Starting in 09,I will, after a very long break. Get back into hunting. Will be hunting all whitetail,mule and blacktail. Will not go bigger than elk.

Any suggestions on the overall bolt action and scope for this.

Thanks 

 You'll get quite a few different suggestions, no real right answer, but quite a few right ones and some wrong ones. For me a .270 with a Leupold 3-9 scope is near perfect. You don't need the top end Leupolds either. Their starting line scopes are darn good and get the same warranty and service. For the brand of rifle it depends on what you want to spend and what you like. For a bargain rifle you really can't beat a Savage. Sure they usually have a cheap stock but the other major companys aren't really much better and they usally shoot very well. I also really like the Ruger Hawkeyes. They have a nice trim walnut stock design and IMO the most attractive as well. They are also priced pretty good. Remingtons and Winchester are a bit more, nothing wrong with them either. If you want a little more Kimber makes a nice light weight rifle and some nice wood stocked rifles. It seems their quality can be a crap shoot from what I read on these forums but I would take the chance if I were in the market. Then of course their are semi and full blown custom rifles if you want to go that route. Endless possibilitys there.

 For the cartridge a .270 just flat gets it done. It shoots plenty flat and hits plenty hard  all the while being easy to shoot recoil wise. That's nice in a lighter weight rifle. I've also found them very easy to load for should you go that route. If not there  is a vast variety of factory ammo to choose from. It's also a capable elk rig with a good bullet like a partition. My second choice would be the 30-06 for many of the same reasons.

Mickey;

I'll make some suggestions to ya.  But, that's all they are is suggestions.

For a current production rifle, at least take a good look at both the CZ's and the Tikka's.  The CZ is a classic Mauser type action and a good one.  The Tikka, of which I own a couple, does quite nicely also.  For that matter, I've got more than one CZ too.  Either can exhibit excellent accuracy.

For caliber, number one on my list is the .30-06.  If you want a little softer recoil with a number that can still get the job done, try the 6.5 Swede.  Both are excellent cartridges for game up through elk.  Both are well over 100 years old and still going strong for the simple reason that they both work very well.  The Swede offers some fantastic sectional densities and B/C's if you're into reloading.  And, of course, the ought-6 has a bullet selection second to none.

Avoid the .270 like the red-headed bastard stepchild it is.

 900F

Ahh the 270 vs 06, why not the 308 vs 7mm/08, Roberts vs Swede, .243 vs 6mm.

I would first decide, if you need a woods, mountain or plains rifle, then I would decide, do you want one for everything or one for deer now and another later for elk. 

Does recoil bother you? 

At what ranges do you plan on shooting at? 

How much are you ready to spend?

How accurate do you require it to be?

I'm sure some can give you a better answer, with more info from you.

All I can say is buy the best you can afford up front, a cheap POS cost more in the long run.   That said, a $3000 rifle only shoots about 1/3" tighter group at 100yds, than a $600 does.

RC

I have to take the 270's side, it will do for the animals you have listed along with all the others listed,

Rick

Generally agree with Rob.

BUT, it depends upon where you will be hunting, generally the terain and distance matter.  If you are hunting the north east, shoots will be much closer.

I personally like the 260,  and the kimber is a nice light well made rifle (got one).  Remington makes lots of models of bolt guns all really good.

BEAR

i've become a believer in the .280 over the years, it would be tied with .30/06 as first choice if i were to have ONE rifle for hunting. you're going to knock down anything with those, and recoil is negligent. .308, 7x57, 6.5x55mm are all very fine choices as well - to be honest anything from 6.5/.260 through 8mm/.323 would be just fine. i suppose you could go bigger, if you want, but there is no reason.

any of the production rifles would work well, i prefer CZ. if you can find a commercial mauser such as zastava, so much the better. i prefer craftsmanship over aesthetics, but it is not unusual for the two to go together. also prefer walnut/blue over synthetic/stainless, but your local climate might make your choice for you.

for scope, pick one with the "forever" warranty such as leupold. less-expensive scopes such as sightron can also be good choices. do swift and bausch/lomb still make scopes? avoid anything chinese as though it were carrying the plague; japanese, german and US are all good.

those are some rough edges, the rest comes down to personal preference.

Mickey;

I happen to know that CB does not indulge in cheap beer & blue pills to get his thrills.  I think it's good whiskey & watching the blood pressure rise in the veins of .270 guys.

You should also know that there are rumors that Rob will put a perfectly good walnut stock blank in a fence just to let it age a bit more.

I also think RobertMT asked some good questions.  If you'd be so kind as to supply the information, we'll do our best to see if we can get a little more specific about the recommendations.

Foo

Don't listen to 900f. The .270 is just a little bit cooler than a 30.06.

Wing master

...or you could one up both of them. 

Had fun plinking the "ram" at 420 yards this morning with the Montana 7wsm.

