Most accurate hunting rifle under $800?

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TonyM

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Curious to see what others would buy if they had 800 bucks to buy a new deer rifle based SOLELY on accuracy (not asthetics, where made, resale value, brand loyalty, etc.). Also what caliber for an all around rifle used from eastern hardwoods to western mountains for mule deer.















OLEY
 
This is not a differing opinion, just an additional choice. stevens 200, .308, bell and carlson stock, Nikon prostaff. Either his choice or mine gets it done for a great price.
 
Most accurate, probably Savage or maybe the Marlin XL/XS7 line.
270, 308, 7mm-08.
 
I get good groups from my Winchester Model 70s, so I'm partial to them. Caliber? Take your pick from .243 on up. I love my .243 but to be honest, if I were to buy a rifle for deer only, it would be a quarter bore like a 25-06 or maybe a .270 or 7mm-08. If I was going to be shooting them at long distances I might look at a 7mm mag or 30-06. Really any of them will make dead deer though.
 
With modern CNC machining anyone can build an accurate rifle and sell it for $300. Anything over $300 or so is paying for features that some want, others don't.

The average shooter can't shoot well enough to tell the difference between a Stevens 200, Marlin XL-7, Tikka, Ruger, Remington, Winchester, Weatherby, or most any other rifle out there. I've seen 1/2" groups fired from all of these brands as well as most others. Pick the features you want in a rifle. Most any of them are capable of more accuracy than the average shooter can take advantage of.
 
TonyM The stevens is well less than half the price for less purdy finished finished savage. If the trigger is not to your likeing then a replacement trigger can be installed at home for under a 100 bucks. You got a shooter then with a grood trigger to for less than 400 bucks.Rifle should be under 300 at a good dealer. Don't pick a 243 for mule deer. If weight and recoil is a big concern then any from 25cal to 30 cal on mag in a short cartridge will do. My always goto is a old rem 788 but you can't buy them cheap enough compaired to low priced good new rifles.
 
TonyM The stevens is so much cheaper in cost than the savage, just does have the fancy finish or trigger, still the stevens is a good shooter. You can buy the rifle and get a really good aftermarket trigger if needed for less than half the price of the savage models. I also have a stevens 223 and it's shoots fine. If wieght and recoil is a concern look for a short action model with most any caliber from 25 up 30 caliber. If not then the 7 rem mag is still hard to beet. I own both a 308 rem and 7mm rem mag in a ruger and both kick the same to me as wieght is different.
 
I'd get a Marlin XS7 in 7mm-08 and a Leupold 2-7 VXII scope and go deer hunting. $800 should cover a few seasons worth of ammo too. If the budget is $800 for just the rifle, I'd get a Sako A7.
 
Tikka T3 hands down. Those things are scary accurate. I'm saving right now for one of the stainless ones with the fluted barrels in 30-06. At 5.8 pounds guaranteed to shoot moa or less, that would make one heck of an elk rifle.
 
Savage in .30-06. Pedestrian? Perhaps, but Savage rifles shoot extremely well and that Accu-Trigger is terrific.

mbogo
 
Do you have to spend the full $800 when answering the question? How about a handi-rifle, in .25-06, .270, or .308, with a good Leopold scope? Mine have been surprizingly accurate in .223 and .308.

LD
 
Weathby vangaurd/Howa. Same action and barrel. 7mm rem mag. Have enough money left over for the scope too.
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I paid $500 for my Howa 1500 in .308. After about 80 rounds downrange I am able to consistently get .5-1 MOA using a shooting rest on a bench. This is using 150 grain NBT store bought ammo.
 
Hard work to find a rifle in today's world that won't shoot inside of two MOA--which is plenty good for Bambi.

So, basically, whichever rifle that fits your body and is within your price range will work as good as any other.
 
So, basically, whichever rifle that fits your body and is within your price range will work as good as any other.
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It's really not the answer I'm sure you wanted to hear, but I think it's the right one. All or them shoot well, may as well get the one you want. It will be accurate enough.
 
As Art and wanker said...most ALL production rifles will stay inside of 2"@100y, many doing much, much better.

The question is, which brands and models are doing it at the time you intend to purchase, not all brand exhibit the same accuracy, with regards to production and quality control, year to year.

Truth be told, pretty much all the brands produced currently are shooting well, some manufacturers are producing models that have been 'consistent' as to accuracy like the Savage line as well as the Marlin X-series line of rifles.

Best bet is to fondle all the various models and see which one sparks your fancy.

As for the caliber, the 7mm Magnums will do all you ask of them, with your mentioned quarry in mind, but a less powerful cartridge like the 30-06, 280, 7mm-08, or 308 would do you well and offer less cost and recoil in addition.
 
i'm looking for my first hunting rifle...

bud's has the tikka t3 lite for $535 in certain finishes/calibers right now. supposedly guaranteed under moa out of the box.
 
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