I bought a Ruger 77 .30-06 new in 1979 for $199 from Gibson's Discount Center in Cleburne, Texas to be my scoped .30-06 bolt-action rifle for a lifetime. It never did shoot well. It was good enough for the deer I took with it, but was ungratifying off the bench rest.

I sent it on down the road in in 1987 in favor of a well-worn pre-64 Winchester Model 70 from 1953. This rifle has rewarded me with wanting to shoot every decent hand load I fed it. One-inch or less 5-shot groups at 100 yards with every bullet weight from 125 grains to 220 grains. Only the pesky 110 grain spitzers opened up a dab to 1 1/4 inches. It's proven to be the lifetime .30-06 for me.