Off Duty, Sports, Hunting, Fishing - Navy Times

Top guns

A young woman examining a display of heavy-duty gun safes at the 2008 SHOT Show in Las Vegas was overheard asking a grizzled dude, who looked like he just left the streets of Deadwood, circa 1890, if he knew how many firearms the average gun aficionado owns.

The man shoved the bolt forward on the rifle he was inspecting. After aiming at some ceiling ductwork, he pulled his cheek off the rifle’s walnut stock and shot a steely eyed glare at the woman.

“Not enough,” he smiled through his handlebar mustache.

When the gun safe is full, as the saying goes, it’s time to get a bigger safe.

If you’re in the market for a new (or first) hunting or target rifle, we’ve done your homework for you. And this is a good year to buy, experts say, because firearms and ammunition manufacturers continue to innovate, expand product lines, and develop new rifle and shotgun loads.

The hottest trends: improved triggers and recoil pads, with several manufacturers claiming the best.

We selected six big game guns and five for varmints, and ranked them based on price, performance and overall fun factor. Prices quoted are manufacturer’s suggested retail. Sale prices are usually lower. Be sure to ask about military discounts.

WINCHESTER MODEL 70

The Model 70 was a favored hunting rifle for generations, but the closing of the Winchester factory in New Haven, Conn., saw the line temporarily discontinued. The resurrected, slightly redesigned Model 70s are being built by FN Manufacturing in Columbia, S.C., the same factory making many military rifles and machine guns. Oh, and they’re pricier, too. Production cranks up in March, with deliveries forecast for June.

The chief marketing hook is the M.O.A. Trigger System, a three-lever mechanism designed to exhibit zero take-up, zero creep and zero overtravel. The trigger feels like a champ. Trigger weight ranges from 3 to 5 pounds and is factory set at 3¾ pounds, but Winchester’s engineers said the perceived break weight feels like half of that to the shooter.

The new Model 70 uses the classic Pre-64 Controlled Round Feeding that used to get Winchester fans all misty-eyed with nostalgia, and the popular three-position safety, which lifts the firing pin away from the sear when fully engaged. When the safety is in the middle position, the action can still be operated, allowing unfired cartridges to be cycled with the safety on.

Expect decent bullet groups when shooting from the bench with quality ammo.

The Model 70 will be offered in Super Grade, Featherweight Deluxe, Sporter Deluxe and Extreme Weather SS models, each with a thick black Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad.

For hunting in all conditions, check out the Extreme Weather SS models, which have a Bell and Carlson composite stock with textured matte surface and a free-floated and fluted stainless barrel. They come in long-action and short-action Winchester Short Magnum calibers. MSRP ranges from $999 to $1,199.

http://www.winchesterguns.com

BROWNING X-BOLT

Some marketing representatives readily note that the new X-Bolt design may turn off traditionalists favoring the look and action of the older Browning A-Bolts and similar products, but again, trigger improvements are among reasons to trade up. The X-Bolt’s adjustable (3 to 5 pounds) three-lever Feather Trigger system has a crisp feel with no take-up or creep and minimal overtravel.

A new bolt-unlock button, atop the bolt lever, works with the top-tang safety to allow the bolt to be unlocked and opened with the safety on. The stock sports a soft, Inflex Technology recoil pad, designed to deflect recoil by pulling the stock comb away from the face to reduce felt recoil and muzzle climb.

The X-Bolts have a detachable, polymer rotary magazine that feeds cartridges in-line with the bolt. It sits flush with the rifle’s bottom.

Other features: free-floated barrel, a recessed muzzle crown that helps protect the rifling from damage and a 60-degree bolt lift designed to allow fast cycling of cartridges.

The Hunter and Medallion models have wood stocks. Composite Stalker and Stainless Stalker models have composite stocks. Short-action composite models weigh 6 pounds, 5 ounces, with long-action wood stock models weighing 7 pounds. Calibers range from .243 Winchester to .375 H&H Magnum.

We shot X-Bolts in both .300 and .325 Winchester Short Magnum. The model in .325 was set up in a “lead-sled” designed to minimize any felt recoil to the bench shooter, but shooting offhand, we experienced minimal recoil and none of the muzzle jump and shoulder pop associated with many relatively light rifles chambered in short magnum. MSRP: $799 to $1,049.

http://www.browning.com

SMITH & WESSON I-BOLT

The i-Bolt is S&W’s initial foray into the long gun market, aside from its .223 “black rifle” variants. It sports a 23-inch Thompson/Center barrel and a Monte Carlo stock. The heart of the design is the i-Bolt action, with its patent-pending E-Z Turn Bolt Release and short, 60-degree action.

