Looking for a specific 308 bolt gun.

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SamT1

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I haven’t bought a gun in 3-4 years. I’m in the market for a pretty specific gun. Looks like there’s a ton of options today, but I can’t hold them in my hands because of the shortage. So what fits my bill?

.308 win bolt gun (I’m heavily invested in reloading supplies and have other rifles)
Sub moa accuracy.
Bolt/trigger feels good/high quality.
Lightweight
16” preferably, but would take 18” max barrel. Has to be threaded for suppressor.
Detach mag a plus.
Tactical stock a plus like magpul hunter type

will be used as a do it all gun. Pickup, hunting, target shooting. I have an AR10 I use currently. But if they get outlawed I’d like to have something ready to fall right into its place.

I have a ruger red pad short action I’ve thought about rebarreling. It’s a 22-250 today. Kinda a sentimental gun, but I haven’t shot it since I left prairie dog country.
 
SamT1 said:
I haven’t bought a gun in 3-4 years. I’m in the market for a pretty specific gun. Looks like there’s a ton of options today, but I can’t hold them in my hands because of the shortage. So what fits my bill?

.308 win bolt gun (I’m heavily invested in reloading supplies and have other rifles)
Sub moa accuracy.
Bolt/trigger feels good/high quality.
Lightweight
16” preferably, but would take 18” max barrel. Has to be threaded for suppressor.
Detach mag a plus.
Tactical stock a plus like magpul hunter type

will be used as a do it all gun. Pickup, hunting, target shooting. I have an AR10 I use currently. But if they get outlawed I’d like to have something ready to fall right into its place.

I have a ruger red pad short action I’ve thought about rebarreling. It’s a 22-250 today. Kinda a sentimental gun, but I haven’t shot it since I left prairie dog country.
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Checks a lot of boxes

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gear-gun-supplies/rifles/mossberg-mvp-bolt-action-rifle/p/p58737
The mvp patrol could be dropped into a new stock.... Savage hog hunter, and maybe a Ruger guide?
 
I’m looking at very similar guns. The ones that call to me the most are the mvp predator and the Ruger American Ranch. Too bad the Ruger is in the “mini action” category instead of short action. The same basic setup in “short action” is the Ruger American Tactical. I haven’t held one but the ones I have seen are stainless so I’m betting that they don’t fit into the light weight class.
 
WestKentucky said:
I’m looking at very similar guns. The ones that call to me the most are the mvp predator and the Ruger American Ranch. Too bad the Ruger is in the “mini action” category instead of short action. The same basic setup in “short action” is the Ruger American Tactical. I haven’t held one but the ones I have seen are stainless so I’m betting that they don’t fit into the light weight class.
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Has the quality of the ruger American increased? I see they look much better, but when they first came out the bolt and action was entry level at best.
 
They used to be sloppy. The ones I have handled are better than they used to be. Still not as tight as I would like but they are passable now for the most part. One of my best friends pre-ordered a basic American in 308 and his rifle isn’t quite a tack driver, but it’s about as close as a factory gun gets shooting factory ammo and ammo from delinked mini gun belts.

To revisit the question a bit more clearly... I would not special order a gun and simply trust that it would be perfectly acceptable. I would want to buy one I had a chance to look over. Buy new at a new price from brick and mortar shop stock and you are buying that ability at a new-gun-premium. Internet sales are what they are. It gets to be a mess if things aren’t great. I only buy online if it’s something I am fine with getting a lemon as long as it’s not a complete lemon.
 
I just bought American #6, so I guess I kinda like `em. There's a Predator with an 18" threaded barrel but they take the flush-fit mags, rather than the AI's. I would suggest getting one of those and putting it in a Magpul stock if you want, rather than buying the one that comes in the Magpul stock. They're stupid-heavy. The one I just bought is the GoWild version 6.5CM and I've got a Magpul stock on the way.
 
CraigC said:
I just bought American #6, so I guess I kinda like `em. There's a Predator with an 18" threaded barrel but they take the flush-fit mags, rather than the AI's. I would suggest getting one of those and putting it in a Magpul stock if you want, rather than buying the one that comes in the Magpul stock. They're stupid-heavy. The one I just bought is the GoWild version 6.5CM and I've got a Magpul stock on the way.
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I did that exact build a while ago, yeah the Magpul stock is a real brick, but it does have a huge aluminum mini-chassis everything bolts too, so the weight is in the middle.

From what your asking for id suggest a Bergara HMR for around 1k.

The Americans would also be good option either in a Magpul stock or a Boyds provarmint (another option ive used pretty often and currently have on hand). They will end up between 10.5-12lbs scoped tho.

I dont have much experience with the Mossbergs, but that MVP looks pretty nice also.
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
Maybe a Howa 1500 would be a good one to look for. There are usually more floating around here than other options, and there's aftermarket support if you decide you don't like the factory stock or want to add a magazine later.
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I have a howa 1500 in the safe. The locking lugs galled up from being used as a truck gun. Poor quality steel.
 
