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Posted: 7/3/2019 7:21:58 AM EDT
[#1]
I'd give serious consideration to the Howa 1500 rifles.
They run $450 or so. Decent adjustable trigger, slick action, and more accurate than they should be. |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 7:33:05 AM EDT
[#2]
I have nothing bad to say about the Ruger American, although I haven't tried any of the bottlenecked cartridges. I only have on in 450 Bushmaster thanks to this state's deer hunting laws.
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Posted: 7/3/2019 7:40:56 AM EDT
[#3]
The Howa 1500, Ruger American and TC Compass are all great budget rifles. The Howa may be the most accurate budget rifle ive shot though.
My Ruger American only shoots a 2-2.5" group at a hundred and ive tried 10-12 different brands and loads. I gave up on it. |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 7:41:46 AM EDT
[#4]
Happy with my Savage axis. Picked it up from Walmart for $199. Definitely hunting worthy. Put a trigger kit in it for $20 because the Walmart models don't come with the accutrigger.
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Posted: 7/3/2019 7:44:59 AM EDT
[#5]
Budget Rifle??
How about the Ruskie Mosin Nagant?? The 7.62x54r round is near equivalent to the 30.06  Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 8:06:35 AM EDT
[#6]
The Ruger American is top-notch. They can be had as a combo with a Vortex scope for <$400.
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Posted: 7/3/2019 8:55:30 AM EDT
[#7]
I’ll suggest another option - a real budget “sleeper” capable of sub MOA:
The 783 Synthetic Heavy Barrel by Remington. http://www.snipercentral.com/remington-783-synthetic-heavy-barrel-full-review/ http://www.snipercentral.com/remington-783-synthetic-heavy-barrel-full-review/ Here’s the secret: it isn’t a Remington design. It’s a version of the excellent Marlin X7 rifle: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_783 But I am still a T/C Compass nut. See my archived thread in the first post in this forum. |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 9:06:49 AM EDT
[#8]
I have the Ruger American in .223 and Ruger American Ranch in .300 blk cartridge. Both work great for my family. I use the .223 as a trainer rifle for my oldest daughter and she hunts with the .300 blk and does pretty well. She has dropped 3 whitetail does with it so far.
I would also recommend the Howa 1500 action series. They seem to do pretty well. I picked one up on the EE in 6.5 Grendel for a decent price and am load testing it right now next to one in an AR platform. I am trying to decide if I am going to be able to use similar loads in each rifle. I would like to be able to use same powder/projectile though the powder charges would probably be different but that isn't such a big deal. Another one that I have had success with is the Weatherby Vanguard series. Howa makes them for Weatherby IIRC but they are great rifles for the money. We have two of them in the house .308 and .243 Win. |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 9:21:32 AM EDT
[#9]
Last I looked at AIM a Mosin was $360 before shipping & transfer.
And 7.62x54 is 40 cents/round from AIM as well. They're a nice piece of history and still one of the cheaper surplus rifles but that doesn't beat a $300 big box bolt action shooting cheap steel cased Tula .308 for 30 cents/round or S&B 6.5CM for 50 cents/round. |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 9:48:27 AM EDT
[#10]
Pretty happy with this cheap RA in 6.5CM. Stay clear of the older rotary mag models I hear. Mine takes the AICS single stack mags.
Magpul mags are out there for them, but you will gag when see the price.  Attached File |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 9:50:36 AM EDT
[#11]
I'll bite. My recommendations are:
1. Build your own Savage. My latest is a .270 Win built on an old Savage action, in a used B&C stock with a Savage 24" stainless barrel from Numrich guns. Shoots 1/2 MOA with 140 grain Partitions. Total cost $375. 2. Savage Hog Hunter. 20" threaded barrel. Mine shoots 1 MOA with decent 150 gr. soft points. I have had great luck with savages. You can pickup a used one Very cheap and I think they shoot better than a new one with lower cost action/barrel. The only other recommendation I will make is for a Marlin X7. My son has one in a .243. I think it was under $300 and shoots sub MOA. A real sleeper. |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 10:06:29 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'll bite. My recommendations are: 1. Build your own Savage. My latest is a .270 Win built on an old Savage action, in a used B&C stock with a Savage 24" stainless barrel from Numrich guns. Shoots 1/2 MOA with 140 grain Partitions. Total cost $375. 2. Savage Hog Hunter. 20" threaded barrel. Mine shoots 1 MOA with decent 150 gr. soft points. I have had great luck with savages. You can pickup a used one very cheap and I think they shoot better than a new one with lower cost action/barrel. The only other recommendation I will make is for a Marlin X7. My son has one in a .243. I think it was under $300 and shoots sub MOA. A real sleeper. Do you buy old guns to get the action, or do you have a source for them? Install the barrel yourself? I'd love to learn more if you don't mind sharing |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 10:13:59 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'll bite. My recommendations are: : . . The only other recommendation I will make is for a Marlin X7. My son has one in a .243. I think it was under $300 and shoots sub MOA. A real sleeper. The Heavy Barrel model is generally sub-MOA and it comes with a threaded muzzle for your hunting suppressor. |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 10:20:14 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I love Savage rifles. Do you buy old guns to get the action, or do you have a source for them? Install the barrel yourself? I'd love to learn more if you don't mind sharing Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I'll bite. My recommendations are: 1. Build your own Savage. My latest is a .270 Win built on an old Savage action, in a used B&C stock with a Savage 24" stainless barrel from Numrich guns. Shoots 1/2 MOA with 140 grain Partitions. Total cost $375. 