Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles longevity of budget rifles

I don't "get" that either. Some of those old Remmys are fine shooters, but have no visual appear whatsoever, and most show their age.

I look for old commercial Mauser-based rifles. Some are a little plain, but the bones are solid and well worth spending a few bucks on, or even a lot of bucks sometimes. Most have low round counts because people generally didn't sit at a bench and pour it downrange like many do now. All I've bought have been decent shooters and just have a quality feel to them that you don't get with the bic rifles, or even some pricier ones. People fuss about the wobbly bolts, but that wobble is designed in for a reason.

So what if ten grand worth of ammo wears out a $300 rifle?

I don't see the problem, but still, I doubt it will exist to any great degree.

What could conceivably wear out on a bolt action rifle that couldn't be easily replaced? If anything, these throwaway rifles have made things more modular and easier to replace than before. Instead of having to screw a barrel on and finish cutting a chamber, one can use a barrel nut and a headspace gauge in a few minutes. If something goes wrong with the bolt, the bolt head is easily replaced.

There are a few exceptions. I think the 783 has a press fit barrel that truly does make it disposable once that barrel is done. Of course, you can spend $1,500 on a Mauser M12 with a press fit barrel too.

I have a hard time believing my "budget" Howa 1500 won't last as long as any other rifle I own.

Howa is just as good or better than Remington as far as I can see. But one is 299 and one is 549.

I've had this Mossberg Patriot for about 3 weeks now. Its in 7mm-08. Havnt had it out to shoot it yet, but holding up fine so far!

I have a patriot 308. I broke it before even shooting it..the rear action screw will only take about 4 inch pounds of torque before the plastic bedding block cracks..

That said i got a replacement and made an aluminum pillar to take the stress, its accurate, has 700 rounds out of it and only had it 3 weeks.

Wont buy another one, what a [bleep] design that plastic block is. nice idea but they need to make it out of something that will take some pressure from the fasteners..

True, but they were made out of steel..These new plastic POS are more fragile than the toy guns of the 60-70's.

Bic? Like plastic lighter Bic, or what?

I'm easily confused. In my second language bic means 'understand'. As in "You bic Nguyen?"

No bic.

On a higher plane, my youngest gun is near 20 years old. The oldest somewhere around 130 years young. They all shoot, and shoot well. Maybe the most used in a Beretta 686 12 with something around 20-25K rounds behind it. Broke a firing pin back in '99 and that's the only gun that ever broke on me. There be a couple that have some new parts due to improper function, but hey, if you were 85 years old you might need a new part or three yourself.

Probably the most used/abused gun I ever had was a new issue M16. Put around 40K rounds thru it, lubed it often, cleaned it the day I turned it in. Never jammed, not once. First 5-6" of the barrel didn't have much in the way of rifling at that point. Never tried the "semi" position on the safety, dunno if it worked or not. Colt built some good guns back then.

The only thing "budget" about the Howas is the price. They're all forged steel, with one-piece bolts that take down without tools, and have real hinged floorplates that work perfectly, based on the ones I've had. The only issue is that for SS, you have to go with the slightly pricier Vanguard now, but since you get a better Tupperware stock, it's still a good deal. My favorite push-feed.

I would be inclined to agree..I like Howa.

after buying one.... and not counting the great prices out of Whittakers.. as much as I love a Howa... I think the extra $100 or less that a Weatherby Vanguard costs.. it is well worth the extra coin...

Kinda like the difference between a Biscayne and an Impala...

John you might have a point. At least I like the ergs of the Vanguards better...though they are both made by Howa. I had one years ago under the S&W name and I shot the schitt out of it and was happy!

I can compare my Rem783 to my Tikka and 700P and see and feel the differences. Remington obviously saved money with the screw on barrel, final finish and plastic stock but I don't see why it won't last mechanically as long as either gun. It is smoother, more accurate, and 600 rounds later, more reliable with a better trigger than I thought it would be for $249. I think it was a pretty good investment to play around with .223 in a bolt rifle.

Whats the difference, just the stock correct? They both have 3-pos safeties, correct?

Id bet rust and neglect trashes more rifles than does high round counts. By that standard I bet a lot of the new cheap rifles will die just because folks won't value them the same way they might a thousand dollar rifle and hence many will be rode hard and put away wet.

V2s have 24" barrels.

Whittaker's has Howa 1500s for around $350 shipped, while the least expensive V2s that I've seen have been priced around $490.

When introduced the Rem 700 was considered a budget rifle.

Really?

I thought that Remington price the 1963 700 BDLs to compete with the Winchester 70.

The 721/722 was a budget rifle. With the 700, Remington put lipstick on the pig.