Rifle on a budget

[sappyg]

A few threads have got me wondering. If you were on a tight budget for a hunting rifle of.... Meh.... $550. Can it be done?

Would you rather have:

A. a cheaper rifle ($400 or less) and a lower price scope ($150 or less)

B. A cheaper rifle with a mid level scope ($150 plus)

C. A mid level priced rifle ($500) and a lower priced scope.

What would you pick and why? Not so much a caliber issue as much as a budget issue I would say you can fudge on the budget if need be but should show justication for blowing the budget.

I would say that I've had good results with budget scopes and rifles so far but choice of optic can bust a budget quick. Oh, and don't forget the mounts.

 

[Abel]

D. Cheap rifle with $300 scope

Savage Axis with a Leupold VX-2 3-9X40mm?

 

[Reloadron]

D. None of the above.

I would look for a good to very good used rifle with scope rather than buy new.

Ron

 

[Jackal]

If your looking for a new hunting rifle, the Marlin X7, Ruger American, Savage Axis all fit the bill. Then just grab a $100 Nikon/rings and your done. Actually, we have more well performing budget minded rifles available today then we ever have in years before. Before you would get a Savage 99 and shoot 3moa, now you can grab one of those above and start punching 1moa groups.

 

[Eb1]

I agree with Jackal, but I'd pick a used Mossberg 500 12 ga. with 3" chamber for under $200. It will do it all out to 110 yards. Or a Maverick 88 in the same gauge.

But my Marlin XL7 .25-06 with a Bushnell 4200 3x9 sure does a good job on critters. Big and small. I did sub a Boyds pepper laminate stock to add some weight to the rifle. Now to do the detachable mag mod, and it'll be good to go.

 

[Inebriated]

Savage sells an 11/111 (synthetic and matte black) with a Nikon Prostaff 3-9x40, detachable magazine, light weight, and AccuTrigger for $490. There is also the 10/110, which is the same except it has a walnut stock and blued finish for $550. Both will shoot under a minute, and the Nikon is plenty serviceable and I've got one that's been banged around quite a bit, and it's still working. I really don't think you can go wrong with the 11/111.

Could also get the Savage Axis or Axis II (Axis II has the AccuTrigger, Axis doesn't). The Axis is $260 without a scope, leaving you a whopping $300 for a scope. The rifle is essentially the same as the 111, but it uses one action length (instead of short and long) and there aren't nearly as many options for stocks. Still trigger options, still sub-MOA capable, still lightweight, and I think they do have a package with a Bushnell 3-9x40 for $330 or so.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

550 bucks will buy a really nice used hunting rig with a little patience and smart shopping.

 

[2ndtimer]

I picked up my Marlin XL7 in 270 Win on sale for $249 locally, ordered some Burris signature Z-Rings and a Nitrex TR-1 3-9X scope, total cost right around $400. Shoots great, light weight. May add a Boyd's lminated stock and glass bed it down the road, will still be close to the $500 mark.

 

[paintballdude902]

grab a marlin xl7 or xs7 then toss a Primary arms Scope on it. total, 450-500ish?

 

[skeptical_in_Ohio]

Another plausible idea - posted in another thread. Some swapping out (if you don't want/need the trigger or stock, those dollars could be moved to optics, though the inexpensive scope that came with it seems to work well).

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=9282663&postcount=6

 

[tuj]

I will not buy junk optics. The low end for me starts at about 100-150. The sweet spot seems to be about $300 or so. I know guys who spend $2k on scopes for their cheap plinkers even; that's a little extreme for me.

Weaver and Leupold are two great brands.

As others have said, Savage is making some good rifles at low prices. The accu-trigger is also worth the price.

I guess what I'm saying is save up to get what you really want, and not a big compromise that will upset you later.

