pump vs bolt rifles

DonVathome · Oct 29, 2007

I own a bolt Remington 700 .280, and a Remington 7600 pump 30-06.

Living in Ohio where rifles are not allowed for hunting I have very limited experience shooting rifles (and even less experiance hunting with them) - and very few ranges where I can shoot long range.

I know that how a firmly and consistently a bullet is held greatly influences the guns accuracy. I know the 700 has a great reputation as a good, accurate, reliable gun.

My question is this, how well does the 7600 compare? I would like to use the 30-06, mostly since ammo is easier to find, and also because I am going to AK in the future for a moose hunt and want to use the 30-06.

Bottom line is how does the pump 7600 compare with the bolt 700 as fast as accuracy and reliability are concerned?

I do know the .280 is more than enough for elk, but again I want to use the 30-06 for moose in AK so using it for elk too would be nice since I am getting used to the gun more etc.

What difference in accuracy would you expect between the two? I am mostly bow hunt and occasionally shotgun or muzzleloader and I do not plan to shoot much past 200 yards, with 300-350 probably being the longest shot I would take at an elk.

nochawk · Oct 29, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-07 AT 09:59AM (MST)[p]Bolt actions are inherently more accurate than other actions, this is probably due to the bedding of the action, I have found that a one piece stock is better than a 2 piece stock. for example I have a Savage 110 in 243 and a Savage 99 243, I get better accuracy out of the 110 than the 99. but we are talking about maybe .5 moa Not enough to worry abouts.

I say take which ever one you are most comfortable with and shoot the best, but the 30-06 would be the best for moose with a well constructed bullet.

yak4fish · Oct 29, 2007

I own the remington 760 in 30-06 which is the older version of the exact rifle you have. I'm very happy with its accuracy I can hold less than 3/4 inch groups at 100 yards and can break a standard clay pidgein at 200 yards almost every shot. When I miss its because of me not the rifle. I have found that 180 grain pointed nose NOT round nose holds the best groups. I do fine on elk with this rifle out to 250 yards again because of my limits not the rifle. You have a fine rifle in a good all around caliber in my opinion. Below is a review I found by doing an ask.com search.

Allen

"The Model 760 had everything the post-war big-game hunter wanted and more. It offered plenty of firepower for fast shooting in tight places, it was relatively light, it was easily outfitted with a telescopic sight, it was chambered for some of the world?s most popular cartridges, it was durable, it was reliable, and it was weatherproof. Last but far from least in importance the Model 760 proved to be extremely accurate, mainly due to its front-locking bolt, rigid barrel to receiver attachment, and free-floating barrel."

DonVathome · Oct 29, 2007

Thanks guys keep the input coming. Mainly I was worried about accuracy and realability, I do feel sentimental value towards a bolt action, odd.

7mm_man · Oct 30, 2007

LAST EDITED ON Oct-30-07 AT 09:35PM (MST)[p]were in the ohio regulation booklet does it say rifles
are not allowed from my reading it tells me they are allowed

sledboy · Oct 31, 2007

My dad has used a Remington pump in a .270 for everything from antelope to moose since he was in his early twenties. He loves that gun. At one time, he got a .300 Win. mag but went back to his pump due to quicker follow up shots. He is deadly with it! Accuracy was never a problem.

I would advise you to take it out and shoot it a little. Only shooting it will answer the question of whether it is accurate or not. If it is accurate, USE IT!

huntindude · Oct 31, 2007

My first big game rifle was a hand me down 760, even at age 12 I knew I didn't like it. they're akward as packing around a heavy box of loose parts as far as I'm concerned. I bought my first of a hundred or so bolt action rifles and never looked back.

Just my opinion here, get rid of it or both of them and get a 300 mag bolt gun you like, any 300 mag. you won't regret it if you only want a minimum amount of rifles.

DonVathome · Oct 31, 2007

Thanks guys, a 300 mag is my next gun and I am not a sissy but I do not like recoil and my fear is subconcious flinching with the 300 mag.

As for Ohio and rifles, they list the legal guns for deer hunting. I think you can use them to hunt but since you cannot hunt deer or turkeys with them that leaves little else. Coyotes/wood chucks I think you can. However, I am not to keen on being out and getting the work over by a game warden wondering if I am poaching deer plus I rarely to never hunt those animals anyway.