What bolt action rifle to buy for under $500?

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Soloman

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I'm looking to buy a bolt action rifle for under $500 what should I get? and do you have any recommendations on were to buy it? Thanks
 
Generally speaking, I think Savages are great inexpensive rifles. Are you including optics in this price?

But if you want any bolt action rifle for less than $500, drive to one of the CMP stores and get a Mossberg M44, new sights for it, and enough ammo to shoot for a decade.
 
I'd like it used so I can practice working on bolt actions.

Thanks
 
Get a bolt action .22LR. CZ-452 is a nice one for the price. If you are going to "practice", then you should practice with the goal to improve shooting accuracy, not just working a bolt action. And if you are going to practice a lot, then 22LR (or perhaps 17M2 or 17HMR) is the sensible economic choice.

oops -- no 22LR -- OK, then 17M2, 17HMR, 223 Rem would be the more obvious choices -- and CZ-452 / CZ-527 reasonable rifles to consider, among many many other good choices.
 
stevens 200 (savage made rifle at discounted price it just doesn't have the accutrigger) in .223 thats what im looking to get. add a scope and you are done.
 
I'd take a look at some Savage rifles.

I'm a fan of the 10FP series of rifles.

This is slightly over $500, but well worth it IMHO
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/78301


You could also go with a Remington 700. There are a number of them in the low to mid $500 range. I was looking at one before I got a Savage. I don't think you'd be disappointed with it.

You could probably find the Savage or Remington for under $500 if you hunt it down at gun shows or online auctions & stores.

Take a look at the rifles reviewed on SniperCentral.com
http://www.snipercentral.com/rifles.htm


Also, I'd get something in 308. It is a good all purpose round that you can go to the range with to have fun, take it hunting, or use it for SHTF scenarios.

Plus, you can get a suppressor and turn it into something that sounds like a BB gun :p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27xXvaZYjmA
 
There are a bazillion bolt action rifles available for less than $500. I you want to get better recommendations it would be best to come up with more specific requirements, like what range you will be using it at, if you will ever want to hunt with it, how accurate you want it to be, if you want a scope or iron sights, etc etc.
 
Hmmm...You just want a serviceable bolt action rifle to get practice shooting and manipulating the action? I'd get a Yugoslavian Mauser (M24 or M48) or a Mosin Nagant of whichever variety. The Mauser will be a little higher quality, the Mosin a little cheaper, probably.

I'd look around at the gun shows or shops that carry surplus and find a decent one for under $150. Then spend the other $350 on a butt-load of surplus ammo so you can get all the practice you want.

When your skill levels develop and you discover more specific interests, you'll probably have developed the knowledge and aesthetic tastes to be able to select your own "next" rifle.

With a surplus battle rifle like those, you aren't spending much cash, ammo is pretty cheap, and you can do a little "lite" gunsmithing if you want to clean up/refinish the stock, clean out all the preservative grease, etc.

Can't go wrong buying one of those. (Just don't pay the $$$ for a Mitchell's Refurb job.)

-Sam
 
In no particular order:

Weatherby Vanguard, $390
Marlin XL-7, $320
Stevens 200, $320
Savage $400-$500 depending on the model
Tikka, should be able to find one under $500
Remington ADL's are showing up at Walmart for $477
Howa, $400 or so


If you are willing to look at used rifles there are many other options as well.

Any of those will work. The 2 that I would avoid are the Remington 710/770 series or the Mossberg.
 
Thanks guys, I'd like to practice with it shooting wise and gunsmithing it myself wise too.

Come to think of it do you guys know of a place besides gunshows that I can buy one for under $300? I really just don't want a .22, .308 would be sweet but I'll settle for anything I can get as long as its not .22.

Thanks.
*edit jmr40 I didn't see you post until after the fact, and yest I want to get a used one.
 
Yeah, for under $300 and not a 22lr, I'd look at the Mosin. Not going to be the most accurate thing you'll ever shoot, but it is darn cheap, the ammo is darn cheap, you can customize it for darn cheap (usually), and if you mess something up doing your gun smithing, oh well, it was darn cheap to start with.
 
Wanting a 308 at under $300 I would look at the new Marlin. Most places have them at around $319, but some of the bigger stores such as Bass Pro and Cabelas have been running specials on them for as little as $285. They all usually have big pre-season hunting sales in August or early September. I like the Marlin a little better, but have seen the Stevens 200 at about the same price.
 
There are some Remington 700's at dicks around me for $299. Is this a super good deal?
 
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