.308 Suggestions

[Pafrmu]

I am looking for a .308 for hunting and plinking. I want to spend less than $1k. I am open to about anything else. Suggestions?

 

[Fumbler]

Tikka T3 Lite topped with Leupold VX-II 3-9x40mm. That should cost you right at $1k.

It should weigh in right at 7 lbs scoped, great for long hikes while hunting.
The T3 is a great rifle and IMO is the best in it's price range.

I have a T3 Lite in 308 with a Leupold VX-I 3-9x40mm and absolutely love it.

For the same amount of money you could get a heavy barreled Savage with scope.
It'd be at least as accurate and would be easier to shoot consistently (a 7lb 308 can be difficult to learn to shoot well).

Before you get more suggestions, you should explain what exactly you want to do.
When you say plinking do you mean shooting soda cans or punching paper at 300 yards?
When you say hunting do you mean hiking a mile to shoot a deer or sitting in a stand and shooting accross a field?

 

[Warner]

First, what type of action interests you?

Bolt - Semiauto - lever?

W

 

[Pafrmu]

All types. I am not wed to any in particular. Generally I assume that .308 is primarily in auto and bolt but I believe there may be some lever. I am definitely not interested in single shot.

 

[mrmeval]

The only lever action would be from a box magazine because of the pointy tip.

Would an Ishapore Enfield 2A1 be of interest? So far I have about 200 invested in the rifle and a synthetic stock. Shoots well but I've not done more than a function check so far.

All types. I am not wed to any in particular. Generally I assume that .308 is primarily in auto and bolt but I believe there may be some lever. I am definitely not interested in single shot.

 

[dakotasin]

remington 700 sps or adl. rings and bases of your choice (i'm partial to talley lightweights, but pretty much most brands work fine), leupold vx-3 in 2.5-8x36, butler creek caps, sling of your choice...

should have enough money left over to do a pretty comprehensive ammo test.

 

[timothy75]

Get a Ruger M77 which comes with rings and a base that wont loosen or over tighten and a Leopold rifleman 3-9 scope. You'll have money left over for some premium and practice ammo. Good Luck

 

[MTMilitiaman]

If you are doing any serious target work or hunting, I suggest buying a Leupold first then deciding how much you have to spend on a rifle. I would rather have a mediocre rifle with a Leupold on it than a spiffy rifle with a low end Tasco or Bushnell. My $.02.

 

[MCgunner]

I love my M7 Stainless Remington for hunting, but not sure if compactness and light weight are on your priority list. Just a plinker, shooter, nothing wrong with the Savage M110. They're very accurate, have an adjustable (to a point) trigger, a lot of bolt gun for the money. For my money, I'd top it with a Weaver scope. I have a 2x10x40 on my Remington I just love. I like lower powers for spot and stalk hunting, and the ability to zoom up for long range. The optics and ruggedness of a Weaver I can attest matches any Leupold I've ever experienced and beats the lower end ones all the heck. Leupold is sorta the Smith and Wesson of scopes. Good quality, but lots of fans just because of the name. When a better more affordable scope comes along, their minds are shut tighter than a bank vault. "Nope, can't be as good as a Leupold. Never tried a Weaver, but it ain't as good, no way, get what you pay for, yadda, yadda, yadda...."

 

[Pafrmu]

I think that I have already picked out my scope. I am planning on getting the Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 MC.

Please leave out the price of the scope when making your recommendations.

 

[rockstar.esq]

SAVAGE SAVAGE SAVAGE!!!!!

First I couldn't find a NEW Remington that didn't set me back more than $500.00

Second, Tikka's are all long actions despite the short .308win case

Third, Sporting .308's in semiauto trim are pretty much a new Remington 7400 or a Browning BAR neither or which are commonly seen at varmint shoots.

Fourth, Savage has a whole host of bolties chambered in .308Win most of which with the accu-trigger which on the LE line drops trigger pull to 1.5 lbs! Other than the Tikka, none of the others are designed for the user to adjust their own trigger pull.

Five, unless the Tikka stock fits you perfectly you are looking at a custom stock to replace it. The same is true for most Brownings. The Remington and Winchesters are aftermarket friendly however Savage rifles are not far behind.

Six, Ammo will make more difference to your rifle's performance than just about anything other than stock fit. Don't underestimate the cost of match ammo. Reloading is a great way to get premium ammo at practice price.

 

[gulogulo1970]

Find a used Savage Model 99 lever action. They are plenty accurate, handy and it's just cool to have a lever action 308.

I found one for about $450 a year ago and couldn't be happier with my purchase.

 

[MCgunner]

If you can afford a Zeiss, you can afford a Remington. A little better trigger than a Savage and a lot prettier. The Savage is a BARGAIN for those on a budget. Plenty accurate. They sell for less because the design requires less intricate machine work, not because they're less rifle.