 

[joeschmoe]

$200 for decent glass from Nikon or Leopold
$200 for single shot rifle
$100 for rings and premium hunting ammo
$50 for dies to reload

 

[Ks5shooter]

T/C Venture Leupold vx-2 3-9 ,700 bucks out the door.Venture 75 dollar rebate until April 2014.Bought my 3rd Venture(25-06) from GB user sportmanssupply , 365 shipped than 75 rebate,290 dollars to my ffl.

 

[jmr40]

A Ruger American is $350, A Leupold VX-1, Burris FF-II, or Redfield Revolution can be had for right around $200.

You could spend more money, and have a nicer rifle and scope, but that combo would do most anyone just fine. In fact you would have to double your budget to get any significant improvement. I could live with that setup even though I can afford better.

 

[wgaynor]

Scopes aren't needed.

I was hunting with an m91/30 that I paid $80 for about 3 years ago.

If all I had was a sharp stick, I'd still try to hunt.

 

[Art Eatman]

In general, bolt-action hunting rifles are a drug on the market: The hock shops are full of them. Their investment cost is commonly half or less of the asking price, which means "Ya gotta bargain!"

Sometimes the scope is decent; sometimes not. If it's a sorry scope, ignore it (but realize that mounts have value--but you don't acknowledge that. )

 

[Nom de Forum]

Commonly available new rifles with the lowest accuracy standards are still plenty accurate for the vast majority of hunting situations. I would rather have a new 2 MOA rifle with a superior quality scope than a new 1 MOA rifle with a poor quality scope. Better yet I would rather have a used sub-MOA rifle with a used superior quality scope for the same price or a trivial amount more than either of the above. Do your homework, then choose wisely.

 

[Don McDowell]

550$ for a hunting rifle?
Piece of cake, there's the used market, not necessarily at some scalpers gunshow table, but the want ads in the local paper.
Buying new, the Savage Axis comes to mind. I got two of them at a Friends of the NRA banguet. And for the money the rifle/scope combo sells for at most slobber shops, it will fill you freezer for years to come, for enough under that 550$ budget to allow for plenty of ammo for practice ,hunting license and gas to go hunting

 

[HellTrain]

Pick up a good used rifle and put good glass on it. The rifle only shoots as good as it's glass. Variable is the shooter

 

[sappyg]

Thanks for the replies so far. With so many good choices maybe I should have lowered the budget

Sometimes the scope is decent; sometimes not. If it's a sorry scope, ignore it (but realize that mounts have value--but you don't acknowledge that. )

You're right. I've tried, and still use, two sets of the Walmart weaver rings and for ~12 bucks a set they've proven their worth.

Looks like the over all census still comes down to glass. Unless you're rockin a Nagant.

 

[mgkdrgn]

To be honest, if you are going to hunt in SC only, then there are -very- few places here where you are going to get a shot long enough to need a scope.

$250 or so ought to get you a decent used rifle chambered in something that will knock down anything that walks in North America, and most other places as well. The game you hit won't care if it's a new Weatherby or an old Remington.

If you came to me, I'd hook you up with a Mosin Nagant M44 for that money. When you are done playing with it you have a piece of history as well. (and yes, I am an FFL in SC )

 

[WestKentucky]

Used glenfield/marlin 30-30 open sight-$300or less...or new-$400. Plenty money left for leverevolution ammo or any other premium ammo. 100 bucks gets you plenty, 200 gets you a lot.

 

[gdcpony]

My daughter's Axis puts up with her abuse and shoots about an inch. It came with glass for $320. The glass ain't great, but by the time she can out shoot it, she can save for better herself. That's the route I would go for you.

 

[witchhunter]

I would buy used also. You will probably end up with higher quality anyhoo. Take a hard look around there are used bolts for sale. Most have a scope already mounted, you can always upgrade the optics later, and you will already have the rings and bases installed.

 

[2ndtimer]

I will not buy junk optics.

Neither will I. That Nitrex TR-1 is better than a Nikon Prostaff or Buckmasters, not far behind my new Leupold VX-2, and goes for just $119.95 from natchezss.com.
http://www.natchezss.com/product.cfm?contentID=productDetail&prodID=WE94563&src=tpCtg