Need help choosing a rifle.

[strongbow88]

I am looking to buy a new rifle in the 500 to 700 dollar range.  It will be used for whitetail hunting in south east Alabama I am wanting it in .270 win. And to be left handed bolt action. I want a detachable box magazine.
I have looked at Savage Remington and Browning rifles. I can not decide, I would like to hear from some of you that have shot some of these rifles. I want the best trigger I can get. And weight is not much of an issue.
                                                                                 Thanks,

[Bhawanna]

woods, power-line, or pasture hunting?  why .270 cal. ?

[strongbow88]

Mostly hunting over fields, and most shots 200 yards and under. I have other guns for in the woods hunting. .270 has good balistics and medium recoil.

[Bhawanna]

200 yards?.....have you considered .308?  i hunt alot pasture and powerlines and the .308 is fantastic.  i have made shots over 400 yards deer hunting with this round. it will "reach-out and touch someone" ...... look at the sturm-ruger m77 hawkeye....  http://www.ruger.com/products/m77HawkeyeStandardLeftHanded/features.html

[RedFeather]

If you want a .270, OK. I think it's a bit like .30-06, overbore for Eastern whitetails, myself. Too bad the old 7X57 Mauser isn't as popular as it used to be, or the .250 Roberts (maybe the best mid-range deer round ever). Have you considered any of the CZ 500 series? Don't know if they come in .270. Hey, might scout around for a Remington or Winchester in 6.5X55 Swedish Mauser. That would be a great gun. Talk about ballistics and fairly light recoil, too. I know that both made them (maybe still do). Also Ruger's 77.

Bit older link on 6.5 rifles:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/choosing_6-5mm_rifle.htm

[PeakChick]

I have a Remington 700 ADL in .270. It's great pack it in the hills rifle and the Remington trigger is one of the best of the bunch in a moderately priced rifle. The newer Savage rifles with the Accutrigger are pretty good too. The .270 is a great all around cartridge. The cartridge is not too much for bigger white tails, is great for Mule Deer and with the right load and shooter behind the trigger is enough gun for Elk. It is also an inherently accurate cartridge. If I do my part, my Remington is a 1 MOA shooter with 130gr Nosler Grand Slams and the right mix of 4138. The recoil is moderate too, a big plus for me.

[Bogey]

Malcolm,    The .270 is an excellent cartridge,  and so is the 30-06 and .308.   I own   rifles in all 3 calibres.   That being said, my favorite for deer hunting now is the .243.   Does everything I need it to do without the recoil and blast of the .270 , 30-06  and .308.  Also lighter rifle.   Using a model 7  from Remington. I never have fallen for the belted magnums.   They are too difficult to reload compared to cases without the belt.  Plus the expense of ammo.  And the recoil.  And the resulting blast.

Savage decent rifle.   Remington decent rifle with mods available.   Browning...."  the nicer the nice the higher the price."

May want to match the rifle to your body size.  And how much you intend to shoot the rifle during the year.   Heavy, rocking recoil can wear you down and cause a person not to want to shoot much.


I would avoid any oddball cartridges.    Can be difficlut to find ammo when you need it.

[longislandhunter]

I agree with Bogey,,, my favorite "open country" whitetail cartridge is the .243 Winchester.   Light recoil, amazing accuracy, outstanding for long range shooting and packs the punch to take out whitetails easily.  The other thing I like about the .243 is that it is also an outstanding long range varmint/predator cartridge  (woodhchucks, coyotes, etc) not to mention an outstanding caliber for pronghorn antelope and such.   I shoot the other calibers mentioned as well, but the Winchester rifle I have that is chambered for the .243 Winchester is the one I take out of the safe when I'm hunting whitetails in open country and she's never let me down.    

I'm not knocking the other calibers mentioned,,,, they're good as well and will do the job for you,, I just really love my .243  

Jeff

[Magnum]

I have used 6.5x55 SM for years and given your 200yds and under I would definately check out its stats you will like it I think... using 139gr norma, light recoil, flat tragectory hard to beat IMO. my step up from here is .308 which can cater for most anything:) I would say the browning may have the edge in your list:) I would also concider the cz550 or a winchester 70 featherweight which is what I use:) FYI I am not against the .270 good catridge just not my chioce.

[RedFeather]

Other things to consider. Are you going to reload? If not, the larger cartridges are not going to be as versatile. And the comment about finding ammo in the store is also important. Don't want to arrive at the hunt location only to find you've misplaced your ammo. Most stores are going to stock .243 and in more choices, too.

[strongbow88]

I may get into reloading later.