I am looking to purchase a new 7mm Remington Magnum rifle this week to serve as my all around big game hunting rifle. I have extensive experience with the chambering and just haven’t found the rifle I like best for it. Will be used for deer from box stands primarily, but will also be used for hogs and western big game - mule deer, pronghorn, and possibly elk.
I am looking for an all weather rifle and am leaning towards one of the following (no love for tikka):
Browning x bolt 2
Bergara wilderness ridge
Christensen arms mesa
Winchester 70 ultimate shadow
Not a big tinkerer, so looking for a turnkey rifle. Already have my optics.
Thanks
If you're serious about not tinkering, get the Tikka. Sorry, I had to say it. I think their stocks are cheap, I don't like the magazine setup or the lack of feed rails for a BDL style option, I don't like their single action length (one size fits none).....but they flat work.
I don't care for the magazines on the Browning and I've always seen them as being overpriced relative to how they shoot.
Bergara always seems to have complaints. Your chance of getting a dud is....well, more than zero. They absolutely make some models I like on paper and I'd be happy if I had one and it shot well - you just do hear of a lot of complaints from them.
Christensen lost me with the level of complaints they've had relative to their price. I wrote them off forever.
I will admit that I haven't read a single thing about newer model 70s so I have nothing to offer there, except that I like the Classic actions.
I guess that if I were set on the price range you're describing, I'd look for a used Seekins PH2.
Also - if I were in your shoes, I'd get a smaller caliber. Absolutely no larger than 6.5PRC and even that would be on the large side of what I'd be focused on. The 7mmRM is a great caliber, it's just more than you need for the hunting you describe.
