Best Value Hunting Rifle
- Thread starter cburbick
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I'd also do the Stevens 200 in 243 ot 7mm-08. Keep it as it or swap the stock later on and yo can have a nice looking and good shooting rifle.
So, of course, the responses will be varied but it looks like everyone is here to help 
Here is my two cents, based on my experience:
I compete in F-Class with my Remington 700 - 308 and love it. I've hunted with it a few times...just to see the fellas response when I hopped out of the truck with it. I'm rambling so i'll try to get back on track...
You see, my Rem 700 shoots AMAZING but I was pretty amazed how well most modern rifles shoot when I bought my son his first hunting rifle. I paid $350 for a Savage Edge. It came with a scope and a horrible trigger. BUT, it shoots ALMOST as good as my Rem 700 and is a fraction of the cost. My point is, most modern rifles are gonna do the trick. The technology put into some of the cheaper rifles is better than some of the best rifles from 20 or 30 years ago.
Here are a few links to inexpensive options (the prices are suggested retail so I'm sure you could find them a little cheaper on sites that sell guns):
Savage Arms EDGE XP 308
Thompson/Center Venture 30-06 Spgfld Weather Shield
Remington 700 SPS Varmint 243 Winchester
Savage Arms Hunter Series 111 FHNS 30-06 Springfield
Good luck on your search and remember...it's not the arrow, it's the archer! And with the innovations in today's modern sporting rifles this statement has never been more true!
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Here is my two cents, based on my experience:
I compete in F-Class with my Remington 700 - 308 and love it. I've hunted with it a few times...just to see the fellas response when I hopped out of the truck with it. I'm rambling so i'll try to get back on track...
You see, my Rem 700 shoots AMAZING but I was pretty amazed how well most modern rifles shoot when I bought my son his first hunting rifle. I paid $350 for a Savage Edge. It came with a scope and a horrible trigger. BUT, it shoots ALMOST as good as my Rem 700 and is a fraction of the cost. My point is, most modern rifles are gonna do the trick. The technology put into some of the cheaper rifles is better than some of the best rifles from 20 or 30 years ago.
Here are a few links to inexpensive options (the prices are suggested retail so I'm sure you could find them a little cheaper on sites that sell guns):
Savage Arms EDGE XP 308
Thompson/Center Venture 30-06 Spgfld Weather Shield
Remington 700 SPS Varmint 243 Winchester
Savage Arms Hunter Series 111 FHNS 30-06 Springfield
Good luck on your search and remember...it's not the arrow, it's the archer! And with the innovations in today's modern sporting rifles this statement has never been more true!
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I have to vote for the Marlin XL-7 series, but if you looking for short action. The XS-7 series is a good one also. I shoot the .25-06 XL-7, and cannot complain for the money I spent. It has a 22" barrel so you loose about 140 fps on velocity, but out to 300 yards you're still in good shape. They make a .270 as well that I hear is a dandy rifle, and both would be easy on the shoulder. The Marlin X series have superb recoil pads on them.
$259.00 rifle
$300.00 scope
$259.00 rifle
$300.00 scope
I think the new Vanguard S2 is the best buy out there right now. Improved trigger, 3 position safety, and a sub-moa guarantee for under $500.00. No plastic on that rifle either.
TRUE... I just put a limbsaver pad on my savage 111 30-06 rifle that was turning me black and blue. It went from painful to totally manageable.
Choosing between .270, 30-06, and 308 is so difficult because the pro list is so long and the con list non existent in these calibers. Just pick one, none will disappoint you in any way.
one of the cheaper savages like the stevens or axis, edge is probably the best value right now in my opinion.
most any brand bolt action is going to be plenty accurate for hunting purposes and there is alot of choices for under 600 just important you still have enough money 200-300 for decent optics and mounts.
you probably wont like the recoil of the 270 and 308 either but a good pad and practice maybe you will get used to it.
most any brand bolt action is going to be plenty accurate for hunting purposes and there is alot of choices for under 600 just important you still have enough money 200-300 for decent optics and mounts.
you probably wont like the recoil of the 270 and 308 either but a good pad and practice maybe you will get used to it.
I personally love the .270 Win, but i have to agree that you will not like the recoil if you don't like the 30-06. If you want elk and pronhorn, i'd say .270 Win. Cheap ammo and plenty of gun. Bigger than 30-06 and 270 and you start blowing bits and pieces from Msp to Green Bay. I hunt northern wisconsin a lot and i have to insist my guns have irons under the telescope. There are a few bolt guns still out there with irons. I must say savage is probaly the best quality for it price range and the next two above it. I also have brownings and rugers and both are great and you can find a deal but they are a little more expensive generally. Don't forget gunbroker or auction arms for the used guns.
