$4000 what hunting rifle/scope would you buy?

roar · #1 10-31-2021, 10:05 AM

First off thanks for any input, advice, comments and suggestions.
Second hope everyone is healthy and having a great fall. If you had $4000 what kind of hunting rifle/scope would you purchase? Recreational target shooting and Western big game hunting. 300 WIN MAG fan but open to other calibers. Custom build (not enough $$$) or stock

prarie_boy1 · #2 10-31-2021, 10:22 AM

If I had that kind of budget I would likely have a semi custom put together on a rem 700 action with the barrel of my choosing in a boyds stock and dump the rest of the funds into quality optics. If a person wants to go to a manners/McMillan type stock that really takes a bite out of what you have left for optics. For factory offerings a Christenson arms Mesa topped with some decent optics would fall well within that budget.

NCC · #3 10-31-2021, 10:23 AM

Buy a second hand custom or semi-custom rifle that someone else has already taken the first owner price beating on. I've bought a couple that way (260 on a Sako action and a 280 on a 700 action) for less than the price of a new factory rifle and am very happy with them.

The other option I would look at is buy a Tikka T3 ($1000), install a Wild Cat stock ($1000) and then you have $2000 left for rings, bases, scope, bi-pod, etc.

elkhunter11 · #4 10-31-2021, 10:30 AM

For a factory rifle, Christensen Mesa and top it with a Swarovski Z3, or Z5

graybeard · #5 10-31-2021, 10:34 AM

For $4,000 up grade a few things.....IMHO

$1,000 rifle
$1,000 scope
$1,000 binoculars
$1,000 update clothing

270person · #6 10-31-2021, 10:36 AM

Whichever ballpark $2000 rifle fits you best and a ballpark $2000 scope that suits your eyes best.

You're going to get a) a million suggestions that just confuse matters and b) major league bias because it's what others own.

Figure out your priorities. Range or hunting. What may work great for one application isn't always the best for the other. Plus spending $4000 isn't going to guarantee YOU have more success than if you'd spent 3.

marky_mark · #7 10-31-2021, 10:53 AM

I’ll sell you a Gunwerks revx 300 win mag for 3500 bucks
Can put whatever scope you want on it

270person · #8 10-31-2021, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marky_mark

I’ll sell you a Gunwerks revx 300 win mag for 3500 bucks
Can put whatever scope you want on it

I've got a Bushnell Scopechief Rimfire 4x I bought in the 70's that would be a perfect match. It's gloss tho so not going cheap.

Jerry D · #9 10-31-2021, 11:06 AM

Been a few threads on this a while back.

I’d look at a few options.

Used custom guns. Lots of them posted in buy and sell classifieds.

Weatherby has a nice back country line with fibreglass stocks.

Bergara has a nice lineup.

If wood is your thing. Cooper has some

Take a look at some of the European designs if you like them. Steyr and sauer. Mauser and sako

Savage Bacon · #10 10-31-2021, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

For a factory rifle, Christensen Mesa and top it with a Swarovski Z3, or Z5

I'm very happy with mine. 7mm-08 with a Z5.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

marky_mark · #11 10-31-2021, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 270person

I've got a Bushnell Scopechief Rimfire 4x I bought in the 70's that would be a perfect match. It's gloss tho so not going cheap.

That’s a step up from the Tasco that’s on it now
😬😬😉😉

sns2 · #12 10-31-2021, 01:37 PM

Based on your mention of 300 mag, I will suggest this Cooper Excalibur. Low rounds. Very good shape. Come with 1/2” guarantee. Really excellent price. factory ammo ain’t cheap though.

https://store.prophetriver.com/consi...-rounds-fired/

Or

https://store.prophetriver.com/chris...-801-06077-00/

Or

https://store.prophetriver.com/chris...-801-06051-00/

Or

https://store.prophetriver.com/winch...-pt03479yz35g/

pikergolf · #13 10-31-2021, 01:59 PM

Tikka (1200), Boyd's Custom stock (400), with a Swarovski Z3 (1500 to 2000).
If you go Tikka you will want a different stock if you go 300 mag.

270person · #14 10-31-2021, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marky_mark

That’s a step up from the Tasco that’s on it now
😬😬😉😉

I've always been about quality. Buy once cry once.

270person · #15 10-31-2021, 02:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Savage Bacon

I'm very happy with mine. 7mm-08 with a Z5.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

Good scope anyways.

elkhunter11 · #16 10-31-2021, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 270person

Good scope anyways.

