economy rifle

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tahoe2

tahoe2

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So a buddy of mine asked me what would be the best rifle of these, I recommended the Stevens, or Ruger as I am experienced with their standard rifles. This is the list of what's readily available ( in stock @ LGS). All these calibers are well stocked at the LGS & Wally world, Big 5 etc... ammo is not a concern, So what do you all think?? deer, elk & black bear are the targets

Stevens 200 - .308, 7mm-08
Ruger American - .270, 30/06
Mossberg ATR - 270, 30/06
Marlin XS7 - 308, 7mm-08
 
The benefit to the Stevens is that should you decide a new barrel and/or stock is warranted at some future time, it is easier to do than the others. (don't need a gunsmith)
 
I would go with the Marlin in 7mm-08. The round is a very easy round to reload (if you are into that) as you can play with a bunch of different 7mm bullets. Marlin because they are just a really sturdy rifle company. Ruger and Mossberg are too but I have less experience with them.
 
Halal, Yeah I told him he should get a mauser like one of mine, but he said he wanted one that hasn't been fondled by anyone but him. LOL.
His budget is $750 for gun, mounts, & scope. So a decent cheap rifle and some quality mounts & glass( he's thinkin "Leupold")
 
Marlin because they are just a really sturdy rifle company.
Click to expand...

Marlin went out of business years ago. Marlin is just another label being produced by the company that owns Remington.
 
I have a Marlin XS7 in 308 with a laminated Boyds stock, Caldwell bipod and a Weaver 4-10x44 scope. This thing is an absolute tack driver. Got to stretch its legs at 500 yards with 145gr brown bear steel cased ammo and I was minute of basketball all day. I can't recommend that rifle enough.
 
walmart sells remington 700 adls for less then 500 bucks with a cheap scope and mounts. Hard to beat a 700 for that price. Ive seen bare actions go for 350.
 
The Marlin XS7 is actually a pretty nice rifle. I've complained in other threads about the recent lack of Marlin quality but I have only seen it in the lever action line. The Marlin 22's and bolt actions seem pretty good. I would buy a XS7. I think they are a solid, well made rifle and by far the best looking of the 4 rifles mentioned. I also think it's the most rifle for your money out of the 4 listed. The Stevens and Ruger American are their respective companies budget rifles. The Marlin XS7 is more like Marlin's bolt action flagship rifle. I don't know that much about the Mossberg ATR other than to say the action to me looks a bit "coarse". Some of the components look bigger than they need to be and less refined then they could be.
 
Right now the TC Venture gets my vote for best budget rifle. Not the cheapest, but well worth the extra. Other contenders in no particular order.

Weatherby Vanguard/ Howa
Stevens 200
Marlin
Remngton ADL

My do not buy list includes

Remington 710/770
Savage Axis
Mossberg
Ruger American.

Everyone trashes the Remington 770, but the others are all made in the same way and none are any better or worse than the others. They work, they are reasonably accurate, but too many corners have been cut on all 4. For about the extra cost of a couple of boxes of ammo you can buy one of the upper list and have a much better gun.

An even better option is buying used. I was at a gunshow yesterday and saw plenty of good older Winchester 70's and Remington 700's and Ruger 77's priced well under $400. Many under $300. You can buy a used top end rifle for about the same price as a new budget gun.
 
Avoid the ATR... I think it's slightly inferior of the others. I personally like the Marlin and the Stevens the best. In addition, I like the 7-08 more than the .308. There's no practical difference at close ranges, and the 7-08 performs better (maintaining velocity and energy) at greater distances with a generally better trajectory. Plus, the recoil is less, adding accuracy for many shooters. Although, the .308 gives you the benefit of cheaper ammo. If it were me, my order of preference would be:

1) Marlin in 7-08
2) Stevens in 7-08
3) Marlin in .308
4) Stevens in 7-08
5) Ruger in .270
6) Ruger in .30-06
7) Mossberg in .270
8) Mossberg in .30-06
 
I have a Ruger in .243 & a Marlin in .308. I like both guns, both shoot well. The Marlins have a Savage barrel, so barrel swap is as easy as the Stevens. I'm a little more impressed w/ the Ruger. Shoots 1 1/4 in. groups at 200 yds w/ a few different bullets, (handloads). The Marlin shoots about 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 in. at 100 yds, but I had the barrel shortened by 4 in. & I didn't shoot it before doing so. But My buddy has 2, a 25-06 & a .270 and both shoot really well. You can't go wrong w/ either, especially for around $300!
 
BiMart has the Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 for about $450. I'm thinkin seriously about one of them next spring with taxes. No, it's not pretty, but with a "Sub-MOA Guarantee," 3-position safety, and a factory-fitted adjustable trigger that'll go down to 2.5lb it sounds like a screamin deal on a rifle that'll do anything i'd need it for without much fuss.

My only quandary is whether to go with .308 because i already load for it and like ammo commonality, or .30-06 because I can use heavier bullets for more flexibility with bigger game.

YMMV
 
I just bought and did a "review" on the Ruger American. I couldn't be happier. I'd grab one before demand goes up and so does the price. Right now they can be had for $350. I went with the 30-06 so I can hunt anything on the continent. In the 06 gives the flexibility to go from 55 grains up to 220 grains. Good luck hunting.
 
Driftertank said:
BiMart has the Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 for about $450. I'm thinkin seriously about one of them next spring with taxes. No, it's not pretty, but with a "Sub-MOA Guarantee," 3-position safety, and a factory-fitted adjustable trigger that'll go down to 2.5lb it sounds like a screamin deal on a rifle that'll do anything i'd need it for without much fuss.

My only quandary is whether to go with .308 because i already load for it and like ammo commonality, or .30-06 because I can use heavier bullets for more flexibility with bigger game.

YMMV
Click to expand...
Either caliber would be great. I got a 257 mag last year and nearly fell over when I looked at the price of ammo. Finally found some thru a distributor for $30 a box wholesale. At least the 06 and 308 are easy and cheap to feed.

Oh, BTW, mine is the old vanguard and it shoots sub -moa with factory ammo.
 
My experience with the marlin is limited but for $750 total setup the Stevens 200 or a Savage model 11, topped with the Redfield revolution (built by leopould) would be a hard to beat. All of the Savage rifles are accurate and function well except for the Axis' magazines. From my experience the Stevens is best of the budget class in performance and value overall.
 
Right now you can buy a Savage 11 Trophy Hunter with Nikon scope and accutrigger at Dicks for $499.
 
Personally, my vote goes to the stevens or marlin. Aftermarket stocks, barrels, triggers, and mounts are available for both, and as for deer, elk, and black bear being the targets, I vote 308 (it's my favorite).
 
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