Buddy of mine just decided to finally buy a nice rifle / scope combo. He wants it in a 30-06, stainless, syntheticstock, bolt action and wants to pair it with good glass for seeing deer at last light in the shadows. He doesn’t want an ultra light nor “ultra heavy”. It will be his “do it all” rifle for deer hunting. Caliber is non negotiable? Deer hunting is everything from 30 yards to 350 yrds. Definitely wants a good trigger and decent synthetic stock. If you had this budget, what would you suggest?

Winchester 70 with whatever glass works best for him.

Stand hinting?

Win M70 Extreme Weather, Leupold VX5 2-10

A used Cooper Jackson Hunter?

If Cerakote would be an acceptable alternative to stainless, how about a CLR/NULA hybrid 'smithed by Mr. Forbes himself?

Could spend $800 or less on a Stainless Steyr Pro Hunter. Leave one with plenty of room to buy excellent Glass!

I've got about 10 Benjamins in this Stainless Pro-hunter in 7 mag and Meopta Artemis scope.

ya!

GWB

Remington 700 Mountain Rifle SS & SWFA SS HD 3-9x42. You could add a Timney or TriggerTech trigger for <$200 bucks, if so desired.

Jap Weatherby Vanguard 2 SS, synthetic 30 aught six with plenty left over for a decent scope. I have one with a Leupold VX R 4X12 with illuminated reticle. It lives up to its MOA guarantee. Weather proof and rides with me every day. Also have one in .223 with a Zeiss 3 1/2 to 10 that shoots sub MOA. And I'm testing them by shooting off the truck hood resting on a corn bag.

Mostly

Montucky Kreedmire,Factory 147's,DD's and 1-6x HD MQ Illuminated,if only because they are in stock. Cards played right,will yield 20 boxes of ammo,within the budget. Hint.

An '06 cain't hang.

Hint...............

This is right.

With a 2K budget your friend has lots of great options but for Me I'd go with a Kimber Montana and a Swaro Z3 3-9x36 mounted in some Talley lightweights 👍....Good luck...Hb

Opinions vary!
















The '06 has worked for me on more than a few occasions




in numerous different rifles.




ya!

GWB

I gave $400 for this scoped FN 30-06 maybe ten years ago. I think they can be had for a grand or less these days. No light weight but I had to get it out. I finally took it to Namibia a few years ago using the 168 gr TSX. It really is a great rifle.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...classic-k80-28-gauge-barrel#Post15225560

This ‘06 w/ Zeiss scope would get the job done and leave plenty in the bank - could even upgrade to a McMillan w/ money to spare if so inclined.

Great combo but do a little trigger work

Pick any Tikka he likes.
Mountain Tac pic rail.
Rings.
Zeiss, meopta, or SS HD if he wants to play FFP.

Wood and blue Win 70 super grade with swarv Plastic Montana with swarvo

This is interesting Chuck Hawks

Rifle: Winchester Model 70 Sporter, bolt action, blue/walnut, .30-06 Springfield ($880)
Ammunition: Remington Express 180 grain Core-Lokt PSP ($25/box)
Riflescope: Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36mm ($400)
Mount base and rings: Leupold STD ($55)
Binocular: Leupold BX-3 Mojave 8x32 roof prism ($439)
Total Price: $1801 (approx.)
Randy Wakeman

Rifle: Browning X-Bolt Medallion, bolt action, blue/walnut, .270 Winchester ($1030)
Ammunition: Hornady Superformance 130 grain GMX ($37/box)
Riflescope: Leupold VX-R 3-9x40mm ($480)
Mount base and rings: Warne X-Bolt bases and Maxima rings ($55)
Binocular: Hawke Frontier 8x43 ED ($450)
Total Price: $2052 (approx.)
Rocky Hays

Rifle: T/C Icon, bolt action, blue/walnut with integral Weaver base, .308 Winchester ($1059)
Ammunition: Nosler Trophy Grade 165 grain Partition ($36/box)
Riflescope: Leupold VX-R CDS 4-12x40mm ($630)
Scope mount base: Integral Weaver-type base on rifle, Leupold QRW rings ($30)
Binocular: Leupold BX-2 Acadia 8x32 roof prism ($215)
Total Price: $1970 (approx.)
Jim Fleck

Rifle: Ruger M77 Hawkeye Sporter, bolt action, stainless/laminated hardwood, .270 Winchester ($959)
Ammunition: Remington Express 150 grain Core-Lokt PSP ($25/box)
Riflescope: Sightron SIIB Big Sky 3-9x42mm ($402)
Mount base and rings: Supplied with rifle
Binocular: Leupold BX-3 Mojave 8x32 roof prism ($439)
Total Price: $1825 (approx.)
Bob Fleck

