Need .308 recommendations for hunting rifle

[daddy-o]

I decided on a .308 blot action for my next hunting rifle. I will be mainly using it for whitetail deer and hogs.

I have been seriously considering a Tikka T3 camo / stainless, but I have no experience with shooting them.

I have shot a savage 308, and I liked it a lot. I am also considering a Remington 700, but I'd like to hear from THR members and their recommendations.

Please don't get off-topic on other calibers, really just looking for 308 bolt action recommendations. I'd like to keep it to rifles under $1000 also.

Thanks in advance!

 

[FLAvalanche]

I absolutely love my Marlin XS7 in .308. I got the Realtree one. It doesn't stop impressing me. The adjustable trigger is so smooth and crisp. It came out of the box at 3 lbs like the manual said but I dropped it down to about 1.5 lbs and with the two stage safety trigger it's completely safe being that light.

This is how the Glock and XD safety triggers should feel.

And the great thing about the Marlin is that it's about $300 and it will hang with any off the shelf Remington 700.

The only downside I can see with this rifle is that if you're recoil shy this probably isn't the gun for you. It's a pretty light rifle.

 

[BrocLuno]

Marlin is good - I was very impressed with the Tikka I tried. I'll be getting one of theirs

 

[MtnCreek]

I don't know anything about the Tikka. I own both Savage and Rem 700 in .308 and they are both great rifles. Savage has a long action and Rem has a short action, if that makes a difference to you. You would be well advised to stiffen the forearms on either of these rifles. Not mentioned, but a Browning A Bolt is a great hunting rifle as well.

 

[brandon_mcg]

i have been using a remington 700 in .308 and it does all that i need it to do.
i usually take it out and do some range shooting as well and it is a good shooter.

all the recommendations so far are good rifles as well.

 

[jmr40]

At under $1,000 there are lots of good choices. I'd buy a Wincester Featherweight at around $700 or the Extreme Weather at around $900. I have the EW in 308 and can highly recommend them.

 

[lonestardiver]

The savage is also available in a short action.
Plus with the savage you can change over to a .243 or any other of the
cartridges that are a short action and share the same boltface with the .308 with a few
simple tools and a additional barrel. Then go to the range and re-sight in the scope. The savage also has the accutrigger.

 

[ROAshooter]

308

will add......the ruger RSI.......308.....does it for me

 

[unklechuckles19]

I've got a Savage in .308 and love it. Good choice on caliber.

 

[HKGuns]

I looked hard and considered the Tika T3 stainless very carefully. I ended up with the Sako A7 in 308 instead. I'd advise you to consider the A7 along with the Tika.

 

[dubbleA]

For the money spent( a whopping $300), you will be hard pressed to find anything that rivals the new Marlin XL/XS 7 series of rifles.

 

[Kachok]

Tikka all the way There simply is no better rifle for the money anywhere, unless you can custom build your own dream 98 Mauser.

 

[chains1240]

My Howa .308 is awesome. Think I paid $500 with the FFL fee. A little heavier than the other plastic stocked models but the weight helps soak up the recoil. I wear rubber palmed gloves that lock tight to the Hogue stock.

 

[MCMXI]

Despite the fiasco I've had with my Savage Weather Warrior in 7mm-08 Rem, I'd still recommend a Weather Warrior in .308 Win. It's stainless steel with a two-stage trigger (sort of), a 1:10 twist 22" barrel, a detachable magazine, a three-position safety and you can swap the barrel yourself with simple tools. The Savage isn't as well finished as some other rifles mentioned and isn't a classic, but for $683 it's a very decent rifle for the money ... particularly for a working rifle rather than a range queen. For $200 you could get rid of the AccuStock and put on a much nicer B&C or similar and still be under $1,000 ... enough under to buy a Ken Farrell one-piece aluminum base.

http://www.impactguns.com/store/011356177797.html

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/model/16FCSS

As for your choice of a .308 Win .... ... my favorite all around cartridge for sure.

 

[Abel]

If your budget allows it, the Winchester Featherweight is hard to beat.

 

[unwise11]

I like my Howa, it shot a group a bit under 2.5" at 300 yards.

 

[Skylerbone]

I'd start with the Marlin or a T/C Venture, add good quality steel mounts and rings and spend the rest on a nice scope.

Venture $430, mounts/rings $100, Bushnell 2.5-10 X 50 Elite 4200 illuminated dot $450

 

[00]

+1 for T/C Venture. Very good accuracy for $450 rifle.

 

[jpwilly]

For a hunting rifle on the cheap a Marlin XS7 or low end Savage, TC Venture, for a hunting rifle near the upper limits of your budget a Winchester M70 or Sako 7, in the mid range Tikka, you get the idea they are all decent rifles some look and feel better but all will most likely shoot at or near MOA. Which one fits you is more important than opinions on what one to get.

 

[Spartan299]

I bought a Tikka T3 Light. I'm very happy with it and the advertised three shot group @ 100 yards bein' under a MOA was correct. I can bust a two inch circle all day long @ 100 yards. At 150 and 200 yards she is proving to be just as dependable.



The "Light" does kick pretty hard, but 'ol "Ma Bell" will do the job.

 

[daddy-o]

Are they all pretty close in terms of MOA?

 

[unwise11]

My Howa is sub MOA, I'm confident the rifle itself could make reliable hits out to 700 yards, the scope I currently have, might not, but the rifle could.

 

[DIM]

buy tikka, if you like the way it looks and handles, in case you decide to upgrade its stock, or do some modifications there are not many thing you can get and the ones out there probably will cost you as much as the rifle itself and if you decide to glass bedded, forget it... I haven't seen gunsmith who would take such job. so with Tikka you buying a rifle and its how its going to be. I got myself TC ICON PH in .308 I am on the same boat, there are not many mods I can do to it, although it does shoot sub moa and I think I'm fine with the way it is, but I have Rem 700 which I'm using to do all the mods, there is nothing wrong with Rem if you replace its stock and trigger...

 

[Skylerbone]

You'd be hard pressed to find an off the shelf production bolt action rife that won't shoot MOA as delivered, of all listed only the T/C guarantees it (I could be mistaken on others). The next few things to consider are ergonomics and trigger.

Don't discount the optics however, whether in the field or at the bench the scope you choose can make the difference between close and nailed it. FWIW the scope in the above example offers an illuminated dot centered in the crosshairs (good for hogs and deer with black crosshairs on dark animal) and rainguard to shed water from the lenses.

 

[Finprof]

HOWA

JSMorris likes his Howa. CDNN has them for under $400, $339 for .243.
If you want to upgrade it there are a number of alternatives for stocks and triggers. It is the same as the Weatherby Vanguard, except that the Vanguard has a three-position safety. They shoot as well as anything out of the box.
The only downside is that it is a pain to change barrels, but you probably won't wear out a barrel.