GooseGestapo
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Get a good used Weatherby Vanguard in .270wcf and don't look back.
The Vanguard comes with a 24"bbl that allows you to get the most from the .270. It is also heavy enough that the recoil won't bother you. Every one I've seen shot would shoot MOA (or better) with decent ammo.
You will be able to find ammo most anywhere and it has near the punch of the '06 and the trajectory of the .243 with little more recoil.
I've got a Vanguard in .257wby that I adore. It was an excellent value because no one wanted it due to high cost, low availability of ammo, but I reload....(think of a .243 on "steroids", but then again, thats the .270 also...)
I had a buddy in highschool that bought a very early Ruger M77 in .270. It's the only rifle he's ever had except a Rem 742 that he wore out like yours. He dumped the 742 in 1974. He still has, and hunts with the .270! AFIK, he's never bought any factory ammo. He reloads 55.0gr of IMR4350 under a 130gr Hornady PtSpt.. Kills deer like a lightning bolt....
FWIW; A local pawn shop has both Wby Vanguards and Ruger M77's used in several flavors for under $450.00. (blue, stainless, wood, synthetic, ect.) Some of the Weatherby's have some beautiful wood....
The Vanguard comes with a 24"bbl that allows you to get the most from the .270. It is also heavy enough that the recoil won't bother you. Every one I've seen shot would shoot MOA (or better) with decent ammo.
You will be able to find ammo most anywhere and it has near the punch of the '06 and the trajectory of the .243 with little more recoil.
I've got a Vanguard in .257wby that I adore. It was an excellent value because no one wanted it due to high cost, low availability of ammo, but I reload....(think of a .243 on "steroids", but then again, thats the .270 also...)
I had a buddy in highschool that bought a very early Ruger M77 in .270. It's the only rifle he's ever had except a Rem 742 that he wore out like yours. He dumped the 742 in 1974. He still has, and hunts with the .270! AFIK, he's never bought any factory ammo. He reloads 55.0gr of IMR4350 under a 130gr Hornady PtSpt.. Kills deer like a lightning bolt....
FWIW; A local pawn shop has both Wby Vanguards and Ruger M77's used in several flavors for under $450.00. (blue, stainless, wood, synthetic, ect.) Some of the Weatherby's have some beautiful wood....
New rifle?
Look diligently at Gun Broker;I recently got a Rem 742 in 30-06 for lots less than other offerings and it has only a few ding in the wood.Using a 30-06 gives you a plethera of bullet weights so you can hunt anything from squirrels to Moose (110-220),otiac LOL Handloading and a good recoil pad should give you ammo you can handle.
Look diligently at Gun Broker;I recently got a Rem 742 in 30-06 for lots less than other offerings and it has only a few ding in the wood.Using a 30-06 gives you a plethera of bullet weights so you can hunt anything from squirrels to Moose (110-220),otiac LOL Handloading and a good recoil pad should give you ammo you can handle.
I have a Savage 110 that I bought out of Shotgun News in the early 60's for $65,00. Those were the days, no FFL to screw around with just send a check and get a gun!!!!
Anyhow its a L/H action,clip fed, in .270 caliber. With that rifle I've killed over 100 big game animals, including moose, caribou, black bear, whitetail,mule and blacktail deer and a few years ago a 6pt bull elk. It wasn't cleaned for over 30 years and after finally cleaning it still shot the same old monotnis 1" 5 shot groups.It looks like its been drug to hell and back and it has.My favorite now is a Browning A bolt L/H in 30/06, far more expensive but also one hell of a rifle. I love the 270 and don't think much of the 308 because the 06 just does it better except for punching paper where the 08 has the edge in accuracy. If it was me and bucks were a little tight I wouldn't hesitate buying another Savage in 270 it killed that last elk with one shot thru the lungs just like it had killed lots of others. Frank
Anyhow its a L/H action,clip fed, in .270 caliber. With that rifle I've killed over 100 big game animals, including moose, caribou, black bear, whitetail,mule and blacktail deer and a few years ago a 6pt bull elk. It wasn't cleaned for over 30 years and after finally cleaning it still shot the same old monotnis 1" 5 shot groups.It looks like its been drug to hell and back and it has.My favorite now is a Browning A bolt L/H in 30/06, far more expensive but also one hell of a rifle. I love the 270 and don't think much of the 308 because the 06 just does it better except for punching paper where the 08 has the edge in accuracy. If it was me and bucks were a little tight I wouldn't hesitate buying another Savage in 270 it killed that last elk with one shot thru the lungs just like it had killed lots of others. Frank
I would go out and look at as many rifles as possible. Then get what you like. A well stocked pawn shop should be able to show you many used models from plain jane to fancy.
throw in another $100 for a rifle basix trigger..and it good to go on a basic savage or stevens model without the accu-trigger and
Boyds stock for another $100 like a prior poster said...
