entry level bolt action opinions wanted

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needmorecowbell

needmorecowbell

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Hi all. Looking to get my first rifle outside of my AR15's. Really want to keep it under $350. I'm leaning to getting a 308 bolt action just because I think it's popular and I like having NATO round firearms for some reason. Mainly will just be a range and long target shooting toy, but might be for coyotes or someday I might decide to go deer hunting. I'm currently looking at Savage Axis, Marlin X7, Ruger American. My questions for everyone are which of these would you pick or would you choose something else in this price range and would you choose a different caliber based off my intended use? Price of ammo matters to me too. Thanks.
 
Imo I think you'd be much much better off trying to find a used Savage 10 or 11. They are pretty easy to pick up in that price range and quite a bit better than any of your options.

That said if you can't find one, or absolutely can't swing a new one I'd probably choose the Ruger American first and the Savage Axis second.

I had a Marlin XL-7 and I hated that rifle. I couldn't wait to get rid of it. I read many reviews about it's accuracy, and it was accurate. I rarely got a group over 1" at 100 yards, but the whole gun was super cheap feeling. The trigger was lousy and wouldn't adjust below 3lbs, the adjustment screw and trigger felt super cheap, they commonly break extractors, the gun was super hard on brass, the scope base screws for the factory base are very weak but it's hard to find any other screws that will work with that base, etc. I just didn't really like a single thing about it other than the accuracy. If it's all you could buy it would be one thing, but why buy it when there are soo many other great choices in that price range.


The Axis isn't a bad rifle, but the stock is super cheap on it. The Axis II has the accu trigger which is great imo, but the original Axis has a heavy trigger. It can be adjusted with some modifications, but imo it's just a huge step down from the accu trigger, so I'd probably get one of the Axis II's if I was going this route. The magazine setup is weak on it and cheap feeling, and the stock is pretty lousy feeling. Other than that it's a solid action and they are generally very accurate. I think these are good guns, I just think there are also better options for not all that much more.

The American is a great gun. It has a decent trigger, they are generally very accurate, and they are pretty solid guns all the way around. They aren't up to Remington 700 or Savage 10/11 quality imo, but they also aren't the price when new. In my opinion this is the budget rifle to get, but I just think you can get a lot more for your money if you spend an extra $75-100.
 
I am on the same page as Slowrider. I have had 2 Marlins and both had extractor problems. I don't want another in my shop. The American is a pretty good rifle, but both the Axis and the Ruger have flimsy stocks.

Mossberg has just come out with their Patriot rifle. If it is anything like the MVP it will shoot. Right now the synthetic stock is the only one available, but they will also have laminate and wood stocks. The Blue/Synthetic model should sell $30-$40 less than the Savage or Ruger and they also have them available with a scope.
 
I'd buy, and did buy the Ruger. They were about $350, but lately around $360-$400. They are designed so the flimsey stock doesn't hurt a thing. The action doesn't even come in contact with the stock, there is no recoil lug. Instead the action has grooves in the bottom that sit inside metal V blocks. The stock has no effect on accuracy and is only a handle for the shooter to grasp.
 
Ruger American. It's a tick above the Savage Axis IMO. It beats out the Savage for me because of the shorter bolt lift and a potentially better trigger unless you are considering the Axis II. The stocks have the same feel but as jmr40 mentioned the V block set up in the American brings a little more to the table and more potential for accuracy.

Might as well go with the versatile 308 chambering too. Another plus for the American is that it comes with a true short action. IIRC the Axis is only available in the 'standard' or long action.
 
None of the above!! Save alittle more money and get an older Rem700 in good shape,they are everywhere, or better yet a used Sako. $350 will only buy you a piece of j**k that you will regret wasting your hard earned dollars on.:banghead:
 
of those choices, I'd take the american. some of the 110 and 700 guns are better, but I don't think you will find anything in your price range unless you want a 30-06. I've seen some older savages in that caliber and price range.
 
I disagree with the other posters opinions on the Marlin X7. I have one in .270 Win. and while it is not as nicely finished as a Weatherby Vanguard, I believe it is much nicer than a Savage Axis, and in my limited experience, preferable to a Ruger American. Another decent option that should meet your price point would be a Stevens 200, which is basically the old Savage 110 pre accutrigger, if you can find one. I love mine in .243 Win. ( it does have a rifle basics trigger, and a Vogue recoil pad). Your choice of chambering is a good one, though you might want to consider the .223. Remington for the least expensive ammo, lightest recoil and great versatility.
 
quote"You would have to have the rebate to keep them close too $350. Not sure you can then. They wholesale at $400. " I catch them on gunbroker from user name sportsmanssupply for around 350 or so then bang the rebate .Bought 2 of the three for under 300 after rebate.There are a few on there now with a day or so to go at 300.Sportsman supply does not have any listed at the moment. He gets a bunch of specific calibers and blows them out on penny auctions.
 
