Some advice, by proxy

[tddeangelo]

My father is searching for another rifle. Here's where we've been so far on this "journey":

-He started out wanting a T/C Encore. Just 'cuz. Ok, I think we can all relate to that.

-He wants a caliber with relatively mild recoil. He currently hunts primarily with a WinM70 FWT in 7-08, but also has a FWT in 30-06 he has hunted all over with, from here in PA to Kodiak Island, and many points in between.

-He is 68 and on blood thinners for a replacement heart valve. In great health, but it makes him recoil sensitive a bit. His 06 is fine, and he's shot my 300WSM with mid-range handloads, but he really disliked the 300WSM.

-He shot an Encore borrowed from a buddy and wasn't thrilled with the accuracy. He did some web research and found solutions, but has been a bit put off by the experience.

-He wants something different than an M70 (I don't know WHY, but hey, it's his money, lol)

-He would LOVE a 264-bore....a 260 Rem or a 6.5x55 would be his top picks.

-He's looked at Tikka T3's and Wby Vanguards. He was 2nd in line on a Rem 700 MTN in 260, but the first choice buyer grabbed it.

He's really not finding much that's really getting him enthusiastic. I suggested maybe a CZ 550 American, but he thinks it to be too "Winchester-like", lol.

Any ideas of something "different", in a mild but pretty potent round (whitetails to 200-300 yards is what it'll be doing)?

My initial suggestion was a Tikka in 25-06. He's waffled on that a bit.

Ideas welcome

 

[gerry]

"He would LOVE a 264-bore....a 260 Rem or a 6.5x55 would be his top picks."


He won't be happy unless he gets what he wants, maybe add the 6.5 Creedmoore in the mix too. Maybe you can find a Ruger Hawkeye in one of the small 6.5's if not there are lots of other good choices around.

 

[tddeangelo]

I have suggested that round as well. I think Savage chambers it, too, but I have a hard time recommending them...just 'cuz.

 

[DrMike]

Tom,

It seems to me that focusing on the cartridge will make focusing on the rifle easier. Since he wants to move from Winchester ( :shock: ), it may prove easier to settle on a cartridge (or a cartridge range) and then on the rifle. Just my thoughts. I suspect this would mean a 25, 26, 27 or 28 calibre; and within this range, there are a lot of cartridges still chambered by the various manufacturers.

 

[tddeangelo]

Mike, that's what I'm trying to do....pin him down to what he really wants....

He's considered a 25-06, 243, 270, 7x57, 260 Rem, another 7-08, etc.....to him he wants a rifle platform more than the specific caliber, per se.

Just something different...that's really what it comes down to...just something different from the M70's.

 

[Oldtrader3]

What does he want for hardware and specs on the rifle? Does he want synthetic, wood, stainless, blue, clip, magazine box, etc. Maybe writing down all of the features and specs would help him clarify what he wants and if what configuration? Caliber is probably easier and maybe he should decide on that and that decision would get him pointed at some manufacurers and models.

Does he have a price range and quality level in mind yet? Maybe a fishbone diagram of attributes and hardware needs on the top and things that he doesn't want on the bottom of the chart would help him clarify and make a decision better?

When I had those blahs, I bought a Mannlicher type CZ in 6.5x55mm with a 20 inch barrel and full european walnut stock. The rifle shoots like a house afire, has trained several grandchildren and belongs to my son now. The shorter barrel does not at all hamper the caliber and it is lighter and more compact to carry. Plus, workmanship and accuracy are top notch and it was not an expensive rifle relatively speaking. I put a light, cheaper and good (older) Pentax 3-9x40 Whitetail scope on it and never looked back.

 

[SJB358]

"He would LOVE a 264-bore....a 260 Rem or a 6.5x55 would be his top picks."


He won't be happy unless he gets what he wants, maybe add the 6.5 Creedmoore in the mix too. Maybe you can find a Ruger Hawkeye in one of the small 6.5's if not there are lots of other good choices around.

I was going to say Ruger as well. Gerry beat me to it. Any of the 6.5's have way more than enough juice to handle deer to 300 yards.

A good son would find him a nice donor Model 70 and tell him where he can find nice 6.5 barrels! :twisted:

Family shouldn't let other family shoot Remingtons!

 

[aka Hunter]

...he wants a rifle platform more than the specific caliber, per se.

Just something different...that's really what it comes down to...just something different from the M70's.

Thanks for your well-reasoned response to my recent thread; here's my response to your question.

Obviously, your dad doesn't need another rifle; however, I can understand the urge for something different. If I was looking for a different hunting-type rifle, I'd look seriously at one of the "semi-custom" rifles, e.g., Cooper or Montana.

If I was looking for a different rifle (without limiting myself to a hunting-type rifle), I'd get a benchrest rifle and try to run with the "big guns" in the benchrest game -- and use what I already have for hunting. He may not think he's interested in benchrest competition; however, the allure of an accurate rifle and the competition is appealing.

 

[jmad_81]

I'm not sure how he would feel about it, but I'm pretty sure a guy can get an AR in several 6.5 cals. Heck I think you can get an AR-10 in any .308 based case, .243 win, 260, 7-08, 308, 338 Fed.

Would take the recoil down a bit, most of them can shoot really well, and I would say it is something different for a hunting rifle.