That's get you a stevens 200 in 270, 7mm-08 or 308, good stock and a good trigger for about $500 then put a good scope on it and send us pictures..
after about 100 rounds or so it should start to tighten groups up and it time to figure out what ammo it likes...
Boyds stock for another $100 like a prior poster said...
That's get you a stevens 200 in 270, 7mm-08 or 308, good stock and a good trigger for about $500 then put a good scope on it and send us pictures..
after about 100 rounds or so it should start to tighten groups up and it time to figure out what ammo it likes...
You've narrowed it down to two great calibers. If you won't take a shot past ~260 yards or so, I'd stick with the 308. With lighter bullets and loads (e.g., 125 grain Remington Managed Recoil) you have a low recoil option that is fine for deer out to 200 yards. With 165 or 180 loads, you are good to go for elk. If you want a longer practical trajectory, the 270 will give you another 50 yards or so, but there is no point if you won't or shouldn't use it. There are lower recoil options: 7-08 and 260 Remington come to mind; however as you move down that road you get more border line for elk.
Your obviously after a rifle you will have for awhile. I disagree with the Stevens recommendations. It is a fine rifle for the money, but spend a little more now and upgrade nothing later instead. The Savage Model 16 is nice and well within your price range. Or splurge on the Model 14 in stainless - available in 308 for just north of $600 - if you prefer wood to synthetic. There are long action equivalents in 270 (the Model 116 and 114).
Your obviously after a rifle you will have for awhile. I disagree with the Stevens recommendations. It is a fine rifle for the money, but spend a little more now and upgrade nothing later instead. The Savage Model 16 is nice and well within your price range. Or splurge on the Model 14 in stainless - available in 308 for just north of $600 - if you prefer wood to synthetic. There are long action equivalents in 270 (the Model 116 and 114).
Tikka T3, Savage 110, Marlin XS7, and TC Venture in that order. All good value rifles, I only put the Tikka over the Savage for the extra refinment, having a super smooth action and the perfect single stage trigger give it a leg up even if the Savage does cost a few bucks less. 270, 308, 30-06 will all do the trick nicley on anything shy of brown bear or bison. 308 kicks a tad less then the others (with 150gr anyway) and is the only short action of the frontrunners, the 270 shots a tad flatter then the others, and the 06 is a tad more versitle and powerful then the other two. Flip a three sided coin, it is hard to go wrong with any of those.
$500-$600 rifles
Here's my story: Both these rifles were NIB
Last year I picked up a TC Venture .30-06 for $350(Dealer marked down to $399 less $50 rebate)--it wears a Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40($399) and Leupold QRW rings($50)- the bases come with the rifle and I Loctited those screws in. Basically $800 total in the gun.
Its a great shooter putting every load(150-165 and 180 grain factory loads) I've used into MOA groups or better. 60 degree bolt uplift, adj trigger and free floated barrel are some of my favorite things about the rifle----the more I use it, I wish it had a conventional floorplate mag system instead of the detachable mag.
This year I bought a stainless Ruger Hawkeye .30-06 for $499--it wears a Zeiss Diavari-C 3x9x32 or 36? can't remember($500 back in the day-scope is about 10 years old now)--it comes with ring mounts so no extra spent there. So $1000 total in the gun.
Its a little more picky than the Venture but still a MOA rifle with the loads it likes--its becoming my favorite because its more compact(2in shorter barrel than the Venture)--trimmer/thinner ---tougher(stainless and just more robust overall)--and no mag to lose with the floorplate, also feeds the rounds more smoothly.
I got them so cheap is because I waited out the dealer--late July through August and MAYBE up to this week, they'll have the deer rifles marked down to move em out for the new stuff coming in----now that hunting season is here they'll be marked back up and you'll be paying full price.
If you're only going to have one gun, I'd suggest getting a .30-06 because you can use it for nearly anything--ammo is cheap and EVERYWHERE. Neither of my rifles are particularly hard kickers--they both came with soft, squishy recoil pads--the Venture is a little softer shooting than the Ruger.
I'm thinking about getting another stainless Ruger in either .223 or .243--sporter weight not varmint weight for a general coyote/P-dog gun--plus I have another Zeiss scope laying around.