Rifle: Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Sporter SUB-MOA, bolt action, blue/walnut, .308 Winchester ($849)
Ammunition: Hornady Superformance 165 grain InterBond BT ($36/box)
Riflescope: Leupold VX-3 2.5-8x36mm ($400)
Mount base and rings: Leupold STD ($55)
Binocular: Leupold BX-2 Acadia 8x32 roof prism ($215)
Rangefinder: Leupold RX600i ($275)
Total Price: $1830 (approx.)
Nathan Rauzon

Rifle: Remington Model 700 XCR II, bolt action, stainless/synthetic, .30-06 Springfield ($1005)
Ammunition: Remington Express 180 grain Core-Lokt PSP ($25/box)
Riflescope: Leupold VX-2 4-12x50mm ($480)
Mount base and rings: Leupold STD ($55)
Binocular: Leupold BX-2 Cascades 10x42 roof prism ($374)
Total Price: $1939 (approx.)
Jack Seeling

Rifle: Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 SUB-MOA, bolt action, stainless/synthetic, .270 Winchester ($799)
Ammunition: Federal Fusion 150 grain SBT ($25/box)
Riflescope: Sightron SIIB Big Sky 3-9x42mm ($402)
Mount base and rings: Leupold PRW ($55)
Binocular: Leupold BX-3 Mojave 8x32 roof prism ($439)
Total Price: $1720 (approx.)
These are good, practical hunting systems in the $2000 price range suitable for hunting Class 2 and Class 3 game. They are available from a store or catalog near you. Frankly, any of us could hunt with someone else's choices and not feel seriously handicapped.

Leupold optics and scope mounting hardware proved to be the favorite of the majority of the staff. Bob has gotten good use from his laser rangefinder and he chose to include one in his budget. The other respondents did not feel that a separate rangefinder was a crucial piece of gear for most big game hunting.

Worth noting is that all respondents chose mainstream, all-around calibers. .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield ammunition is available practically anywhere and the record of these calibers in the field speaks for itself. A plurality chose standard grade Remington Express ammunition. Remington's Core-Lokt bullets deliver dependable performance on all Class 2 and Class 3 game without muss, fuss, or unnecessary expense.

Winchester model 70 Extreme Weather - it checks every box. With scope and mounts it should come in right at 8 lbs.
Use the rest of the money for good optics and he can be equipped with a lifetime rifle very reasonably.

drover

I was thinking of recommending the extreme weather model 70 as well. Seems like a lot of rifle for the money.

Kimber Montana is my favorite factory synthetic stock. Easy to add weight if its too light for him. Might find a fieldcraft in his price range as well. Find a SS Howaguard and buy a Mcmillan.....I like M70’s though the EW stock ain’t a fave.

Many scopes <$500 would fit the bill depending on his preferences.

M70 EW gets my vote.

This. SWFA 3x9 scope.

As for me I will never buy a kimber rifle again.

This one. Get a real Model 70 trigger.

Great minds think alike. LOL

Ridgeline + SS 3-9.

Does the SWFA have nice glass? Leupold vx3 type glass, or does he have to go to an HD model to get good glass in a SWFA?

Where in Alabama are you? I'm in GA and about to list a Sako 75 Finnlight in 30-06. Comes with 1" and 30mm rings with optilock bases. Barrel is a tad over 20" which is great for stands or box towers. Heck, I even have some factory rounds I can throw in to get ya going. Looking to get $1K for it.

I had a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x32 on top and that was my bomb proof do all rifle. Shoulder surgery has taken the 06 out of my game, so its gotta go. The NXS would just put him over budget, but he could put a NF SHV 3-10x42 with illumination on it and come in under budget. Total weight should be between 7.5 and 8.5 pounds. Not lightweight and not too heavy.

Kinda surprised no one mentioned Sako.

Bergara, Tikka or Browning. I have a Browning x-bolt stainless synethic in 30-06 with a Leupold VX-6 3-18x, I use it exactly as your friend wants to. IT is my do-all go-to rifle and has never disappointed with both accuracy and optics. Right around $2k.

The 3-9 SS is part of their HD line and their glass is very good, better than VX3 to my eyes.

John

$2000 is an odd figure.
You can buy a premium rifle like a:
Browning X-Bolt Stainless Stalker for $1016
Tikka T3x Synthetic Stainless $798
Winchester Model 70 Extreme Weather $1269
Weatherby Vanguard S2 Back County $1099

Then a nice scope for $500 plus $100 for base and rings. That leaves you below that $2000, in some cases by quite a bit.