.270 Win, .280 Rem, .30-06 just take all three throw them in a hat and pick one.  I guarantee you will be happy with the choice.  .270 and .30-06 will be a little easier to find factory ammunition for but there are no flies on the .280 Rem.  I've owned all three still have the .270 and .30-06, but I still load for the .280.  The new Win M70 in a feather weight in .270 or 06 would top my list if I was looking for a new rifle to hunt with, other than that Remington, Ruger, Savage, Browning, would top out my list of rifles. 

I’ve killed pronghorn, elk, and deer with the .270, elk and bear with the .30-06 and the .280 was stolen by my brother-in-law before I could test it on game.  From what I’ve seen of him it works just as well as the other two.  As far as long shots go I’ve taken a deer at 560 yards with the .270 so it will reach out there. 

As far as scopes go I like Rob1 suggestion but I'll throw the VXII 2-7 in as well.  I'm a self proclaimed Leupy snob, but I have a 2-7 in Nikon and Burris that I like as well.  Just something about that gold ring looks right on top of an good bolt action though.  If you really want to splurge then my favorite hunting scope is the 2.5-8X36 VXIII. 

Thanks for the input. How does the 4.5X14X40 Buckmaster from Nikon measure up in the optics field? Have been looking at the Savage and CZ in  the 270,308 and 30.06 ranges. Longest shot would be in the 450 range.

Take a look at a Howa 1500 with a pillar bedded Hogue overmoulded stock in either 270, 30-06, or 7 mag, top it off with a Bushnell 3200, or 4200 scope with the rainguard feature, and i think youll be good to go.

I would say 450yds for deer would be OK for 270 or 30/06, with  the 308 you'd be pushing it.  For elk 250 with 270 with prem140s or 308 with 165s, 300/350 for 30/06 with 180s.  Of course it's a personal choice, but if I was shooting at 450yds frequently, I'd step up to 7mm mag and up.  For elk I'd go with a .30 or .338 mag of some kind for over 300 yds.

Just my opinion

RC

Mickey;

I'd pick the CZ over the Savage without a second thought.  But I'd sure take a look at the Tikka too.

I'd also do some fairly heavy internet searching on the scope.  Check Bear Basin, Optics Planet, and SWFA.  The new Nikon Monarchs are not as high-priced as the old ones were.  The Bushnell 3200 might be just the choice for you too.  Don't overlook Leupold's VXI and VXII either.  You can find some good prices on them.  Just beware of counterfits being sold on places like e-bay.

900F

Rob1 wrote:  ..... a .270 with a Leupold 3-9 scope is near perfect. .....

Very good advice!

Mornin all,

Well after all the much appreciated input. And I do thank all of you. Then taking into consideration,a wife,cost and the political additional BS add on's in my state. I went with the 111F Savage-.270,and the Nikon Buckmaster 4.5X14 scope.

That being said,I now wait 10 days,then will head to the range for sighting and pure enjoyment.

Thanks again,and I hope to see you in the field

i'll bet you're pretty happy with it!

savage, as you know is known for being american made and being accurate right out-of-the-box. let us know what you think of it!

 Where did this thread come from,how'd I miss it ? So I'm late but here's my personal favorites right now.

 Long range 270 wsm,short range 7mm-08,in the woods thicket gun .338 Federal. Favorite long action gun and have killed enough deer,hogs and other critters to fill up quit a few trucks,the good old .270. Don't listen to CB on this point he's had to many Knob Creeks today.

Mickey: THE answer to your inquiry is - the 270 Winchester!

I am probably the only person on this thread that has actually killed all three species of Deer that you mention WITH a 270 Winchester Rifle!

I have also killed big Bull Elk, Black Bear, Antelope and world class Mt. Goat with my various 270 Winchester's!

ANYONE that berates the 270 Winchester for the type animals you have mentioned is WAY out of touch with reality.

Mark down anyones name that shows such poor judgement as that and call into question EVERYTHING such type person says!

I repeat - EVERYTHING!

Because they know not of which they speak!

Period!

The 270 Winchester is an exceptional round for the type game you mention and it does so without being heavy of recoil allowing for the Hunter to observe the effects/location of his shot and if need be allowing for even a quicker follow-up shot than many larger calibers.

Make no mistake the 270 Winchester will do an exceptional job at what you are asking to be done.

Long live the "exceptional" 270 Winchester cartridge!

Hold into the wind

VarmintGuy

Mickey, You will be MUCH happier with your choice if you glass bed it before you even go to the range. In the past two years I have purchased two Savage rifles. A .223 Accutrigger sporter weight in wood and a used .270 standard trigger in the older tupperware stock. Both shot fairly well right off but groups on both were more than halved by glass bedding. In fact the .270 went from almost 2" to less than 3/4" with a bedding job. Both rifles are now under 3/4" for five shots at 100, I've actually put three in .69 with the 270 at 200. RD

I guess I disagree with Rocky on this one.  NEVER CHANGE IT IF IT AIN'T BROKE.