 

[tddeangelo]

Charlie- I like that Mannlicher style rifle idea. He wants me to go with him to look at a sporter Swede in a Mannlicher style stock. He has a sporter Swede, so I don't get why he'd want another when he wants to sell of THAT one.....

I think he cares not if it's wood or synthetic, but would prefer a dbm arrangement if possible. Not a requirement, but a definitely plus for him. 6.5/7mm rounds are where he's at, I think. he's dabbled in the idea of a 243, but I'm not sure he'd be really happy with it. Maybe a 25-06. I think he'd like it, but he's not sold on it,and I'm not going to try to sell it that hard. He has to want it.

Scotty- He has less patience than an ant on speed! A custom build is not his thing. He wants to get something he has to do little to nothing with to shoot. Rebarreling one isn't even in his head. He was all lit up about the Tikka T3, but then handled one a few times and decided it felt too "cheap" to him, even though he knows many guys love their Tikka's. I've also suggested we rework his Swede sporter to really gussy it up, but he's not interested in that.

Hunter- He has less interest in benchrest shooting than I do in Tasco scopes! You have a good idea on how to go "different", but that's just not his thing, and I don't see it ever being so, really. He shoots enough during the year to hunt. He's not much for shooting to shoot...he's a hunter.

jmad- we are not permitted to hunt with semiauto's in Pennsylvania.

 

[Guy Miner]

There's a real nice Ruger 77 Hawkeye in 6.5 Creedmoor at the local gun shop.

I have strongly resisted buying it as it's just too close in application to my .25-06 700 CDL.

That Ruger is a really nice rifle...

 

[Africa Huntress]

Tom, you dad is reading my mail

A rifle with low recoil, something different , something that fits your dad and is everything he likes in a gun.

I would buy a mauser or Kilamanjaro action since he doesnt want a pre 64 and then let him pick everything else. stainless or blue, wood or synthetic and if wood let him pick out the blank so he gets exactly the type, style and color of wood he likes. Then make sure he works with the gun maker so it fits him perfectly. I use at this level the 7x57 and 6.5 swede as they perform well with less recoil and they are old classics to boot. He could also get a 300 H & H and still not have a recoil problem with a rifle that fits him. Something different--nobody would have a rifle "exactly" like his and he could even show his name on the box, as I hate stampimg names into the barrel or stock, but it is his rifle, he could also do that as well, especially since I bet the rifle will never leave the family.

 

[tddeangelo]

Aleena,

I would love to do a project like that. My father needs to put moth balls in his wallet to keep the moths from eating the stale, moldy money, however, lol. He would have an aneurysm over the cost...

Building out his existing mauser sporter was, however, something I suggested to him. Perhaps your thought process and that existing rifle could be combined....perhaps....

 

[SJB358]

Aleena,

I would love to do a project like that. My father needs to put moth balls in his wallet to keep the moths from eating the stale, moldy money, however, lol. He would have an aneurysm over the cost...

Building out his existing mauser sporter was, however, something I suggested to him. Perhaps your thought process and that existing rifle could be combined....perhaps....

That would be very cool Tom. Why didn't you think of that? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

 

[tddeangelo]

I did...lol....until this white elephant of a 300H&H came along, my plan was to buy that sporter Mauser from him and make it right (in my estimation).

I've talked to him about trying to find a good smith to turn down the barrel from the stepped military barrel contour, put an M70-style safety on it, and put it in a proper stock. Maybe I'll make a run at that concept again.

 

[SJB358]

I did...lol....until this white elephant of a 300H&H came along, my plan was to buy that sporter Mauser from him and make it right (in my estimation).

I've talked to him about trying to find a good smith to turn down the barrel from the stepped military barrel contour, put an M70-style safety on it, and put it in a proper stock. Maybe I'll make a run at that concept again.

That sounds like it would be pretty cool Tom. Probably be a great little deer rifle to. Once you get them 6.5's running right, they are alot of fun. Plus, they are insanely easy in the recoil department for the ballistics you can achieve from them.

 

[tddeangelo]

Man, this would be the ticket for me.....maybe I'll try to talk him into it....

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =293111296

 

[SJB358]

Yeah, that is a sharp little rig right there.. I happen to think they are sweet little rifles.

 

[PJGunner]

Man, this would be the ticket for me.....maybe I'll try to talk him into it....

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =293111296

I saw that and was sorely tempted and I already have an M70 Featherweight in 7x57. Guess one can't have too much of a good thing. :wink:
Paul B.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I do not know what he has in terms of a conversion configuration for the 6.5x55mm Mauser? Maybe recontouring, shortening the barrel and putting a Mannlicher stock on it might freshen it up enough to make him want to keep it.

I still think that it might be useful to put him through a clarifying, decision matrix tree, or fishbone. It might focus him better in finding what he wants and help him get an better feel for his inner feelings about what he thinks that he wants in caliber and features for another rifle. I realise that runs contrary to the OCD rationale of gun buying but I am the same age and like your dad in some ways and don't buy new guns that often. I generally have to have a valid rationale for doing things and have a process to decide what I need and want.

I do tend to overthink things but he sounds as though he is not clear about what he wants either. When I was about your age, I pushed my dad into a Model 700, .30-06 that he never liked and never used much. I realise now that I was pushing for my agenda and not his! Just a thought.