If you go up from there you could spend the entire $2000 just on the rifle with no money for a scope.

Win M70 Classic SS (NH, SC, or Portugal - it don't really matter) for starters . . . should leave a grand on the table for optics . . .

And works correctly.

Yep.

John

Cooper Model 52 in 30/06 with Leupold VX3 3X9 Leupold. This one went on two goat hunts and a moose hunt. This is very doable with 2K.

An older gently/hardly used Rem 700 SS, Leupold 3.5x10, aftermarket trigger, Limbsaver recoil pad, and whatever is leftover buy some Federal Premium ammo w/165 grain Sierra GK's or Partitions. It doesn't have to be complicated.

For the stated uses and requirements, this nails it! Might swap to meopta for glass.

I’d go With a SSTikka T3x and a Zeiss V4. My Tikkas have proven the equal of my Sako...at half the cost....and I really like my Sako.

May not be his cup of tea but look at the Sauer 100xt. Solid synthetic stock, great trigger and amazingly accurate. Weighs roughly 6 1/2 lbs but you can add weight as needed for desired balance. $500-600 price tag makes it just beg for hard use. What’s not to like?

Hard pressed to do much better for his stated desire. I might go Brown or Bansner over McMillan but any would work. Or, he could leave it in the all terrain tupperware it currently sits in (perfectly functional) and buy whatever $1200 scope BobbyTomek recommends.

There have been a lot of good suggestions. Have your friend get an SWFA 3-9 HD, mount it on any of the aforementioned and others chambered in 30-06 (non-negotiable caliber of OP) and you will have a lot of money left over for ammo and other accessories.

I would say that if one can't hit a deer with a 30-06 at distance from 30 to 350 yards (as stated criteria by the OP) then it is not the cartridge that "can't hang", it is the operator. Reading comprehension helps on an internet forum. O.K. everybody, wait for it........

Yup.

forever tack driver schitt old sako a7 synthetic if weight isn"t a concern find one with a soft touch stock got a 30-06 270 300wsm never had a single issue with a vx 2 with an m1 dial run ya under 1500

Here`s a good one !
Not really an Ultralight compared to a Kimber Mountain Ascent.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...er-ul-stainless-ruger-30-06#Post15258091

how about a pre 64 feather weight in 30/06 and a good scope I like Leopold and still have money for ammo

^^^^^ THIS or THIS......

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/879394284

SS/Syn dang"d, weather proof her and hunt it!

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/879394284

Not sure what prices are like down there. I’d go with a Kimber Montana wearing a Leupold VX5HD 3-15x44 in Talleys and throw on an extended bolt handle be right in the 7-7.5# mark. 180AB’s

My current go to rifle is a Kimber M.A. in .280ai with a VX6HD 3-18x44 with extended bolt handle and a custom lightweight cheek rest I made. It’s 7# flat unloaded and shoots 140AB’s very well to 500yds so far.

I like going with a light rifle and putting on more scope than I need to get me in that nice shooting/carrying weight.

Montucky in an 06 will be super fun to shoot about 3 rounds a year out of.

Buy a 6.5 creedmoor Tikka, top it with an swfa, then spend your remaining grand on a pre 64 modelb70 for mastebatory / safe queen purposes if you must.

I'd get a M70 Featherweight and slap a Meopro or an SHV on it.

I like this and make it a 7/08

I have a Win featherweight as my 30-06, and I have one of those non functioning Leupold VX3’s on it. To be honest I’m not sure how I cope, or hunt at all with that busted Leupold but I digress. It’s not my only hunting rig but sure is one of my favourites. I love the M70, and don’t think you can go wrong. As for the scope, whatever makes him happy. Lots of good functioning glass out there, just make sure not to buy a Leupold all mine are junk lol.

Rem 700 sporter, stainless
After market stock Mcmillan or HS precision
Trigger tech trigger
Zeiss conquest or Leupold with 50 mm objective lense.
Scope base and rings of your choice

I'd consider a Tikka T3X Laminate Stainless. Can be had for about $1000 and the stock is rigid and nicer than a lot of synthetics in that price range. Leaves about $1,000 for rings and optic. Hard to be Meopta for glass quality on an optic under $1000. Trijicon make some really nice optics under $1000 as well.

I would buy the scope I absolutely wanted and in my case that'd be a Nightforce SHV F1 or NX8. Proceeds left after that would help me choose the make/model of rifle.

I have the same X-Bolt with a different scope and it's a great rifle. Can't go wrong with a Tikka T3x SS either.