Take it to the range and shoot a box of shells, if it shoots for you clean it and put it in the rack and you have a winner.

Glass bedding is filling the gap between the stock and the barrel with fiberglass.  some time this can improve the shooting sometimes not.  Many people believe in the opposite, Free Floating.  that means removing and wood or fiberglass between the stock and the barrel.

I have rifles that a re wood bedded, glass bedded, free floating and pillar bedded.  No one fix to get the smallest possible group. Most people can't shoot as tight a group as there rifle can do.  So shoot it  and enjoy shooting first before doing anything.

Enjoy.

BEAR

ps if you want to know what pillar bedding is ask and we can explain that.

Fella's;

Hmmmm, I don't recall myself ranting about the .270 in this thread.  One sentence giving good advice, that was it.  There was a rant, but I really don't believe it was mine.  And although I've been known to take in strays and orphans, I don't believe I'll adopt the rant.

 900F

 Google glass bedding and you'll get a better idea. Just one link that came up..... http://www.rifleshootermag.com/gunsmithing/bedding_0304/ - http://www.rifleshootermag.com/gunsmithing/bedding_0304/

There are lots of variations on the same theme but the end goal is basically the same, a stress free fit between the action and the stock and or barreled action and stock.

 Nice choice on the .270. I've killed several mulies a few whitetails and couple elk with the cartridge and never felt the need for more gun.

BEAR wrote: I guess I disagree with Rocky on this one.  NEVER CHANGE IT IF IT AIN'T BROKE. Take it to the range and shoot a box of shells, if it shoots for you clean it and put it in the rack and you have a winner.

+1 on this.

If you don't shoot it first, even if you decide to bed it, you wouldn't know if it made any difference.  People who know a lot more than me, will tell you this also.

Personally if it didn't group, I'd ask myself if it's me or the rifle, if I could say it was rifle, then I'd check scope, action screws, rings and bases first, then I'd try a couple different loads, then I would consider groups.  Are they all over place, vertical stringing, horizontal stringing? 

If it doesn't shoot an honest 2" group(I wouldn't expect 1/2" or less groups out of factory rifle),  I'd look for shooter(you said you'd had a long layoff right?) or rifle problems, it would be rare for bedding to be bad enough, to cause bigger groups than that.  Before I bedded it, I would ask someone else to shoot it for me or at least describe groups and maybe someone could give you suggestions.

Here's a link that lets you know what's involved to bed a rifle

http://www.6mmbr.com/pillarbedding.html - http://www.6mmbr.com/pillarbedding.html  there are other methods out there and may be better one's available, but this one is pretty through.

RC

Once again,ya'll come thru. I will check the above sites,and do my homework. Scheduled to pick up the weapon on the 17th. 10 day policy here.

Thanks for all help 

Hi all,

Well it's home-my Savage 111 .270,Nikon Buckmaster 4.5X14X40,and I'm tickled ignorant. Will head to the range this Saturday to site it in.

Will go with the 130gr Winchester Supreme E-Tip-also open to suggestions.

Yep-Xmas has come early

Should do the job, the .270 and 130s, go together like peanut butter and jelly. 

I've shot win supreme before, though not with the unleaded bullet, if rifle doesn't like the win, try the federal prem, it may like it  better.  The price on them though WOW.  I don't know if you can get the white box win with the unleaded bullet, but the reg white box shoots pretty good for less than half the price.  You may be able to get some for practice and use the prem for hunting, your POA should be close, within 1" or less at 100 yds of POA of supreme loads.

RC

BEAR wrote: I guess I disagree with Rocky on this one.  NEVER CHANGE IT IF IT AIN'T BROKE. Take it to the range and shoot a box of shells, if it shoots for you clean it and put it in the rack and you have a winner. Glass bedding is filling the gap between the stock and the barrel with fiberglass.  some time this can improve the shooting sometimes not.  Many people believe in the opposite, Free Floating.  that means removing and wood or fiberglass between the stock and the barrel. I have rifles that a re wood bedded, glass bedded, free floating and pillar bedded.  No one fix to get the smallest possible group. Most people can't shoot as tight a group as there rifle can do.  So shoot it  and enjoy shooting first before doing anything. Enjoy. BEAR   ps if you want to know what pillar bedding is ask and we can explain that.

+1

Shoot it first and see how it works. If not well enough for your liking then worry about tuning it. Most Savages are for more accurate than the average hunter needs a rifle right out of the box.

As to your original ?.

I would have gone 308win in a Savage or Ruger moutain rifle. I like the short action rifles for deer and elk. Lighter and easy to carry all day, but that said you did fine and I wish all the greatest hunting in the world.

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MM