroker, Armslist etc., you have to weed through a lot of BS but occasionally you find a real gem.

[Mobetter]

Kimber is a pistol company that started making rifles

There have been three Kimbers.

Kimber of Oregon

Kimber of America

Kimber Manufacturing

Kimber of Oregon started out making higher end rimfires, then moved into centerfires (the M89) which bankrupted the company.

Kimber of America imported Mausers and made factory sporters out of them.

Kimber Manufacturing is the current iteration, which is, as you say, more of a pistol maker than a rifle maker.

[Elcid_Fowler]

Ok so let me back-up a bit on my, must be new, statement. If I can trust someone, i.e., Salty or one of you regulars on here, I would buy a used rifle. I don't know enough about what to look for to pick one up off a pawnshop rack like I would a classic shotgun. With that being said, the other reason I need to buy new is a I have an absolute ass of gift cards to Cabelas. Like nearly $1,000 worth. So, I clearly want to use these on a rifle.

Options include (in no particular order):
- Winchester M70 Featherweight (wood with stainless)
- Kimber Classic
- Tikka T3 (I assume this comes in wood)
- Sako 85 (I love them all but would likely be considering the Hunter certainly is pricer than the other options)
- Remington is out (I'm loyal and have an ass of Remington shotguns - can't ignore what I know having family previously in a C-suite position there)
- Browning - honestly I have no real reason but I'm just not a fan of the way their rifles look.

Others? First hand knowledge and opinions welcomed. Thanks guys...

[rocketman]

other than kimber being a "pistol" co. what do you have against them. I've owned mine for nearly 20 years, no telling how many shots fired thru it, and never an ounce of trouble with it.
this is not to start an argument, just curious...

[YoungBuckTX]

I have only seen Tikka's in synthetic

[rrconductor]

Early Kimber rifles(post M98 series) had some accuracy issues across the board of calibers.

[Mobetter]

other than kimber being a "pistol" co. what do you have against them. I've owned mine for nearly 20 years, no telling how many shots fired thru it, and never an ounce of trouble with it.
this is not to start an argument, just curious...

Not really "against" Kimber, just that you can't compare a Kimber of Oregon to a Kimber of America to Kimber Manufacturing. Kimber of Oregon made the M89, Kimber of America imported Mausers, sporterized them, and sold them as Kimber M98s, Kimber Manufacturing makes the current M84.

I have only seen Tikka's in synthetic

[sftull]

I think it all comes down to how much time you are willing to invest into the gun. Most guns (I repeat most guns) built today will kill a deer at 300yds if you take the time to figure out what ammo they like and any other little differences. Find the gun you like and put in the time to get it dialed in. I went through multiple different brands of ammo, with multiple grain bullets before I found the one it like the best. I'm sure hand loads would be better.

Its your gun, who cares what it is as long as you can shoot it.

[The Conservative]

Tikka or M70


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[YoungBuckTX]

Not really "against" Kimber, just that you can't compare a Kimber of Oregon to a Kimber of America to Kimber Manufacturing. Kimber of Oregon made the M89, Kimber of America imported Mausers, sporterized them, and sold them as Kimber M98s, Kimber Manufacturing makes the current M84.

damnnn girl!

[Saltydog235]

Ok so let me back-up a bit on my, must be new, statement. If I can trust someone, i.e., Salty or one of you regulars on here, I would buy a used rifle. I don't know enough about what to look for to pick one up off a pawnshop rack like I would a classic shotgun. With that being said, the other reason I need to buy new is a I have an absolute ass of gift cards to Cabelas. Like nearly $1,000 worth. So, I clearly want to use these on a rifle.

Options include (in no particular order):
- Winchester M70 Featherweight (wood with stainless)
- Kimber Classic
- Tikka T3 (I assume this comes in wood)
- Sako 85 (I love them all but would likely be considering the Hunter certainly is pricer than the other options)
- Remington is out (I'm loyal and have an ass of Remington shotguns - can't ignore what I know having family previously in a C-suite position there)
- Browning - honestly I have no real reason but I'm just not a fan of the way their rifles look.

Others? First hand knowledge and opinions welcomed. Thanks guys...

Yes, the Tikka T3 comes in a wood stocked variant. That's a sort of odd mis-mash of rifles. Mauser/mauser variant and two completely different actions. None of the choices are bad at all, I'd lump the Tikka, M70 and Kimber into one group and put the Sako about 2 notches higher than any of them. The actions and fit/finish are just that much better. You'd be well served by all of them, it's just a matter of what you're willing to spend and looking for long term.

Here's an article that gives the basic differences on the T3, A7 and 85 actions. It's not a full write up but kind of gives you the separation of the Tikka and more expensive 85.

http://www.biggamehunt.net/reviews/sako-a7-review

[Elcid_Fowler]

I think it all comes down to how much time you are willing to invest into the gun. Most guns (I repeat most guns) built today will kill a deer at 300yds if you take the time to figure out what ammo they like and any other little differences. Find the gun you like and put in the time to get it dialed in. I went through multiple different brands of ammo, with multiple grain bullets before I found the one it like the best. I'm sure hand loads would be better.

Its your gun, who cares what it is as long as you can shoot it.

Your last statement is very true. I do like the way the Featherweight and Kimber feel the most. I've not shouldered or shot a T3. They look a bit more bulky. Need to go put my hands on one though...