2. Savage Hog Hunter. 20" threaded barrel. Mine shoots 1 MOA with decent 150 gr. soft points. I have had great luck with savages. You can pickup a used one very cheap and I think they shoot better than a new one with lower cost action/barrel. The only other recommendation I will make is for a Marlin X7. My son has one in a .243. I think it was under $300 and shoots sub MOA. A real sleeper. Do you buy old guns to get the action, or do you have a source for them? Install the barrel yourself? I'd love to learn more if you don't mind sharing ETA: If you have any pawn shops near you, stop by to see what they have. The Savage 10/110 seems to be one of the most pawned guns I run into at these places. I have picked up a few over the years for really cheap. |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 10:23:01 AM EDT
[#15]
  
I picked up this real nice M38 carbine for $250 about 6 months ago. You can get great deals in surplus in the secondary market if you be patient. |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 10:24:59 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The Marlin X7 is indeed excellent, but it is now known as the Remington 783. See my link above. The Heavy Barrel model is generally sub-MOA and it comes with a threaded muzzle for your hunting suppressor. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I'll bite. My recommendations are: : . . The only other recommendation I will make is for a Marlin X7. My son has one in a .243. I think it was under $300 and shoots sub MOA. A real sleeper. The Heavy Barrel model is generally sub-MOA and it comes with a threaded muzzle for your hunting suppressor. |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 10:31:51 AM EDT
[#17]
That's a group from my TC Compass in 6.5. That's my wedding ring covering the holes. Factory federal ammo and black flies that felt like they were going to tear my face off that day at the range. I put a trigger spring in it and a Nikon monarch scope.
 Attached File |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 10:32:46 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Last I looked at AIM a Mosin was $360 before shipping & transfer. And 7.62x54 is 40 cents/round from AIM as well. They're a nice piece of history and still one of the cheaper surplus rifles but that doesn't beat a $300 big box bolt action shooting cheap steel cased Tula .308 for 30 cents/round or S&B 6.5CM for 50 cents/round. |
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Posted: 7/3/2019 10:39:42 AM EDT
[#19]
I'm looking real hard at all of the options here. Want a new deer rifle for this fall. May venture into 7mm-08 territory.
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Posted: 7/3/2019 11:51:19 AM EDT
[#20]
I have a TC Compass in .243. Nice little gun.
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Posted: 7/3/2019 1:54:02 PM EDT
[#21]
I have a Compass in .308. It's more accurate than I am and it was an unreal value--I paid $200 after rebate a year or so ago.
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Posted: 7/3/2019 2:22:40 PM EDT
[#22]
I bought a Savage Axis several months back because a) I felt the lack of a 30-06 bolt action was a hole in my collection, and b) I had enough Cabela's Bucks to get it free. I looked at some other rifles as well - the Mossberg Patriot, Rem. 783. I didn't like the sling "swivel" built into the stock on the 783. The Axis seemed good enough for my needs; I've only put a few rounds through it so far but I can't see any real problems. Trigger is pretty decent, even though it's not the Accutrigger. It came with a Weaver Kaspa 3-9 scope, I'm waiting on rings to replace that scope with a Primary Arms 4-16. I'm still working on load development for it but haven't been able to get to the range to dial anything in.
Only issue I've noticed is with the mags. The rounds sit so far back in the mags that when you work the bolt, the bolt doesn't get all the way behind the round. It hits the side of the case about 1/2" up from the base and pushes it forward from there; you have to nudge the bolt forward, which moves the round forward a bit, and then pull the bolt back and push it forward again to chamber a round. |
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Posted: 7/4/2019 8:54:46 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I’ll suggest another option - a real budget “sleeper” capable of sub MOA: The 783 Synthetic Heavy Barrel by Remington. http://www.snipercentral.com/remington-783-synthetic-heavy-barrel-full-review/ http://www.snipercentral.com/remington-783-synthetic-heavy-barrel-full-review/ Here’s the secret: it isn’t a Remington design. It’s a version of the excellent Marlin X7 rifle: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_783 But I am still a T/C Compass nut. See my archived thread in the first post in this forum. |
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Posted: 7/10/2019 11:43:27 PM EDT
[#24]
The Savage Apex Storm package is a good value. For ~$550 you get a Vortex Crossfire II 3-9x40 mounted on a stainless steel action with a black, synthetic stock and their accu-trigger. It is not the Savage 110 Storm adjustable stock, but it works fine for most purposes.
