Hi all, I'm new to the forum and and would appreciate some advice please?
I'm looking at buying my first hunting rifle and have decided on the 270 as a good all-rounder.
Any ideas on best value for money options? Thanks in advance.
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Hi all, I'm new to the forum and and would appreciate some advice please?
I'm looking at buying my first hunting rifle and have decided on the 270 as a good all-rounder.
Any ideas on best value for money options? Thanks in advance.
Can’t go past a Tikka T3x , good weight , accurate, rifles. Plenty usually show up on the for sale on trade me and a few here.
Tikka T3 for sure
Leupold scope
Norma brass, Loaded up with 140g Nosler ballistic tip projectiles
Yes the Tikka T3 looks like a great rifle. New just a bit pricey for me at this stage. Maybe second hand if the right deal comes along
I've read some good reviews on Howa rifles. Does anyone have a Howa 270? Quality, reliability, accuracy?
Wait for a Tikka, Howa's are better as short actions.Quote:
Originally Posted by VictorB
That's interesting. Are you referring to the Howa mini action rifles? To my knowledge they only come in 6.5 and 7.65 options?
Will keep my eyes open for a Tikka
No.Quote:
Originally Posted by VictorB
Howa do a Mini, Short Action and Long Action.
The Howa is actually an older design but done quite well. Some positive features of both Remington 700's and Sako L/A series. M16 extractor and integral recoil lug are nice.
Downside is that they are bloody heavy for what they are, but very cheap and accurate. I have a Howa Alpine in 243 ehich is still heavy despite the lightened action, pencil barrel and fiberglass stock.
Tikka T3/T3x was made around 'long action' rounds, i.e 30-06, 280, 270, 25-06 etc. They use the same action for all the different chamberings offered (down to .222) with modified magazines and bolt face/stops to compensate.
The Tikka has a huge aftermarket for it now, you can spend stupid money buying different stocks, triggers, even prefit barrels for it.
You won't go wrong with a Tikka T3. Take it from someone who uses one for work. Even secondhand will be fine so long as usual precautions are taken when buying.
Things that wear out are the plastic magazines (feed lips). So make sure you have at least one spare.
In the budget category, Marlin X7 has a relatively stiff plastic stock compared to Ruger American and Savage Axis. Handles and balances very well. Shoots no less accurate than Tikka in practical terms. The blind magazine can be a pain if you need to load a lot of rounds, such as when culling goats or wallabies. But since you are going for a 270, assuming you are after bigger game, I don't see the blind magazine being a disadvantage.
For a middle of the road rifle, Bergara B14 would be my pick. The stock is considerably better quality than the Howa Hogue. It's at least as good, if not better, than the Tikka factory stock. It has Remington 700 footprint, making it easy to obtain aftermarket parts. Action is tight and super smooth. Consistently sub-moa. I consider a factory Bergara to be an upgrade in quality from a factory Howa. It's no lesser quality than a Tikka and is cheaper.
@VictorB just buy a decent second hand 270
They should be pretty common and most will still be in decent condition if you look carefully and get some advice from an experienced gun guy
There will be dozens in the back of forum members gun safes just taking up space that haven't been hunting in a decade or two
But good second hand and spend what you save on a better scope you can put on your next better rifle
Or better binoculars
Thanks for the feedback on the Marlin X7. Great to hear. As I'm currently looking in the budget category it might just be the first rifle for me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Synthetic
I was looking at the Bergara B14 myself, but currently above what I can afford. Sounds like great value for money. Maybe sometime in the future :thumbsup:
Best value for the money would be a Sako Finnbear, these are better than anything else at the same price. $1500
Best underpriced but really good 270 - Weatherby Vanguard $700
I am not a T3 fan at their price point, they need a trigger spring, and a new stock or they kick like bastards in 270 and are hard to hold with a skimpy pistol grip, and are hard to load and unload quietly and hard to check they are 'clear'. Most shoot well but are they good value for the money?
A second hand rifle that someone has already sorted would be what I would look at. Whatever is chosen test fire it and make sure it groups first
I own two Marlin xl7s. 30.06 & 223. The 30.06 is good for 4 shot 24mm groups @ 100mtrs. The 223 ladt week shot a 12.8mm 4 shot group at 100 Mtrs. Both with reloads.
Both weigh in at 8lb 1oz with 3-9×40 scope & sling.
in my opinion howas are better than tikkas IF you can handle the weight and dont mind the stock. ive got a model 70 classic stainless i picked up second hand that i absolutely love. Id just keep an eye out for something second hand to pop up
std bergara b14 be worth a look aswell
it has all three in spades...LOVE mine....... addition of a walnut stock (they are around) has made it a thing of beauty as well as function.Quote:
Originally Posted by VictorB
that said...the savage in forsale section here is very good buying....
There is or was a Marlin 270 in the for sale section at a great price that I would buy in an instant
If, I wanted a 270 :)
There is a brand new Bergara B14. 270 for $899 in hunting and fishing palmerston-north yesterday. It was on special so may still be available.......please buy it before I do something silly and grab it. My wife would make me homeless.
That is a crazy good deal because they are usually $1400.Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteD
"The Howa is actually an older design but done quite well. Some positive features of both Remington 700's and Sako L/A series. M16 extractor and integral recoil lug are nice."
@caberslash interesting. One of the bugbears of Remington 700s on dangerous game is the lack of controlled feed and apparently, on my 416, they can occasionally break ejectors.
One of the more costly fixes if you are dead set on such a combo is to put an M16/sako type extractor on them.
Sounds like this is done already
Define your budget. If you want "the best"TM, then you might have to stretch it.
I'd also say to be prepared to go for other cartridges, if the right deal pops up. 270 is indeed a pretty capable all-rounder, but it's not the only one... 308, 7mm08, 260, 280, 30-06, 6.5 Mememoor... they all accomplish very similar things.
The rifle will be of the same quality and reliability regardless of the cartridge. They're all made in the same factories, to the same tolerances, and undergo the same QC whether it's a 223, 243 or a 270. E.g. if you are reading a review for a particular model of rifle and everything about it looks sweet, then there's no reason hesitate because the reviewer's happened to be in 30-06 and not specifically in 270. It'd be the same rifle just with a different barrel.
Thank you all for your contributions.Quote:
Originally Posted by jakewire
I'm going to buy this Marlin 270. Will let you know how she goes!
They also had some of the budget Remington rifles in various centerfire calibers for $599.Quote:
Originally Posted by Synthetic
I haven't fired one but I suspect that in a few years you would want to upgrade but they would be OK for someone starting out and certainly better than a burnt-out. 303 that seem to retail for not much less.
Browning A-Bolt. Winchester XPR. My choice would be the XPR. Both are accurate,reliable and of better quality than their prices indicate. Like Howa only better
Mauser M18 is worth a look too. A lot of rifle for the money.