Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What's the best value in hunting rifles today?

Lay a Savage and a Tikka side by side at the range with a couple boxes of ammo..... ain't no one picking the Savage.

My vote is to shop the used rack for the best values.

Interarms Mauser action rifles come to mind.

Until they run out, the best deal IMO is the 243 and 7-08 Marlin XS7 at CDNN. $280 gets you an accurate rifle that doesn't feel cheap like the Axis or Ruger American. If you want to get up into the $500+ range, then definitely Tikka or Ruger Hawkeye.

That's in new rifles. I agree most of the best deals are found in the used racks.

Type of hunting? I am impressed with the Howa 1500 in 6.5 Creedmoor I just got. Much nicer than my RAR's, but also heavier.

For barely over 300 bucks, it's a great rifle. For a little more, my Tikka T3 lite in .308 shoots rather nicely.

Not one mention of a 700. Has anyone bought one this year that can speak of quality/accuracy?

Tikka followed closely by a Kimber Montana.

Keep in mind there isn't much value in junk.

I'd say anything you'll buy and be proud to hand down to your kids after a lifetime of hunting with it.

I have had many Savages in many configurations and calibers. They have all shot well. I have also owned Coopers, Kimbers, Nosler 48, Sako's, Weatherbys, etc. I usually reach for one of my Savages when I head out hunting. Just a darn good tool that you are not scared to scratch or hunt in bad weather with. That being said, I recently bought my first Tikka, and this will not be my last. very impressed with the rifle! Either I would consider a good rifle for little money.

HeavyBarrel

Ruger Hawkeyes at cdnnsports.com for $499.

I like the 700's. also take a look at the Bergaras. Thats my next one. Tikkas shoot great but i had to let mine go just couldnt warm up to it

$500: Tikka

$1000: Kimber

$2000: build a custom

Browning X-Bolt micro hunter. 6.2 lbs. Handles like a full sized rifle. Sub inch groups from 20 inch barrel bone stock with my Hornady GMX 139 gr. reloads.
The deer I hit with it rock back and dirt nap.

For the win.

Howa and Ruger

Well said!

......this statement should end this thread

Grab a Tikka T3 Lite .308

Add Talley Lightweight rings

Add scope of choice, depending on budget. The SWFA fixed 6X makes a ton of sense, especially if money is an issue, and you can't rock a compact Nightforce.

The T3 .308/Talley/ Fixed power SWFA combo would be a rig that you could hunt everywhere in the U.S. for pretty much anything a centerfire rifle is commonly used for, and be content that it will easily do the job, if the shooter can do his.

I have the 6x on one rifle and the SWFA SS 1-4 "Illuminati" on the other.

I have no experience with the Vanguard, but a friend has one and it shoots very well. It's a stainless MOA in 300 Weatherby, so it's probably more expensive than the other rifles discussed. I have always been a Remington man (since 1958, when I got my first 22 rimfire), but now my favorite brand is Tikka. I have owned four, and all are exceptional shooters. The only work which needs to be done on a Tikka is trigger adjustment. I have owned three Savages, and they are/were so-so shooters. Two are the Axis model, and I switched out the barrels for E.R. Shaw barrels, which shoot very well indeed. I still like Savage rifles, but they're not in the same league as Tikka. I didn't care for the Ruger American Rifle I handled in a gun shop. I can't offer an opinion as I haven't shot one. Mule Deer seems to like them fairly well - he owns 5.

I shipped off a Superlite in .308 this morning, I'm already wishing I hadn't. I was gonna list a Superlite in .30-06 but I came to my senses.





P

They have the blued, synthetic Hawkeye in 280 Rem for $449 at the moment. I messed around and let the all weather stainless 7mm-08s sell out before I snagged one for $499.