Which would YOU choose and WHY?

[SAUMan]

So I have about $1600 available and am looking at rifles at that price point that appeal to me. I would prefer something I don't already have, BUT would grab whatever if it gave me the warm and fuzzies.

Narrowed it down to two. The names are both American icons, but they ain't Granddaddy's models. One is traditionally styled with several modern upgrades and available in many iconic chamberings, as well as several new, more cutting-edge chamberings.

The other is only available in iconic chamberings, but some with a "twist." It uses an old, tried-and-true action design (as does the first) with several - no, ALL other pieces very modern and as highly upgraded as the first option, if not a little moreso.

Prices for both start over the $1600 mark by just a few dollars, but can be had temporarily on sales for between $1500 and $1600 excluding shipping/tax/transfer, etc. The both WEIGH about the same, with option 2 being PERHAPS a quarter pound lighter.

Option 1 is more stylish with nice walnut furniture, while the other has very modern space-aged furniture. Both have the potentiguns al to be tack drivers. Both have the potential to be busts and give best groups significantly over MOA. Both are factory guns (obviously, at this price point).

Choice 1 is the Weatherby 307 Adventure and Choice 2 is the Remington 700 Alpha 1.

They have essentially the same action with fluted bolts and 90-degree throw. The Remington utilizes 8x40 screws for scope base mounting, not sure on the Wby. The Remington has a barrel heavy enough to allow threading the muzzle 5/8x24, and shorter, but a heavier contour than the Weatherby. The Remington has an AG Composites carbon fiber stock and capped muzzle thread saver. The 307 has beautiful walnut I grew up with and a brake already affixed. The Remington comes with a 3lb Timney trigger. Weatherby has a factory trigger, as far as I know, with may or may not be a plus. The Remington has a heavier profile barrel that is fluted to save weight and expedite cooling should the need arise. It is cut off to 22". Neither comes with any stellar accuracy guarantees.

Remington SAYS their tolerances have improved so that you can order shouldered pre-fits for home installation. Everybody says, "Yeah, RIGHT!! PROVE it!!" Weatherby makes no such claim, but offers a "blueprinted" action on the next higher model up (but not this one - the next breaks the $2000-price point).

In order to keep me under the $1600 threshold (including applicable taxes, shipping, and transfer costs), there are only 3 available chamberings available between the 2 choices. One of those choices is a no-go for me. That leaves each model with 1 viable choice for deer hunting out to 500 yards to keep me within my budget.

Setting aside what the cartridges are for each, which model/brand would you choose and why?

 

[displacedtexan]

I like 700s and Timney triggers.

But I can't pick without knowing cartridge.

 

[SloppyJ]

Not really sure what you're going for but I'd pick neither of those. However, it's not my cash. Get what you want man. You'd never catch me buying a 700 and most definitely not for $1600. You can buy plenty of prefits for 700s but they take a nut so you can set headspace.

 

[JFK]

If you want a nice traditional rifle I’d get a model 70. In 700 foot print factory rifle I’d look at seekins, but they are a few hundred over your stated budget. You said you already have rifles…for $1600 or less you could have a very nice barrel in whatever chambering you want, buy a new stock and it would likely be better than most factory guns. Might have some money left over too.

 

[Taudisio]

Not really sure what you're going for but I'd pick neither of those. However, it's not my cash. Get what you want man. You'd never catch me buying a 700 and most definitely not for $1600. You can buy plenty of prefits for 700s but they take a nut so you can set headspace.

I agree with this. Both of those rifles would be at the bottom of “my list”, but I don’t know what rifles you already have, and what your goal/job is for the rifle.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I'd sit on that $1600 until my opinions on what I wanted changed....

 

[bojangles808]

neither

 

[Kyguy]

I haven't played with the 307 but I do have a brand new 700 SPS in .223 that I dropped in a B&C stock and put a Timney elite trigger in. I've run 18 different factory loads through from 50gr to 77gr, and it'll do under an inch with all of them except two, as long as I do my part. Funny enough, so far it's two favorite loads are Hornady Frontier 5.56 55gr FMJ and 5.56 75gr BTHP Match. It's not as smooth as I'd like, and that's absolutely do to the matte blasted finish on everything, but it'll get better. I'd have no reservations in buying any of the new RemArms rifles. I REALLY liked the look and specs on the Alpha's, but no one locally has had ANY in stock ever since it was first announced, so I ended up picking up a .308 on a 700 made by Tooley from an estate sale, and it shoots everything so well that have no need (want is a different story) for another hunting rifle.