And in the hands of a competent operator, a good rifle as well.

fishnguy · #17 10-31-2021, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sns2

Based on your mention of 300 mag, I will suggest this Cooper Excalibur. Low rounds. Very good shape. Come with 1/2” guarantee. Really excellent price. factory ammo ain’t cheap though.

https://store.prophetriver.com/consi...-rounds-fired/

You got that right! Also, if you could find it, lol. Solid gun though at a great price.

270person · #18 10-31-2021, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

And in the hands of a competent operator, a good rifle as well.

Yep. When they come out of the factory proper. A Google search tells a lot. As does a conversation with the Canadian service appointee.

Hopefully tuned properly now.

elkhunter11 · #19 10-31-2021, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishnguy

You got that right! Also, if you could find it, lol. Solid gun though at a great price.

Although I have been hunting with the 7mmstw for over 30 years, I wouldn't recommend it unless you reload, and it is a poor choice for target shooting, the barrel heats up too quickly, and barrel life is short. And as limited as factory loads are, even brass can be tough to find. That being said, the price is very good on that rifle.

Natek · #20 10-31-2021, 03:14 PM

Browning hells canyon and a Leupold vx6hd

6MT · #21 10-31-2021, 04:35 PM

I really like NightForce. The new NX8’s are compact.the first NX8 I tried was the 8-32x50. For a hunting rifle, it is compact and fairly light weight. It might not be the one the OP is looking for as fas as magnification goes, but there is a decent variety of different options available.

IL Bar · #22 10-31-2021, 05:17 PM

Hoping to get time to use my new Christensen Mesa in 6.5 creedmoor with a leupold VX5hd 3-15x44 this fall.

Dmay · #23 10-31-2021, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT

I really like NightForce. The new NX8’s are compact.the first NX8 I tried was the 8-32x50. For a hunting rifle, it is compact and fairly light weight. It might not be the one the OP is looking for as fas as magnification goes, but there is a decent variety of different options available.

Ya....sure as hell don't need 32X on a hunting rifle for sure....but can't go wrong with Nightforce glass.....

And above....what's with having a trigger lock on a non-restricted rifle in a picture?....c'mon....that's no-class.....

gunluvr · #24 10-31-2021, 06:50 PM

Winchester M70 Supergrade French Walnut 300 Winmag
Leupold vx5hd 3-15x44

marky_mark · #25 10-31-2021, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dmay

Ya....sure as hell don't need 32X on a hunting rifle for sure....but can't go wrong with Nightforce glass.....

And above....what's with having a trigger lock on a non-restricted rifle in a picture?....c'mon....that's no-class.....

Nightforce glass really isn’t that good
Their repeatability/tracking is the main reason people buy them

savage250 · #26 10-31-2021, 07:27 PM

I picked up a Christensen Arms Ridgeline in 300 Win Mag for this season. I put a Vortex HST scope on it with the MOA reticles. At first I was concerned as well given all I read online after the purchase, but there were many people happy with it too and as we know, negative comments are most prevalent online.

Anyway, it shoots great and I dropped my antelope and elk with it this year. One thing I did notice was the groups open up quickly as the barrel heats up, after 6 shots. I needed to allow 15 minutes between 3 shots groups to hold the accuracy.

elkhunter11 · #27 10-31-2021, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marky_mark

Nightforce glass really isn’t that good
Their repeatability/tracking is the main reason people buy them

Exactly my opinion after owning Nightforce, and many European scopes.

JD848 · #28 10-31-2021, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marky_mark

Nightforce glass really isn’t that good
Their repeatability/tracking is the main reason people buy them

X2 .You are very right Mark.

Redneck 7 · #29 10-31-2021, 08:26 PM

Whatever rifle fits your body the best and catches your eye. I’d look for a used semi or full custom. Even a tikka in a wildcat composite would be wicked, then of course a Leupold vx5 HD to top it off. Have a good time shopping!

IL Bar · #30 10-31-2021, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 270person

Yep. When they come out of the factory proper. A Google search tells a lot. As does a conversation with the Canadian service appointee.

Hopefully tuned properly now.

Sorry to derail but I’m curious if you could explain what problems you’ve had with a Mesa? I’m curious what I should be looking for in mine.

I own a 85 finnlight that’s supposed to be junk, a rem 700 that’s supposed to be junk, some junky plastic Tikkas and have had a couple savages. All have rode in the truck and have went bang when I fired them. If they didn’t hit the target that was all on me. I don’t believe everything I read on Google.