Most Accurate Off the Shelf Bolt Guns

[skywalkrNCSU]

I am researching a new bolt gun and wasn't sure if there was a brand I should be looking into. The main purpose will be my main hunting rig so I'd like to keep it on the lighter side and without all the tactical features (just a sling and a bipod). I have access to some land where I can shoot around 600 yards, maybe a little more so I'd like to ring steel on occasion at those distances but it's certainly not the primary use.

I was thinking about going with a 260 Remington because I like the accuracy, ballistics, and from what I hear it's a light shooting round. I was going to go with a 6.5 CM but the 260 seems to make more sense because I reload.

As far as off the shelf rifles, which are going to be the most consistently accurate? I am currently considering a Tikka T3x because they guarantee that it will shoot 1 moa. Is there another off the shelf rifle I should consider that isn't reaching custom pricing? I don't have a budget, I'm willing to save up for something nice if it's worth it but I don't want to spend custom level money right now (I would like to keep it under $2k without optics but any money I can save on the rifle will go into optics). What I really want is not needing to worry about a lemon from a company with less than stellar quality control (aka Remington).

[CDR_Glock]

My Tikka 308 does that very well out of the box at 100. 6.5 CM is what a lot of my fellow club members swear by.


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[TexHill]

I would take a good look at CZ-USA's line of bolt action rifles. Excellent quality for the money, and their center fire rifles come from the factory with "set" triggers. The quality of their wood stocks is also top notch.

http://cz-usa.com/news/the-cz-single-set-trigger-system/

[nova3930]

When I was deciding what to build my varmint rifle in I looked at all sorts of chamberings including 260rem and ended up with 6.5CM even though I do reload. You give up a few grains of case capacity but gain the ability to get factory ammo at nearly any major store. Otherwise it's a wash for the most part.

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[Pilot1]

I know this is for a bolt gun, but which feeds better in a semi auto platform 260 Rem or 6.5 CM? I know the 260 is a necked down .308 cartridge, so maybe it is a wash, but I am not at all familiar with the 6.5 CM.

For bolt guns, how much do you want to spend? I second the CZ, and Tikkas, but Savage has a good rep and should be less money. The new Winchester M70's are getting good reviews, but they are more money still.

[nova3930]

The both ultimately derive from the old 300 savage.

300svg->30TC->6.5CM
300svg->308win->260rem

Can't tell you what if any feed differences there are.

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[nova3930]

And just more food for thought for the OP, Lotta people doing pretty accurate long range shooting with the $350 ruger american predator in 6.5cm

There's a YouTube video of one guy ringing steel at a mile with that rifle and a $300 swfa scope. Get that rifle, a better stock, bed it, add some nice glass and it would probably do anything you want for well under your budget.

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[SeriousStudent]

I have never read or heard of anyone badmouthing a Tikka. One of our mods here, mark5pt56, always recommends them, and he has a LOT of time behind a bolt gun. I think you are definitely on the right track with that.

I have a CZ bolt gun, and find it very accurate out of the box.

[Titan74]

Tikka T3 is an excellent choice. Most accurate off the shelf bolt gun is Sako TRG: it is very much a different rifle, but it is made in the same factory as Tikka T3 rifles. Every TRG will shoot 0.5 MOA out of the box, and many actually shoot 0.3-0.4 MOA.

[Mjolnir]

Tikka, Steyr, Savage, FN...

All are known for consistent accuracy.


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[mark5pt56]

Tikka is scheduled to release the Lite model in 6.5 CM this year, they do have the CTRx in that now but at one pound heavier (7.5). I would wait until it's out, get a set of one piece Talley rings and a purpose oriented scope. and be done with it-oh the Proctor sling works great, light and easily adjustable. Plenty of good factory hunting ammo for the 6.5CM and you can always reload of course. People argue the .260 vs. 6.5CM, why I don't know when you get into it. The advantage is 6.5 for the availability of factory ammo.

Just keep the gun simple, it's a hunting gun you don't need a 1913 rail, CDI bottom metal a 700 dollar stock, etc. unless you have the money and like to show off pics for that $300 per pound venison and "have meat in the freezer":rolleyes:

The 7-08 isn't a bad shooter either.

My .02 anyhow

Look at Whitaker Guns or Eurooptic, both great Tikka dealers and great pricing. Both may know more precisely when the Lite will be out.

Typical accuracy, this is a .308 with the factory barrel cut to 18"
yeah, yeah, 3 round groups, blah, blah
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v509/mark5pt56/009_zpssp9kxuui.jpg

[skywalkrNCSU]

Thanks guys, all great info and just what I expected from you all.

Mark, I think I might just do that, it sounds like a good plan to me.

[Lefty223]

Never heard anyone else complain about Tikka's either, but here's my experience w/ Savage rifles - most for hunting use - as these were expressly left-handed ones less the heavy barrel 223 & 308:

LH m110 30-06, 3/4" 3-shot groups Win 150-grn soft-points - my 1st Savage & hunting rifle. I slimmed it down & added a schnable forend and took my 1st deer w/ it (140# doe) in PA. Like a fool ... I sold it ...

LH m11 7mm-08 hunter, 1/2 MOA 5-shot groups w/ handloads (140-grn), ~5/8" 3-5 shot groups using Hornady Lite Magnums

LH cheap Axis 380 sporter, 1" 5-shot groups Fed 150-grn Power-Shok soft-points

RH m11VT heavy barrel 308, sub-MOA @ 200-yds 150-grn HPBT reloads, 1/2 MOA w/ Fed 168 GM Match

RH m12(?) 26" very heavy SS fluted barrel 223, 1/2 MOA w/ reloads

I shoot the ladder for my reloads, and all my Savages have shot well w/ good factory hunting fodder or Sierra 140-150s just off the lands with Varget, neck-sized brass. I think I had a 260 Rem LH model 11 there for a while too, but didn't have any data recorded in my files, so I must have sold it. But I sure would have shot it forst and have never had a Savsge not shoot better than 1 MOA.