Wanting to add a budget .308 bolt gun for general hunting here in the southeast. Grew up with .270 and later 6.5x55, my current caliber of choice. Leaning towards the Tikka T3x as I already have one in 6.5x55 but I know Ruger's CHF barrels can be crazy accurate in the less expensive American series. Don't care for the Savage Axis or MB Patriot rifles although the 110 series is great in the accuracy dept. Another option is the Browning AB3.

To boil it down to a simple question: between T3X, RAR, and AB3, what would be the consensus pick?

The Tikka is the official rifle of the 24hourcampfire. Do you really think this is a contest?

Agreed. If I want a known shooter, the Tikka is it.

I didn't expect it to be such a foregone conclusion but there it is. Mods, you may close the thread.

Another job well done with my usual speed and accuracy. :0)

Tikka and the Savage 110 are far from budget but would get my nod of the ones you mentioned.

Pick whichever seems to fit you best and has the options you prefer.

Winchester XPR.

Go Ruger American. Exactly 6.1 lbs on a scale. An actual short action, unlike the tikka. Holds more rounds than the tikka, Flush magazine, unike the tikka. A faster 1:10" twist than the tikka. One of the easiest triggers to adjust, of any rifle. Accurate as heck, even with 200 grain bullets.

Though the ruger american lacks the features of a serious Alaskan rifle, Ive seen these cheap plastic-wonders operate flawlessly up here from 30 below zero, to constant target shooting at 75 degrees, where the barrel gets scorching hot.

My buddy's 6.2 lb 30-06 handles nasty creek mud, and tundra/taiga foliage equally well:






Paid $100 for mine with 2-7x33 scope.....

mainer, we've talked about this.

I too have a RAR 308 (mines a lefty) ridiculous what you get for the money. Downright disconcerting.

Fancy, it is not. I treat mine like I treat my lawnmower. It keeps drilling little groups with whatever is on sale.

Even now about half the cost of a Tikka.

OGB,

Rugers are kinda like Elmer Keith.:

They know their way around a rifle, shotgun, and handgun. Theyre rough around the edges, and alllllllll American...........

Sometimes Budget has different meanings.... buying a Tikka you would almost be guaranteed excellent accuracy, a sweet trigger after installing a $3-5 spring, super smooth action, without spending anymore money after initial cost.

Remington 280,
Yep, budget has a different meaning.

Heres the ruger american/merriam websters version:
The American has a better name, is lighter, and even comes with a scope rail.

Ive weighed the tikka "compact" 308 winchrster. To quote the famous big stick: "hint hint".......it weighed more than a standard ruger american with free scope rail removed. To quote the famous big stick again........"hint hint"

You're quoting him wrong. It's "hint. Congratulations? "

Bought a Ruger American Predator in 308 a couple of weeks ago and screwed a Dead Air Nomad can on. Shot it in the backyard (I’m on 10 wooed acres) and after sighting in at 25 yards you had to look close to tell there was more than one hole. I like it………

I bought a LH Ruger American Predator 308 a couple months ago. Called Ruger and for under $30 got the parts to convert the little flush-fit magazine into an AICS pattern magazine. It makes a pretty nice utility rifle.

I did exactly the same to my Ruger American Compact .308. It absolutely does make a nice atv/truck gun. Varget and Hornady 165 flat base interlocks get me 2600 fps out of that 18" barrel, and under moa out to 300 yds so far.

Manny

Kind of boring, but that is the way it is..

Good suggestions.

Ruger American Predator with the AICS mags here as well. Shoots blue box Federal 150’s into very small groups.
Watch Sportsman’s Warehouse. I’ve seen the basic 308 for $399.

That sounds like a nice package. I would have chosen the Compact if it was available in LH.

I would go with a Tikka followed by a Ruger American or Predator (if it is offered in 308)

Bought Axis II in stainless for $320 at Wally World. Shoots lights out. Truly a budget rifle.

My savage axis 2 that is 223 cal shoots horrible with 55gr fmj Federal. Very disappointed with Savage so far.

Try something other than FMJ. No surprise it's not shooting well.

a second for the XPR.........very underrated rifle IMO

I would choose the Tikka every time. A .308 Tikka is an easy button.

What Mac said

I just bought a new CVA Cascade in 6.5PRC from a guy ( who really wanted a 6.8 Western instead) and 3 boxes of ammo for a bit under 7 bills. Trigger adjusted to 2#, looks very well put together. I haven't shot it yet but that has been about as "budget" rifle as I can do. I can't get excited about the really inexpensive models because I grew up with "junk". Too poor. ha But I can see the draw, I have relatives who hate spending $$ on anything. They also handle their rifles like I do shovels, hoes and axes. Well, I handle my tools "better" than they do their rifles! (insert a loud raspberry right here!) lol

A year and a half ago I picked up a T/C Compass in 308 from Academy Sports to use as a truck gun. They had them on sale and it only cost me $241 including tax out the door. I topped it with a 4x Nikon scope I had laying around and built a handload for it.


Last season was the first time I hunted with it. I fired 4 shots at game.





I really don't know what more you can ask from an inexpensive rifle.

FYI- That pig has what appears to be a nose bleed!🤣🤣

^^^This^^^

I have a Ruger Predator 308 that takes the AI style magazines. I also have Tikka 308. If you choose Ruger the only one I'd touch is the Predator that takes AI mags. I've had just enough issues with the standard mags that I can't recommend any Ruger American that doesn't take either AI mags or one of the 223's that take AR magazines.

The Rpredator AI 3 round mags protrude from the bottom more than Tikka 3 round mags. Both are available with 5 round mags. The Ruger will take 10 round mags, but IMO that is just too much of a good thing. I tend to use 5 round mags with either rifle. They do protrude slightly, but so do the 3 round mags and it isn't enough to hurt anything and I just like having 5+1 more than 3+1. Probably not needed, but there isn't any real downside in this case.

My Tikka has a better trigger, looks better, has a better stock and is a tiny bit more accurate. The 18" barrel on the Ruger fills a role however and accuracy isn't significantly different. It is still above average. I do like the Tikka a bit more and the small price difference is worth it. I paid $350 for the Ruger. They are over $500 now for the Predator and no longer the value they used to be.

When I was looking at $350 for a Ruger vs $700 for a Tikka the Ruger looked pretty good. But not at $500-$600 like they are now.

This is a good point. Got my RAR 308 for $350 now they are around $500. If they were still $350 I'd likely own a couple more but at current price would rather add a bit of cash and have another Tikka.
I do think the Tikka is a better rifle and don't categorize them as "budget guns".
The RAR was a tremendous value for what I paid.

not any easier to adjust than Savage, most likely won't have to

I appreciate all inputs, don’t think I could go wrong with any of the options suggested. I made my choice after bouncing back and forth between Tikka and Ruger. I did read up on the CVA Cascade which is impressive.

Even though I know the T3x well and it’s a solid choice, I went with the Ruger American Go Wild camo version for the following reasons:

• Accuracy - certainly not better than Tikka but my American Ranch in 7.62x39 easily shoots MOA with Hornady Black
• The camo version uses AI mags, same as my Gunsite Scout so I won’t have to buy extra Tikka mags (which are not budget)
• It has a threaded 22” barrel, allowing use of my Nomad 30. Only the CTR has a threaded barrel, costs more, and is basically an equivalent pattern to my Gunsite Scout.
• It is American as someone pointed out, and...
• Who doesn’t want at least one rifle in burnt bronze cerakote?

Good choice. Whole lotta AMERICAN rifle for the money.......