Recommendations for a sub-$500 .30-06?

[Arkansas Paul]

Yes, the Vangaurd trigger is fully adjustable and as you know, new weatherbys come with a target in the box. It's a three shot group from 100 yds and is guaranteed to be an inch or less. They had two in stock and I asked to see both. The one I bought was a one hole group. I have bought several used guns and will again, but there's a lot to be said for not having to wonder what you're getting.

 

[warnerwh]

You need to read up on the Marlin XL7. Very very accurate. My big groups are 3/4" groups. Yup sounds like some guy full of dung. At the Marlin owners forum and there are pics of various targets with different hand loads with group size and loadings. For 280.00 bucks with a Nikon Prostaff at 150 you have a rifle that will shoot on par and most likely better than the main stream rifles costing two or three times as much.
My guns get trigger jobs when I get them and I'm picky about triggers. The trigger stock is excellent. It's light and crisp. I lightened mine to minimum so I can't say how it feels at 3.5lbs but at 2.5 it breaks almost perfectly. For less than 300 dollars I think it's an incredible deal. Check out the targets here: http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/board,78.0.html Be sure to do a Google also. Just my .02

 

[BullitHolz]

I forgot to mention earlier that the Savage 110's have an adjustable trigger that can be tweaked to your liking. The newer Stevens rifles do not have this capability AFAIK but a lot of guys that buy them replace the triggers in them with the old 110 trigger to get the adjustable cpability back. I'm NOT talking about the accutrigger models BTW as these are a different animal and the rifles cost a bit more.

Don't judge a Savage on the trigger pull if you do happen to find one at a good price, mine breaks at 2.75 and the rifle shoots 1" groups at 100 yards with factory ammo.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Savage 110... none other.

 

[Lou McGopher]

Maybe I'll make this into a poll

Yes, do that.

Alrighty then, lemme make sure I have the list right...

Savage 110, used (can a new one be had for under $500?)
Stevens 200
Weatherby Vanguard
Marlin XL7
Tikka T3, used

Not looking for the best, but the best for the money, under $500. If I can get gun and scope for under $600, that would be sweet. If I can get them for under $500, that would be extra sweet.

I don't have a broad experience with rifles, but I do have a 7mm M77, if anyone can compare that to any of these listed.

 

[kmrcstintn]

a used Remington 760 or 7600 (pump action rifle w/ 5 shot capacity -- 1 in the chamber + 4 in the mag) in very good to excellent shape; accuracy is very good to excellent up to 100 yards which is more than most deer blasters shoot in the woods of PA; I believe that most of the 760's/7600's are chambered in .30-06 and that helps keep the 'over-the-top' asking prices down and alot of the used ones already have good sturdy scopes on top when you find them in shops

 

[KzoneAL]

Tikka T3 lite/blued $480 through wallyworld. T3 lite/stainless $579 ordered from Dicks sporting goods. With the T3 u will get a shooter with a great user friendly adjustable trigger that breaks like glass its money well spent.

 

[LoneStarWings]

You need to read up on the Marlin XL7. Very very accurate. My big groups are 3/4" groups. Yup sounds like some guy full of dung. At the Marlin owners forum and there are pics of various targets with different hand loads with group size and loadings. For 280.00 bucks with a Nikon Prostaff at 150 you have a rifle that will shoot on par and most likely better than the main stream rifles costing two or three times as much.
My guns get trigger jobs when I get them and I'm picky about triggers. The trigger stock is excellent. It's light and crisp. I lightened mine to minimum so I can't say how it feels at 3.5lbs but at 2.5 it breaks almost perfectly. For less than 300 dollars I think it's an incredible deal. Check out the targets here: http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/i...oard,78.0.html Be sure to do a Google also. Just my .02

You really make the XL7 sound appealing. I've been contemplating an XS7 in .308 myself but can't decide between it or a Rem. 700P. Good to hear that yours shoots sub MOA!

 

[chevyforlife21]

with my savage 111 in 243 i can hit the same bullet hole a few times at 100 yards its very acurrate thats with cheap winchester ammmo too

 

[Ash]

I would get a used Savage, because they are cheap, and spend the balance on good glass. A $450 rifle might be nice, but it leaves you with enough money to buy crap for glass. A $250 used Savage will shoot wonderfully, which leaves $250 for glass, which will be all you need to get great, solid, glass.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

First of all, you must answer this questions before I could try to help you:

1. Are you willing to buy used, or new only?

2. What all does/does not this budget include: Rifle? Scope? Rings? Mount? Sling? Tax? Shipping? FFL fees? Everything? Everything except ____? If it includes scope, then that changes the answer dramatically - you generally want to spend anywhere from 60% to 110% or more of the rifle price on good glass. Some rifles I've spent several hundred percent of the rifle price on a scope. I usually spend 80-90% of a centerfire rifle's price on a scope. If you're buying NEW only, and this budget must include scope, and you can live without a wood stock, then I'd be going Marlin XL-7 all the way, with a Stevens 200 in close 2nd place.

3. Is a wood stock a "bell" or "whistle"? I.e. Do you WANT a wood stock? Personally I wouldn't buy a plastic stocked gun (unless I got some fantastic deal on it, with an eye toward swapping it out for wood the way God intended - or fiberglass ).

 

[cavman]

How about a Garand in 30-'06? CMP has them for under $500.

 

[Tim the student]

If I were you, I would talk to this guy: http://www.thehighroad.org/member.php?u=75071

He has a thread open questioning if he needs his Savage .30-06. Maybe you could convince him to part with it, and make both of you happy.

Here is his thread: http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=465692

 

[Lou McGopher]

I think I've got it narrowed down to the XL7 and the Vanguard, and I'm leaning toward the Vanguard.

Anyone know how good is the Bushnell Banner 3-9X40 that comes with the Vanguard package deal?