Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Five rifles under $400 that every rifle loony should own?

Here's a thought experiment: what five rifles, available on the used or new market for under $400, should every "Rifle Loony" own at one time or another?

Here's my list:

1. Winchester 94, 30-30
2. Remington Model 700 BDL, either 30-06/270 or 308/243 (those are the calibers I see most often under $400)
3. Remington Model 760, 30-06 or 270
4. Savage 99, 300 Savage
5. JC Higgins FN Mauser actioned sporter, 30-06 or 270.

All of the above I've either bought, or seen for sale, for under $400. In fact, depending on condition most on that list can he had for $350 or under. One reason I'm not too excited about the Savage Edge or Marlin XL7

So, what would your choices be?

Husqvarna 146 x 5.

Savage 99

Marlin 336

Vaguard

760/7600

There are probably others, but that is MY short list.

760 in '06 or .270
ruger 10/22 or marlin 60
Ruger 77 tang safety
Marlin 30/30
remington 721

Early Interarms Mk X with Oberndorf release and bolt locking safety/trigger assy.

I have 3-on your list! Guess I am a rifle loony!:)

Winchester 70 Ranger versions
Ruger 77 well-used, but sometimes nearly new

A Marlin 39a. Yep, it's only a rimfire, but it is a classic killer.

The SKS. One can shoot a lot and learn a lot from it.

Marlin 39A

gotta have a 10/.22

The Marlin XL7/XS7 switch barrel with barrel nut (ala savage 110), lets this non-gunsmith rifle-looney play with many calibers on one (...or two, or three..)platform.

Winchester 75, great intro to accuracy.

I have to second the votes for Savage 99 and Marlin 39A

...tougher and tougher to find much of anything worth having under $400

Five rimfires:

Ruger 10/22
Marlin 39/39A
Winchester 60A/69
Marlin 60
Stevens Favorite

Five centerfire "sporting rifles:

Marlin 336
Savage 99
Remington 700
Remington 760/7600
Winchester 94

Five "service rifles":

SMLE
SKS
Mosin-Nagant
Mauser 98
Swiss K-31

Five honorable mentions:

Savage 219
Marlin 1894
Winchester 94/22
Browning BL-22 (or Norinco clone)
Remington 14/(14 1/2)/141

My list might be a little different.

1.) Winchester 94 30-30 : The gun that all the cowboys on TV used and an American classic.

2.) Mosin Nagant 91/30: They are dirt cheap, machined with a hatchet, have sewer pipes for barrels yet will still shoot baseball sized groups @ 100 yards with proper loads and equal .308 Win. in performance. Plus they piss all the city hunters at the range off who've spent 1K on their rifles.

3.) Swiss K-31: What a neat rifle. Typical swiss engineering/machining works like a clock. Push/pull action is sweet and IMO, might be one of the most accurate service rifles available. Hunting round is on par with 30/06 and the RUAG surplus ammo is without a doubt the best surplus ammo ever made.

4.) Marlin 336 in 35 Rem.: Another American classic. A great cartridge that kills better than it should and a handy rifle that carries well thru the woods.

5.) Marlin model 60: Not the most accurate rifle ever made, but it's alot of boys first exposure to a semi-automatic rifle. I think they held 18 rounds of ammo and would empty as fast as you could pull the trigger. If you've nothing better to do, they're fun to sit on the bank of the pond and see how many rounds it takes to cut down willow trees.

I'm thinking 4, M700s in calibers small, medium, large and extra large, and a Ruger 10/22.

Ruger 10/22T

Marlin Golden 39A

Browning BL-22

Browning Semi-Auto

Ruger 77/17 HM2

Hikerbum, you beat me to the Rem 721

Too many good answers. Here are some suggestions:

Browning .22 semi-auto take-down
Marlin 336 .30-30
Remington M700 (any caliber)
Ruger M77 or MKII (any caliber)
FN Mauser (any caliber)

1. Used M700 in 270
2. Used M700 in 223
3. Used M700 in 30-06
4. Used M700 in 243
5. Used M700 in 7mmRM

In the last 5 years I've bought all those for $400 or less......



Casey

Please find me a JC Higgins model 50 for under $400!

405wcf

1. Ruger 10-22
2. Used Ruger M77
3. Weatherby vanguard
4. Stevens 200
5. Marlin 336