Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Rifle help, What Rifle and Calibre?

Guys,

I live here in Australia, I am about to buy a new hunting rifle.

Due to deals and what not i've narrowed it down to 2 (Both Rifles are New in Box) and will be paired with Ziess 3-12x50

Remington 700 XCR II - 300WSM - $950AUD ($570USD)

or

Sako 85 - .30-06 - $2000AUD ($1200USD)

The rifle will be used from Wild dogs to large deer (200KG in size, 400lb in US terms) at ranges out to 300M (330 Yards)

Ammo wise both are plenty available and similarly priced here in Australia.

Thoughts?

No other options there down under?

Are you talking calibre or rifle we pretty much have the same available as the USA on bolt guns and calibres

In your boat sport, I would hit usedguns and look at Brno ZG47 and 21 as neither of those you list do a thing for me.

I would take a Remington in 30-06 and spend the price difference on 165 grain BTSP hunting loads. I shoot the '06 regularly to 350 yards here and you'll be surprised at how flat it shoots with a good boat-tail bullet.

Sako 85 .30/06

I'd suggest the Remington, except I'd get a 30-06. It'll do anything the 300wsm will do and ammo should be every where in oz.. scope choice is fine although I'd get a 40mm objective as opposed to a 50mm. 50mm holds no benefit over a 40mm due to the human eyes ability to absorb light. Good luck with whatever you select.

I agree. But if I had to go with WSM to get the 700, I'd take it.

I have a personal prejudice against Sako's having worked on a number of them. I hate those little bitty bolt parts.....

4 best options:
In no particular order

1. Buy Sako $1,200
2. Buy 2 Remingtons $570 X 2 = $1,140. Save $60
3. Buy 1 Remington and you have $630 to buy the best recoil pad you can buy!
4. Ignore my options and do what you want.

Just bored!

Good luck and let us know your decision!

Of the two I'd prefer the Remington, given that it is less than half the price of the Sako, but I'd also say that I'd probably find other rifles for similar money that I prefer, and in a calibre that I prefer too - .30/06 or .308 for example. I have a Browning .30/06 that I like a lot, for much the same sort of application, and they can be had for not a lot more than that Remington. You could have a Howa/Vanguard, Tikka, Mauser M18, and quite a lot of others for about the same money too.

I'd also agree with hotsoup re the scope. Zeiss make good glass, but a 3-12x50 is going to be heavier, sit higher and be bulkier than I personally want. I don't think the 50 mm adds anything useful either, unless perhaps you are shooting under moonlight. I'd be more inclined toward a 3-9x40 or 2-7x32. In fact the latter is what I have on my Browning.

Long action Sako 85s have ejection issues. Would go with the Remington in this case.

g

Only two rifles available there...?

I'd pass on all of it...




But keepin' up with the Sako motif..

How about a...

Tikka T3x Lite Stainless --

6.5 Creedmore or 308

Fixed 6x Leupold FX-3 6x42

That rig and any either of those two will handle anything twice as big and twice as far as what you are talking with a higher fun quotient, considering a qualified shooter and a good bullet.

The Creedmore just about hands it all to you out of the box, being easy to shoot and with good over-the-counter factory ammo.

You don't need/want a WSM...

I totally agree with all of that, except for the Leupold part... Poor guy doesn't want to have to send the damn thing across the pond to have it repaired. Even though they have a stellar warranty and repair service... I'd look at getting that rifle and throw a Burris FFII 3-9X40 with ballistic plex reticle on it and be done...

Remingtons have extraction issues and the triggers are chidt, and the bolts fall off. I'd buy a savage before I bought a Rem 700. Or, I'd be looking at getting a used Ruger MKII or hawkeye or Tikka t3/t3x...

Sako in the 300 WSM

There's no way I'd own a WSM on the Remington 700 platform.

Of your two I'd go Sako/30-06 (though I'd go 30-06 in the 700). No reason to run something the power of the 300 WSM for the intended game at the ranges you mention. May as well enjoy yourself.

Me, I'd go 308 Win in a 700 Rem (or whatever) and enjoy myself even more.

Here's an Aussie that did ok with the 308:

If I knew more about what optics are available down there, then there might be more options, but I know Leupold is.

I'm not generally a Leupold fan, but in their entire line-up, the Fixed 6x is mostly reliable.

It's reasonably priced, light weight and decent glass for someone who doesn't need to dial.

As long as you don't want to hunt in the state of Victoria. There's a legal minimum of .270 for the larger species of deer there (sambar, rusa and red). Lots of deer and lots of public land to hunt them too (save for right at the moment), and together with southern NSW the best place to get a sambar.

I cannot like either of the rifle/cartridge combos you listed, and would not spend my money on either one.

I was thinking CZ, Brno, Winchester model 70 classic.

If you are only going to have one rifle, make it a 30-06. If you want to go smaller a 270, 7-08 or 7x57 come to mind. Whatever is readily available in your country.

If you are stuck on one of two originals rifles, grab the one you like the most. The one that fits and feels the best.

+1