looking for a solid all-around bolt rifle and caliber

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SpeedAKL

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I'm currently doing a little poking around for a solid bolt-action rifle that I can use for either hunting or accurate shooting at the range - I'm not looking for .5 MOA at 1000 yards, just something with great accuracy for the dollar. I'd like to stay under $400-450....I could certainly afford more at this point if I had to, but I'm in college, money is relatively scarce, and I'd rather get 2-3 decent guns that serve different purposes (e.g. this rifle plus a shotgun) than put all my eggs in one basket. I also need a cartridge that will satisfy all my needs well - hunting game in various sizes (which here goes from varmints all the way to black bear, though I have a .223 for the smaller stuff), particularly deer, plus with great accuracy, lots of different loads available, and low ammunition costs.

I was thinking of either a Savage package gun or a Mossberg ATR. Any thoughts ?
 
To add, I'm not overly recoil sensitive (I can shoot a Mosin M44 well), but I don't want or need some mega-magnum that will break the bank and my shoulder. Furthermore, I want a lighter and more accurate rifle than the typical cheap milsurp.
 
i don't like the savage even a little bit, and don't know much about the mossberg, but if you've got a 223, the perfect complement to that is 308. remove the 223, and i think 25-06 is where you need to be...

my vote is for a remington 700 in 308.
 
If you want to go a little cheap and sacrifice looks, go with the Savage or its brother, the Stevens model 200. For black bear to varmints, the .308 wouldn't be too bad. 30-06 would be about the same with maybe a little more recoil. A new Stevens will run about $310 from a dealer and around $285 at Wal-Mart. Add some mounts, rings, and a scope and that'll push you towards $400+. I just got a Stevens m200 in 300 mag and am very pleased with it. Accurate, light, and has a synthetic stock so I can beat it around in the woods. I put a cheap Tasco 3x9x40 scope on it and was surprised by its performance. The Savage is a more expensive model, but you also gain a better trigger with it.
 
Remington 700 in 30-06. He did say bear. If he was a reloader, there wouldn't be much difference between a .308 and a 30-06.

Savages and Mossbergs are much better than they used to be, but they still are not universally respected like a Remington 700 is. They are very likely to cause a sneer or little bit of doubt from some of the older, more seasoned hunters.
 
Remington 700 in .308---which has military surplus to make practice a little cheaper, or in .30-06...both are amazing rounds..can't go wrong with either one.

I am a fan of Tikka also, they are a little bit more money but worth looking into, maybe you can find a deal somewhere.
 
The Savage is a good, low-budget choice. My future son-in-law just picked up a used Savage in .270, and we went to the range today to wring it out (and test some of my .30-06 hunting loads) and I was really impressed. It's nothing to get excited over in terms of looks, but it worked well, and was decently accurate.

If I was looking for a good, inexpensive, bolt rifle in a do-all caliber, I'd probably go with the Savage in .30-06.

Bear in mind, this advice is worth about what you paid for it.
 
Either a Savage 10 or 110 in .308 or .30-06, or a Remington 700 in the same calibers.

The 7mm-08 is a great cartridge, but its not nearly as easy to find as .308 or .30-06, or as cheap.
 
For the money, a Savage 11F or a Remington 700 SPS, either in .308. Savages are not pretty rifles, but they put almost all the money into the barrel, the dual pillar bedded stock, and the user adjustable Accu-trigger. The equivalent priced Remington 700 SPS will be close or equal in terms of barrel quality, with a nicer looking stock, but it isn't bedded. The R3 recoil pad on the SPS is really nice, but the same pad - a Sims Limb Saver - can be installed on the Savage. The Remington triggers are not user adjustable, but there are plenty of aftermarket target triggers available for the 700. The matte bluing on the 700 SPS is not as nice as the bluing on a Savage 11F in my opinion. The dual pillar bedding on the Savage stock is a big plus. Either will serve you well. Skip the Savage package series with the low dollar scope though. Put a $200 to $300 Bushnell Elite, Burris, Leupold, or Nikon on either rifle and you'll be set.

Going .308 for the caliber gets you a wide variety of factory ammo, from inexpensive soft points for hunting, to truly match grade stuff for the range. It's a great deer and long range target round, and will hold its own against black bear. I'd not choose it for the larger brown bear encountered out west though.
 
