Ruddie
Member
It'll be my first .308 rifle. I don't want to spend a fortune on the rifle, I'm going to hunt with it, and I want a bolt action. Any suggestions are welcome.
Thank you.
Thank you.
First .308 purchase. Any suggestions?
- Thread starter Ruddie
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deerhearse
Member
Mossberg 4x4 or Marlin XL7
greyling22
Member
how about a savage edge/axis. or a stevens 200. Functionally, they're just as accurate as guns costing a lot more, the trigger is just not quite as good. Cosmetically, well they're not works of art. Top with a redfield, nikon or something and you can be rocking for around 400. If you want to try your luck with a simmons or lesser quality scope you can shave 80 bucks or so off that number, but I'd say buy a $100-$150 scope.
Nathanael_Greene
Member
Savage 10 series or its cousins (Stevens). Cheap, accurate, reliable.
griff383
Member
Marlin X7 or Savage / Stevens
Kachok
Member
Having owned just about every budget rifle ever built, I have to vote Tikka T3. The Tikka is my favorite due to it's top notch egronomics, perfect ballence and great accuracy. There simply is no crisper trigger or smoother action to be had anywhere for any price. I got my T3 stainless for $408 which I consider a budget rifle, but that is a subjective thing.
I won't say anything bad about the Savages or Marlins though. Both shoot good, just lack the refinment of the Tikka.
I won't say anything bad about the Savages or Marlins though. Both shoot good, just lack the refinment of the Tikka.
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Kinda depends on your budget. IMO, the Marlin XL7/XS7 rifles were a real bargain when Marlin was still Marlin. Now that they're being made by Remington, there have been some internet reports of quality control issues. If you can find one with a "JM" marked barrel, buying it would be a sound move . Spending a little more for the Tikka would also be a safe bet.
Kachok
Member
Yeah I am a little iffy on buying anything made by Remington right now. Two of my Rem 700s were defective, I have since sworn off Remington and been shooting Savages and Tikkas for several years now. I still love my savages but EVERYONE LOVES MY TIKKA. The Tikka is not just a great budget gun but I honestly feel like it is the best rifle I have ever shot at any price. Yeah it's that good!
BrocLuno
Member
I've not had good luck with Remington of late. I love the fit and feel of Tikka. I like detachable magazines which would rule out the Marlin for me, but they have a good reputation and the only one I've shot did well.
godale
Member
stevens 200 top it off with a nikon prostaff
dprice3844444
member
mossburg(howa) stainless,ruger stainless and see if savage has stainless
mdThanatos
Member
I'd recommend the stevens 200 over current production XS7's. I love my Marlin but it is one of the JM stamped rifles. I have a friend that has a mossberg 100 atr that seems to be holding up pretty well so that might work for you too.
Kachok
Member
I have yet to try the mossberg, owned a couple of their shotguns that have been OK but the whole exploding bolt problem scared me off, I found out later that was probably just stupid people, but it kept me off of them never the less. That is one ugly rifle though, dang they totaly took the ugly rifle crown from Savage with that one.
A quick sugestion for Mr Ruddie, before you get into the 308 club check out the 6.5mm crowd first, I made the change from 308s a few years ago and have been THRILLED with the change. Less recoil, much better trajectory, more versitile, every bit as accurate, and easly kills everything in the lower 48. 260rem, 6.5x47, 6.5 Creedmore, and the tried and true 6.5x55, all different flavors of the same thing, and not really any difference between them in performance. All have a solid reputation both in the feild and on the 1000 yd range. Expect 300 Win Mag external performance with sissy kicker recoil. My 140gr VLDs have a better BC then any 180-210gr .30 cal, means less energy loss and less wind drift over longer distances. If you never shoot past 200 yards you likely wont ever notice the difference but as the ranges get longer it makes a night and day difference.
A quick sugestion for Mr Ruddie, before you get into the 308 club check out the 6.5mm crowd first, I made the change from 308s a few years ago and have been THRILLED with the change. Less recoil, much better trajectory, more versitile, every bit as accurate, and easly kills everything in the lower 48. 260rem, 6.5x47, 6.5 Creedmore, and the tried and true 6.5x55, all different flavors of the same thing, and not really any difference between them in performance. All have a solid reputation both in the feild and on the 1000 yd range. Expect 300 Win Mag external performance with sissy kicker recoil. My 140gr VLDs have a better BC then any 180-210gr .30 cal, means less energy loss and less wind drift over longer distances. If you never shoot past 200 yards you likely wont ever notice the difference but as the ranges get longer it makes a night and day difference.
GreyCoupe
Member
I had my M1 Garand barreled in .308, and I love it. If you haven't got an M1, they're starting to go fast...
The-Reaver
Member
FR8!!!
Izzy77
Member
Savage in stainless would be sweet, Howa carbon steel ( 350 at cdnn investments), Zastava copy of FN 98 mauser ( aka USSG if you can find one for under 420.
You can still find some good blot actions at great prices...dont delay.
You can still find some good blot actions at great prices...dont delay.
Ruddie
Member
As far as a budget, I don't know yet. I've got 2 or 3 small projects to finish and 2 guns to buy before I can get a .308 setup. I have to finish my VZ-24 30.06 project also. Plus I'm tinkering on a Mosin Nagant barreled receiver setup (I know....).
I know the VZ 30.06 conversion is more than capable of hunting with but I really want a .308 to play with. Plus I don't know if I'll even keep the VZ when I'm done building it. The distance I'll be using around here won't really exceed 300 yards. If I hunt in south Ga. I might reach out farther. Might being used strongly.
I know the VZ 30.06 conversion is more than capable of hunting with but I really want a .308 to play with. Plus I don't know if I'll even keep the VZ when I'm done building it. The distance I'll be using around here won't really exceed 300 yards. If I hunt in south Ga. I might reach out farther. Might being used strongly.
Sock Puppet
Member
The newer Mossbergs are not Howas. The Weatherby Vanguard series of rifles is made by Howa, and Howa sells their own rifles as the Howa 1500. Some older Mossberg rifles were made by Howa, as well as the Smith and Wesson 1500. I have never owned one of Mossberg's rifles, but think quite highly of the Howa offerings.
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I have a Remington Model Seven in 308 that I love to hunt with. Accurate and easy to handle since it's shorter that the 700s. If I were to buy new today, I'd probably go with Tikka. However, I have another 308, a. Browning BLR that's good too, but not a bolt action to suite your preference.
788Ham
Member
Get the Savage 110 model, then put a Simmons White Tail scope on it, you'll be set up to 300 - 400 yds then. The Savage rifles are hard to beat, very accurate, well made outfits. Their quality is better than Remington, never thought I'd ever admit that, but they are!!
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