Best Budget Bolt Action?

My local Dick's run specials on 700's with a cheapo Remington branded scope for about 400 bucks several times a year. I doubt if you can find anything for half the price.

One of the guns Dick's puts on special is the SPS.

The new Ruger American rifle is getting great reviews. I shot one in 30-06 and was very impressed on how well it felt in my hands and how well it shot, especially for under $400 new. Every part in the rifle is made in America too. They make one in .308 like you want.
http://ruger.com/products/americanRifle/models.html

The Ruger American is an accurate, light, inexpensive rifle.

Thatd be a good choice.

The Ruger American is the best of the budget bolt rifles. If you want to spend a little more and buy in about the same price range as the SPS look at Tikka. A little more refined, with a reputation for great accuracy. The SPS isn't bad, but I like the Ruger a lot more, and it is cheaper.

My vote goes to Tikka. Lightweight, silky smooth action, amazing trigger, IMO has the best synthetic stock on an affordable rifle, and they are very accurate.

I own 2 T/C Ventures.Havent shot the 7mm-08 yet but the .223 is everything they said it would be.1 in moa guaranteed,get it in weathershield..Just picked up the 7mm-08 in weathershield for 377 bucks shipped on Gunbroker. http://www.tcarms.com/firearms/bolt-action-rifles/venture/venture-weather-shield regards Don

For about $500, it's difficult to beat a Weatherby Vanguard S2 Synthetic. They upgraded the stock with Griptonite panels and a palm swell, added a match grade 2-stage trigger and they are guaranteed to shoot sub-MOA at 100 yards with premium ammo, right out of the box.

For the money, it's awful hard to beat a Savage or Stevens for accuracy. They're not particularly pretty or the lightest, but they are solid rifles.

Does it have to be new?

A Husqvarna in the 640, 1640, or 1900 action are real sleepers. No one really knows much about them, but they are excellent rifles in the mauser family, with excellent steel and finishing. Go for around $500, a lot of them.

I was looking for a deer rifle this year, and didn't want to spend a lot of money. It came down to a decision between the Ruger American, and the Remington 700 ADL (basically the same as SPS with a blind magazine). I actually had intended to buy the Ruger American, but upon examining them side by side, I selected the Remington. It was completely subjective, but the Remington looked and felt much nicer than the Ruger. Having had some time to shoot it now, I am very satisfied with my decision. I'd still be tempted to pick up the Ruger (just to have one, because like some of the others I like Ruger), but I honestly think the Remington with the scope package was the better deal. I also don't think the SPS offers much over the ADL, but price.

Ever shot a Mosin?

Wait until shotshow and see what's new!

Savage, savage, savage, savage, savage. Did I mention savage? Relatively inexpensive, incredible, legendary in fact, accuracy out of the box, accutrigger, and easily swapped for a different caliber by swapping out the barrel and rehead spacing. An incredible system for little money with outstanding accuracy. You will never be disappointed in purchasing a Savage.

I bought my wife a Ruger American in .308, As long as you are not looking to do LONG range shooting and a ton of quick shooting it is an incredible rifle for the price. I put a nice budget Bushnell scope on it(I think it was $200) and she can hold a nice 2'' group at 100 yards with magtech ammo. Once the barrel heats up it gets a little larger but overall its a GREAT gun for the price!!

I vote Savage.

I've thought about a Mosin but is there any way to mount a scope on there besides paying $600+ for the sniper version? I appreciate all the replies so far.

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They make a little picatiny rail that goes where the rear sight is located on the nagant, then you get a long eye relief scope... here is a link to one of the rails on eBay...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/190982859559?lpid=82

your best bang for you buck will probably be either a Ruger American or a weatherby vanguard depending on your budget. the vanguard is the better rifle but the Ruger is cheaper.

I own a rem 700 and M77, I would rather have an american than the 700. my younger brother owns an M700 that used to belong to my older brother and was gifted to him. the older brother now owns 4 ruger M77s. that just goes to show how much we like our rugers.

Savage Axis.... Got one the day after Black Friday for 245 OTD. I don't think it can be beat for price.
Found a Remington ADL at a gun show for 300.... Used
If money were no object I would go for the Ruger American.

All the rifles mentioned so far are good for the price range they are in. I don't think any of them could be truthfully claimed to be significantly better than a Savage. I think you have to be past $$$$ before that happens. Don't get a Mosin. You specified .308, a rimless cartridge not typically/realistically rechambered in the Mosin which was designed for rimmed 7.62x54R.

For me, the cheapest "good stuff" is the Weatherby Vanguard. Great rifle! For something lighter-than-standard, the Tikka is where it starts for me. You can, however, find used stuff less than these two new that are pretty good. The two I mentioned, Brownings, Ruger 77s, Remmy 700s, Winchester 70s, etc.

The ones that are new for $400 or less, I don't really like, including the American, Axis, and X7. They're decent, but likely won't satisfy experienced and serious shooters. They will, however, get the job done well enough.

Marlin XS7.

Good stock for a synthetic, great adjustable trigger, better than average accuracy and overall a very nice intro rifle.