Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles What to buy in a Budget Rifle

TC Venture all day long, preferably the Weathershield model. An FFL dealer in PA on Gunbroker has them for $399. American made and a guaranteed 5 shot MOA accuracy. A buddy has 3 (6.5x284, 308 and 338) and they are all one hole rifles (he handloads). I have a 6.5x284 that is a one hole rifle with my buddies handloads (140 Berger or 140 Nosler BT), my 308 is a 3/4'gun.

CDNN has Winchester XPR's with Vias camo stocks for $299 after rebate. They're available in .270, 30-06, 7MM RM, and 300 WM. Never shot one or handled one but it's another inexpensive option.

That said out of everything mentioned I'd go with a Vanguard as I don't care much for plastic parts. A friend of mine had a Vanguard 30-06 from the 70's and aside from the hunting marks it's perfectly functional and in great shape. I have both Vanguards and Howas but prefer the bolt differences on the Vanguard.

CDNN has the Marlin XS-7 in .243 on sale for 239.99. Buy a box of Remington Coreloct 100 grain ammo and it will kill any deer or hog in TX.
https://www.cdnnsports.com/marlin-xs7-243-synthetic.html

I strongly disagree with you statement. I think that the Marlin X guns are superior to the Ruger Americans in stock and magazine design and equally accurate. The powers that be at Freedom Group cut the legs out from under the Marlin X guns, otherwise they would probably be the entry-level market niche leader today.

Jap, Crap, or Portuguese?

Decisions, decisions.

Only one poster had mentioned the T/C Ventures. They're among the most accurate out-of-the-box rifles I've fooled with, with fine triggers that can be adjusted if for some reason you don't like a very crisp 3-pound pull.

It all depends on what other features you want.

I suppose if I had to choose I'd take Portuguese winchester. But given all the American riflrs, I don't think you have to.

I would be looking at 7RemMag in the Ruger 77 series, used on GB. Lots available cheaply.

A nice Ruger Hawkeye in 270, used, just sold today for $400 on GB.

Does how make the Weatherby vanguard?

They make the action.

What is wrong with Japanese rifles other than racial bigotry?

Racial bigotry. But I prefer to support people in the country I live, for selfish reasons. Not like you can't find an affordable American gun.

I like the Remington 783. I work part time in a gun store and we sell Ruger Americans , Savage Axis and Vanguards . A lot of the local ranchers have bought the Remington 783's. Use them all year round to control pigs and coyotes . Once they put on a good scope they are tough rifles.

If they rounded out the corned and trigger Guard I would like the 783. Looks cheap as it is.

I'd rather hunt with a Wham-o slingshot than anything Remington.

I owned a Rem 710 many years ago. I haven't shot a 783 but I did handle one in a store. It's weight and the way it felt, balanced, and shouldered reminded me of why I got rid of the 710. They may have improved the trigger and internals, but I have no interest in one.

I think that when the decision makers at Freedom Group decided to take the X guns away from Marlin and give that market niche to Remington, Remington would have been ahead of the game if they had just changed everything marked "Marlin" to "Remington" and started a new serial number sequence in lieu of developing the ugly as a mud fence 783.

As do I, so long as they make something that meets my requirements and tastes, which increasingly isn't the case with rifles made here, especially in the "affordable" class. MIMed and plastic action parts, cheap plastic magazines, etc, are unacceptable to me, so I don't buy stuff that have them. Some companies, Remington stands out, have consistently produced guns with serious quality and safety issues, and just don't seem to give a rat's ass about it. Ruger 77s are solid rifles with traditional features, and I've bought a couple recently, but they've edged out of the affordable class, except for internet close-outs. The Marlin X guns are decent, and if my money and opportunity align, I might pick one up, but they apparently fell victim to "not invented here" syndrome at the Freedom Group, who dumped them in favor of the Remmy crap specials. Honestly, I can't think of anything I like currently made here that retails for under $800, so in the affordable range, Howa/Vanguards and maybe Tikkas are what I look at. Haven't really checked out the Ventures, but the TC recalls, DMs and the lack of stainless models make them less attractive, the 5R barrels more so. One of those might happen in a moment of weakness.

Not directed at you, but it's funny how many decry foreign rifles, then slap Chinese or Japanese scopes on their American ones.

All my rifles have Leupolds except a Savage that 24 that came with a Nikon. If I keep using it, it will get one. So far just punching paper.

I am not saying Jap rifles are crap. It is just that I work in America, so it benefits me to work in a country that people have money to spend. Also I have dealt with Asain people, pushy culture. I also think the Japanese people have so serious moral flaws. Rape of Nankin. Pearl Habor. China holds human rights violations against Japan, so what does that say?


But in general I try to avoid Chinese products, because I don't want to prop up an enemy of the US. Obviously I can't 100% of the time. But there are more American products made than what lazy people say there is. I will also choose other 3rd world countries over China.


While not an enemy, you can also bring up some of these items with German, after WW1 and 2, and all the Jews they tortured, and they people looked the other way. We do tend too tend to look the other way because they are white. I have German hertigage. But it still crosses my mind


Budget rifles to me are this current crop of $500, Ruger American, Savage 110s, some 700s, and all the others. $800 is not high end, but a step up. Your better 700s and Rugers. I havn't done enough comparing, but I would think you could find a budget American rifle. I also realize sometimes we just want something. I am not saying I toe the line 100%, but I do keep it in sight. I could see Tika/Sako, I got some Finn, and they have not been a problem on the world stage. Plus beat back Russia in the Winter War, were somewhat neutral in WW2 with German, they didn't like the Russians.


But again I believe it is my interest to keep as much money in the US I can, since I live in the US. I am not one of these people who believe it is a global economy. That is for people to lazy to check the level.

Ruger American rifle . Lots I don't like about the darn thing .but hot in in z trade and the SOB works too well will embarrass many a rifle 3x the $$
And I have Howa ( vanguard) mark v 's custom 700'd ,sako, Takkis, savages. You get the idea