Inexpensive Bolt Action .30-06

My friend is thinking about a bolt action 30-06. He's new to centerfire rifles and wants to get in the game inexpensively. He'll be using the rifle mostly for range, but some hunting.

He wants to use iron sights, so the rifle must have them. :)

Clean used would be fine, I'm sure.

What can you recommend or suggest as a starting point in his search? Keep the cost down, or it'll kill the deal. He's not a committed shooter... yet. ;)

Having been a victim of failed scopes and mounts a time or so in the past. Wanted a .30-06 rifle with iron sights.

Only one I found that tripped my trigger was the Remington 700 ADL synthetic stocked rifle.

Other rifles such as the Savage bolt guns, 710 Remington, and Winchester 70 rifles(been a few years back) either didn't have iron sights, or the stock wasn't as comfy as the 700 ADL synthetic. Although they were quite tempting and fine rifles I bet.

Been quite pleased with the 700 ADL synthetic. As accurate as any rifle I've shot, plus the recoil pad and synthetic stock help considerably to reduce felt recoil. I'm thrilled with it.

+1 on the ADL. I purchased an used ADL for $200.00 a couple of years ago. Mine is a wood stock rifle from a while back. When the saftey is on the bolt is locked down. The newer guns can be cycled with the saftey on.

I wasn't even looking for a new rifle when i saw this. I bought the gun because it had such pretty wood in the stock. It had a gunsmith installed recoil pad also. The stock itself was pretty beat up. The gloss finish was gone. I stripped it down and refinished it. Then a trigger adjustment and glass bedding. It is accurate, but then most Remingtons are.

I have a 243 with the synthetic stock and it is a shooter also. I hate to admit it but the green box express has beat all of my handloads in 243. Remington makes good rifles and good ammo.

I prefer the ADL myself because i just don't like floor plates. If they are steel they rust from carrying, or get damaged from rough field useage. But Being able to unload your gun without working the action is nice.

Tell your friend to keep looking . Remington made a lot of rifles in this caliber and stock option. They also made the same gun for Walmart with the laminated stock. Its a little heavier but much more solid. If i find one in 270, its sold.

Not many choices these days, unfortunatly, mainly due to the desire to use iron sights. There are some, but not a lot. ADL is discontinued, but he can still get a BDL. Ofcourse, he could find a ADL used, or if someone still has one on the shelves.

Savage has one or two models that are .30-06 with iron sights.

CZ has some options, but I don't know about how they are priced to be honest.

CZs, in my experience, are better quality at the same price as a Remington.

http://www.cz-usa.com/data/productimg/main017.png
CZ 550 FS
Price (MSRP) US$ 768.00

Ammunition
Ammo: .30-06
Magazine capacity: 5
Magazine type: Fixed
Rate of twist: 1:12 in

Dimensions
Weight: 7.4 lbs
Overall Length: 41.5 in
Barrel Length: 20.5 in
LOP: 13.7 in
Dovetail: 0.7 in

Features
Barrel: hammer forged, blued
Stock: Walnut
Trigger: SS
Sights: iron, adjustable

But for something more affordable, a used Remington (as others have said) would be pretty good. :)

Also check around Gunbroker and the likes, every once in a while you see a sporterized Mauser or such that was re-chambered in 30/06

Mossberg 100ATR is available in .30-06 with Williams rifle rights.... it will be much less expensive than any of the other suggestions so far

http://www.mossberg.com/images/products/100ATR/26156_26153.jpg

If you don't mind going used....there are plenty of mil surps available with rifle rights.....

Hi StrikeEagle...

+1 vote for the Mossberg



Hi Ratshooter...

a .243 load I highly recommend is:

Remington case
Remington primer
Hornady 87gr. BTHP
42.5 gr IMR #4350
Load the bullet just a wee fraction off the rifling.

I have seen this load shoot .5" at 100 yds. out of at least a dozen rifles of different types/makers and I have shot at least twenty whitetails with it.

HTH :cool:

I also like the Mossberg 30-06 for the money. Was shooting my son's yesterday (busting pumpkins and 20 oz water bottles) at about 80 yards. Decent trigger, smooth bolt, and is a great shooter, for the money. Check out the pawn shops, got my son's for $225 out the door, included scope.

For the money, the Mossberg seems to fit the deal if your looking for a new gun. They don't even look bad for such an inexpensive gun, too.

M1903 Springfield. 'Nuff said.

Try pulling up the Stevens 200. It comes in long action and short action. I just used my .308 to bag a 7 point, heart lung shot. For 319.00 you can't beat it. Savage 110 action.

Stevens or Mossberg, both have OK very inexpensive rifle's in 30-06.

My Mossberg ATR-100 works great and shoots well with factory ammo. I would buy one again in a heartbeat if I was looking for a reliable, inexpensive rifle.

+ 1 on the M1903 Springfield. Mine came from Sears a while back. Paid $60.00 for it back in the '60s. Of course, everything was cheaper then.

Happylandings!
CheyennePilot.

In what universe does a rifle with an MSRP of $768 qualify as inexpensive?

Sporterized 1903 or M1917, generally can be scrounged for under $300 without too much effort.

Local Walmarts have Rem 700s for 300 and Rem 770 package guns for 299, Stevens?Savage can be had around 270ish.

Savage 110

Thanks to each one who offered an idea or two.

I passed this thread on to my buddy... let's hope he finds something here that will work for him.

Thanks again! :)