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

Some of the least expensive and best shooting rifles I have owned are Savages.

Remington 700 ADL's from Walmart - $379. Toss the scope that comes with it and put on a Leupold VX-1 and you are good to go under $600.

There is nothing under $500 that comes close to the Ruger American and I can buy standard models for under $350 OTD. The Predators are $389 OTD. You won't get a better rifle, but if you just want to spend more money the Savage 10/110 series would be next.

remember,

"you get what you pay for"
"only cry once"


Find you an interest free credit card, and pay it out before they tag you with the interest. help build your credit in the process, be SURE you pay the balance before the deadline though !!!

Jmr just fyi the venture and vanguard select are both under 500 and so is the howa

The Whittaker Howa deals are hard to beat. I like the Howa quality control a little better than Remington these days.

Good advice thus far, but you have to look at the total cost of acquisition. I used to hit the shops weekly hoping to find a firearm that I wanted for $50-75 less than retail. Then I saw how much I was spending on gas that could have gone to guns and ammo. I also realized that I was spending a lot of potential range time driving from shop to shop. I could have just paid the extra coin up front and gone to the range or gone hunting.

You also have to consider the total cost of ownership. I focus on the 308 and 30-06 these days because ammo is cheap and sold everywhere. Over the long haul, you pay a lot more for ammo than you do for the rifle. There are several used Tikkas for sale around here for $400, but they’re all either 270 WSM or 7 WSM. $308 is less than $15/box if you buy online, but the WSMs are $25-26/box. That adds up quickly if you shoot very much. It’s a little different if you handload, but only a little.


Okie John

Depends if you want Jap.

Just make sure you work the safeties on them sumbitches. Some of them are noisy and require 2 hand operation. Ok...only if you're a Yooper but you still should check. You might have to shoot one way out there, like 50 yards. So this stuff is important.

I dunno never shot one so far out.

But I think it us to late, to try making yourself look smart.

Blued Vanguards are little, if any pricier than the Howas sold by Whitakkers, and have a decent stock as is. Lots of cartridge choces too.

Much as I admire the accuracy of out-of-the box RARs, the Howa/Vanguards are made from forgings, have one-piece bolts, excellent hinged floorplates, and nice triggers, all out-of-the-box as well. For a bit more, you get stainless. Traditional construction at a Tupperware price. That may not be a factor for you, but I like it!😛

Blued vanguard is 550.

It shows the 30-06 sold out but they show other calibers left at Palmetto.

http://palmettostatearmory.com/weat...ington-bolt-action-rifle-vgt7m8rr40.html

The PSA deal is about as good as you'll find. Look on the scratch and dent sale vanguard blue synthetic display rifle in 7mm-08. $349 shipped. Dang I'm tempted and I don't need one. A lot of rifle for the $$.

Uh Oh...UY 's secret at PSA is outta the bag...Yup I took notes on the S&D Sale stuff and started the "conversation" at lunch with the BH aka Keeper of the Checkbook. Reminded her I was debt free to the House Acct "at the moment" so whaddabout it & thats a steal of a deal kinda conversation.didn't strike gold just yet, but at least she listened and dinnit walk off at once. Hmmmm May Be a new shooter gonna happen for my September B-Day yet.
Ron

I have 2 savage model 11 223s. They both shoot tiny groups with most loads and I wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

Howa 1500. Nothing else in it's price range is even close.

I have owned two Thompson Center Ventures. Bought the first one in .338 WM as a "back-up gun" to take along in case of a baggage handling mis-hap. Liked it so much I bought a second in .30-06. The .338 was sub-MOA with handloads and the -06 was sub-MOA out of the box with Winchester factory 168gr. Great guns for the money. I think they are going for around $400 new ...

Let's all read that one again.

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.