Need a rifle for under $500 for a 4-12x scope.

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Olympus

Olympus

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I've got a 4-12x40 scope that I've taken off a gun a long time ago that has been collecting dust in my gun room. I think it's time to buy a gun to put it on. I've got $500 for a gun and base/rings. Anyone have any recommendations? I already have a 243 and a 270. I don't think I want to go with anything bigger than the 270 though. Can't think of any time I'd need a bigger caliber than the 270. I've got plenty of 22LR, 22WMR, and 223 rifles, so I've got the small end of the caliber spectrum pretty much covered. Extra points for interesting guns or interesting calibers.
 
Pick one. Street price varies between $350-$450 depending on location and the exact model.

https://ruger.com/products/americanRifle/overview.html

I'd suggest a short action. Lots of cartridge choices. This is in my opinion the best bang for the buck in a rifle. I've had several, but only these 2 now.

https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/26974.html

https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/26965.html

Since you have 243, and 270 I'd suggest this one in 223. The 4-12X scope would be a good fit

https://ruger.com/products/americanRiflePredator/specSheets/26944.htm



I prefer the ones that either take Accuracy International style magazines, or AR magazines. They are shooters. My 308 did this with a 1-4X scope on it this morning.

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If not the Ruger mentioned above by JMR, I'd take a look at a Howa. They have regular actions, and a mini action. I have the mini action in .223 and love it. Several calibers to choose from too.
 
^ yeah, either the Howa or Ruger would be good choices.

I've also seen the TC compass on sale for 300 bucks, and the Winchester XPR looks interesting.
 
My Howa has impressed me and with the plastic stock i don't mind dragging it through the woods while hunting
 
Don't know if you'd have a specific use for it, but what about a 22-250? Seems to fill a niche you don't neccesarily have a caliber for yet.

https://www.centerfiresystems.com/p-46498-rug-6945-amer-p-22250-pred-grnsyn.aspx

I'm getting a Ruger American Predator myself, but I'm getting the 223 version that takes AR mags to go with my 4-16 scope. There are lots of other good options in the caliber under $500 as well of you check out gun.deals.

https://gun.deals/category/rifles?caliber=420&dir=asc&sort=price

If you want an interesting rifle, the T/C Dimension and its unorthodox stock certainly fit the bill.

https://gun.deals/product/thompson-center-dimension-22-250-rem-22-barrel-3-rnd-29999
 
Olympus said:
I've got a 4-12x40 scope that I've taken off a gun a long time ago that has been collecting dust in my gun room. I think it's time to buy a gun to put it on. I've got $500 for a gun and base/rings. Anyone have any recommendations? I already have a 243 and a 270. I don't think I want to go with anything bigger than the 270 though. Can't think of any time I'd need a bigger caliber than the 270. I've got plenty of 22LR, 22WMR, and 223 rifles, so I've got the small end of the caliber spectrum pretty much covered. Extra points for interesting guns or interesting calibers.
Click to expand...
Sooooooo, I read this and several things come to mind, savage model99 in .300 savage or .250 savage, a ruger american in .450 bushy, a .357 bolt action, and a .250 aI.
If I remember past threads of yours, your average shooting conditions don't really justify any rip snorters that come to mind, and you already have a .243 and .270, honestly you have covered all the bases I look at with your current selection. Thus I think a close range thumper, (I know you said nothing bigger than .270 was needed but I consider more than bore diameter when considering a "size" for example, I consider the .270 larger than the .357 most days) or classy chambering would be a good fit, I'm not aiming to fix a problem you don't have, just throwing out something more unique.
 
I really like the idea of the howa mini action in 6.5 grendel. or 7.62x39. Or the ruger american in pick-a-caliber. or sell the scope and put it and the $500 toward something you want more. A smith revolver? a nice 22 pistol? a new sewing machine for the wife? a ton of ammo? the tisas hi-power? a big tv?
 
A 4x12? How about a Savage 12FV. It’s more of a bench gun. But a tac driver. A 4x12 seems like a lot of scope for a woods rifle. Would definitely be under $500 with bases and rings.

But really, there are so many possibilities for your budget. Add in used rifles and that number becomes exponential.
 
Olympus said:
I've got a 4-12x40 scope that I've taken off a gun a long time ago that has been collecting dust in my gun room. I think it's time to buy a gun to put it on. I've got $500 for a gun and base/rings. Anyone have any recommendations? I already have a 243 and a 270. I don't think I want to go with anything bigger than the 270 though. Can't think of any time I'd need a bigger caliber than the 270. I've got plenty of 22LR, 22WMR, and 223 rifles, so I've got the small end of the caliber spectrum pretty much covered. Extra points for interesting guns or interesting calibers.
Click to expand...

horsey300 said:
Sooooooo, I read this and several things come to mind, savage model99 in .300 savage or .250 savage, a ruger american in .450 bushy, a .357 bolt action, and a .250 aI.
If I remember past threads of yours, your average shooting conditions don't really justify any rip snorters that come to mind, and you already have a .243 and .270, honestly you have covered all the bases I look at with your current selection. Thus I think a close range thumper, (I know you said nothing bigger than .270 was needed but I consider more than bore diameter when considering a "size" for example, I consider the .270 larger than the .357 most days) or classy chambering would be a good fit, I'm not aiming to fix a problem you don't have, just throwing out something more unique.
Click to expand...
It was a long day yesterday and I totally spaced and forgot the model 340 .30-30 to let you throw pointy bullets out of the ol .30-30 for giggles!
 
horsey300 said:
Sooooooo, I read this and several things come to mind, savage model99 in .300 savage or .250 savage, a ruger american in .450 bushy, a .357 bolt action, and a .250 aI.
Click to expand...

ya aren't gonna find a decent savage 99 at or below 500.00 anymore short of someone not knowing what they have....
 
Thanks for some good recommendations. Personally, I don’t want a fixer-upper. I don’t have the tools to do any work myself and I live in a rural area where who knows where the closest gunsmith is or how much of a gunsmith they really are. A fixer-upper would almost be a guaranteed waste of money in case.

The Howa mini action in 7.62 with the multi cam stock looks pretty cool, but my 4-12x scope would be way overkill for that gun.

The Ruger American Predator in 6.5 Grendel sounds kind of interesting.

Also, the Ruger Ranch in that 350 Legend caliber sounds interesting too. I had a Ruger Ranch in 300blk in the past. I loved the actual gun, just didn’t care for the 300blk caliber so I sold it. I know the 4-12x scope would be way overkill for the 350 Legend also.

I’ve been on GB a lot lately and can’t find anything in 257 Roberts in my budget and I don’t want to spend a ton on a gun because then I just end up leaving it in the safe.

Anything bench-type is out of the question. I have a couple different bench guns already and they are easily my least-fired guns in my safe. It’s been probably 10 years since they’ve been shot.
 
I happen to have a RAR predator 6.5 grendel for sale right now... PM me if you are interested.
 
I have seen some super buys lately. The Savage 11, Ruger American and the Mossberg Patriot. I have owned and shot several of each brand and could be happy with any of them. One thing of note and is a selling point for me is the Mossberg. I can get a Patriot with a nice wood stock for under $500. I don't see many Mossbergs on the A list but that Is a mistake. One of the most accurate 308's that I have owned was a $300 Patriot that would shoot 1/2 MOA all day. Another gun that would shoot along with it was a Ruger American Predator in 6.5 CM. It would keep 3 shots inside 1/2" with 4 different handloads. Any of these three should work for you but you will have to pick your own caliber.
 
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