What rifle would you recommend?

[Red State]

Hi guys,
I need your input. A friend is looking for his first bolt action rifle.

He wants to use it for target shooting and hunting. My guess would be that 80% of its use would be targets and fun at the range. 20% of its use would be hunting.

Here are the general criteria:

For target shooting
It needs to be fun to shoot all afternoon at the range, so no magnum cartridges and no featherweight rifles that weigh 5-1/2 lbs.
It also needs to be accurate, so a good stock and barrel and trigger is important.


For huntung
It needs to shoot a versatile round that can handle many different types of game.
It needs to be light enough to carry through the woods/desert/mountains all day long.


I know that finding one gun that will do both functions is a tough task. What make and model do you guys recommend? What versatile calibers would be at the top of the list?

The max budget is $750.

 

[zemio]

Sounds like a job for *dahdadadah!* Captain .223! H&R make a nice single shot, a bud of mine has one. Another option could be the Norinco JW 105 if you get them there, same cal but 5 shot bolt. Those are selling by the container load here, cheapest new .223 on the market so far.

 

[Dr.Mall Ninja]

i'd get a 1917 enfield but there is going to be a gazillion answers for this.

Most game animals can't be legally killed with a 223

 

[Jolly Green]

There are two routes he can take:

1. Surplus military rifles. I'd suggest either a Swedish m96 or a German/Yugo/Czech/etc Kar98.

The m96 shoots 6.5x55 which is a very popular hunting round over in Europe. The cartridge itself is very accurate and surplus can still be found (SAMCO has some web-linked which I have found to average about 1-2moa) The rifle itself can run you anywhere from 200-700 dollars (depending on markings, matching pieces, etc.) Regarding the scope, most m96's have straight bolts (unless modified) so I'm not sure about drilling these for scopes, but you can always buy a m41b w/ no scope from SAMCO for about 500 (will be drilled, bent bolt, just need a specific mount and the scope).
Final note: the rifles average about 10 pounds un-scoped. This absorbs almost all recoil, so sporterizing it (please don't) will increase the recoil accordingly.

The Kar98 can run you from $200-2000 (once again based on condition, markings, and matching pieces. I have never shot one, but the following is what I had learned when choosing between the Karabiner and the m96. The K98 chambers 8mm. This is a slightly larger bullet than the 6.5. However the size comes with a price. The rifle is suppose to have a sharper recoil when shooting bench rest, but is much more pleasant off hand. The recoil isn't ferocious, but I've read people don't go over ~80 shots with it. One advantage of this rifle is that it is relatively easy to scope. Like the swede m96, surplus ammo is available, but the 8mm tends to be less accurate (2-4 moa).


2. Modern rifle. Remington is very popular in the bench rest/hunting area. Their 700 series is pretty cost affective from what I've seen. The series offers a multitude of variations from police-spec to a varmint rifle. The average from ~$500-2000+. I believe all you need to scope them is a pair of rings and the scope. They come in almost every caliber under the sun.


As for one final note (if you've read this far), if your friend is looking for a "fun gun" while still renaming semi-target/hunting rifle, a Romanian psl-54c is an option. It chambers 7.62x54r (very similar to .308) which there is a massive surplus of. The rifle has a lot of up's and down's which he might want to research. Overall, it's a cold-war era rifle which uses an AK-gas system (i think) and aesthetically attempts to imitate a dragunov. It can be had for around $500-1000(rip off price) and comes with a PSOP scope (Russian 4x scope with a cool bullet drop compensator). One note about the rifle is that the scope and butt stock are shaped to be used by right hand shooters.


Hope any of this helped. I'm just a target shooter, so hopefully someone more knowledgeable about hunting will stop by and help

 

[Dr.Rob]

Get a Remington 798 at CDNN in .30-06 or .308, they are discontinuing the model, its a Zastava Mauser action with a Remington label, very slick.

or a CZ 550 "American', same reliable Mauser action, great wood.

Savage make a great starter bolt gun as well, and seriously accurate.

