I have a Ruger American and a Thompson Venture. The Venture is slightly over your 400 dollar mark but only slightly. They are both great little rifles and both very accurate. If I had to make a choice between the two..Ruger is a nicer and slightly more accurate.
Best out of the box $400 or less .308 bolt gun?
- Thread starter Hanzo581
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scythefwd
Member
The ruger americans are 330 locally. The Stevens 200 (aka savage 10) is 360 locally. The axis is slightly less (I feel the stevens 200 is a better buy as its got a better aftermarket.. I'm a tinkerer and that colors my bias). The xl7 is roughly the same price range here.
^Fact!^ I agree 100%. And I'm a Savage nut. Second would be a Stevens 200 or a used Savage.
I can not get over the Tinkertoy feel of the Ruger American, and the Axis can't be upgraded like the Savage/Stevens can.
Arkansas Paul
Member
^ OPINION!
Any time someone asks my opinion on a rifle in the $400 range, I always suggest the Weatherby Vanguard. I haven't shot every $400ish rifle on the market, but I have shot several. I've shot Savage, Ruger American, the cheap Remingtons, and liked the Vanguard better than them all. 2nd place would be the Savages.
Any time someone asks my opinion on a rifle in the $400 range, I always suggest the Weatherby Vanguard. I haven't shot every $400ish rifle on the market, but I have shot several. I've shot Savage, Ruger American, the cheap Remingtons, and liked the Vanguard better than them all. 2nd place would be the Savages.
Kachok
Member
I have shot both the XS7s and Savages, both have given me great performance for what they cost, but neither will run with my $400 Tikka, yeah I know you cannot buy them for that anymore 
For what it is worth my Marlin shot slightly better with factory ammo but with handloads I would take my Savages anyday. The new Ruger American is getting some good reviews, I am itching to try one.
For what it is worth my Marlin shot slightly better with factory ammo but with handloads I would take my Savages anyday. The new Ruger American is getting some good reviews, I am itching to try one.
Elkins45
Member
You can get the Marlin for about the same price as the Stevens 200 and the Marlin has a much better trigger. Vanguard is another good choice. I haven't shot a Ruger.
As others have said, check the used racks. You might find a nice MarkX Mauser or an accutrigger Savage.
As others have said, check the used racks. You might find a nice MarkX Mauser or an accutrigger Savage.
Any gun can be made to shot well but it will cost you one way or another as if a gunsmith does the work or you buy it out of the box as such. the Ruger American would be the best buy of what your look at and with some money spent down the road it will shoot like a Browning that comes out of the box.
I know we all hear people talk about a scope that lost it's zero or point of aim but in truth it was most likily the gun that lost it or what day of the week it was as the stock is always changing .. even in this test the Ruger shot 2nd best but even in the perfect conditions it held under an inch groups at 100 yards but it was alway moving around the paper target while keeping tight groups.
you should read this..
Clyde Rose, Browning’s chief design engineer, said the company uses a special rubber bedding that free-floats the barrel away from the rifle’s forearm stock and dampens some barrel vibration. “This consistency leads to a consistent performance on the target,” Rose avers, and our testing bears him out.
Though we shot our test rifles in the temperature- and humidity-controlled Federal facility, we saw the Ruger, Remington, and Winchester rifles string shots vertically and horizontally as their barrels warmed and cooled. The Browning didn’t exhibit this trait.
http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/apr97FT270.html
I know we all hear people talk about a scope that lost it's zero or point of aim but in truth it was most likily the gun that lost it or what day of the week it was as the stock is always changing .. even in this test the Ruger shot 2nd best but even in the perfect conditions it held under an inch groups at 100 yards but it was alway moving around the paper target while keeping tight groups.
you should read this..
Clyde Rose, Browning’s chief design engineer, said the company uses a special rubber bedding that free-floats the barrel away from the rifle’s forearm stock and dampens some barrel vibration. “This consistency leads to a consistent performance on the target,” Rose avers, and our testing bears him out.
Though we shot our test rifles in the temperature- and humidity-controlled Federal facility, we saw the Ruger, Remington, and Winchester rifles string shots vertically and horizontally as their barrels warmed and cooled. The Browning didn’t exhibit this trait.
http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/apr97FT270.html
I just checked GB and no NIB in .308 under $500.
Kachok
Member
You should be able to find a series 1 Vanguard around $400, the series 2 will run around 500-550.
Centurian22
Member
I picked up a camo .308 savage axis xp (with scope) at Cabelas last year for $329 and couldn't be happier with it. Though I have to say the Ruger American looks like it might be just as good if not a little better for just a little more money.
