budget rifles

Check out the savage axis, lots of love and easy to work on should you feel the need. I’m happy with mine(223) and my only complaint is the magazine and it’s capacity.

I’m looking at one of the above mentioned just for the AR mag capabilities and I’d be using 10 or maybe 20 rounders with it.

I own a couple Savages and a Ruger American .308, wouldn't hesitate to buy another of either one. Ruger has a slightly sturdier synthetic stock than the Axis, spare mags for the Axis are a little easier to find.

I havent owned a patriot, only handled them, but ive been fairly impressed.

Ive had quite a few Americans. All have been excellent. Granted only one if mine was a rotary mag, the rest AI or magnums.

I absolutely hate the handling and feel of the Savage Axis, but they are excellent rifles for the cost and usually shoot right along with guns costing 4x or 5x as much. Again, ive never owned one, but ive spent hours and hours tinkering and shooting other peoples Axis and Edge.

If your willing to put in elbow grease, all of those rifles are capable of being tuned and tweaked into very nice guns, tho tossing money at them can turn into a deep pit quick lol.

I had the Axis and it was accurate with a very good trigger- but the magazines were flimsy and spares crazy $$.

For a hundred bucks more, you can get a Howa 1500 or Vanguard. I also have a Vanguard and feel it to be well worth the extra money.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

I had the Axis and it was accurate with a very good trigger- but the magazines were flimsy and spares crazy $$.

For a hundred bucks more, you can get a Howa 1500 or Vanguard. I also have a Vanguard and feel it to be well worth the extra money.

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2nded

I have been looking at the Howa recently. Still trying to make my mind up. I don't want to derail this thread though.

For banging steel get the Ruger Predator. Yes, I've had MINOR issues with SOME magazines. But that wouldn't be an issue with a range gun, and rarely an issue hunting. You don't even need a magazine for range use. You can load one at a time.

If you're going to spend more money, Tikka.

I don't recommend the Howa/Vanguard for a range gun, at least not in a 30 cal. I have the 1500 in 30-06. GREAT for hunting and I get sub moa groups with it for the first 5 or 6 shots. After the barrel starts heating up the groups start walking.

I had a Compass. It shot great. Did a couple small mods to make it better. Bolt handle and springs for the trigger. It shot really great. I was impressed.

Hugger-4641 said:

I don't recommend the Howa/Vanguard for a range gun, at least not in a 30 cal. I have the 1500 in 30-06. GREAT for hunting and I get sub moa groups with it for the first 5 or 6 shots. After the barrel starts heating up the groups start walking.

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My 300 doesn't seem to string, and while not stupendously accurate I remember my 6.5 being pretty consistent also.

In .308, I have a Savage 110 heavy barrel. In 7.62x39, a CZ 527. In 5.56, a Ruger American Ranch. All great range rifles, all sub-MOA. The CZ was the priciest at $650. The Ruger was under $500 and the Savage right around $400.

conan32120 said:

I've been looking at purchasing a new budget level rifle. mossberg patriot or ruger american, I have however found in the reviews that they both have their problems. multiple complaints about trigger lock up on the mossberg and magazine failures on the ruger. I don't hunt so it would just be for banging steel but ....... Any experiences or opinions?

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Build an AR with a 18” barrel

dh1633pm said:

I had a Compass. It shot great. Did a couple small mods to make it better. Bolt handle and springs for the trigger. It shot really great. I was impressed.

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Yes, if you can find one, the Compass is fine also. I have one in 6.5 creed. It's now actually my wife's deer gun and shoots 1 to 1 1/2 Moa groups with most factory hunting ammo.

If you were to get an axis, the trigger kit and stock stiffeners from mcarbo make it a pretty great rifle. Takes about fifteen minutes to do both (plus dry time).
The magazines are horrid, but to me all DBMs on a bolt action are. So, that may color my assessment. I’m like that. I crave simple things like blind magazines, but this thread isn’t about my tastes. I also hear great things about the Ruger Americans.