 

[SAUMan]

Ok. So I went about asking this poorly. I probably should have asked, "If the .307 Weatherby Adventure and the new Remington Alpha 1 Hunter were the only 2 rifles in existence and you needed one, which would you buy and why?" And I'd even answer the first part for you - "Because that's all there is!" But between the two, if you HAD to pick one to hunt with, which one and why? They are for hunting animals to feed your family. China has knocked out our grid and Russia has cut off our supply line. We have to eat.

Let me weigh in a little here. They are BOTH a Remington 700 action, regardless of what is printed on the side. The difference mainly would be in the stock and trigger. But what I'm looking for is which do you think would be more accurate and hunter-friendly? And I already know what you're thinking. If they're both a Remington 700, then they are both equally capable of rotten accuracy.

It REALLY doesn't matter the cartridge, and that could be part of your rationale. The Adventure is available in MANY more chamberings than the Remington for now. .308, 7-08, 6.5 Needmore, and .243 is what you can get the Alpha 1 in now. Long actions are supposedly coming - .30-06, .270. Maybe a magnum; can't recall.

Why do I want one of these if I have more rifles? No it's not to have the most capable tack-driver ever assembled. I have a handful of carefully designed customs in several different chamberings that are capable of one-hole groups when I'm up to it. I've got several rebarreled factory actions - some with nuts, some not - that a couple suggested I build for the price. Been there done that. They drill single holes, too (except for one, but it can get MOA).

The idea that American craftsmanship still means something and to own a piece of history. An icon that represents American riflemen. But I don't want it if it doesn't represent quality with very good-to-exceptional accuracy, and pragmatic design aiding the taking of game in the field. In other words, it HAS to be accurate. Sub-MOA for sure, and at least half that to be a serious contender to challenge a custom as my EDC in the hunting woods.

Spoiler alert!! I have already purchased one of these 2, and have just got brass in and prepped, but not loaded yet. I already have some observations and opinions on every aspect of this weapon. The jury is out until range testing.

So of anyone can relate at all to what I'm saying (he had more money than he knew what to do with, so he threw some away... heard that one), I am very close to passing judgement one way or the other as to whether I made a good decision. Like with anything, there is a little luck involved, and even if I hit the jackpot, perhaps it only applies to my sample size of 1. One thing is certain, though. I will have lots of first hand knowledge about this design, and will know what it does well vs what it does poorly. Stay tuned!

 

[Davyalabama]

Not looking at the price, the 700. There are a lot of after market goodies for those rifles. Also, a lot of gunsmiths know those rifles as well as older (home gunsmiths).

 

[MoeFaux]

If this a tool and not a treasure, if this to feed your family and not to look pretty in the safe - then it's the Remington for me. The composite stalk (which I assume correlates to the lower weight?) and the timney trigger are all I need to know to decide on this gun over the other for carrying in the mountains or busting brush in the woods.

 

[SAUMan]

Not looking at the price, the 700. There are a lot of after market goodies for those rifles. Also, a lot of gunsmiths know those rifles as well as older (home gunsmiths).

Now I BELIEVE, in defense of the 307, it, too, will be able to be outfitted with most, if not all of the Rem 700 aftermarket stuff. Same triggers, same stocks, probably/maybe the same internals if you wanted to upgrade the fire control system completely. Like the Alpha 1, it looks a little different than the old 700, but is still basically the same basic foundation.

 

[Choupique]

Blued/wood for me.

I went through a stainless/syn kick for a while. I don't like stainless steel as a rifle material. It's soft, prone to gallin up, and unless you're around saltwater the corrosion issues with blued are badly overblown. Its a non-existant problem.

Wood stocks show wear and character far better than synthetic and make better heirlooms. If my guns all vaporized and I had a ton of money to replace them with, they'd almost all get replaced with blued/wood stuff.

 

[SAUMan]

If this a tool and not a treasure, if this to feed your family and not to look pretty in the safe - then it's the Remington for me. The composite stalk (which I assume correlates to the lower weight?) and the timney trigger are all I need to know to decide on this gun over the other for carrying in the mountains or busting brush in the woods.

Now this is a good, pragmatic answer to the question! Since they are 2 different iterations of the same thing as far as the action goes, it will come down to the preference of stock and trigger, balance, point ability (handling), and the like - which we can't know without having handled both - thus handicapped our ability to fully answer this question.

Another thing that MIGHT be a consideration are chambering choices. If I was going to primarily be hunting elk up in big bear country, I MIGHT want something a little more potent than a .308, which is where the Alpha 1 tops out for the moment. I guess it was harder to answer the question than I realized because not everyone would have the same needs as me.

I don't think there are more than 2 - 4 ounces difference in weight between the two. While the walnut makes the 307 heavier, the Remington has about a #6 barrel out front vs the thin sporter on the Wby. I'll divulge a little more later.

