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

1. Sav 99
2. Weatherby Vanguard
3. Swiss K31
4. Marlin 336
5. Ruger 77

Southeastern List, at this moment :

10/22 SS

77 SS Compact .223

700 .308

Vanguard .257 WM

Marlin 1895 SS GG

#1)Rem 760 Gamemaster in .270WIN - I bought it for $250.00
It was my favorite black tail/brush gun for almost 10 years
I sold it last year for $450.00...And will always remember the fun times with it.


Others:
SKS Yugos (Had 3)
Ruger 10/22
Marlin 917VS 17HMR
Cabelas Rolling Block

Where are you finding decent Savage 99s these days for under $400?

I have two J.C. Higgins Model 50 Mausers, both in 30-06. They are excellent rifles and very accurate. I get a big kick out of it that you can buy such a superb rifle for under $400 just because Sears marketed it. If everybody knew how good they were, the price would go up, so don't tell anyone, OK?

Ruger 10/22

Marlin 30/30 beater

Rem700

Marlin 1894 44 mag

Your math is impressive...

How about the new savage Edge?

i don't know what caliber or what model that is.

How about the Rem nylon 66 and a really accurate .22 lr like the Brn/ Win M-52 or Anchutz 64 or 54 sporter

That's kind of funny: totally contradicts your name.

Hey, It's not really a contradiction - I just like to shoot and I can shoot a lot more when the ammo is cheaper - and I'm not getting the snot kicked out of me. I probably shoot my Feinwerkbau 300 recoiless air rifle more than any other rifle.

On the used market I've grabbed huskies and decent older customs for close to that. Not to mention mdl 700's and rugers.

If you're talking only new the 700 adl and sps are around. And the vandgard/howa is always a great buy.

I think he means 5 copies of the model 146 (large ring).

Ditto's on the Nylon 66, but gees you have to pay a lot for one that has not been beat to snot. When I was a kid, a barn was not a barn with out a Nylon 66 in a corner. I would add and 870 pump shotgun in either 12 or 20, or if you are lucky to keep the 28 ga you had when you were a kid. Or a Model 37 Ithaca shotgun.

Remington 700, 270 or 30-06
Remington 788, 308 rifle
Winchester Mod. 70 Black Shadow 270
Winchester Mod. 70 308 Lightweight
Winchester Mod. 94 '66 model 30-30

Phil - you live in Alaska, I live in South Florida. My question is just how difficult is it to pronounce "Feinwerkbau 300 recoiless air rifle" when your lips are frozen? LOL... Regards, Jerry (Homesteader).

When your mustache is frozen solid to your beard you really can't tell if you are pronouncing it correctly or not.

Phil - big chuckle on my end...I imagine, with 'stash stuck to beard, it sort of sounds like 'Finerekafrec coilness'. Regards, Jerry.

Speaking of the Nylon 66's....

Back when I was a kid I purchased a new'Apache Black' Nylon 66, and I'd hate to think how many rounds of ammunition I put through that rifle...

I grew up out on a ranch and just about everyone I knew started shooting .22's at a very young age (after we out grew our Red Ryer BB guns).... Compared to some of the old .22 rifles we used that chrome and black Nylon 66 was a thing of beauty.

I don't remember ever having a problem with my Nylon 66.

Year or so ago I purchased a Marlin M981TS Stainless .22 and in a momemt of weakness sold my old Apache Black 66..

Been kicking my self ever since for getting rid of my old 66.

Marlin 39 - mine dates from 1948 and is a keeper,
Marlin 336 in .35 Rem,
pre '64 Winchester 94 .30-30,
Tradewinds Husky .30/06,
and the best sub $200 truck gun I've found, a Mark X Mauser sold by Charles Daly in .308. The trigger adjusted down nicely and the Butler Creek stock sure isn't pretty but it shoots fairly well.

nylon 66
Ruger 10-22
Model 700 of some caliber
94 .30-30 or .32 special
Model 788

and there are more. Can't stop at 5

ive found 3 of them for $300 or less......

They're out there, you just have to look for them and be willing to settle for the less desirable models; e.g., those that are drilled and tapped, lack the rotary magazine, or have the impressed checkering.

the ones ive found have only been D&Ted from the factory and have the rotary mag.....the buttstock has been cracked behind the receiver on 2 out of 3 but thats not abnormal on a 60 plus year old 99......