Best 30-06

[dustinjoels]

Hello fellow hunters,

I'm looking for advice on what you guys recommend as the best 30-06 on the market.

I currently have a 20 year old Winchester model 70 featherweight 30-06. Great gun. I've taken most of my animals from deer to moose with this gun over the last 20 years.

There's one thing that's driving me nuts with the gun however. There's a button on the back of the bolt that allows the firing pin to be pulled from the bolt for cleaning. Over the last two years I seem to be bumping this button while hunting which causes the mechanism to turn and therefore unable to fire while I'm walking around. It seems like it's happening more frequently the older the gun gets. Gun smith says there's nothing that can be done. Very irritating.

price on a new 30-06 isn't a huge concern since I'll probably use it for 20 years and therefore consider it a long term investment . One must have is being able to open the bolt with the safety on. I had an unfortunate incident as a teenager with a gun that the safety had to be moved to the firing position in order to open the bolt. It made me very skittish and I don't think I'll ever buy a gun that requires it.

What's your recommendation?

[GunnerySgtJackson]

Is it possible to put some "Torque seal" or similar anti-tamper sealant on the button so it can not be unintentionally moved?

http://www.amazon.com/F-900-Orange-T.../dp/B00JFKU8QW

[58thecat]

Maybe shop around for a Remington, you know what calibre you want...30-06.
As you said no issues with the cartridge just the rifle.
I had the same issues and got rid of the rifle.
Good luck.

[Buckhead]

Sounds like the breech bolt sleeve lock spring has gotten weak.

About a $10 repair.

I would suggest a different gunsmith.

[elkhunter11]

Do you really want to pay for the "best 30-06 on the market"? You should provide a budget.

[Torkdiesel]

Sako, Kimber, Blaser, RMR, Remington's custom line

Or perhaps a nice Rigby ???

The skies the limit really

[heybert]

Best bang for your buck, Tikka T3
The Sauer 404 is pretty sexy and probably one of the smoothest cycling action you'll ever experience.
I hear good things about Coopers
I don't like the Sako 85 line, so I am not going to recommend it. But I love the L61R's if you're going to look at used.
Better yet, get a custom done.

[justhunt]

If you are looking for a classic wood stocked rifle the kimber 84L is a really nice handling slim rifle. I find a lot of wood stocked rifles clunky and a lot more wood in the stock than needed. Not the case with the kimber

[Dick284]

am I the only one who is having trouble wrapping my head around the OP's problem with his current rifle?

Any Winchester I've seen or have had , required the bolt to be cocked, the safety on the middle position, and then you needed to depress the take down button, and unscrew the cocking piece 3 or 4 turns, for disassembly.
How may I ask can this happen while out hunting?

If you want a new rifle OP just say so, if you wanna blow smoke, step outside and have a dart.

http://youtu.be/pcoqomwv3PA


As far as best, well that's a pretty subjective term. Best in what way?
Best shooting?(that'll get you 40 different opinions in 38 replies)
Best functioning?
Best ergonomics?(that varies due to the way we as humans differ in body type)
Best looking?(blonde, brunette, red head)

I own 3, 30-06's right now.
A M1 Garand, best battle field implement according to Gen. Patton.
Rem 7600, best truck gun, bush bashing, deer drive rifle I own.
Zastava M70, best looking wood on any rifle I own, strong action, great price.

What's best doesn't fit neatly into little compartments!

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Dick284

am I the only one who is having trouble wrapping my head around the OP's problem with his current rifle?

Any Winchester I've seen or have had , required the bolt to be cocked, the safety on the middle position, and then you needed to depress the take down button, and unscrew the cocking piece 3 or 4 turns, for disassembly.
How may I ask can this happen while out hunting?

If you want a new rifle OP just say so, if you wanna blow smoke, step outside and have a dart.

I found that part of his post so confusing, that I just ignored it.

[jkav]

Originally Posted by Dick284

[...] if you wanna blow smoke, step outside and have a dart.

Nice job working in the Letterkenny reference.

Appreciated.

[58thecat]

Pitter patter lets get at er....buy a new rifle

[1Heavyhitr]

Originally Posted by Dick284

am I the only one who is having trouble wrapping my head around the OP's problem with his current rifle?

Any Winchester I've seen or have had , required the bolt to be cocked, the safety on the middle position, and then you needed to depress the take down button, and unscrew the cocking piece 3 or 4 turns, for disassembly.
How may I ask can this happen while out hunting?

If you want a new rifle OP just say so, if you wanna blow smoke, step outside and have a dart.

http://youtu.be/pcoqomwv3PA

this.
As far as best, well that's a pretty subjective term. Best in what way?
Best shooting?(that'll get you 40 different opinions in 38 replies)
Best functioning?
Best ergonomics?(that varies due to the way we as humans differ in body type)
Best looking?(blonde, brunette, red head)

I own 3, 30-06's right now.
A M1 Garand, best battle field implement according to Gen. Patton.
Rem 7600, best truck gun, bush bashing, deer drive rifle I own.
Zastava M70, best looking wood on any rifle I own, strong action, great price.