 

[SAUMan]

Blued/wood for me.

I went through a stainless/syn kick for a while. I don't like stainless steel as a rifle material. It's soft, prone to gallin up, and unless you're around saltwater the corrosion issues with blued are badly overblown. Its a non-existant problem.

Wood stocks show wear and character far better than synthetic and make better heirlooms. If my guns all vaporized and I had a ton of money to replace them with, they'd almost all get replaced with blued/wood stuff.

Man after my own heart right there! That wood is PRETTY. And the Wby stocks do feel good going to the shoulder.

 

[displacedtexan]

Ok. So I went about asking this poorly. I probably should have asked, "If the .307 Weatherby Adventure and the new Remington Alpha 1 Hunter were the only 2 rifles in existence and you needed one, which would you buy and why?" And I'd even answer the first part for you - "Because that's all there is!" But between the two, if you HAD to pick one to hunt with, which one and why? They are for hunting animals to feed your family. China has knocked out our grid and Russia has cut off our supply line. We have to eat.

Let me weigh in a little here. They are BOTH a Remington 700 action, regardless of what is printed on the side. The difference mainly would be in the stock and trigger. But what I'm looking for is which do you think would be more accurate and hunter-friendly? And I already know what you're thinking. If they're both a Remington 700, then they are both equally capable of rotten accuracy.

It REALLY doesn't matter the cartridge, and that could be part of your rationale. The Adventure is available in MANY more chamberings than the Remington for now. .308, 7-08, 6.5 Needmore, and .243 is what you can get the Alpha 1 in now. Long actions are supposedly coming - .30-06, .270. Maybe a magnum; can't recall.

Why do I want one of these if I have more rifles? No it's not to have the most capable tack-driver ever assembled. I have a handful of carefully designed customs in several different chamberings that are capable of one-hole groups when I'm up to it. I've got several rebarreled factory actions - some with nuts, some not - that a couple suggested I build for the price. Been there done that. They drill single holes, too (except for one, but it can get MOA).

The idea that American craftsmanship still means something and to own a piece of history. An icon that represents American riflemen. But I don't want it if it doesn't represent quality with very good-to-exceptional accuracy, and pragmatic design aiding the taking of game in the field. In other words, it HAS to be accurate. Sub-MOA for sure, and at least half that to be a serious contender to challenge a custom as my EDC in the hunting woods.

Spoiler alert!! I have already purchased one of these 2, and have just got brass in and prepped, but not loaded yet. I already have some observations and opinions on every aspect of this weapon. The jury is out until range testing.

So of anyone can relate at all to what I'm saying (he had more money than he knew what to do with, so he threw some away... heard that one), I am very close to passing judgement one way or the other as to whether I made a good decision. Like with anything, there is a little luck involved, and even if I hit the jackpot, perhaps it only applies to my sample size of 1. One thing is certain, though. I will have lots of first hand knowledge about this design, and will know what it does well vs what it does poorly. Stay tuned!

I was gonna tell you to just buy the one you want...

But you already did.

 

[MoeFaux]

Wood stocks show wear and character far better than synthetic and make better heirlooms. If my guns all vaporized and I had a ton of money to replace them with, they'd almost all get replaced with blued/wood stuff.

Funny enough - I have the exact opposite opinion. I love the beauty of natural wood with highly contrasting grain patterns and a nice finish, so those are the guns I want to baby, preserve, and pass down. A synthetic stock - having no inherent beauty at all - feels very utilitarian to me and begs to be used hard.

To each their own, eh? Cheers!

 

[Cannonball]

Sorry for not answering the question right but id skip both. For an American made user id get a Seekins, for an heirloom id find a New Haven Supergrade

 

[Choupique]

To each their own, eh?

Yep. I've got some old shotguns from family back when all a man had was one shotgun for everything. They're all wood/blued and other than one that has a pin/glue job on the stock wrist, they're all original. 100+ years of louisiana swamp use and although they look like hell, they work fine.

IMO, buy a wood/blued rifle and use/abuse the hell out of it. Your great grandkids might enjoy using it one day, and looking at the dings and nicks you left in it.

Stainless steel sucks anyway. The grade used in rifles isn't really all that much more corrosion resistant than blued carbon steel anyway.

 

[SAUMan]

I was gonna tell you to just buy the one you want...

But you already did.

Well, the deal was, I didn't know WHICH one I wanted. Lol. I thought I might make a more informed decision after hearing some input. Not sure I made the right decision until I go afield. The deciding factor was getting it for $1400 out the door! That helped me make my mind up!