NY Shooter,

You will help us out alot if you will define your "range/target shooting" requirements and give us an idea on what you want the rifle to do as well as what any asthetic concerns.

SS

If were me, of the rifles you've listed, I would try to find one of the Ruger #1s they made in the 6.5 Creedmoor,  22-250 or .243. The 6.5 is very accurate out to 1000yd and the 22-250 out to 600yd, should you decide to travel down to Ridgeway, PA or  to Milton near Saratoga Springs, etc., and shoot longer ranges. The .243 Win is also very accurate and non-fatiguing. But, putting all that powder through a 6mm hole burns out the barrel in ~1200 rounds for longer ranges. Probably be good for 2000rds at 250yd, though. The big decider is the caliber. 30-06 is a mite much for general target shooting in a non-gas gun unless you are going to shoot 600yd and further. Why beat yourself up?

Just a thought......... have you looked through the listings in the 'classifieds' here? There were a couple of Rugers listed. If you are willing to do some shopping or have a gun built, the 32-40 and 38-55 are about as accurate as anything you can shoot at 250yd unless you are going full-blown bench-rest, where it gets truly crazy and is measured in thousandths of an inch .

Welcome, NYS

You listed your 3 options and promptly were steered elsewhere.  Going back to your 3 options, you will find several comments in other discussions on this Forum about the B-78.  If you read them, you may think more about your options 1 & 2. 

The Ruger #1 would be my choice of the 3, if for no other reason than it is easier to hunt with than a bull barreled rifle and also for ease of resale if you did not like it.  Lots of Ruger #1s have scopes.  It's just a matter of mounts and finding a scope that you like. 

waterman

I appreciate all the quick and informative responses.   
My thinking behind .308 or .30-.06 is, in part, availability & cost of ammunition.   I have not jumped into the reloading arena yet...I handgun shoot 9mm and .22.   
I think I have to draw the line between $$ and what I'll call "to much $$$"!    I'm getting bored with .22 rifle and this will be my first single shot...need to draw draw the line somewhere!   If for no other reason - my wife's willingness to ignore only goes so far...

Here one that is posted on the Gunbroker site for sale. I believe this what SS is referring to.

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J.Louis

Its a rainy afternoon...gonna take a little drive to handle them again.   Dead quiet here in office.    Thanks for all the comments.   Will report back if a decision has been made.

I definitely see argument for regarding this as "starter" single shot.  I do regard these choices (probably go with Ruger I think) as a solid place to start.   Upgrading is always a possibility.  But next step would be investment grade.

Given your three choices, I would go with the Ruger.  Reasons:   

1)  Break action guns are no fun to shoot on the bench at the range.  Have to re-arrange everything every time you shoot and load.
2)  B-78 in 30-06 will not be fun to shoot a lot of factory ammo through.  Too light for the cartridge for target use.  B-78's have notoriously hard to improve triggers.  A lot better hunting rifle than a target one.
3)  Of the three choices, falling block instead of break action and .308 instead of .30-06 leads to the Ruger.

That said, what I personally would do given the choices you have put out is to get a Winchester high wall or a low wall in a smaller caliber.  For factory ammo at low cost, I would get a newly manufactured .22 hornet low wall by Browning or Winchester.  Low recoil, a lot of fun to shoot, and inexpensive ammo.  Nice action, the new 1885's are similar to the B-78 but better trigger.  If I could get one with the tang for metallic sights, I would do that.  Other good calibers would be .32-40 or .38-55.  Or, .223.  I have one in .223 and it's great to use.  I know where one is for sale in .22-250 for $700 that is new in the box.  Most any of them can be purchased from $800 to $1150.

If you get into this a bit deeper later, get a custom older winchester 1885 high wall or low wall.  Your first rifle will hold most of it's value for resale as you trade up if that's important.  A custom will get you a rifle that's more suited for exactly what you decide you want to do.  You'll want to get into reloading eventually.  Once you reload, a whole new world opens up in caliber choices.  You can load your ammo to suit your purposes and to suit your rifle.   

As mentioned before, you can get a new CPA, and get more than one caliber barrel if you like.  Or, find a historical action you like and get an existing rifle or a reproduction of it.  A lot of choices.  For many of us here, it becomes most of our lives.   

Welcome to the fun!

dave