Best budget 30-06.

[David Clark]

03 is right. The Ruger is just so much better then the savage and I have lots of savages in my safe. Short bolt lift, full round body bolt, just to many thing's going for it to even comepare the two, and vthe barrel fits on like a Savage so you can change them if you want.
Dave

 

[Cee Zee]

Bolt lift and a "full round body bolt" are not the things that make me choose a rifle. And if you're comparing the American to a 111 then you're saying an entry level rifle is better than a rifle that is clearly a step up in production class. You'd be in the minority on that view. I looked around and pretty much everyone that has tried both say the Savage is more accurate. Everyone knows the value of the AccuTrigger too. I understand that Ruger has updated their trigger and made it adjustable. You do understand they pretty much had to do that just to stay in business right? After Savage set the standard not many people wanted a rifle without a better trigger. And I would still say the AT design if far better. It has inherent safety features that the Ruger totally lacks. You can set the trigger to a low pull weight without worrying about it going off from being bumped. That's a huge improvement IMO. There's a reason companies never set hunting rifle triggers down to light pull weights. At least they didn't do it until Savage showed them how to do it. They completely revolutionized triggers on hunting rifles in fact. If you've ever had to set your rifle down to climb over a barbed wire fence but you didn't want to just lay it down in the mud but you were totally worried about it falling over and going off then you'll know why the AT was such a huge improvement. You can have your light trigger and have it be safe too. Again my friend, that's huge. And Ruger still lacks that feature. All they did was allow you to adjust the trigger down to a lower pull weight. IMO they are just asking for a disaster by doing that. I could introduce them to a guy I went to school with but he won't be able to shake hands properly if you get my drift.

So we have better accuracy and more safety with a better trigger vs. a "full round body bolt". You also have a $550 rifle with a $175 scope installed AND and actual walnut stock vs. a plastic stock and an adjustable trigger with a questionable safety design. Yeah the bolt doesn't get me past those issues at all. You can take the scope off and have a rifle that's equally priced with the American or close to it. One will be synthetic and one will be walnut. The one with the walnut will be more accurate according to almost every review I read. And I know what my Savages will do. You will just have to come to see what my 12 will do because I'm not telling you just to have you call me a liar. But there's no way in heck that American will shoot as accurately as it does. Not a chance. No it isn't a 111 but those are pretty accurate too. Savage has been well known for selling accurate rifles for a very long time now. Ruger has been selling over priced Hawkeyes with heavy triggers that are sloppy too according to many. They jumped into the entry level field because Savage was taking all the rifle business. You can bet on that. And they did an OK job. But better than Savage??? No way. Accuracy and features are both better on the Savage and the entry level Ruger is priced at the same level as the big step up in class Savage 111. The American is really on the level of the Axis.

BTW you might be able to take the barrel off that American but what will you be able to find to put back on it? Ask the same question about a 111. You can build that 111 up to be world class if you want. The American is not a 10_22. You can't find an endless supply of parts to upgrade it. You can for the 111.

 

[Eb1]

I went with a pre-Rem Marlin XL-7 in .25-06 @ $256.00. I put a Boyds stock on it for $109.00. Talley Mounts @ $60. And an Elite 4200 3x9 @ $289.00.

It is a superb hunting rifle. I have around $700.00 in the rifle. I didn't have to put a Boyds stock on it, and didn't need the Talley Mounts. That would have taken off the $170.00.

It shoot basic Remington 100 grain factory at just over an inch @ 100 yards. It shoot Winchester Supreme 115 grain CTBT coated bullets at 1" @ 200 yards, and my hand loads with that bullet and IMR 4350 into an inch at 100 yards.
I am working to get the Nosler 100 grain BT over RL 19 working, but I haven't been able to get to the range to test them. We'll see how that goes tomorrow.
The only thing I wish is that it had a 24" barrel for the .25-06, but for a .30-05 you shouldn't notice the difference. I'd take one in .30-06 in a heartbeat.

 

[Cee Zee]

Marlin makes some nice rifles Eb1. And they sell them at great prices most of the time. I have a bunch of Marlins but they're all .22's. I wouldn't have any problems buying a center fire though. I wouldn't have any problems buying a Ruger either. I just think Savage makes the best of the bunch. That doesn't make the other rifles bad by any means.

BTW I have several "Remlins" and they are all great rifles except for maybe my 925. It isn't as accurate as it should be but no rifle maker is perfect. I have some that shoot better than they should too. I have 4 Remlins in fact. 3 out of 4 are excellent. I also went through the rack at a LGS looking at lever action Marlins. They had about 15 of them and they let you check the rifles out all you want there. They're sitting on a rack so you don't even have to ask about looking them. Not one of the 15 I looked at had a problem with the action or the sights being canted. I came very close to buying a .45-70 at that shop. Dang that thing was beautiful. But I bought a CZ there instead. Still all those Marlins looked to be problem free to me. I know there have been problems but I think most of the stuff they have made is fine. That's been my experience anyway. I wouldn't worry about buying a new Marlin at all especially if it came from the Mayfield, KY plant. I know there were some problems with sights there too. Moving and setting up at a new location is tough. I'm still trying to move all my stuff out of my house just about 5 months after I started. I still own the other house and winter slowed me down a lot plus I'm no spring chicken either. But moving can be a bear especially if you have been at one place a long time like I was and like Marlin was. But things are getting back to normal there IMO. It's slow but it's happening.

