Rifle Choices...too many!!!

[finnbear270]

too many rifles

A fixed 6 or 8 mag scope from S&B , Hungarian is very good to start you off, Howa rifles are the tops out of what 's been mooted on here, second hand Sako's really good stuff, .243's on the other hand are slipping with some estates for the Stags, Steve.

 

[TASR12]

All great advice, cheers. I'm now leaning away from Tikka's valid point being that at $500 odd dollars new they are good value, thick end of £800 over here something has to be wrong.A S/H Sako is starting to sound quite attractive, anyone know if these come left handed in either .270 or .308 or am I hoping for too much?

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

http://www.guntrader.co.uk/GunsForSale/Detail.php?NewGunID=080214112225821&Num=2GunsTotal+8&Filter[NewType][]=Rifle&Filter[NewMechanism][]=Bolt%20Action&Filter[Calibre][]=.270&Filter[Calibre][]=.308%20Win&Filter[Make][]=Howa&Filter[Make][]=Sako&Filter[Make][]=Sauer

Here you go. Left handed Sako delux, 270win, already threaded. £550.

The guy has it listed as a M 75, but I think it is an older model.

Phone the guy, lash out the Visa before someone else spots this.

Buy yourself a swaro 8x50. You are out the door for little over a grand with top quality kit.


Christmas in August.

Regards

 

[TASR12]

That really helpful and looks like a great rifle....Sako 75? If only I could pop over to him to have a look, a little scared of buying blind in my position of ignorance!

 

[Dan Newcombe]

Mcleods of tain

www.rmcleods.com ???

have got a couple of 6x42 in their used page going for very fair money, i got my swaro 6x42 from them and excellent service!

Good luck

 

[Moonraker68]

I'd give the guy a call and ask if he'd send it to your local RFD - it shouldn't cost too much, and you'd have the benefit of a second opinion before parting with your cash. Looks like a hell of a rifle to me!

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

I'd give the guy a call and ask if he'd send it to your local RFD - it shouldn't cost too much, and you'd have the benefit of a second opinion before parting with your cash. Looks like a hell of a rifle to me!

I agree. I have no connection at all to this rifle or dealer, I just happened it spot it.

It will cost £25 to get it to a local dealer, if you can find one to play ball instead of trying to flog you a rifle themselves.

If this rifle was R/H or in a currently fashionable calibre, you would be adding £250 to £300 to the price.

Looking at that rifle, it is very unlikely to have been worked hard. It is obviously only speculation on my part, but that rifle looks original to me.

All that for less money than a Tikka T3?

 

[TASR12]

It's tempting despite my ignorance!!! Looking at it in more detail it does look like a Sako 75, so I'm guessing that means a fixed magazine? Pros and cons of a fixed mag? Is .270 really going out of fashion, as you can see in previous posts I'm undecided between .270 and .308?

 

[Hales Smut]

I don't think there is any fashion in calibers . If this would be true the 375H&H would already be dead a long time and it isn"t.
I think you should read a few things Bambislayer says about the 270 . He seems to be a man with a large and long FIELD experience .
I think both calibers are very good , it's a question of taste and confidence . There will be a reason that the 270 is so much used on the hill . Many people try to reinvent calibers . What purpose ?
One good rifle ( 270/308/30-06/7x64) with a good simple scope with not to much turrets , like a 6x42 / 8x50 or even a Meopta 7x50 will do the job in 99 % of the situations you will encounter . A point can be made for a variable scope . My first scope was a 1.5-6x42 and this had the advantage of turning him down to 2 or 3 when the sight/view was very limited.

I like lightweight rifles so I probaly would have a look first at the new Browning X bolt or the A bolt . If weight wouldn't be the issue I would go for the Remington . Almost all sniper rifles start from a Rem 700 . There must be a reason . My friend has an out of the box Rem 700 BDL in 7 mm RM and it shoots like a dream . I don't know the HOWA , but this rifle seems to be a combination of the strong points from remington , sako , etc.. So well worth looking at . Weight will be in the Remmy class and there seems to be a good few dealers in the UK and a good aftersales service. This is very important . I have never seen one .

Keep everything simple and easy to operate : Rifle , scope , bipod .

 

[DL]

Guys,

Any thoughts?
Other consideration is I would probably go for a L/H if there was a choice but shoot equally well R/H and appreciate that gives me a much bigger choice, strange I know but fact.

Try as many rifles as you can get your hands on & look carefully at how they fit you. Having a monte carlo stock helps,because who uses iron sights these days?, & you will want to get a decent sight picture through your scope, especially if you go for a 50mm or greater objective.
If you are happy with the layout of your rifle stock,& the action,mag & safety catch, then I am sure you will shoot better.
Bear in mind if you come to take the deer stalking seriously, then you will spend many hours carrying this rifle,& there is nothing worse than having to lug around a rifle,that you either dont like,or dont have confidence in.
Getting your decision right first time could save you £480 on an aftermarket McMillan stock, if you were able to find one in L/H.

Enjoy looking, buying yourself things should be a treat, and if it's second hand remember to haggle.

 

[finnbear270]

rifle & calibre review

Don't let it get away from you!, try to see this second hand Sako, failing this, get a Howa! in stainless, .270 will never die!, it's too well used for starting calibre discussions/fights on forums!

