Help me pick a .308 rifle

[HIPOWER]

Hi folks. I'm looking for some opinions from rifle owners out there. I'm looking for a bolt-action .308 that is accurate out of the box. I am really hoping to stay in the $500-$600 range in price, but I do want accuracy. Application will be deer hunting in Pennsylvania woods, so my longest shots may not be more than 150 yards. Thanks for any input.

 

[Sunray]

Any Savage. Best out of the box accuracy for your buck. No questions asked. http://www.savagearms.com/
MSRP: $473.00US

 

[ocabj]

Savage all the way!

Note: The rifle in the pictures above is in a McMillan A-5 and that cost more than I paid for the rifle, factory new.

 

[rust collector]

Savage makes some great rifles for the money, but I hope you will heft a Tikka T-3 before parting with your cash. I really like my lite stainless, which cost $460 at the local retailer's. Rings and sling swivels come with, and decent glass is $150 and up. Trigger is user adjustable, and Tikka guarantees accuracy. The only weak spot in my case is the nut behind the butt.

 

[Preacherman]

All of the above...

Seriously: the Savage is probably the most accurate out-of-the-box "budget" rifle. The Tikka is more expensive, but a real jewel. If I were in your shoes, I'd be after the Tikka as a first choice, with the Savage a very good second choice.

BTW, if you can find one, may I suggest looking for a Savage Scout? It's been dropped from the line-up this year, but some may still be available from wholesalers. I have one in .308 with a Leupold 2.5x Scout Scope, and I fixed the old-style heavy trigger by dropping in a Sharp Shooter adjustable trigger. It's a honey of a woods rifle now...

 

[duckfoot]

While I'm a HUGE fan of the .308, I will just suggest another option. Think about a NEF Synthetic Handi-Rifle in the .270 Winchester or if that gives you too much of a beating a .243 Winchester. Down here in NC we got mid size deer but up in PA you can get some good sized ones that might take a little more a$$ than a .243 win to drop quickly (unless you are a real good hunter/shooter.) The advantage of a NEF for hunting is that the hunter knows that they have only one shot, which compels the hunter to take the best/surest shot, for the least amount of suffering for the deer. That and the NEF can be had for $250, which leaves you with lots of room for mount, good rings, real good glass, and a good bit of ammo to practice with. The .270 win is a super deer dropper if you shoot right.

Not making much sense right now but there you go








I hate working nights!!!

 

[BamBam-31]

Let me be the first to recommend the Savage.

My 10FP in .223 w/ the new Accu-trigger was so nice, my buddy went out and bought one also. Just do a search on Savage here. Aside from the stock, the rifle's ready to rock straight outta the box. Not that the factory stock isn't serviceable, it's just that there are affordable aftermarket stocks that'll make the Savage look and feel like a top dollar rifle.