Timney Manufacturing Inc., a leader in aftermarket triggers, collaborated in the design of the i-Bolt’s adjustable Tru-Set Trigger system, which can be adjusted in 1-pound increments between 3 to 6 pounds. The rifle weighs 6¾ pounds and is available in .25-06 Remington, .270 Winchester or .30-06 Springfield. MSRP: $699.

http://www.smith-wesson.com

REMINGTON MODEL 770 SS

The Model 770 line extends in 2008, adding four calibers (270 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .30-06 Springfield and .300 Winchester Magnum) and rolling out a camo version with a stainless steel receiver and barrel. A good entry-level hunting rifle, the 770 shoots well enough to get the job done in the field and sells for about $450 for rifle and 3-9x40mm scope. It comes bore-sighted with the scope mounted to make it easier to get blasting away and on target out of the box.

http://www.remington.com

RUGER COMPACT MAGNUM

Two compact-action models of the Ruger M77 Hawkeye rifles chambered in the new .300 and .338 Ruger Compact Magnums are available this year: a matte blued version with walnut stock and wraparound cut checkering on the forearm and a matte stainless version with synthetic stock.

The RCM cartridges, based on a shortened .375 Ruger case, were developed with Hornady Manufacturing Co. to deliver .300 and .338 Winchester Magnum performance from a compact rifle. Stated muzzle velocities from 20-inch factory barrels are as high as 3,170 feet per second for the .300 RCM and 2,850 fps for the .338 RCM.

Other features: 20-inch hammer-forged barrels, Ruger LC6 trigger, Mauser-type controlled feeding and claw extractor, and three-position safety. MSRP: $995.

http://www.ruger.com

MARLIN XL-7

Marlin Firearms recently was acquired by Remington. Long famous for rimfires, the company added the XL-7 centerfire bolt-action rifle to its lineup this year. This low-cost, limited-selection option is chambered in .30-06 Springfield, .270 Winchester and .25-06 Remington.

The adjustable Pro-Fire trigger is virtually creep-free and can be set to break at 2½ pounds. Marlin also touts the Soft-Tech recoil pad. The fluted bolt is a nice design touch. We shot an XL-7 in .270 Winchester. The action felt a little loose, at least to our taste, until bolt lock down, but this rifle sure delivered — almost a 1-inch shot group at 100 yards.

The XL-7 comes with a synthetic stock available in black or Realtree All Purpose Green HD, blued steel, checkered bolt handle and recessed barrel crown. MSRP: $356 for camouflaged model.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com

SAVAGE MODEL 25 LIGHTWEIGHT VARMINTER

We shot this tack-driver in its .204 Ruger configuration. It also comes chambered for .223 Remington with 24-inch, free-floating fluted barrel with recessed target crown, 60-degree bolt-lift action, detachable four-round magazine and laminated stock. Nice! Weighs 8.35 pounds. MSRP: $588. Thumbhole stock model is $635.

http://www.savagearms.com

REMINGTON R-15 VTR PREDATOR

A “black rifle” in full camo, the R-15 VTR semiautomatic was like a Beach Boys song — “Fun, Fun, Fun” to shoot. The R-15 VTR Predator Rifle has a 22-inch barrel with a fixed stock, pistol grip and single-stage trigger design. It weighs 7¾ pounds. A carbine version with collapsible stock weighs 6¾ pounds. It comes chambered in either .223 Remington or .204 Ruger.

Other features: 0.680-inch OD barrel crafted from ChroMoly steel and free-floated within the machined-aluminum fore-end tube; recessed hunting crown for improved shot consistency; Picatinny rail spanning receiver; five-round magazine; fore-end tube drilled and tapped for accessory rails. MSRP: $999.

http://www.remington.com

REMINGTON MODEL 700 VTR

The new Model 700 Varmint-Tactical Rifle’s most unique design feature is the triangular-shaped, 22-inch barrel’s integral muzzle brake that’s machined-in during production to decrease recoil and muzzle jump.

We shot the 700 VTR chambered in .223 Remington and crowned with an 18-power scope — it was fun shooting, printing pinpoint groups. Weighing 7½ pounds, it also comes chambered in .22-250, .204 Ruger and .308 Winchester. MSRP: $805.

http://www.remington.com

MARLIN MODEL 917VT

Marlin Firearms adds laminated stocks with thumbholes to its rimfire bolt-action rifle product line. The first models in the new series are the 917VT and 917VST. These heavy barreled target/varmint rifles chambered in .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire come in either blued steel or stainless steel, respectively.

Other features include a microgroove rifled 22-inch heavy barrel, double bedding screws, and four-shot and seven-shot magazines. MSRP: $382.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com

MOSSBERG 702/802 PLINKSTER

The Plinkster .22 comes in bolt action (Model 802) or semiautomatic (Model 702), offered in factory-mounted 4X scoped combo sets. The Bantam Models have a short 12¼-inch length of pull and an 18-inch barrel, specially designed for diminutive shooters.

Barrels are free-floating for improved accuracy.

Stock finishes include a variety of hardwood, Dura-Wood, standard black, high-definition camouflage and other specialty finish synthetic stocks — including, of course, pink. The receiver is made from an aluminum alloy. Plinksters come with 10-round, detachable magazines and weigh just 4.1 pounds. MSRP: $145-$175, depending on model.

http://www.mossberg.com