 

[praharin]

Most game animals can't be legally killed with a 223 0

Depends on the state.

 

[Uncle Mike]

Targets to ??? yardage-

Hunting ??? animals-

 

[arsuf]

I would look into something with less recoil than a 30-06 or .308, a the range, especially at the bench these can get painful and induce bad habits like flinching, .223 it a little small for a good deer rifle. I would look into something like a 7mm-08, .243, 6mm rem, or even 7.62x39. .243 will offer the most selection, but will be underpowered if going after game larger than deer. Savage makes a number of good options that are affordable.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

T/C Icon

.243 Win

Nuff said.

 

[logjam]

Get a .308 rifle made by either Ruger or Remington.

 

[Red State]

Thank you all for the responses so far. Just to clarify, we are looking for modern bolt action rifles only.

Dr. Rob, I am going to look into both the 798 and the CZ 550. Thanks for the idea.

Uncle Mike, max target range around here is 400 yards. Type of game animals are not yet specified, but I would imagine it to be deer and smaller.

Arsuf, that is all good input. Thank you.

Dr. Tad, I dont know much about T/C, but I will definitely look closer.

Logjam, I am guessing you recommended the .308 over the 30.06 because of recoil? Any particular models that you like from Ruger or Remington? Something that is accurate, and of medium weight?

 

[smoothdraw]

M1 or M-14

 

[lopezni]

If his max budget is $750 than a nice Savage 14 classic, Weatherby Vanguard Sporter, or a Tikka Hunter would all be good choices. Bushnell banner 4-12 x40 AO scopes are decent and go for about $100. I'd suggest .308, recoil isn't bad, ammo is easily available, you have high accuracy potential, and it kills lots of animals dead.

 

[Buzzard]

Do-all one gun? Can do!

Savage 16/116 Weather Warrior in .243 Win, 7mm-08 Rem, or 25-06 will fit the bill and then some. Stainless barrel means a little less wear and tear over time, its a Savage so it'll be bloody accurate, and all three calibers can (and will) drop whitetails and smaller game with little trouble out to 300 yards. Plus none of them will blow your ears off or kick you silly. Heck, if you get really brave I know one fella that drops Elk with a 7mm-08.

 

[sarduy]

remington 700 30-06
repington 700 sps tactical.

 

[ol' scratch]

I orginally said M1 Garand, (hence the revision) but I just read you want a modern turn bolt. I would suggest a CZ 550. I really like their stuff.

 

[benzy2]

There are a lot of decent rifles out there today. Assuming $750 includes rings and scope I think I would look at one of a few options.

Weatherby Vandguard rifles seem to shoot decent. Most people find a particular load or two that will shoot under 1" at 100 yards. They are running right around $400.

The Stevens 200 is a Savage action without a the accutrigger and the old generation stock, though I think they may have switched to the centerfeed stocks of late, not sure. Only negative is that trigger is bleh. At $300 though you can spend a $100 on an aftermarket trigger and be right with the rest of the $400 rifles.

Or you can go straight for the Accu-trigger and buy a base model Savage. This will be in the $400-$450 range but you will get the accutrigger and you may get their new better accustock which I would look into.

Remington sells their SPS line in your price range. You can get the thin barrel SPS for the price you are looking for. The Varmint line may be getting tight with money after the scope but it could be done.

The T/C Venture has a 1 MOA guarantee which is impressive for a $400 rifle. Haven't handled one though.

You can find a Tikka T3 for a little over $500. Again no personal experience with them.

Those Remington 798 and 799 sound like a great deal as well.

I have a CZ 527 that I really enjoy. The 550 is a great rifle as well. You are going to be pushing the price limit with a scope though.

If you can find a decent deal you can get a new Winchester for $650 or so. I like their rifles since they reopened. Not much for a scope but hey its a decent rifle.

As for caliber, well its an open topic. I think anything from .243 up to .30-06 would be a decent choice. I wouldn't want to go smaller than .243 and you certainly won't need more than .30-06 or probably eve that much. So whatever floats your boat between the two. If you plan for more deer than groundhogs I would push bigger than smaller, but if more hunts are in the varmint fields it would be hard to justify the .30-06 as much. Figure out exactly what you plan to shoot at and how often and that should drive your chambering selection.

