Best 'bang' for the buck for inexpensive .308 bolt action

[Falconeer]

I've been batting around the idea of building up a wannabe sniper rifle. I'd like to keep the price of the rifle around $400. Here's what I'm thinking of:

Savage 12FP
Savage 12FV (note: what's the different between the 12FP & 12FV?)
Remington 700 SPS (possibly with DM?)
Howa 1500 Lightning
Weatherby Vanguard Synthetic

Any and all suggestions/info on these choices (or additions to the list) would be appreciated. Accessory availability is a plus; I'm planning on putting a bipod, a Super Sniper 10x42 scope, 20MOA base & rings and possibly a recoil pad if the rifle doesn't come with one.

I'm trying to stick to new; not so much that I'd mind finding a good buy on a used rifle as that I really don't know what a 'good buy' is at this point. At least with new I have benchmark level of quality I can expect.

I'm new at rifle. No flaming the newbie.

 

[Preacherman]

Depends on your intended use. You say it's a "sniper" rifle - but do you plan on carrying it much in the field? If so, a lighter rifle will be a big help. If you're only going to carry it from your car to the range, then a heavier rifle won't be a handicap to you.

Of the choices you specify, I'd go with Savage or Howa as my first choice (I really like the Howa - but I don't know whether you'll get a "sniper" model, with heavy barrel, under $400).

 

[Falconeer]

Depends on your intended use. You say it's a "sniper" rifle - but do you plan on carrying it much in the field? If so, a lighter rifle will be a big help. If you're only going to carry it from your car to the range, then a heavier rifle won't be a handicap to you.

Of the choices you specify, I'd go with Savage or Howa as my first choice (I really like the Howa - but I don't know whether you'll get a "sniper" model, with heavy barrel, under $400).

Strictly from car to range. Depending on how into the sport I get I'd like to do practical rifle challenges, but at that point I would move up to a better rifle.

I don't believe any of the rifles on the list have a 'heavy' barrel. My first choice would be a Remington 700 Police, but if I go that route I can't afford optics. At this level I just want a solid .308 bolt action with synthetic stock that I can learn on. When I say around $400 I can go up some, but not a while bunch. More spent on the rifle means less spend on other stuff and I still have to buy reloading dies, etc for .308. Thanks for the input!

 

[MarshallDodge]

My recommendation would be a Rem 700 VS in .308. I have one in .223 and really enjoy shooting it. They come with adjustable triggers and there are a huge amount of accessories for them. Check around sometimes you can find them used in your price range.

 

[carnaby]

I don't see a Savage 12FP on their website (www.savagearms.com). My brother in law just ordered his with the Nikon Promaster scope, Leupold rings and bases and two boxes of fancy ammo for $645 shipped from JDyer. For the money, that is a hard package to beat!

 

[SLCDave]

I've been kicking this idea around too. Assuming you are looking at a new gun, and not a used gun, the Stevens 200 is selling locally for $259.99. It is made by Savage, and is essentially a 110 with no accu-trigger.

You should be able to get this rifle, halfway-decent rings and bases, a sling and a workable bipod for $400. The scope is probably going to break your $400 budget though.

 

[Vitamin G]

Not really familiar with rifles too much... Little help...

See below

 

[Vitamin G]

Not really familiar with rifles too much... Little help...

Edit : meant to start my own thread, sorry

 

[gringobaba]

Savage 12FP
Savage 12FV (note: what's the different between the 12FP & 12FV?)

The barrel on the FV is 2" longer, the stock on the FP has an extra sling swivel stud up front to take a bipod. The bolt on the FV is finished in the write. The FP bolt is black, but the black finish wears quickly on many I have seen. More parts are supposed to be matte finished on the FP, but I have seen FVs with matte barrels too.

The FV is usually cheaper.

 

[Falconeer]

The barrel on the FV is 2" longer, the stock on the FP has an extra sling swivel stud up front to take a bipod. The bolt on the FV is finished in the write. The FP bolt is black, but the black finish wears quickly on many I have seen. More parts are supposed to be matte finished on the FP, but I have seen FVs with matte barrels too.

The FV is usually cheaper.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Falconeer]

I've been kicking this idea around too. Assuming you are looking at a new gun, and not a used gun, the Stevens 200 is selling locally for $259.99. It is made by Savage, and is essentially a 110 with no accu-trigger.

You should be able to get this rifle, halfway-decent rings and bases, a sling and a workable bipod for $400. The scope is probably going to break your $400 budget though.

Thanks for the link! I haven't heard anything about the Stevens guns. $260 for a .308 rifle has me a bit wary though.

Well, the $400 is the budget for the rifle alone. The way things are going that may go up too. :banghead: It always happens when I start getting into stuff like this.

 

[Powderman]

Ya wanna good rifle?

