apache12 Report post Posted March 13, 2015 So I'm looking to start the search of a new rifle in 300WIN or 300WSM I haven't decided that part yet. So far I'm interested in these three rifles. Use of rifle is strictly hunting, Elk for sure, bear, and maybe deer if hunting in an area that Im sure 400 yard and beyond shot is likely. I don't want the rifle to be to heavy but I'm concerned that the smaller barrel will be to light for a large magnum caliber. How much emphasis should I place on barrel contour with a magnum? My one issue with the Weatherby is they don't float the barrel. I have a vanguard that shoots great no that I put a bell and carlson stock and had it glass bed action and floated barrel. Sako , I'm concerned with the international for any warranty or service work. Looking to spend 1000 to 1500 Any thoughts on these three or issues to look for when buying a magnum (this will be my largest caliber rifle so far) Should I have a removable break installed, or is that simply preference, I hate shooting next to them at the range. thx Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benbrown Report post Posted March 13, 2015 The original Weatherby Fiberguard was simply a blued Vanguard action in a synthetic stock, and it did have the "speed bumps" in the fore end. A more recent version used McMillan stocks but still the same blued Vanguard action. I had one of the originals and it was not as accurate as I would have liked. About a year and a half ago, I bought a Weatherby Back Country in .300 Win Mag, and it has been a delight to carry and shoot. The barreled action is Cerakoted and the barrel is fluted to save a couple of ounces and allegedly provide a bit more stiffness over an unfluted barrel of the same contour. The stock is a special item made by Bell and Carlson for Weatherby and the action is pillar-bedded. So far, it has shot every load that I have tried into less than an inch at 100 yards and a couple of my handloads hover around 0.6 inch. With the Weatherby stock design and the Pachmyer Decelerator Pad, you don't really need a muzzle brake, even with 200-grain Partitions at 3,000 fps. The Browning X-bolt seems to have shed the problems that plagued the A-bolt, but it still has an enclosed trigger with lots of small, flimsy-looking parts. If you like the looks of them, they will probably shoot up to your expectations but won't be as light as the Back Country. I know of several chambered for the WSM cartridges that live with satisfied owners. The Sako A7s are generally a little heavier, even the "Finn-Light" versions. They are very well-made and well-finished, but since the company has been acquired by the Italians, the warranty service has been pretty abysmal. Evidently, the positioning of the ejector will result in failures to eject in about 15 percent of them. Fired cases are ejected straight up and bounce back down into the action as the next round is being chambered. Sako has refused to acknowledge the problem and continues to blame it on low-mounted scopes even though it has been documented in scopes with large objective bells mounted in medium and high rings. The Sakos sold by Cabelas are built according to Cabelas specifications and Sako does not warranty those rifles--you have to persuade Cabelas to have them fixed or replaced. An internet search will turn up quite a few very dissatisfied customers who bought Sakos from Cabelas and had warranty problems. Hope this helps... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azpredator@work Report post Posted March 13, 2015 I had an a7 300 win mag and sold it. It shot great. So good in fact, I bought another for my son. It shoots really good with factory ammo. We don't know anything about shooting, other than pulling the trigger, and he can group 4" at 500 yards easily. I would highly recommend the A7. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benbrown Report post Posted March 14, 2015 I agree that they almost always shoot very well. The problems arise when you get one that doesn't. Since Beretta acquired the company and tooling, it looks like the odds of getting one that needs some attention have increased while the odds of getting it made right have decreased. YMMV. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
apache12 Report post Posted March 14, 2015 Ben. Great detailed response. So is the back country free floated barrel. If not have seen that as a negative. Much thx Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke-BE Report post Posted March 15, 2015 This summer I'm on the same quest for a 300 win mag. But I shoot a .270 tikka and been hitting plate at 700 yards this weekend. I love my gun and the tikka but want a bigger caliber for those 4-600 yard elk shots. So why not. 26" barrel tikka??? That's what I'm planning on and getting a Bell and Carlson Tikka custom stock. I think it was B and C I need to,double check. Sweet looking stocks with a tikka bolt!! Tikkas has the smoothest over the counter rifle bolts I have ever used. But this is my opinion, but let us know which one you get. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Zeke-BE Report post Posted March 15, 2015 Plus the tikka is a little cheaper than the sako. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
