S O K A R wrote:So recently I submitted a PTA but due to the lovely appearance laws it didn't get approved, so I have decided to go the more traditional route.
Been tossing up between the following three, anyone have any experiences with the below rifles good or bad?
1) Browning X-bolt
2) Weatherby Vanguard
3) Ruger American
Leaning towards the X-bolt, but not 100% sold
I can only comment on one of those, the Ruger American. I have four in .204, .223, .243 and 7mm-08. Plus two Ruger American Rimfires, and the Ruger Precision Rimfire. I like Ruger. The Predator is better unless you are needing the lightest possible rifle for stalking, but I would go Ruger American Ranch Rifle for that with the 16" barrels. The Predator is the same as the Standard rifle but with a little heavier barrel, threaded muzzle and a factory-mounted scope rail. I specifically wanted all my hunting rifles to be the same platform, and the Ruger American was the only rifle I found that offered .204 and 7mm-08 in the same rifle at the time. All of mine are now in MDT LSS chassis as I prefer a pistol grip rifle, and they use the 10rd AICS mags.
You probably need to find somebody that owns or has used all three rifles for long enough to form an opinion. A lot of your own opinion will come down to how you like the look and feel of them, so try to at least handle them if possible. Maybe go to the local range and see what people are shooting and ask their opinions on their rifles, and their scope choices.