Love my model 7 Remington .308 picked up at Chantilly GS. for 3 bills. Very accurate, lots of different loads to pick from and I'm keeping shots within the size of a clay pidgeon at 100 yards. Truely amazing since I'm no Buffalo Bill! I have yet to be in a store that doesn't carry some variation of .308 if its any help.
KKKKFL
 
As far as value the Savage is a great buy. The accu-trigger is very nice and the barrels are free floated...they really are a great value. My only criticism is the stocks on the Savage just felt like cheap plastic. I passed on the Savage in favor of the Remington because I really love the look of the Remingtons in general and the stock on the CDL is just so pretty. And, I could afford the extra expense. Its not true that the Rem trigger isn't user adjustable...I just did mine on my new 700 CDL 30-06 yesterday and it came out very nice...it did though void the warranty on the trigger but I now have a very crips 3lb trigger.

I personally love the 30-06. The tradition, history and versatility just can't be beat. I like that I can load a 125 grain bullet for small game/varmints or a big 220 grain for big boys. Since I load my own (a small investment with the Lee products and another great value) I can load both 125 grn and 150 grn projectiles to hit at the same spot...I don't have to adjust my scope for anything within 200 yards...cool.

All that being said, the 7mm08 is a super round too and if you are not going to hunt bears then its a nice choice. If you want something light for woods walking the Rem model 7s and the Mountain Rifles are a great choice. My next rifle will most likely be a Model 7 in 260 Rem. I love that round but its not very popular.

The bottom line is you know what your budget is and you have been given some great suggestions. If I was in college and money was tight I would probably go with the Savage, it really is a great value and you would not ever regret buying it. Let us know what you decide.
 
"Savages and Mossbergs are much better than they used to be, but they still are not universally respected like a Remington 700 is. They are very likely to cause a sneer or little bit of doubt from some of the older, more seasoned hunters." This would tend to show that some "seasoned" hunters aren't necessarily informed hunters. Pick a Savage Model 112 in .308 or 30.06 and enjoy. Remington Model 700 ADL in .308 is also a great choice.
 
308 or 30-06. About the most common calibers in America and they both offer oodles of bullet weight options.

If you want new, I don't know prices well enough to comment on a particular brand. However, if you want used, there should be plenty to choose from. Last time I was in the gunshop, there was something like 30-50% of their used inventory in the 30-06 caliber in prices ranging from about $200 up. IIRC, there was a laminated, stainless 30-06 going for about $450 or so.

I'd personally pick a 308 since the ballistics are about the same. And that shorter action rifle will weigh a bit less for the times your lugging it around the countryside, up and down the hills and so forth.
 
Our local Wal-Mart has Remington 700 ADL's for $368.00. Savage package guns for $340. If you buy from Wal-Mart you may have to smooth out the "bugs".
 
Shot a Savage for the first time this weekend, and was very impressed, esp considering how cheap they are.

That said, I also love my Rem 700. Either will do you fine.

As far as cartridge, I'd say .30-06 or .270. Seems to be the two most common calibers (at least around here), either will take care of black bears easily.

ETA: While I loved the Savage gun, the package scope was pretty much crap. It worked, but I'd rather just buy the gun without the scope and put somethign decent on.

Also, you can get a good deal if you're willing to buy used.
 
Sounds like a .30-06 to me...surplus ammo for plinking and great selection of hunting ammo. I'd get a rem700 or Ruger M77 mkII new or used. You can usually get a really nice used Ruger with a good scope for around $400-500 used in great shape. Or there is always Savage if that price has to include a scope get a Nikon Buckmasters 3-9x40 ($200).
 
I have the 30-06 which is a good all around hunting rifle if you shoot at less than 300 yards. I shot my 30-06 at more than 450 yds at the range but it took me few shots to get the elevation/windage right. Not something I would do in hunting situation.
 
My choice...Mossberg ATR-100 in .30-06. Nothing against the Savage/Stevens lines, I got the Mossy at a better bargain than the Savage.

Groups better than 5-shot 2"@100Yds with most commercial inexpensive Soft-Point ammo [Rem 'Core-Lokt' and PMP 'Pro-Amm'].
 
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