LoonWulf said:
Never seen or heard of that happening before.
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I’ll take a pic next time I open the safe. I cleaned it up with a file and then some valve grinding compound. It was pretty serious. Best I can tell it was from getting really dusty in the pickup and me continuing to shoot it. Never had it happen to anything else.
 
Dave DeLaurant said:
Have you already tried their support line? https://www.howausa.com/faq-2/
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No I didn’t call support. Gun has never had a shell of factory ammo in it. So I didn’t figure they cared to hear how soft their steel is. It still shoots moa though so I may just be expecting too much from a $400 gun. I bought the gun in maybe 2011 or 2012. Carried it in the pickup until 2015 probably. Been in the safe since.
 
I have had the itch for the shortest-barrel version of the Tikka TAC A1, but though it can pack small, it is certainly not light in weight. I envision letting a backpack, well-fitted to my body’s dimensions, carry the weight, much/most of the time, if I have to move far, on foot, from the truck or camp. (I generally pack a magnum revolver, or other handgun, or even a shotgun, for close-range emergencies, and targets of opportunity.)

Actually, this Tikka may not be significantly heavier than most AR10-ish rifles. I have not developed much interest in any AR10, with potential legislation having no influence on that. I bought into the AR15/M4 system because I worked for a PD that chose the AR15/M4 as the approved patrol rifle, not because I really cared for the system, itself. After a while, I got used to it, so, it has stayed around, and become like-able, but that has not translated into a desire to add the larger AR10.

I have seen short-barreled, threaded, Remington 700 rifles, with various tactical stocks, while browsing various sites, so such weapons do exist. They did not sway me from preferring the Tikka option, so I did not book-mark them.
 
Rexster said:
I have had the itch for the shortest-barrel version of the Tikka TAC A1, but though it can pack small, it is certainly not light in weight. I envision letting a backpack, well-fitted to my body’s dimensions, carry the weight, much/most of the time, if I have to move far, on foot, from the truck or camp. (I generally pack a magnum revolver, or other handgun, or even a shotgun, for close-range emergencies, and targets of opportunity.)

Actually, this Tikka may not be significantly heavier than most AR10-ish rifles. I have not developed much interest in any AR10, with potential legislation having no influence on that. I bought into the AR15/M4 system because I worked for a PD that chose the AR15/M4 as the approved patrol rifle, not because I really cared for the system, itself. After a while, I got used to it, so, it has stayed around, and become like-able, but that has not translated into a desire to add the larger AR10.

I have seen short-barreled, threaded, Remington 700 rifles, with various tactical stocks, while browsing various sites, so such weapons do exist. They did not sway me from preferring the Tikka option, so I did not book-mark them.
Click to expand...

the AR10 is bad to the bone, but it’s bulky and heavy. I have the night vision on mine and that makes it double bulky and heavy. They are really sweet that you can change components so easy yourself. I’ve handled some featherlight versions that were lighter, but still way off from an AR15.
 
SamT1 said:
No I didn’t call support. Gun has never had a shell of factory ammo in it. So I didn’t figure they cared to hear how soft their steel is. It still shoots moa though so I may just be expecting too much from a $400 gun. I bought the gun in maybe 2011 or 2012. Carried it in the pickup until 2015 probably. Been in the safe since.
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Howas are usually really well built rifles. Its the same gun as the Weatherby Vanguard, and they have been available for quite some time only complaints I've ever read about is that they tend to be heavier than other similar rifles.
Id actually be VERY concerned if your seeing anything like wear or galling on the lugs of one of those.
 
SamT1 said:
After work I went by friend of a friend who is a gunsmith. He has a good reputation locally for tack drivers. I think I’m going to just have him build me a rifle from my ruger 77. Looks like I can be in it a little over $1000 and get exactly what I want.
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That's fine. I bought a Walmart Remington 700 ADL in 308 with a scope for $250 on sale. Out of box with factory ammo it is sub MOA. I also got one in .243 that is also sub MOA. That said I really like my 7-08 Tikka. I also bought a Savage Axis in 30-06. It seemed to be accurate but I had trouble with the flexible stock that changed the POI. But yeah. You have a good plan. I do know guys that rebarrel cheap Remington 700's into real tack drivers.
 
d2wing said:
That's fine. I bought a Walmart Remington 700 ADL in 308 with a scope for $250 on sale. Out of box with factory ammo it is sub MOA. I also got one in .243 that is also sub MOA. That said I really like my 7-08 Tikka. I also bought a Savage Axis in 30-06. It seemed to be accurate but I had trouble with the flexible stock that changed the POI. But yeah. You have a good plan. I do know guys that rebarrel cheap Remington 700's into real tack drivers.
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Yea that’s the other option, but right now they are all out of stock. At least the ruger will be something a little different in a custom. And I can put an old safe queen back in use.
 
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