Here's my story: Both these rifles were NIB
Last year I picked up a TC Venture .30-06 for $350(Dealer marked down to $399 less $50 rebate)--it wears a Zeiss Conquest 3x9x40($399) and Leupold QRW rings($50)- the bases come with the rifle and I Loctited those screws in. Basically $800 total in the gun.
Its a great shooter putting every load(150-165 and 180 grain factory loads) I've used into MOA groups or better. 60 degree bolt uplift, adj trigger and free floated barrel are some of my favorite things about the rifle----the more I use it, I wish it had a conventional floorplate mag system instead of the detachable mag.
This year I bought a stainless Ruger Hawkeye .30-06 for $499--it wears a Zeiss Diavari-C 3x9x32 or 36? can't remember($500 back in the day-scope is about 10 years old now)--it comes with ring mounts so no extra spent there. So $1000 total in the gun.
Its a little more picky than the Venture but still a MOA rifle with the loads it likes--its becoming my favorite because its more compact(2in shorter barrel than the Venture)--trimmer/thinner ---tougher(stainless and just more robust overall)--and no mag to lose with the floorplate, also feeds the rounds more smoothly.
I got them so cheap is because I waited out the dealer--late July through August and MAYBE up to this week, they'll have the deer rifles marked down to move em out for the new stuff coming in----now that hunting season is here they'll be marked back up and you'll be paying full price.
If you're only going to have one gun, I'd suggest getting a .30-06 because you can use it for nearly anything--ammo is cheap and EVERYWHERE. Neither of my rifles are particularly hard kickers--they both came with soft, squishy recoil pads--the Venture is a little softer shooting than the Ruger.
I'm thinking about getting another stainless Ruger in either .223 or .243--sporter weight not varmint weight for a general coyote/P-dog gun--plus I have another Zeiss scope laying around.
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I bought a Remington 700 ADL with their new super crisp trigger and supercell recoil pad. I found an almost new Leupold VXII 2X7 and mounted it with Weaver mounts and low rings. It is in 308. I have tried a small sampling of the hunting grade ammunition and shoots everything well within 1" or less average. I use one of the strap-on cheek rests for a perfect cheek weld. The rifle was $399. The scope $199. (I would unhesitatingly buy one of the new Leupold owned Redfield scopes if I were buying new.) The rings and mounts $40. Winchester 150 grain Power-Points were $15 a box so I used them for sight-in and break-in. I am completely satisfied with this combination.
This is what I got for ~300.00 you can't beat it. The accuracy is "dead on", for a decent priced package you will be happy. Mine's in .270.....
I also own a Savage 270 "package gun" shoots good like all Savages, just do yourself a favor and take those crappy rings and throw them into the deepest hole you can find, they are JUNK. The Bushnell scope that was on mine was not half bad, though it won't not cast a shadow on my Nikons.
OK here we go again. I have owned more rifles than I can count in over 50 years of hunting and shooting. After all those guns and years I have only found one rifle I will never sell. Its my Browning Abolt L/H stainless stalker with the composite stock in 30/06 with a 4X Leupold scope mounted on it. 9 Roosevelts elk with it and Barnes TSX bullets. All one shot kills. I did nothing to the rifle but adjust the fully adjustable trigger and shoot it. If I had it all to do over again its the one rifle,scope, and bullet combo I would NEVER get rid of!!!!! Every thing else was just a premble to this really great rifle. The cost is about $700.00 which is not that much more than the others mentioned and taken over a lifetime of shooting and hunting is about $2.00 a year. Really cheap for such a fine rifle. Frank
There isn't much I can add to this thread, other than to confirm that:
Weatherby's Vanguard rifles are hard to beat. The new one model has a 0.99" gaurantee at 100 yards. I also like the two-stage trigger.
Winchester's M70s are excellent. They cost more than the Vanguard. Awesome extraction. Worth the extra money in my opinion.
Remington M700s are excellent, but I have been disappointed more than once with Remington's anemic "extractor".
If I were advising a family member as to which to buy, I would say point of rationality (the most rifle for the least cost) goes to the NEW model of the Weatherby Vanguard.
Geno
Weatherby's Vanguard rifles are hard to beat. The new one model has a 0.99" gaurantee at 100 yards. I also like the two-stage trigger.
Winchester's M70s are excellent. They cost more than the Vanguard. Awesome extraction. Worth the extra money in my opinion.
Remington M700s are excellent, but I have been disappointed more than once with Remington's anemic "extractor".
If I were advising a family member as to which to buy, I would say point of rationality (the most rifle for the least cost) goes to the NEW model of the Weatherby Vanguard.
Geno
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