Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 308 vs 3006 truck gun

Ok say u wanted an affordable 1-2” group gun shorter barrel bolt gun $800 what would u get and why?
Older Remington 600? Tikka?
Savage scout? Ruger all American ?
Have a 25-06 tikka now and an old savage 110e compact in 3006 and a 450 bushmaster bolt
Or do a do A lever in 3030/ 4570 or?
Just winter blues and a little cash. A deer elk gun a meat gun for if the shiiitt hit the fan need dependable accurate out to 250 maybe 300 yards pro more like 100-200 yard quick shot

Between the 2 of those, I'd pick a 308. Personally, I like a 223 as a truck gun, as I'm more likely to get a shot at varmint sized critters and don't need any more power than a 223.

Short barrel, bolt action .308 truck gun under 800.00 = Weatherby Vanguard carbine.

I'd vote for a .308. As to which model, that would depend on how much you want to spend. A Ruger American Predator in .308 comes with an 18" barrel and is fairly inexpensive and usually quite accurate. The triggers are easy to adjust to be light and crisp. Some don't like the esthetics, but they work and shoot well for not too much cash.

This

If you partial to older, find a used Winchester 670 push feed. Plain, simple, and usually pretty accurate. Plain and cheap enough not to worry about it being a truck gun.

I usually have a Kimber hunter (a 243 though) in mine. The magazine lets me load it quickly when needed. It's got a nice trigger, it's stainless, not really much to complain about.

308. If you get an American, splurge for the one that takes AICS-pattern magazines.


Okie John

I have a 308 Savage Hog Hunter. 16” barrel I use as a truck gun

KS-47 is plenty accurate to 400 yards...

Not a bolt gun... and not .308/.30-06

But a blem is well under $800. At least mine was when I got it. No elk here.

RA .308. 150 Interlocks are 1/2 moa in mine, at over 2900 fps.

I like the idea of the others who suggested the Ruger American Predator 308 based on the cartridge options you offered. I can't speak for them; but, I speculate their choice was the same as mine based on the willingness to allow such a rifle to be subjected to the rough treatment we all presume a "truck gun" will endure. Having said that, I'm assuming that your list of firearms being designated such means that you couldn't care less (could care less for the morons) as to which one receives such treatment. Therefore, based on your criteria, I would suggest the Tikka in 308. I like and have no disdain for my Ruger American Predators. However, given the choice, especially spending someone else's money, I would take the Tikka everyday of the week and twice on Sunday over the RAP.

The Ruger Predator is a good choice.

IF:

You get one that takes the AI style magazines. If you can't find one, it isn't terribly hard nor expensive to convert to that mag style.

I had one and liked a lot about it but ended up with 2 Tikka 308's. One of them is going to get cut down to about 18" and threaded for a suppressor. Both the Ruger and Tikka can be had with 3 or 5 round mags. You can get 10 round mags for the Ruger, but I found them to be too much. While I liked the Ruger I like Tikka better.

I would agree on the Ruger American in .308. That is what I acquired years ago for a foul weather/harsh conditions rifle when I didn't want to bring out the nice, blued wood stocked rifles.

The accuracy is phenomenal for such an inexpensive rifle.

The only issue with the Ruger American is the poorly designed magazine. I have called Ruger several times, and each time they sent me the latest version of the magazines, and they are still not 100% reliable. So now adays the Predator model that takes the AI mags sounds like the better option.

The tribe has spoken. I don’t like the RAR and think they’re kind of rough but they sure check all of the OP’s boxes. Put a Burris FF II on it and buy a bunch of ammo with the rest of the budget.

I can’t stand how the action on ruger American feels. out of my cheap rifles, such as savage axis which I just got this last summer for $200 out the door. I would go with tc venture that was $299. Thing shoots just as good as the tikka.

If I was wanting a cheap truck gun, I'd get a Howa. Much better made rifle than a Ruger American or Savage Axis.

I'm a 30/06 guy, they check all the boxes for me. I'm prefer 24" barrels and that's what I use for a truck gun.

I love my tikka and all the others I’ve had love the detachable mag and the accuracy, the smoothness etc,

I think it would be hard to beat a Kimber Hunter in 308. Buy it used, and cut the barrel if need requires. I could see where a detachable magazine could make sense in a truck gun. Throw a Burris FF with dots on top.