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Posting this for a friend working in Afghanistan . . .
Anyone got any suggestions for a good bolt rifle for about less than $500-new that would be a good all-around rifle for white-tail deer through elk. He wants something that would be relatively light for hunting elk in the mountains of Colorado, but he would also use it for the local white-tails. Either synthetic or wood stock and either stainless steel or regular steel options would be fine.
For caliber, I was thinking he should get something good for elk (like a .300 Win. Mag or .300 WSM), and then just use it on the white-tails, too.
And, he's a lefty.
TIA.
--shinbone
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Get him a used REM700 in 30-06 and go hunting. I saw one in GA here for $300. Throw a Leupold VXI 2-7 on it and he's good to go... Here is one on Gunbroker. http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=147634070 RH
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buy a savage i would suggest 300wsm personally.
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR
I LOVE MY COUNTRY IT'S THE GOV'T I FEAR
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Find a tikka t3 30-06 in excellent shape should be able to find one for $500 and less used.165 gr accubonds will do anything you need to do.
1 and done
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Used/new 30-06 or 308 of some stripe.
Ruger would suit me.
“Perfection is Achieved Not When There Is Nothing More to Add, But When There Is Nothing Left to Take Away” Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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I'd second the 300 Weatherby in a Vanguard.
`Bring Enough Gun`
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Remington 798 in 30-06. NIB < $500. Mauser action. Nice laminate stock. Great value IMHO.
Murphy was a grunt.
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Thanks for all the suggestions. BTW, it is $500 for the rifle.
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I deleted my post because I went back and reread your original, and you mentioned he was a southpaw. Neither rifle I suggested is available in left hand.
Durn post wasn't up but for just a couple of minutes, you are quick.
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I bought an as NIB Rem SPS SS with a Nikon 3x9x40 on gunbroker for 525 bucks to my door, hard to beat......
Last edited by passport; 11/22/09.
It�s a magazine not a clip......
Advice is seldom welcome, and those who need it the most, like it the least.� - Lord Chesterfield. 1750
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Lots have had great things to say about the new Marlin. Think it's the XL7?? 30-06.
Looks like alota gun for $300 bones. Then grab a VX-1 or a Weaver 6X!
Your Every Liberal vote promotes Socialism and is an attack on the Second Amendment. You will suffer the consequences.
GOA,Idaho2AIAlliance,AmericanFirearmsAssociation,IdahoTrappersAssociation,FoundationForWildlifeManagement ID and MT.
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http://www.shootingtimes.com/longgun_reviews/ST_Marlinxl7_200804/If you'll be hunting more deer than elk a 270 would fit the bill. like I said top with a VX-1 or a Weaver and for $500 bucks your hunting! My youngest "thinks" he wants to hunt. So I see the marlin in either the 25-06 or 270 and maybe the 308 as a cheap way to find out if he really wants to hunt or not. I'll buy a used Weaver 6X and be in it for less than $400bucks. I believe they shoot great. Great trigger and a stock that is much better than the [bleep] they have on the Savage.
Last edited by Shag; 11/22/09.
Your Every Liberal vote promotes Socialism and is an attack on the Second Amendment. You will suffer the consequences.
GOA,Idaho2AIAlliance,AmericanFirearmsAssociation,IdahoTrappersAssociation,FoundationForWildlifeManagement ID and MT.
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Campfire Ranger
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+1 on Brad's advice. Don't turn down a .270.
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Campfire 'Bwana
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When I was doing the same thing for my brother, I got him a bottom of the line M700 in 30-06, and put a Leupold 2-7 on it.
The CENTER will hold.
Reality, Patriotism,Trump: you can only pick two
FÜCK PUTIN!
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If the focus is on function, the options for a sub-$500 elk rifle are almost unlimited.
On the low end of new but very functional are the Stevens rifles for $289 or there about. The Savage .30-06 I gave to my son-in-law as a wedding present was $299 new. On the used market you can find many very good rifles for $350.
You need a scope and used rifles will often come with a functional scope. The first twenty years I hunted elk with my Ruger M77 in 7mm RM and a Bushnell Sportview 3-9x. I think I paid $39 for the scope in 1982. Never liked it, but that scope served very well and never cost me an animal.
One of my favorite scopes these days is a Burris Fullfield II 3-9x with Ballistic Plex reticle. You can buy them for under $175 at �Buy it now� prices on eBay.
Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!
No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.
A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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I know you said new, and your best bet would be a Vanguard or Howa or T/C Venture. But I would go used on a Ruger or Remington.
"For some unfortunates, poisoned by city sidewalks ... the horn of the hunter never winds at all" Robert Ruark, The Horn of the Hunter
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If it's got to be new, you're talking about a Savage or Stevens or such. If he's willing to go used, he can get a better grade of rifle, some of which will be in surprisingly good condition. You will seldom find any "steals" in a pawn shop or at a gun show however. Those folks aren't in business to save you money. Estate sales or private sales can be a good opportunity. I've never used any of the online gun auctions but have heard you can get some good deals there. I would want to know the history of any magnum before I bought it for fear that the throat might be gone.
Aim for the exit hole.
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Again, thanks for all the suggestions.
I know there are some great used rifles out there, but a new rifle is preferred just to avoid the potential hassle of buying someone's problem rifle.
--shinbone
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+1 on the Weatherby Vanguard/Howa. The .300 WBY is perfect, but the cost of factory ammo is about x3 over .30-06. I have read very reports on the Marlin XL7. I see them on sale in the $270 range. Good luck.
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