Drop just a little bit more coin, and get the Savage 10FP-LE2A. This one comes with the Choate stock with all the goodies, an AccuTrigger that is so clean you won't believe it, AND a Douglas 1-10 air gauged 26" match barrel, as standard.

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

I've been kicking this idea around too. Assuming you are looking at a new gun, and not a used gun, the Stevens 200 is selling locally for $259.99. It is made by Savage, and is essentially a 110 with no accu-trigger.

That is one heck of a value for $260.

 

[hkmp5g17]

There's a nice Howa .308 with scope in the classifieds area of this website.

Geoff is asking $400.

 

[carnaby]

Falconeer, you're budget and specs just scream Savage. At least go to a store that sells 'em and dry fire the accutrigger a couple times and compare it to anything else. For the money, they are good rifles.

 

[Falconeer]

Falconeer, you're budget and specs just scream Savage. At least go to a store that sells 'em and dry fire the accutrigger a couple times and compare it to anything else. For the money, they are good rifles.

Ya wanna good rifle?

Drop just a little bit more coin, and get the Savage 10FP-LE2A. This one comes with the Choate stock with all the goodies, an AccuTrigger that is so clean you won't believe it, AND a Douglas 1-10 air gauged 26" match barrel, as standard.

I've heard a lot of good things about the Savage rifles. I've heard conflicting reports about the Accutrigger. It sounds like a 'love it/hate it' type of thing with little middle ground. I'm going to see about dry firing one and find out what the 'buzz' is.

There's a nice Howa .308 with scope in the classifieds area of this website.

Geoff is asking $400.

I was looking at that but I'm leary of buying used. I don't know much about rifles and wouldn't know if something was wrong as opposed to me screwing up. I'm also looking to get a mil-dot recticle and I don't believe the scope on that rifle has one. Thanks for pointing it out however!

 

[carnaby]

From my experience, people who don't like the accutrigger are set in their ways and don't like the little safety flange thingy, and usually complain about how "in our day we didn't have all these lawyers making us have silly contraptions on our triggers in order to have a light trigger pull..." etc.

This is fair, but you really don't notice the flange, and the accutrigger is more than just a trigger with a light pull. It has zero creep and zero overtravel as well. It's quite marvelous. The one beef I have is that the actual piece of metal that is the trigger itself doesn't feel as nice as a big fat solid wide trigger on a Remington BDL or similar. But the crisp action with the light pull makes up for it and then some

 

[R.H. Lee]

It's hard to beat the heavy barrel Savages for price and accuracy. There are enough aftermarket parts available for customizing, and you can change barrels yourself (should you wear one out).

 

[Falconeer]

From my experience, people who don't like the accutrigger are set in their ways and don't like the little safety flange thingy, and usually complain about how "in our day we didn't have all these lawyers making us have silly contraptions on our triggers in order to have a light trigger pull..." etc.

That's about what I've heard, though I've also heard of mechanical issues. The arguement is that a properly set up regular trigger is as good if not better than an Accutrigger with less to go wrong. No personal experience/YMMV/ETC/IOU/YMCA/... :banghead: (sorry, moment of acronym overload there.. )

 

[Falconeer]

It's hard to beat the heavy barrel Savages for price and accuracy. There are enough aftermarket parts available for customizing, and you can change barrels yourself (should you wear one out).

Which of the Savage synthetic stock rifles have the heavy barrel? Unfortunately I'm at work and can't get to the Savage site from here. :banghead:

Also, what's involved with switching a barrel (I'm assuming because it wore out)?

 

[R.H. Lee]

In .308, there's the 12BVSS with laminate stock

the 12FVSS

the 12VSS

the 10FP

the 10FP Choate

the 10FP McMillan

and the 10FP HS Precision

Changing the barrel only requires a barrel wrench to unscrew the locknut.

 

[carnaby]

now that wood stock model is mighty nice lookin'

Also, the 12FV has the heavy barrel (it's not shown above). It's the cheapest one with the heavy barrel at $433. With the stainless action and fluted barrel, it costs $520.

 

[R.H. Lee]

Or, you can go for the Stevens, which is the same action without the Accutrigger and a shorter standard barrel.

It really depends what kind of stock you want. My 10FP is pre-accutrigger and still has the synthetic stock, which I'm going to replace (some day). I'm even considering one of these laminated stocks:

from here: http://www.rifle-stocks.com/

 

[Schleprok62]

Thanks for the link! I haven't heard anything about the Stevens guns. $260 for a .308 rifle has me a bit wary though.

The Stevens 200 IS a very well made rifle. The only thing I've noticed on them is the stock needs a bit of doctoring... But, since you plan on decking this out, you'll probably replace it anyway. The Stevens, according to Savage, IS the 110 action. In not-so-many words, I was told that just about anything for a Savage 110 will work on these... If you're worried about it's strength, don't! They are well made and quite accurate out of the box...

 

[carnaby]

Hey quit with the peer pressure towards the Stevens while I'm peer pressuring towards the savage