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Joined: May 2014
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OP
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Joined: May 2014
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Haven't seen a budget rifle comparison thread in a while so I thought it might be interesting to do one. Especially with the introduction of the RAR that appears to be stacking up rather nicely. Perhaps we can keep this thread more on the informative side than argumentative. Shod
The 6.5 Swede, Before Gay Was Ok
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Aug 2007
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Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual. Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit. My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
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Joined: May 2014
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Hey Flave, I was at the range a few weeks ago and a fella with a Howa was shooting some pretty impressive groups. On a side note I'm wanting to get out to Montana this year for hunting some. I'll have to PM ya friendo and perhaps we can go shoot a few critters. Shod
The 6.5 Swede, Before Gay Was Ok
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,228
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
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Depends on your budget.
I would have said that the Marlin X guns were the best buy in entry level CF rifles, but Marlin has discontinued them. Without having shot one, I'd be interested in the Ruger American Rifle, particularly the Predator style. I'm going to buy a Predator in 6.5 Creedmoor when they become available. FWIW, Davidson's has been advertising Marlin X guns for around $250 wholesale, the least expensive that I've ever seen them.
Weatherby Vanguard 2s can regularly be purchased NIB for $500 and the 4 that I have are all good shooters, with the 6.5 Creedmoor being the most accurate out-of-the-box standard production CF rifle, shooting factory ammo, that I've yet to own.
Although widely criticized, the Colt Light Rifles that I've owned have all been good shooters and have come to me from between $400 and $500.
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Joined: Jun 2012
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17,101 |
Laugh all you want guys but last week at the range I shot a Mossberg 4x4 that was turning in sub inch groups
The government plans these shootings by targeting kids from kindergarten that the government thinks they can control with drugs until the appropriate time--DerbyDude
Whatever. Tell the oompa loompa's hey for me. [/quote]. LtPPowell
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Joined: Mar 2011
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I picked up an XS7 (stainless) for ~$300 out the door in 243. Intended to use as a loaner/truck gun. The plastic stock is as good as most, but the mag follower and bolt feel squirt-gunnish. The gun I brought home had a machine mark in the crown that I discovered after getting home. I fixed it myself. Mounted a bargain Weaver classic V9 that was on sale for $119 in a set on Model 70 mounts and rings I had laying around.
When all was said and done, it shoots 85 NPs over Varget and 85 TSXs over H4350 well under MOA. Doesn't get much more 'budget' than that.
Nut
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson
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I'll bit for the Marlin XS7 or XL7. I don't own one, but I've shot and been around several. Build quality is iffy, but they have all been very accurate.
Don't speculate when you don't know, and don't second guess when you do.
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
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Hey Flave, I was at the range a few weeks ago and a fella with a Howa was shooting some pretty impressive groups. On a side note I'm wanting to get out to Montana this year for hunting some. I'll have to PM ya friendo and perhaps we can go shoot a few critters. Shod Stop by any time. Travis
Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual. Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit. My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Campfire Sage
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Campfire Sage
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 115,424 Likes: 13 |
While accuracy is nice, a guy shouldn't ignore the other attributes of a rifle. The Howa is a Sako clone and a damn fine action.
Yes, many come with Hogues but the non-Hogue synthetic is pretty serviceable.
Triggers on the new ones are pretty GD UBER. Uses the same bases/rings as a 700 which is nice.
The only other rifle that can contend with the Howa is the Vanguard (same gun, different label) and the Remington ADL/SPS-Whatever the Fugg-they call it now. They can still be had brand new for Ruger American prices.
Travis
Trump being classless,tasteless and clueless as usual. Sorry, trump is a no tax payin pile of shiit. My young wife decided to play the field and had moved several dudes into my house
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Campfire Tracker
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Any comment on the new Winchester XPR? Too new?
Kaiser Norton
The Kaiser- "If it ain't broke, I can fix that!"
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Campfire Member
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There is the Tikka, but it does not have the budget price to match the budget build. The Stevens 200 was a time tested build (Sav. 110)and had several aftermarket options. It is no more.
The Marlin x's looked interesting but look to be on their way out.
The Rem. 710/770....No.
So what is left? The RAR, Axis, Remlin X783, and whatever Moss. is calling their rifle this year?
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Joined: Jun 2012
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2012
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It's to bad they canned the stevens 200 they were a solid gun for. Great price
The government plans these shootings by targeting kids from kindergarten that the government thinks they can control with drugs until the appropriate time--DerbyDude
Whatever. Tell the oompa loompa's hey for me. [/quote]. LtPPowell
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
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Savage replaced the Stevens 200 with the cheaper to produce Savage Axis line.
The nice thing about the Marlin X guns for a tinkerer like me is that I can easily and (usually) inexpensively swap barrels via Savage 110 series take-offs. That, and the fact that all of the Marlin X guns that I've shot offer the shooter a lot of accuracy potential for each dollar spent.
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Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
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Wally World special 700 ADL/SPS keep your eyes peeled sell for under $4bills regularly.
Honorary Gouger per Travis
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Campfire Tracker
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Another vote for the Rem 700 SPS. I picked one up at Cabelas a couple of weeks ago for $400 and it had a $50 rebate so now it is down to $350.
The best part is that it is shooting sub 3/4 inch groups with the X Mark Pro trigger, and no bedding work. I checked the action screws, which were tight, mounted a scope and used some reloads developed for a different rifle. Yes, those were 5 shot groups.
I have been able to get the X Mark Pro triggers down to 3 lbs so with a little trigger work and a bit of load development it should be close to a 1/2inch rifle for $350.
Pretty hard to beat for a budget rifle.
drover
223 Rem, my favorite cartridge - you can't argue with truckloads of dead PD's and gophers.
24hourcampfire.com - The site where there is a problem for every solution.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
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I bought a bunch of 700 ADL and SPS youth rifles to use as donors back in 2007/2008 and still have six or seven on the shelf in the event that building something new/different moves me. Now that I'm healthy again, I might build something.
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I liked the original "JM" stamped Marlin XS/L 7 best for a value rifle but since Remington bought them out not so much. Never had one but would like to try a TC Venture. A friend has a Howa and it's a nice piece. The "modern" styling of some entry guns make me want to hurl.
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Joined: May 2004
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Campfire Tracker
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My TC Venture has had some very nice groups. It is a youth model but still a bit on the heavy side. It is 1/2 lb heavier than my sons Tikka T3 light and it has a 3" longer barrel to boot. I don't know why it's so heavy.
But the fruits of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,faithfulness, Gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5: 22&23
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