 

[Claret_Dabbler]

It's tempting despite my ignorance!!! Looking at it in more detail it does look like a Sako 75, so I'm guessing that means a fixed magazine? Pros and cons of a fixed mag? Is .270 really going out of fashion, as you can see in previous posts I'm undecided between .270 and .308?

The bolt shroud at the rear does look like a 75. However, the stock looks like an earlier model. I would not get hung up on which model it is.

I notice the vendor has not posted a photo of the whole barrel. Given that, and that it is threaded, there is a good chance that the blueing on the barrel has been worn by a Mod. I would not worry about that, just get a mod to match existing wear.

I really like a top-feed fixed mag for a hunting rifle. It is the way to go.

It is not a case of the 270 going out of fashion, it is out of fashion. Has been for at least the last 10, maybe 15 years - hence the price on this rifle. I actually think the 270 is making a bit of a come back. Factory ammo can be unpleasant, I was forced to use some Federal 130gr recently which was loud and nasty. If you will handload with a good slow powder and less than max charges, the 270 can be a pussy cat.


There is something you need to get your head round. You are a left hander with a limited budget. Your choices are limited - if you could run to £1600 for a rifle, I would advise a synthetic Sauer 202 left hander. If you want a new rifle under a grand, you are going to make compromises and probably end up with a R/H rifle whose stock will never suit you.

This rifle ticks pretty much every box you have listed.

 

[finnbear270]

rifles & calibre review

Just had a look at the link posted by claret dabbler, relying on the photo's only, it looks like a left hand copy of my Finnbear, although it has a more deluxe stock with caps, the chequering also suggests it's a L61, anyways, it's definately worth looking at! 8)

 

[finnbear270]

rifles & calibre review

Bye the way, Handload info is waistdeep out there, If you end up with a .270 you will not be dissapointed, after all it's a necked down 30.06!

 

[Muir]

All sorts of advice on here.

I would not recommend a Remington. There is a reason for the wealth of after sales parts for Remmies - they need them. Woeful triggers, crap stocks and magazines. The barrelled actions are usually quite accurate. A Remington is the starting point for a decent rifle, not the finished article.

Mannlicher Prohunters are excellent rifles, very accurate, good triggers etc. The stocks are not to every ones taste. If you don't like them, move on.

Tikka T3 - cheap and nasty plastic stocks, built to a price point for the US market. If they were £400 they would be good value. The UK price for these rifles is rediculous.


Best option for a sub £1K rifle and mod - Howa hands down.


Alternatives, look out for an older Sako S/H, some great value to be had. For some reason I am seeing a lot of S/H Sako 243's. Is the 243 falling out of fashion in the UK?

You can pick up a Sako for £400 - £600 depending on condition.

Darned straight on the Remingtons. The 700 Remington is a rifle that was made up of bits and peices. I have several but never hunt with them. I have personally replaced too many extractors (a spring wire clip) and welded on bolt handles that have come off at inopportune moments. Have either of those components fail at the wrong time and you're going to be in a world of regret.

Steyr, Howa, Sako, Parker Hale... anything but a Remington for a serious hunting rifle.~Muir

 

[TASR12]

All really helpful points, I appreciate it. I'm not going to be able to see it prior to parting with the cash as suggested as it's in Scotland and I'm in Dorset, that's my only hesitation. Have spoken on the phone and they seem very reasonable and it's a pretty good price but it is still £550 on something I've never seen or touched. That said it's going to be my first rifle so it can only go up from here I guess.

 

[Brough]

Go on just do it man!
I have purchased, with out having seen No regrets. All the best Brough.

 

[TASR12]

Just to throw a spanner in the works----decided to go for it, spoke the to the gunsmith to get it shipped down to and he has got a Sauer 200, with a scope, rings and a moderator on it and is wanting £850. not sure of the scope so can''t give details but need some comparison between the Sauer 200 and the Sako 75 if anyone ca bear to educate me!!!!
I thought this shopping would be fun but it's doing my head in!!!

 

[BuckarooUK]

Need more info i'm afraid : what scope on the sauer 200, what stock, etc.

Just my opinion but if comparing both rifles then i would go for the Sako. It would have to be a decent scope and a moderator in good condition before i'd choose the 200.

Just a note that the dealer is about 1.5hrs away from me. I've visited him twice after being recommended by another forum member. He seems a fair bloke and has given me good service.

My first deer rifle was a 270. I never really understood why so many people were against the calibre without any knowledge or real experience of it. Inevitably the first comment would be that it was over loud to shoot, yet they'd be completely unaware that i was using a 270 when it was using the moderator.
There's definately an 'in style' thing about calibres. I think the shooting mags are to blame - a group of supposed experts who scream about how wonderful one calibre is and how they couldn't understand who they've been without it before. 12 months later and it's another calibre all over again! Just look at the nonesence written about the .17 and the mach2.
My opinion is that the 270 is a good and proven calibre choice. It will serve you fine for all breeds of deer.

 

[TASR12]

Can't clarify the scope at the moment but I know I would change it in due course. I think it's a T8 moderator and supposedly the rings are worth £250. I was more looking at the comparison of the Sauer 200 and the Sako 75/Finbear that was posted on this thread.