 

[03Shadowbob]

Cee Zee,
Are you saying the manual tang mounted safety on the American doesn't keep the rifle from firing if dropped from 2 or 3'? As far as the AT, it was a huge improvement for hunting rifles, I totally agree. Not sure why you believe it is better than the American. The Marksman trigger is similar to Glock's safety trigger and i have my doubts it will have a ND if dropped. The fit and finish on the American is better than the 111 (which is the equivalent to an American cost wise which is what I am comparing, not a model 10 or 12). The ruger has a rotary mag that is detachable. Doesn't mean a lot to me but the bolt release is easier on the American.
I had a very nice model 10 and still have a 111 in 30-06. I have the American in 30-06. I see no difference in accuracy in my short time shooting the American.
Do you also have an American or just comparing Internet notes on them?

 

[Cee Zee]

No rifle is likely to fire with the safety on. But there are times when the safety might get accidentally left off. There are reasons they make hunting rifles have heavier triggers. Not firing from being dropped or falling over when the safety might have been left off or when you're holding the rifle getting ready to take a shot and something happens to make you drop the rifle - that's a good thing and the AccuTrigger is designed to prevent that and still give you a light trigger pull.

I had a deer come flying through the brush at me one day with a dog right on it's heels. It must have been going at least 35 through a blind briar patch. Him and his antlers missed me by about a foot. If I would have been drawing a bead on another deer at the time that happened who knows what could have been the result. Things happen.

As for accuracy, yes I'm going by posted results on the net and the accuracy of my old 110. And my 12 is just ridiculously accurate. It's not that hard to make any Savage that accurate. It's going to be hard to find upgrade parts for a Ruger American at this point. And just to be honest here, one person's ability to shoot a rifle more accurate begs the question a bit. How do we know it's just not a limit on your ability to shoot friend? It's just that I've seen a lot of reports that say different than what you say. I thought I said I was basing what I thought on reports since I haven't seen an American in the field.

 

[fanchisimo]

I was always taught to use the safety, just don't rely on it. As a mechanical device, it is always subject to failure.

 

[Cee Zee]

I was always taught to use the safety, just don't rely on it.

Exactly. A safety can be pushed off accidentally or whatever. I've seen it happen more than once. A tang safety is usually pretty secure but not always. Nothing is always. That's why the gun company lawyers have always got their way on heavy triggers. A gun that will fire when you drop it with the safety off or on is a gun that might cost them a bundle. And it might cost us a life.

 

[Kachok]

Best budget rifles in my book have been the Savage 110 or 111 for years now, they really are that good. I have one in 270 WSM and another in 30-06, both are superb. Paid $386 for the most recent one, and it even came with a toy scope for my next BB gun Ripped that toy off of it and topped it with a Leopold VXII and Reaper one piece rings/mounts, now it is ready for action. They do make a package deal Savage (Laminate stock) with a Nikon Prostaff for around $550, I cannot vouch for the rings it comes with but the Nikon Prostaff is the best value scope on the market I have several of them and am thoroughly impressed.

 

[03Shadowbob]

You are reaching a bit CZ. The trigger on the Ruger is just as safe if not safer that the Savage. Read up on it.
In regards to accuracy, I've been shooting for 31 years. I know my capabilities and limitations.

 

[petrey10]

there is no way the american can come close the the customizable features on the Savage action... there just isn't a market for it. Sorry.

 

[shafter]

What is the best value for a 30-06? I want to spend no more than $500ish for rifle and scope.

M1 Garand for $525 from the CMP. Best value for so many reasons.

 

[03Shadowbob]

I agree 100% petrey but I don't think that was a prerequisite. When you start customizing you're above $500 pretty quick

 

[Cee Zee]

The trigger on the Ruger is just as safe if not safer that the Savage.

There's a reason for that. Ruger copied the AccuTrigger completely on the American. I wasn't familiar with that rifle. It's pretty easy to keep up when you steal the ideas of your competitors. I think that's a pretty good compliment to Savage though. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery they say.

And I've been shooting for 50 years.

 

[Inebriated]

I'd like to see a side-by-side test of the Ruger American, Savage Axis, and Savage 111/11.

All three are withing $100 of each other, and it would be pretty nice to see how they group.

Unless Ruger copied Savages barrels as well, my money would be on both Savages to print better groups. Love Ruger, but never fired a factory Ruger that left me impressed with its accuracy. Who's got an American in .30-06 they want to send me for testing?

 

[03Shadowbob]

CZ, I'm glad you admit you weren't familiar with the American yet you are quick to down play it. I believe the AT blocks the sear where the Marksman blocks the trigger and yes ruger copied the design/idea.
Ill see if I can get both the 111 and American to the range in next few weeks and put them both in lead sled and fire 3 shots at 100 yards and post the groups here.

 

[Inebriated]

Sounds cool.

 

[ldlfh7]

Buds gun shop is selling the Ruger American Rifle in 30-06 for $349 with free shipping. This is a fine rifle for the price.

 

[MK75]

I have heard nothing but great things about the Ruger American Rifle.
Happy Hunting.