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Ruger American Ranch or Predator or Savage axis or axis 2.

Pretty impressed with the ruger Americans. I can see why they're the top-selling bolt action, year after year.

My ruger American, bought used for $100, scoped with a 2-7x33 redfield, is 1/10 the price of my dedicated hunting rifle.

I always liked my budget bolt-guns to be in 223, 308 or 30-06.

Just adds to the value of the whole thing, as I'm always stocked with gobs of free range-rubbish brass.

I've experienced jams with both the rotary and updated flush mags. Both a cheap design and a bummer.

With boyds making an all-metal ai kit, at least there's a cheap fix.

Not sure if you can call them economical, but have 2 LH zastavas a 6.5 swede an 7.62x39 msrp 800 CDN bought them used for $330 each
One of thses days I'd want to try a ruger american to see how it compares, did shoot a friends 450 bushmaster and liked the lower recoil.
Thinking it would make a good truck/scout type gun with irons a QD rings?

What he said. I did the Ruger American thing. Junk. Accurate junk, but junk nonetheless. I've also done the cheap Salvage thing. Same story!

My wife has a Savage Axis in 7-08. After I got the trigger worked on, it was no trick at all to get a 140 accubond to print 1" or less. Pulled it out last fall and the first shot was exactly 2.5" high and dead center, right where it should be.



I hate the flimsy stock and they are ugly as sin but she likes it. I think the Axis mag is 10X better then the American's.

Really, the Axis mag better? Neither suits me.

I said better, not great

I have never had an axis mag fall apart just putting a new rifle together out of the box....can't say the same about the American.

I sighted one in for a friend, a 25-06. What a shooter. The mag was hard to seat and hard to remove.

Life's too short.

Hit the used racks and see what shows up.

I like the older savage and Stevens 110 actions. Then you can do what you want with it.

They're getting harder to find cheap though.

-Jake

Bwinters, you are an accomplished hunter and you know what works for you. I would hold out for a real deal on that favorite rifle, or an M700 in 223, 6.5 Creed, or 308. If i found a real deal on an M700 in a different chambering, i'd go for it if relatively inexpensive factory loads are available (such as 6.5 Swede, 7 Mauser, 30-06) from Prvi, etc as backup to my own reloads... i think you will be happier in the long run ...

D - I think you're on to something Got a lead on a Kimber Hunter......

Victory!