Straight wall cartridge budget bolt action rifle

Tend to doubt it. Most all the people running down for a straightwall only want it to replace the slug gun during deer season and won't use it much otherwise. Budget gun would be around $200-250. Getting over $400 runs into the land of lever guns and ARs which seem to be dominating those sales.

I would by another .357 bolt gun in that price range, and I don't live or hunt in straightwall only states.

Ruger's already selling their basic Ranch/bolt action in 350 Legend for ~$450

Henry has a break action 44mag. At academy they're going for $340.00. Debating getting one.

Hog huntin Harry said:

Do y'all think a bolt action rifle chambered in 357 Magnum or 44 Magnum in the 320.00-450.00 price range would sell well in the straight wall only states ?

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I'm sure there will be a debate shortly as to what Sells Well means.

I'll say Yes with some context.

I think if Ruger came out with an American version of the 77/357 that it would out sell it into discontinuance like the 77/22.

Price made choosing the Marlin a lot easier. Had Ruger offered an American 357, the decision would have been a lot harder for me and I probably would have gone Ruger because it would have cheaper than the Marlin, I like the simplicity of a bolt action.

Don't get me wrong, the Marlin is a nice gun. Almost too nice for what I was wanting.

Hog huntin Harry said:

Where can I find a $200-250 bolt action rifle ? (Not counting Remington 770)

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Like it or not, budget rifles are defined by the low cost Axis and 770. It's not challenging to find them well under $300 during fall hunting sales and rebate periods. They very likely make up the majority of new bolt hunting rifles sold by volume.

In slug and straight-wall states most hunters are still using shotguns. It's not like hunters don't know they exist. You can already find plenty of $400-600 357 or 44 mag leverguns and singleshots. It seems like the average budget deer hunter hasn't bought into the benefits of the straightwall rounds for that price range and stick with their Mavericks and 500s. However once regular bottleneck rounds are allowed, the shotguns get put away. Maybe we will see these budget guns offered in 350 legend or other legal handgun rounds in the near future. The fact it hasn't already happened seems to indicate not enough volume of demand. I'm sure some people will buy them but is it enough to invest in design and tooling?

Hog huntin Harry said:

Where can I find a $200-250 bolt action rifle ? (Not counting Remington 770)

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I've picked up quite a few new old stock savages and VERY lightly used savages under $300, the trick is timing, I also know that it's not just Savage I can get that cheap. Many sub $450, if you'd like I can pm you some budget priced .450 bushy bolts here in a few after I get the kids to bed....

Hog huntin Harry said:

Do y'all think a bolt action rifle chambered in 357 Magnum or 44 Magnum in the 320.00-450.00 price range would sell well in the straight wall only states ?

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Depends. People buy 77/357s for nearing $1000, I know because I'm one of them.

For reasons beyond my intelligence level, 357 rifles could do nothing but sell like they’re the last guns on earth.

So yeah, a cheaper one would sell. Better in fact.

For me, a straight wall cartridge hunter, the 357 would hardly be noticed and I would opt for the 44 mag or more likely, the 450 Bushmaster, of which a budget friendly version already exists....or two or three.

Hard to say what actual sales it would turn into. I like the idea because I load and shoot a bunch of .357 mag and .38. Currently my Rossi is the only rifle and I would entertain a budget bolt action in .357 or .44 mag.

Hog huntin Harry said:

I'd hate to take up your free time, I used to babysit my cousins so I know how much of a handful little ones can be.

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Pm sent

If Illinois ever started allowing straight walled cartridges, I'd pick up one for deer if I could. Heck, I'd do a single shot if I needed to.

While not .357 or .44

You can get multiple bolt guns in .350 legend and .450 bushmaster.
So while it would be cool to use rhe same ammo as a revolver, i dont think it would have a huge market share as i doubt they would reduce the action size.

horsey300 said:

I've picked up quite a few new old stock savages and VERY lightly used savages under $300, the trick is timing, I also know that it's not just Savage I can get that cheap. Many sub $450, if you'd like I can pm you some budget priced .450 bushy bolts here in a few after I get the kids to bed....

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My last 06 savage 110 was 320 delivered from the mainland......Theres plenty of budget options especially used.

I think it would be one of those things that lots of people say they want, but very few will actually pony up the money to buy. I would like both of those cartridges in a lever action, but I don't get the appeal of either of them in a bolt action. I would much rather have a 350 legend or a 450 bushmaster.

make a ruger american in left hand, 357 maximum. 16" threaded barrel. But as long as I'm dreaming up a wish list for ruger, I want the deerfield brought back with a 10+ round magazine based upon a scaled up bx25 mag. Now THAT would sell like hotcakes.

LoonWulf said:

My last 06 savage 110 was 320 delivered from the mainland......Theres plenty of budget options especially used.

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Yeppers! Ready for the next one? Harry got me on GunBroker again!!!

horsey300 said:

Yeppers! Ready for the next one? Harry got me on GunBroker again!!!

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does that mean I can tell the wife its his fault?

A cheap 357 bolt I maybe intrested in but only if it could easily reamed out to 357 max and feed.

When indiana was a straight wall cartridge state my friend bought a Ruger bolt in .44 mag.

I wish there were more pump guns to. If Remington made a 141 again I'd buy one.

I would love to see Ruger expand the American line-up to include these and Scout rifles. My problem with the 77/-series (not to be confused with 77's and Hawkeyes) is that they cost so much relative to the accuracy one might expect. My centerfire 77MKII's and Hawkeyes shoot great but I've never seen a range report for a 77/357 or .44 that was anything short of dismal. The rimfires would be great if they were still about half the cost because they're gonna need a new barrel. The Americans shoot circles around all of them and they're half the cost. This is what my .450 does at 50yds without even trying too hard. The 400gr subsonic loads were even better.

illinoisburt said:

Tend to doubt it. Most all the people running down for a straightwall only want it to replace the slug gun during deer season and won't use it much otherwise. Budget gun would be around $200-250. Getting over $400 runs into the land of lever guns and ARs which seem to be dominating those sales.

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I think your pricing software is about 20yrs out of date.

Cheap or otherwise I wish there were more options for straight walled pistol cases in rifle platforms.

I'd have the .357 Mag version of the M77/.44 Mag below if it was made in wood and blued vs the synthetic stock and stainless. Put them both in a Mannlicher and I'd be at the front of the line begging Ruger to take my money. Add the .327 FM to that since I'm dreaming.



And since Greyling22 mentioned the Deerfield in his reply above: The day I walked into my LGS and picked up the M77/.44 Mag I'd special ordered the owners son was there and knowing my affinity for pistol calibers in rifles called me over. He went in the back and brought out a box, laid it on the counter, opened it and inside was a pristine Deerfield .44 Mag with 2 additional mags. It also had (what apparently is a somewhat hard to find) Ruger OEM leather scope protector from ejected shells. Said it was taken in on trade and he put it on lay-a-way for himself but decided he wasn't going to buy it.



I walked out of the store to the truck and my waiting wife. I placed the box containing the M77/.44 mag on the back seat and closed the door. Got in the cab and confessed I put the Deerfield on lay-away. The woman is a saint. Very caring and easy to get along with but that day I managed to push all her buttons at once. In a low growl that spooked our Jack Russel sitting on the center console she uttered. "We're here, might as well get it now and be done with it". The LGS closed about 3 years ago, not for lack of business but family matters. Just as well...that kid was hard on my marriage.