What's best doesn't fit neatly into little compartments!

^^^^^^^^

[dustinjoels]

The piece isn't actually coming out. As you said it takes a few turns to actually remove the firing pin. All that happens is that it turns like a quarter of a turn which renders the gun unfireable. Doesn't seem like I'm the only one having an issue since someone else said they had the same problem with the same gun.

[morinj]

Tikka t3 is a great bang for the buck, if you wanna go further, a Sako a7. Either way you can't go wrong!!

[HowSwedeItIs]

Get another model 70, you can't get much better than perfect

[IAMBREAD]

I loooooooooooooooooove my browning x-bolt with the thumbhole stock! Mmm mmm mmm! And there is a handy little button to allow you to open the bolt with the safety on!

[Buckhead]

Originally Posted by dustinjoels

The piece isn't actually coming out. As you said it takes a few turns to actually remove the firing pin. All that happens is that it turns like a quarter of a turn which renders the gun unfireable. Doesn't seem like I'm the only one having an issue since someone else said they had the same problem with the same gun.

It needs a new spring, as I have indicated above.

[silver lab]

Ill give you $200 for it.

[albertabighorn]

Originally Posted by silver lab

Ill give you $200 for it.

Ill do 202

[roger]

Originally Posted by dustinjoels

as the best .

What is best? Too crush your enemies, and see them driven before you and hear the lamentations of their women'









(Thanks to the member who cited thus qrote this a while ago)

[dustinjoels]

Originally Posted by Buckhead

Sounds like the breech bolt sleeve lock spring has gotten weak.

About a $10 repair.

I would suggest a different gunsmith.

I took it to rdhgunsmithing in west Edmonton. Is there someone else you might be able to recommend to look at it? There doesn't seem to be many gunsmiths around anymore.

Thanks for the advice at least on what might be the issue.

I still might buy a new 30-06 as I stated, but would like to keep this gun and hopefully fix it and let my son use it when he's old enough.

[58thecat]

Originally Posted by dustinjoels

The piece isn't actually coming out. As you said it takes a few turns to actually remove the firing pin. All that happens is that it turns like a quarter of a turn which renders the gun unfireable. Doesn't seem like I'm the only one having an issue since someone else said they had the same problem with the same gun.

Exactly,

Some people just jump all over a guy when he asks a question.

So got a rifle in mind for a replacement?

As for a fix how about a drop of lock tight?

[Fisher_man#1]

Originally Posted by IAMBREAD

I loooooooooooooooooove my browning x-bolt with the thumbhole stock! Mmm mmm mmm! And there is a handy little button to allow you to open the bolt with the safety on!

2X

very reliable gun, not too expensive like $600, has some neat features that are really useful, looks good, shoots good, kills good what more could you want.

Cheers,

[sillyak]

Best .30-06 on the market? Ralf Martini of Cranbrook, BC will build you the best hunting rifle possible. His bolt actions start at 16 400 USD.

Hey you did say the best

[catnthehat]

You could try David Henry, I'm sure he can fix it.
I don't think it is a Big issue but I may be wrong
Cat

[Prairiewolf]

Originally Posted by dustinjoels

Hello fellow hunters,

I'm looking for advice on what you guys recommend as the best 30-06 on the market.

I currently have a 20 year old Winchester model 70 featherweight 30-06. Great gun. I've taken most of my animals from deer to moose with this gun over the last 20 years.

There's one thing that's driving me nuts with the gun however. There's a button on the back of the bolt that allows the firing pin to be pulled from the bolt for cleaning. Over the last two years I seem to be bumping this button while hunting which causes the mechanism to turn and therefore unable to fire while I'm walking around. It seems like it's happening more frequently the older the gun gets. Gun smith says there's nothing that can be done. Very irritating.

price on a new 30-06 isn't a huge concern since I'll probably use it for 20 years and therefore consider it a long term investment . One must have is being able to open the bolt with the safety on. I had an unfortunate incident as a teenager with a gun that the safety had to be moved to the firing position in order to open the bolt. It made me very skittish and I don't think I'll ever buy a gun that requires it.

What's your recommendation?

I know for a fact that Browning X-Bolts offer the ability to open the bolt with the safety on (I own three, 7mm RM, 22-250, and recently a .308 Win).

A few years ago I was very close to purchasing a Sako Black Bear in 30-06, not sure about the bolt/safety issue but for my money that'd probably be my next rifle.

[Snm]

I use a Sako A7. Great accurate rifle. I am pretty sure you can remove the bolt without switching the saftey.