Which rifle to buy and why

I shoot a Savage bolt action.22lr because squirrels clean out my garden. LOL

Your going to have to provide more info. What are you going to do with it would be a good start.

For your uses, Tikka CTR. Street prices about $900

http://www.tikka.fi/rifles/tikka-t3x/t3x-compact-tactical-rifle

I own only sporters, but of the listed id probably chose the howa for your intended purpose. only down side is weight which isnt much of a factor with a heavy tubed gun.

CDNN has the Ruger M77 Hawkeye tactical with Hogue black over-molded stock, Ruger rings and a Harris bipod for $789. I'm cheap, and that's a deal IMO.

I just bought a .223 tactical from them, so put my money where my mouth is.

I would look for a Tikka T3 Tactical and add these:

https://tikkaperformance.com/index.php?_route_=tikka-t3-accessories/Tikka-Stage-2-Performance-Kit
https://tikkaperformance.com/index.php?_route_=tikka-t3-accessories/tikka-aics-dbm

I HAVE a T3 Tactical, I just need to convince my wife I need this kit. I don't think the bottom metal will work with the CTR, that's why I say Tactical. The CTR mags are pricey to buy more, this gives you the ability to use AICS type mags.

I've had heavy barrel 700s, the Savage Precision Carbine, a few M77s and have handled the Winchester and Howas. the Tikka is by far the best feeling bolt to me. my T3 Tactical is just as accurate as any on the other heavy barreled 308 I've owned but just feels better, smoother.

I had a similar desire as you and decided on an FN SPR

It will be toward the top of your budget but you won't need to do anything more than add a scope

Look at CZ`s too.

Take a look at the Sako Stainless Varmint, as close to a custom rifle as you can get!!

The best value is Savage; I'd get one and put the savings into better glass.

I can second the recommendation for one of the Tikkas mentioned. I have the CTR, and it fits all your criteria. On top of that, it's a tack driver, the action's slick as butter, and it's got an excellent factory trigger. I initially bought it for some mid-range tactical precision shooting, but found it makes an outstanding woods/deer rifle when loaded with moderate loads and topped with a 1-3x scope.

All options would be good but if you're willing to go up to $1500 a Remington 700 sps tactical might be a good choice. Costs maybe $700 ish and then you should be able to upgrade the trigger, stock, and bottom metal (since you wanted a magazine). If you are going to replace bottom metal anyway you could maybe find a 700 ADL varmint as a cheaper base.

Another option would be a Ruger precision rifle. The barrel is more of a medium profile than heavy but the gun is still very accurate and take a couple different magazines.

entropy said:

The best value is Savage; I'd get one and put the savings into better glass.

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The Savage and Ruger are American made.