I would then put $50 or so into mounts and spend whatever else you have on a scope. I like Nikon for a budget yet fairly reliable scope. The Bushnell Elite line are decent as well as the Sightron SII for the price. Leupold has a big following. I think you are paying a bit for their customer service and get a little less scope for the money than the others in the same price range with similar features. That said you can't beat their service. There are some other decent brands but spend as much as you can on the glass and you won't regret it. Too many headaches, both metaphorically and literally, with cheap scopes.

 

[06]

Naturally I will recommend the '06. Have been using them for quite a few years and see no reason to change. The weight of your rifle will greatly determine how much recoil you get. Flinching has never been a problem for me and I am a skinny person(6'2" X 140#).

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Guys:

It needs to be fun to shoot all afternoon at the range, so no magnum cartridges and no featherweights.

Anything bigger than a .243 is ruled out by that statement, and .243 probably is, too. .223 rem or other centerfire .22 caliber round is the best bet probably with that criteria, or maybe .243 or other 6mm chambering. Presumably, featherweights means .22 hornet or .17 Rem fireball. He didn't say "no lightweights" - he said no "featherweights".

As for $750 being the budget for the RIFLE, versus that being the budget for BOTH rifle and optics, as some have assumed the latter, makes all the difference in the world as to choice. I assumed the former; hence the T/C Icon Original Medium Action recommendation. Horse of a completely different color if that budget needs to include glass - cut the budget of the rifle roughly in half; then you're looking at Savage, Howa, Vanguard, Venture, Marlin, Stephens, etc.

 

[Z-Michigan]

For affordable target practice in a modern bolt-action, I think .223 Rem and .308 Win are the only realistic options. Any other caliber I can think of for those purposes would be more expensive to shoot. (This all changes if your friend is ready and willing to reload.)

For the types of hunting you describe, .223 isn't going to cut it, so .308 would be my recommendation. However, .308 won't be the most fun for lots of target shooting and will be fairly expensive still, so I would seriously consider getting a second rifle for practice, either a .22 rimfire (cheapest and easiest to shoot) or a .223 Rem.

There are so many quality options in modern bolt rifles in those calibers, I don't know where to start. For the .22 LR, however, I would look at the Savage Mark II, especially the nicer models like the BV. High quality, accutrigger, and very reasonably priced.

 

[pikid89]

buy american and go with a rem 700 or a ruger m77 in 223 22-250 243 308 I got a rem 700 ADL at wally world in 243 for 300 bucks (they also had a 270 but i already have one lol or i would of taken both)

 

[chevyforlife21]

get a .243 savage, equal to if not better accuracy over rems and rugers for half the price

 

[cooltouch]

First post -- glad to be here.

Given Red State's friend's requirements, my recommendation would be something within the range of a .243/.25-06/7mm Mauser or so, as far as the round goes.

I own a Remington 700BDL chambered in .243, and I find its recoil to be quite mild. It would be easy enough for me to shoot that gun all day long. .243 ballistics are great, and a modern bullet design will provide more than enough stopping power for deer-sized game. Also, don't neglect the 7mm Mauser -- that's a sweet round. Not quite the velocity of the .243, but it also has a fairly mild recoil and good stopping power.

As for the bolt-guns themselves, I'm really not all that conversant on the latest available models. But I think that, given the dollar limit, one should have a fairly large selection to choose from, even when a decent scope is added in.

 

[Water-Man]

Tikka T3 in 6.5x55 Swede.

 

[wlewisiii]

Mauser 98, preferably a CZ or South American variant, sporterized, in one of 6.5x55, 7x57 Mauser or .257 Roberts. That will do everything the OP wants with the best combination of bang/buck. Stick to iron sights or a LER scope of 1x or 2x max.

400 yards will still be a hassle, but nothing kind to the shoulder will be any better than those three.

William