Last edited:
This: TC Venture own a few ,they are tackdrivers. Catch with the 75 dollar rebate
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I have several TC Icon's, all are tack drivers. But, they are discontinued now.
 
ClayinAR said:
This: TC Venture own a few ,they are tackdrivers. Catch with the 75 dollar rebate
__________________
"A liberal is someone who feels a great debt
to his fellow man... which debt he proposes
to pay off with your money."

"I say a liberal is someone who will set your house on fire to keep you warm."
Click to expand...
I wonder if they are post recalls? The T/C guns are decent and at $350 they would be a bargain, but they did have a recall on their safety.
 
The recall was for a problem with the safety. There were some? that when the bolt was actioned would cause the safety to move off. Still would not fire with out pulling the trigger.
I have 3, never seen it happen on any of them. I sent one back for other reasons , didn't want the risk of loss or the time they would be gone.
Every one shoots under a half inch. One at 200 yards. I haven't shot the other 2 at 200 yet.
 
I would save up my milk and cookie money and purchase a higher quality NIB rifle. The ones you listed are not even close to top shelf. If you go the "used" route, you have no idea what you are getting unless you are purchasing from your mother and you are her favorite son.
 
I think you're pricing yourself under the market for any kind of quality. My suggestion would be save up some more money while looking for a well kept used Ruger that fills your intended needs. Or perhaps even a new one.

Why Ruger??? Because if you buy a used one, and you find a problem with it, Ruger - the original company - is still in business and has a super reputation for repairing problems with their products.

Just about every other company today has been through a succession of "owners" tweaking the product lines, and fiddling with the customer service, and NOT supporting "previous owners", ah... mistakes.

What caliber? Personally, I prefer 308 as the best all around caliber for the Southern Canada, the Lower Forty Eight, and south of here as far as Tierra del Fuego.

YMMV

Having said that, any number (no pun intended) of other calibers might serve you (or me) just as well: 270, 280, 7mm, 30-06, and a host of others
 
$350 for NIB really limits you. They can be found at the Big Box Guys like Wally World in that price range but OTD I think you are looking at closer to $450. Buds has a basic Savage Axis for under $300. 308 caliber with free shipping so it will be around $300 or so with FFL fees. It has no sights and a standard trigger which, in my experience, pretty much sucks. The Savage Accu-Trigger is a fine trigger and I use one in 30-06 regularly.
Buds also has the Ruger American in 308 for around $300. Of the two I would prefer the Ruger because of the trigger. Both will require a scope so, unless you have rings and a scope sitting around you will have to have that money available as well.
I am not a fan of Mossberg bolt guns. I only own one and it sits in the safe. I really don't like anything about it. It is accurate enough but just feels "cheap".
I am a 30-06 fan myself rather than 308. I don't think either is in any way superior for average shooting or hunting. In Georgia the 30-06 ammo is easier to find than 308, in most stores, and the selection is larger but pricing is fairly close. I have never bought 30-06 ammo online so maybe it is cheaper but $1 a round for hunting ammo is about the cheapest around here.
At 200 yards I don't think there will be a bit of difference in accuracy from any of the budget guns. It will all be about how it fits and feels (assuming the trigger isn't terrible).
 
Needmore;

I'm with the guys who are telling you to save a bit & move upscale from what you're proposing to buy. Look at it this way, you've got some nice guns now, why do you want to get into something that really is a bargain-basement firearm?

Do you like your CZ pistols? Why not get a CZ550 rifle before they're all gone? The Mauser action 550 is being replaced by the push-feed model 557 you know. Properly taken care of, the 550's will almost certainly appreciate.

900F
 
IF you know what to look for you can probably find some good deals on Rem 700's and the like at local gun stores, and pawn shops that will probably be around your range. Are you factoring in a scope in this price or just the rifle?

-Jenrick
 
Thanks for all the replies. I think I will try to get to some of the larger LGS' around Columbus this week and handle all these and some a bit pricier. I could afford to spend more, but was trying to be frugal because I don't really need it and my wife would say I've spent way too much on my favorite hobby already. What actually got me intrigued was that PSA has the Marlin X7 for $250 so I thought why not just get 1 at that low a price. Anyways, I'm leaning now to a quality used one, TC Venture, a CZ or maybe still the Ruger American.
 
If you can find a TC Icon used that's even better. It has a picatinny rail machined on the action.
Solid...
 
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