I'd like your finest, cheapest cigar...

[brewer12345]

This is a silly question, perhaps, but since we are now in a buyer's market I will ask anyway. What is the cheapest option for a sub MOA centerfire rifle. Extra points for it being a readily available caliber, but since I handload I suspect I could churn out acceptable rounds for a weird caliber pretty easily.

 

[303 hunter]

Ruger American is hard to beat IMHO.

 

[JeffG]

I love my Savages, except for the Axis, (personal preference) you can't go wrong with a model 10, 11, 12, 0r 16. They shoot great, and the prices are great.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

Savage 10/110s. The accuracy you get for $500 is unreal.

 

[brewer12345]

Calibers?

 

[Orcon]

Considering the god-awful stocks that come on economy grade rifles, I don't see how a guy can call any of them sub-moa and keep a straight face.

 

[VoodooMountain]

For budget guns:

Savage 10 or 11
Ruger Americans
Howa 1500
Savage 11 hog hunter is threaded hb
Ruger American predator is threaded hb

Tc compass is moa guaranteed and threaded

Calibers:
223
243
308
6.5 creedmoor

 

[JeffG]

Calibers?

.308, 338 Federal, .243,7mm mag

 

[JeffG]

Hard to beat as a no frills, dependable rifle.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog...ducts_id/5224/Savage+111DOA+XP+30-06+BUSHNELL

 

[someguy2800]

I have never handled one to see what they are like but the deals people have been talking about lately on the TC compass are insane. I'm not interested in bottom dollar guns in Tupperware cheap stocks but sometimes you have to work with what you got. Personally I would rather have 1 tikka t3 or weatherby vanguard than a half dozen axis's.

 

[cdb1]

Weatherby Vanguard S2.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

My .30-06 Vanguard had a gawdawful trigger from the factory- but with a little adjustment, stoning, and oil it turned into a MOA-ish gun. I probably should have saved time and just got a Timney for it.
My Axis .223 was certainly a MOA shooter, but the fragile, hard to load magazine was a deal breaker- though it did hold 5 rounds easily, rather than the advertised 4.
I hate to say it, but the recent Remington 700 .270 SPS my buddy owns, with its Xmark Pro trigger, is the most st accurate rifle I've shot lately. Love it or hate it.

 

[BigBore44]

T/C Venture. Sub MOA guarantee (it delivers)
Tikka T3. Sub MOA all day.

 

[jmorris]

Cheapest one I have was a Weatherby sub-moa in 308. It was under $400 used without glass.

 

[hdwhit]

brewer12345 wrote:
What is the cheapest option for a sub MOA centerfire rifle.

I assume when you say, "sub-MOA" you are referring to shooting off a bench at a target of known distance. Since I only shoot offhand at targets whose distance I have to estimate, I really can't help you except to say that I have been VERY satisfied with the accuracy and performance of my Savage Axis which is clearly capable of shooting better than I can.

 

[RPRNY]

Another vote for the T/C Venture.

Hard to go wrong with Savage. Weatgerby Vangard S2. And the Howa 1500 If it's the later version with the stronger stock and aluminum pillar bedding.

 

[cdb1]

My .30-06 Vanguard had a gawdawful trigger from the factory- but with a little adjustment, stoning, and oil it turned into a MOA-ish gun. I probably should have saved time and just got a Timney for it.
My Axis .223 was certainly a MOA shooter, but the fragile, hard to load magazine was a deal breaker- though it did hold 5 rounds easily, rather than the advertised 4.
I hate to say it, but the recent Remington 700 .270 SPS my buddy owns, with its Xmark Pro trigger, is the most st accurate rifle I've shot lately. Love it or hate it.

Is it an S2? Earlier versions definitely didn't have the best triggers. I've heard zero complaints about the S2.

 

[Mn Fats]

Considering the god-awful stocks that come on economy grade rifles, I don't see how a guy can call any of them sub-moa and keep a straight face.

Some economy tupperware stocks can pull it off with zero handloading. That said, with handloads, I've turned in (consistent) sub moa groups with a straight face with zero modifications on; a Stevens 200 .223, Stevens 200 .308, Weatherby Vanguard S2 300wm, Howa 1500 .308, Remington 700 sps .270 win, Remington 700 sps varmint .308, Remington 700 sps tactical. 308 (hogue, but still junk imo).

 

[Captcurt]

For budget guns:

Savage 10 or 11
Ruger Americans
Howa 1500
Savage 11 hog hunter is threaded hb
Ruger American predator is threaded hb

Tc compass is moa guaranteed and threaded

Calibers:
223
243
308
6.5 creedmoor

I have played with several of the cheaper rifles the last 5 years. I buy one, scope it, work up loads and then sell them when I am done with my test. It is amazing what the companies have done with the inexpensive rifles. One that I would like to add to this list is the Mossberg Patriot. I had one that was in 308 that shot every bit as well as my 700 Tactical. We are talking Sub- 1/2MOA and this was a rifle that cost me $250.

I have shot the Vanguards, Ruger American, Savage 10, and the Howa. All of them would shoot at or near MOA without too much tweaking. I wouldn't class the Savages, Vanguard or Howa as cheap when you are talking $500+. To me a cheap rifle is under that mark. Everyone talks about the great trigger on the Americans. I haven't had a good trigger in any of the 3 that I have tested. All had a little creep. Two of the three vanguards were really tack drivers and the triggers were excellent.

I have shot several different rifles of the calibers listed. My favorite is 243, but I have shot more Creedmoors the last 2 years. The most accurate rifle that I have ever owned was a Vanguard in 223. Someone should slap me for selling it.

 

[RedLeg105]

What? No love here for CZ 527 Americans?

With the right bullet/load combination, and a still day, my CZ (.223 Remington) will shoot sub-MOA out to 300 yards.

 

[Bbear]

As for least expensive, I'd go:
TC Venture
Ruger American
Mossberg

 

[hdwhit]

brewer12345 wrote:
...since I handload I suspect I could churn out acceptable rounds for a weird caliber pretty easily.

Then I would welcome a companion to join me as I plumb the nether-world of reloading the 5.7mm Johnson.

 

[Sunray]

"...a sub MOA center fire..." Most entry level hunting rifles, regardless of the brand, are not capable of that. And sub-MOA isn't necessary for hunting.
In any case, what you think is cheap isn't necessarily what anybody else thinks is cheap. Decide on a budget with or without sights, first.
"...for a weird caliber pretty easily..." Not if there's no brass reliably available. Like 5.7mm Johnson or .30-40 Krag.
"...the Howa 1500..." Is a Weatherby Vanguard.
"...gawdawful trigger from the factory..." Factory triggers don't matter. All new firearms require a trigger job due to frivolous law suits.

 

[wally]

Then I would welcome a companion to join me as I plumb the nether-world of reloading the 5.7mm Johnson.

I call dibs on the licensed line of small Johnson t-shirts -- The Little Johnson Saloon, liquor in front, poker in back.

 

[cdb1]

"...the Howa 1500..." Is a Weatherby Vanguard.
"...gawdawful trigger from the factory..." Factory triggers don't matter. All new firearms require a trigger job due to frivolous law suits.

Vanguard does have the Howa action and I think Howa just started using the S2 trigger which they call the HACT. Barrels and stocks are different. Plus Howa(Legacy Sports) customer service doesn't hold a candle to Weatherby.

All new factory firearms do not require a trigger job. Tikka and Weatherby come to mind.