All around .308 bolt action rifle

Which manufacturer for an all-around bolt action .308 rifle?

  • Remington

    Votes: 12 13.3%

  • Savage

    Votes: 21 23.3%

  • Tikka

    Votes: 19 21.1%

  • CZ

    Votes: 4 4.4%

  • Other

    Votes: 24 26.7%

  • Winchester

    Votes: 10 11.1%
  • Total voters
    90
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I'll just leave this here.
download.jpg
(T3 Arctic)

But seriously, the Tikka T3 is hard to beat for the money, no matter what configuration it's in. That's why it got my vote.
 
My all-around .308 is a Remington Model 7 in an HS Precision stock, with a Leupold 2-7X compact mounted in the conventional position over the receiver. My version of a "scout" if you will. It has been my go-to hunting rifle for a lot of years, and it is quite capable for informal target shooting. It does not have the accuracy of a heavier barreled rifle, and it would not be what I would choose for competition or targets beyond 450 yards.

Rem7-308-L.jpg

To my mind, hunting and anything-other-than-informal target shooting are different enough that they require different implements. And you have to decide at what range you want to shoot targets. As most of my target shooting is well inside 800 yards, I'm happy with a 700 LTR. If I want to shoot targets 800 yards and out, it won't be with a .308.
 
If price is no consideration why settle for something off the shelf that is common and plain? For nice lines and overall finish Dakota offers some good looking semi-custom models. If light weight is your goal in a rifle you can't do better than the flyweights offered by NUL. Or, better yet just have a top rifle craftsman make what you want, as I did with this trim .308 built on a Pre-64 M-70 action with pretty wood and nice details and finish. 308-1.JPG 308-2.JPG 308-3.JPG 308-4.JPG 308-5.JPG
 
entropy said:
You didn't have Blaser or Sharps-Borchardt (obviously would have to be a custom rifle on that action) listed, so I picked Remington, as in 40-XB.
Click to expand...

d1use114.jpg


Ah yes, my Blaser R 93. Not with a 308 Winchester barrel on it but you get the idea. That group wasn't off a bench either but rather out of an upstairs window. I just wanted to be ready when raccoons and coyotes start wandering across the field.
 
I vote Ruger Scout rifle or Savage 11 Scout rifle. Both .308, both detachable mags, both have rails for easy scope mounting, both are shorter and lighter and both are durable as can be. I'd give an edge to the Ruger but you can snag a Savage for around 500 bucks and it wouldn't treat you poorly.
 
Well, if money is no consideration, I would go with a custom rifle. For current cheap production rifles, its hard to beat the ruger american. I dont care for any of the black plastic stocks on any bolt gun but at least its very accurate. Not a target gun but more accurate than I am.
 
SKILCZ said:
If price were not a consideration and you could only have one bolt action .308 rifle to suit all your needs (hunting, target shooting, etc.), which manufacturer would you choose? What model and barrel length? If it's not listed, please post it.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

It's hard for me to consider what I'd like if money was not a consideration. I'd have to look around to learn what is out there, although I've thought of having a non-scout Steyr on occasion.

What I do have is a now common Ruger GSR with the 16.5" (actual 17.25") barrel. It's adaptable to one's wants or needs.

Install an optic on the receiver, or an optic on the barrel, or just use the iron sights. Use a near flush magazine of 3 rounds, or externally exposed mags of 5 or 10 rounds. Use a suppressor, muzzle brake, flash hider, or not. Change up the length of pull as wanted. Get a light weight one with a polymer stock, or get the laminate stock for recoil reduction. Pick a barrel length to suit, 16.1" to 18.7".

One rifle type. So many configurations.

Below is just one configuration. Pay no mind to the kick stand.

gsr-nikon.jpg
 
For a solid git 'er done game rifle, my Tikka T3 lite stainless would be tough to top. I like a fancy wood stock and shiny metal, but they don't stay pretty if you take them into the field. The T3 is plain but ruthlessly efficient, in my experience.
 
My .308 rifle is a Pre-64 Fwt. Mdl. 70. It was made in 1958. The high dry mountain air caused stock problem. It was glass bedded some years ago. It shoots as good as ever.
 
Offfhand, that is definitely a BEAUTY and would be my favorite of all offerings mentioned thus far.
 
Tikka CTR stainless steel. 20" barrel, heavy enough to do some target work with. threaded muzzle so suppressor ready or muzzle break ready which really helps the shooting experience.


Or you can go custom . . . :evil:
if "price is not a restriction" buy a BigHorn TL3 or an American Rifle Company M5 (Mausingfield) action, your favorite stock and order a prefit from Patriot Valley Arms. they will send you a shouldered barrel ready to install, all you need for those two actions is a action wrench and barrel vice.

both actions also use savage threads so any savage prefit is an option.
 
you could only have one bolt action .308 rifle to suit all your needs (hunting, target shooting, etc.), which manufacturer would you choose?
Click to expand...

To suit ALL my needs? 100% no doubt about it's this AI AW. It's the last rifle I'd part with and I have a lot of nice rifles including two other AI AWMs. I've shot deer with it, hiked with it, shot steel at over 1,000 yards, shot F-Class matches out to 600 yards, I can change barrels in 10 minutes and it will out shoot most rifles on the planet. I'm not talking about cherry picking your best groups, I'm talking hot, cold, clean, fouled, factory ammo, handloads, sunny, freezing, raining, dusty, miserable you name it ... this rifle is unstoppable and the benchmark to which all others are compared. I've yet to find a smoother action, smoother feeding, faster or more reliable rifle.

ai_aw_05.jpg
 
I marked a Tikka. But, if most of your shooting/hunting was from a stand or at the range, I'd probably go with a Howa or Weatherby Vanguard. All of them are good choices though
 
My rifle needs are just for hunting. I don't spend much time on a shooting bench. Just enough to test loads and get sighted in and then its time to hunt. Or go do some long range plinking.

My recommendation hasn't been mentioned I don't think. Close with the Weatherby. But my wants in a 308 bolt action rifle are one of the Howa Ranchland rifles with a 20" barrel. They are known to be accurate and a 20" barrel should be a good match for the cartridge. I have one of these I have bid one right now. In 5 days I will know if its mine or not.
 
You're right...not hunted hard. Like all of us here I have more rifles than I need. This one is part of the rotation. I shot two deer with it this past season.
 
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