Choose your weapon! No, really...

[TexasPatriot.308]

stevens 200, and a few improvements and you will have a beautifu tackdriver if you put a new stock on it. I got lots of nice rifes but I love my 200 in 7mm-08.

 

[benzy2]

If it were me, and I was on a budget for ammo after the rifle was purchased, and I didn't want to reload and did want a centerfire, I would go with a .223. Steel cased ammo is currently going for about $4 a box of 20 if bought in quantity. Maybe a little more. That is as low as you are going to find ammo for any bottle necked centerfire round. Steal cased .308 is going for about twice that. All throughout ammo lines .223 is by far cheaper than .308 ammo. If you want brass cased factory ammo, the cost difference is as much or even bigger from .223 to .308. At the range, a sporter weight .223 won't abuse you, but you will know it went off. A sporter weight .308 won't abuse you either, but you will know it went off. If you are looking at almost other chambering in a bolt action, ammo is going to run $15-$20/20, not inexpensive for plinking.

As for scope, I'd buy a Nikon Prostaff if the budget is real tight. It's as cheap as you can get a somewhat decent scope. There are cheaper scopes, but it is as good of a bet as I have seen for the money.

As for the rifle, I'd look used for something in .223. Many used rifles have hardly been shot. You should be able to find something in your budget or just a little above. If you allow for just a little more, you can gain a lot in rifle/optic. Not that it's needed, just that I would strongly suggest it.

 

[newshooter6]

Well, I plan on walking in the store w. a little over $600 on tap, just in case I find something that is a step above and I really fall in love with it. But I only intend on spending around $400, which I hear isn't as easy as it sounds when your in a good gun store and find a nice sexy rifle, but hey wish me luck. At least I have a solid starting point thanks to the HighRoad forums and other sites around the web.

Thanks guys

 

[goon]

.270 win or .223 ? Pretty shure I have everything else down except the scope.

Thanks

Well... 270 isn't really any cheaper than .308. If anything, it's probably always going to be more expensive because there is no such thing as surplus.
So if cost effective medium range plinking is your goal, .223 is the smart way to go.

Hit up www.midwayusa.com , www.aimsurplus.com , www.ammoman.com and the local shops to get an idea on the difference in prices of ammunition.

 

[benzy2]

I would start with the scope. I'd look at Nikon Prostaff (though I'd step up to the buckmaster line if at all possible), Vortex Diamondback (though Viper if you can afford it), Bushnell Elite 3200 if they are still in stock (though they are discontinued so watch the warranty), Burris fullfield II, Sightron SI (though SII if you can afford it), Leupold VX-II (I'd personally pass on their rifleman and VX-I line), anything Weaver, maybe if the budget were real tight a Mueller or Pentax though they would be last on my list. These should all be as good of scope as you can get for the money.

Remember, you spend the entire time looking through the glass. If the scope stinks, it's no fun. You still need a nice rifle, but don't go cheaper than these scopes. A lot of them can be had for $150-$200 which still leaves a bit for the budget. I've tried most all of the cheaper scopes or scopes for similar money with big features. All of them were a let down. Bought a few from the list above or nicer and all but one have been nothing but great and that one is still leaps and bounds better than the cheap stuff. While you may not like the bigger entry price, by the time you buy two or three junk scopes you could have bought yourself a decent one to start. If you spend $300-$400 on the rifle and $200 on a scope with no more than a max of 9x magnification you will have yourself a decent combo. Don't get sucked in by big magnification and a cheap price. The two don't go together well. A quality scope with low magnification will be more enjoyable than a cheap scope with high magnification. Trust me on this one.

As for the rifle, it seems you have a decent plan. I would strongly suggest .223, then .308, then .30-06, then everything else in that order based on ammo cost and availability. By about 1000 rounds shooting .223 you will have saved as much on ammo as that scope listed above cost.