Arkansas Paul
Member
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Kachok
Member
I would advise against the Mosin, it is a crude rifle in every sense of the word. Accuracy is so so, action is sticky, trigger is gritty, and ergonomics are soviet, enough said.
Some people are happy with 2-3" groups, me personally I would not waste my time using a rifle like that to refine my shooting technique. I have a few rifles that will shoot one ragged hole at 100yds if you can do your part, that is a whole lot better then vomiting 3" groups, and before anyone flames me, yes I have been shooting Mosins since I was 10, all of them have been functional, none of them have ever been refined or accurate. In the Mosins defence I never have handloaded for 7.62x54R like I have for my rifles, so by no means am I saying that 2-3" groups is the upper limit of the Mosin, but shooting the same brand of ammo in my Tikka shoots .75" like clockwork.
Some people are happy with 2-3" groups, me personally I would not waste my time using a rifle like that to refine my shooting technique. I have a few rifles that will shoot one ragged hole at 100yds if you can do your part, that is a whole lot better then vomiting 3" groups, and before anyone flames me, yes I have been shooting Mosins since I was 10, all of them have been functional, none of them have ever been refined or accurate. In the Mosins defence I never have handloaded for 7.62x54R like I have for my rifles, so by no means am I saying that 2-3" groups is the upper limit of the Mosin, but shooting the same brand of ammo in my Tikka shoots .75" like clockwork.
Kachok
Member
You cannot go wrong with a Savage, owned six of them all shooters. Oh and you likely won't have to wait for a used one, only one of mine cost me more then $400 NIB. I have a 110 30-06 I bought last year for $386 that shoots 1/2" groups all day, and it even came with a free scope for my next 22LR LOL She wears a VXII and Reaper Rings nowWell in that case, I'll wait for a used Savage.
CountryUgly
Member
a used Savage 110/10 - Stevens 200 would be the way to go and you can "upgrade" it as money allows. The Savage Axis is only $277 NIB at Wal Mart and is more than capable of fantastic accuracy at your 300 yard intention. The draw back to the Axis though is the aftermarket hasn't caught up to it's new design and other than a trigger there isn't anything readily available for it. If you just want a gun that can do what you asked in the OP and have no intentions of "customization" the Axis would be your best choice.
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Hanzo581
Member
I understand most of these rifles do not coming with an optic, that's really why I am looking to keep cost down as picking a scope would be next.
As far as the Mosin goes, I already have one and just shot it yesterday. While very impressed with its 100yrd performance there is no way I could see it doing well out to 300yrds without a decent amount of work and money, so I'd rather put that money into a modern rifle.
To whoever suggested the Browning A-Bolt II, I just looked it up....that's an $800 msrp rifle....
That's one reason I was looking at that Savage 11/111 combo that came with the Nikon scope, I would at least have glass while I saved up for something better (unless that scope suited me at 300yrds.
As far as the Mosin goes, I already have one and just shot it yesterday. While very impressed with its 100yrd performance there is no way I could see it doing well out to 300yrds without a decent amount of work and money, so I'd rather put that money into a modern rifle.
To whoever suggested the Browning A-Bolt II, I just looked it up....that's an $800 msrp rifle....
That's one reason I was looking at that Savage 11/111 combo that came with the Nikon scope, I would at least have glass while I saved up for something better (unless that scope suited me at 300yrds.
Arkansas Paul
Member
You don't have to wait on a used Savage. Here is a brand new one from Buds with a scope in the desired price range. You may want to upgrade the scope eventually, but it will get you shooting right now. This is a bargain!
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...cts_id/78116/Savage+11+HUNTER+XP+308+BUSHNELL
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Hanzo581
Member
Arkansas Paul said:
Do you think it would be worth the extra money for the Nikon scope and the AccuTrigger to go with this one?
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...4/products_id/78128/Savage+11+TH+XP+308+NIKON
the count
Member
You want a NEW .308 for $400 or less??? Pretty pointless. Save up for a Remington 700.
Elkins45
Member
It absolutely would be worth the extra. It would be worth it for the trigger alone. IMO the cheap Bushnell isn't even worth consideration. I'm not a huge fan of the low end Nikons either, but to me that Bushnell-equipped rifle essentially comes with no sights at all.
gamestalker
member
A Ruger American will get you into a very decent shooter on that budget. I just finished setting one up for hunting season and it's a tack driver 270 win.. Vortex glass, with Nosler 130 gr. Silver Tips, and RL22.
GS
GS
Arkansas Paul
Member
Absolutely. The Nikon is leaps and bounds better glass and the accutriggers are nice.
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