Whatever you want in the rifle, compact to superb heavy barrel accuracy, to tactical/sniper you can find in Remington's various center fires. The Sendero models with the fluted barrels are all the rage down here in Texas for the deer stand snipers and feeder watchers. I love my Model 7 due to its accuracy combined with light weight and ruggedness because, while I do a lot of feeder watching by necessity, I love to spot and stalk out west. And, with polymer stock and in stainless, it's a rugged rifle. It is quite accurate for the first three shots. That soda straw barrel will heat up, but that has no effect on practical hunting accuracy where the first shot is all that matters. Even with a hot barrel it'll keep 1.5 moa, though. First three shots from a cold barrel are 1 MOA.

BTW, Zeiss is good!

 

[Thefabulousfink]

The only lever action would be from a box magazine because of the pointy tip.

Would an Ishapore Enfield 2A1 be of interest? So far I have about 200 invested in the rifle and a synthetic stock. Shoots well but I've not done more than a function check so far.

Ture, the Ishapore Enfields in .308 and the Mk4's in .303 (can be loaded to perform just as well) are a solid bolt-action with 10-round box magazine. Most can be found for <$200 and you can build a very accurate little sporting gun for well under $1000.

Plus the Mk4's (and I think the Ishapores as well) can use the mil-surp quick detach side scope mount (@ $30 and uses weaver rails)

I am looking at building one of these this year.

 

[mrmeval]

Real odd scope mount but permanent.
http://www.surplusrifle.com/reviews/onehotscopemount/index.asp
I'm not sure about it. I do not want to drill into the metal though.

I highly recommend stripping the 'grease' from the trigger assembly. I'd made the mistake of thinking it was grease. It was 30 year old grease with 30 year old paint flakes. Attrocious trigger pull became a good two stage trigger. I then decided to strip off the arsenal paint. I found more markings and can read the ladder sight numbers now. Later I had a Marine show me exactly what it could do. It's sweet but I'll need a scope eventually.

Ture, the Ishapore Enfields in .308 and the Mk4's in .303 (can be loaded to perform just as well) are a solid bolt-action with 10-round box magazine. Most can be found for <$200 and you can build a very accurate little sporting gun for well under $1000.

Plus the Mk4's (and I think the Ishapores as well) can use the mil-surp quick detach side scope mount (@ $30 and uses weaver rails)

I am looking at building one of these this year.

 

[MCgunner]

A Zeiss on a surplus Enfield........

ROFLMAO!!!!

 

[gulogulo1970]

Here's a photo of my Savage 99CD. I usually don't like scopes on lever actions but it works on this one.

 

[rangerruck]

i would get a savage long range package gun , with the accutrigger, from gander mnt. this will be about 400. bucks. the accuracy is great, and the trigger will get you high! otherwise, if you can go to a gun shop, and find an old used parker hale in 308, then get that. one more thing , if you are going to shoot the milsurp ammo. go wht these to try: amer , g.b., s. africa ,portugese, n.z. ,austrail. can, singapore,. next try german. finally try south amer, as they got all the german mods and specs after ww2.

 

[Fumbler]

I think that I have already picked out my scope. I am planning on getting the Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 MC.

Please leave out the price of the scope when making your recommendations.

Get a Tikka T3 Varmint ($800) and use the leftover $200 to get a higher magnification Conquest and Talley rings.

 

[odysseus]

Just putting it out there, but you might like the CZ 550 in .308. It comes with a adjustable single-set trigger too which is nice, and fit and finish is good right out of the box. Mauser action, 4 round magazines.

 

[Pafrmu]

Lets sum up so far

2 Tikka T3 Lite or Varmint
5 Savage Various
1 Ishapore Enfield 2A1
3 remington 700 or M7
1 Ruger M77
1 CZ 550


No takers for Winchester or Weatherby?

It seems that personal preference is the best way to choose a rifle. Go to the store, try some on and take the best one that fits. Accuracy seems to be a feature included on all these rifles.

 

[jd25q]

Since you are already talking $1000 why not go a bit extra and get a Sako. You wont regret it. I think they go about 1100 new. Maybe you can find a deal.

 

[Deer Hunter]

A DSA FAL. You wont look back.

 

[AStone]

No posts since January.

Let's bump this to see what the current thinking is.

Nem, who still leans in the direction of a Remington M7 or a Ruger M77 Mark II International...

or maybe enen a longer Browning A-Bolt...

 

[Anthony T.]

Browning makes a nice lever rifle in .308 cal. Also, I like the remington BDL, ruger m77, And my favorite being the browning a-bolt. My newest rifle, an a-bolt medallion in 30-06, will shoot sub minute with cheap factory ammo. Looking forward to half minute with handloaded nosler accubonds