CVA Cascade. Period. End of story.

marksman13 said:

CVA Cascade. Period. End of story.

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Been tempted to try one of those. Haven't really heard much about them but the local Wal-mart has one in 6.5 Creedmoor.

I prefer a good savage over most rifles but not un the low budget zone like the axis. The trigger leaves a lot to be desired and the plastic stock is flimsy. They still manage to shoot well for the price.

I am with the other guys a Howa 1500 shoots well and for the price you cant go wrong.

There is one low budget Savage worth having and only sold at Cabelas or Bass Pro which is the 12FV. Its a heavy Varmint barrel with a good accu-trigger. Its a top feed (no magazine) and comes in 4 calibers last i checked. 233,308,6.5 Creedmoor, and 243 and chrrent price is about $420.

LoonWulf said:

My 300 doesn't seem to string, and while not stupendously accurate I remember my 6.5 being pretty consistent also.

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Ive not noticed any heat-related issues with my '06 Vanguard, but Ill admit Ive probably never fired more than 20 rounds through it in a single sitting, certainly not without a pretty lengthy cease fire to service targets in between groups, so it never really gets that hot on the bench.

NIGHTLORD40K said:

Ive not noticed any heat-related issues with my '06 Vanguard, but Ill admit Ive probably never fired more than 20 rounds through it in a single sitting, certainly not without a pretty lengthy cease fire to service targets in between groups, so it never really gets that hot on the bench.

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For hunting, I want to know a couple things for certain: Cold bore shot, group center, and string behavior. I zero my scope on 3 shot group center, but I like to know what the cold bore shot is doing. Almost always, my cold bore shot with the Howa will be the low and center shot of the group. After 5 or 6 rds, if I keep shooting and don't let it cool for 5 min or so, it wil start walking diagonally off the bullseye. After about 10 shots it grows to about a 3moa group. Let it cool for a bit, while I change targets and the groups shrink back to normal. My Savage's don't do this, they are more consistent, but the action and the stocks are no comparison to the Howa.

Wreck-n-Crew said:

There is one low budget Savage worth having and only sold at Cabelas or Bass Pro which is the 12FV. Its a heavy Varmint barrel with a good accu-trigger. Its a top feed (no magazine) and comes in 4 calibers last i checked. 233,308,6.5 Creedmoor, and 243 and chrrent price is about $420.

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Yeah, my mistake. My .308 is actually a 12FV, not a 110 (my 110 is in .25-06). The 12FV really is a good, accurate rifle with a nice trigger. I bought mine at my local farm/ranch store. It had a Cabela's sticker on the stock; not sure how it made it to the farm store.

I have a walnut stock Patriot in .243 and a Ruger American Ranch in .450 Bushmaster. The Mossberg feels less "cheap" but that could be just because of the stock.
I haven't had any problems with either rifle. Both are plenty accurate.
I also have a Browning AB3 in .30-06 which I consider a budget rifle. I like it better than the Patriot or the American.

Hugger-4641 said:

Been tempted to try one of those. Haven't really heard much about them but the local Wal-mart has one in 6.5 Creedmoor.

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My wife bought me one in 6.5 CM for our anniversary. I love the dang rifle. I really don’t believe there is a better made rifle out there for under $600. Mine will flat out shoot. The stock is much more rigid than a Ruger American or Savage Axis and doesn’t feel like a cheap, plastic afterthought. The trigger is good without needing a Accu-trigger dingus in the center of it. Even the magazine is well made. I intend for mine to be mostly a truck gun, but I hunted with it a time or two last year.

LoonWulf said:

2nded

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Saw the Howa 1500 barreled action at Brownells for $399 today. Ad a cool Boyd stock and you have a solid, semi custom gun for $600.

I almost pulled the trigger but have no desire for a 6.5 Creed.

kalielkslayer said:

I almost pulled the trigger but have no desire for a 6.5 Creed.

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You do know you don't really have to get a man bun to go with the creed ,right?.....Lol