Savage Apex Storm XP 6.5 Creedmoor I was going to get my gf one of these, but ended up going with the slightly more expensive Savage 110 Storm instead. |
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Posted: 7/17/2019 7:09:44 PM EDT
[#25]
If you are just looking for hunting accuracy, pick up a used Rem 700 in the caliber of your choice. Older the better, frankly, as long as the finish is decent, the action doesn't bind, the trigger is crisp, and the bore is clean, unpitted and shows good rifling. The ones from back in the '60s and '70 even into the mid '80s were very good for rack grade rifles. Later, after Remington went through ownership changes, quality went south. If the stock is wood (likely) you can drop the action in a synthetic stock pretty cheaply. You can run the S/N and get date of manufacture.
Rem 700s have a huge aftermarket parts availability and you can do all sorts of things to it to improve it, accurize it and make it your own. A gunsmith can rebarrel them in his/her sleep, too. I have four BDL 700's from that era (. 280, 7mm Rem Mag, and two in '06) and one really nice Custom Shop 700 (also in .280). All are shooters. The Custom Shop one I bought new when they still gave a damn about quality. It's a different creature altogether. 3/4 MOA or better, close to 1/2 MOA even with a sporter barrel. The rack guns all shoot under 2 MOA. |
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Posted: 7/24/2019 3:19:42 PM EDT
[#26]
I have a Ruger American in 308 with the rotary mag. Works fine.
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Posted: 7/24/2019 6:59:05 PM EDT
[#27]
A used older model Savage would be my choice. And drop a 200 dollar optic, either a PA red dot or a budget 3-9 scope.
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Posted: 7/24/2019 9:05:49 PM EDT
[#28]
A lot of used bolt guns will shoot well. For a low priced new gun look at the TC Compass. I have one in 5.56 It will shoot under 2" 5 shot groups at 300 yds with factory FGMM 77gr. Match Kings.
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Posted: 8/16/2019 12:15:26 PM EDT
[#29]
I have a Ruger American Predator in 6.5 CM and the internet chatter is true:
-OEM stock is serviceable, but just barely. It holds the action, but the comb is too low and the foreend on mine touched the barrel. I added a kydex riser and dremeled the barrel channel on the stock. It is quite light. You won't care if it gets scratched sliding around the trunk. -The action is relatively smooth and fit and finish is utilitarian. No gloss blue here. -The included rotary mag worked fine. A spare OEM I purchased wouldn't feed reliably. The replacement from Ruger also wouldn't feed reliably. I switched to the box mag for the .450 Bushmaster and it feeds fine, but at the cost of 1 round. Ruger recognized this and now offers versions that use AICS mags. -They are accurate. Mine will hold 1" at 100 yards with multiple factory loads including Hornady 129gr Interlock American Whitetail and Hornady 140gr BTHP American Gunner. The gun exceeded my expectations. I put it in a takeoff Ruger American Compact stock and had the barrel cut and trheaded to 16.75". The Sig scope is heavy, but even with the can and scope, it's a handy little gun. 
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Posted: 8/16/2019 3:59:31 PM EDT
[#30]
A local(ish) shop has a shipment of 6.5 Creedmore T/C Compass rifles w skinny, threaded barrels for $250 bucks on sale. I'm thinking of one, w a scope I'd be in like 550 bucks. What are realistic accuracy expectations?
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Posted: 8/22/2019 1:20:36 AM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I’ll suggest another option - a real budget “sleeper” capable of sub MOA: The 783 Synthetic Heavy Barrel by Remington. http://www.snipercentral.com/remington-783-synthetic-heavy-barrel-full-review/ http://www.snipercentral.com/remington-783-synthetic-heavy-barrel-full-review/ Here’s the secret: it isn’t a Remington design. It’s a version of the excellent Marlin X7 rifle: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remington_783 But I am still a T/C Compass nut. See my archived thread in the first post in this forum. |
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Posted: 8/23/2019 1:36:30 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
That's a group from my TC Compass in 6.5. That's my wedding ring covering the holes. Factory federal ammo and black flies that felt like they were going to tear my face off that day at the range. I put a trigger spring in it and a Nikon monarch scope. https://www.AR15.Com/media/mediaFiles/349765/IMG_20190605_205234277_jpg-1002376.JPG I was really disappointed at first with the rifle, it group at 3 or 4 moa and wouldn't hold zero.... I figured out the factory scope mount screws were loose and they were sliding back and forth. Once I fixed that instant shooter. I also have a ruger ranch in 556 that's a nice shooter. Word to the wise.... if your looking to mount a suppressor or brake to a budget rifle check the threading to make sure it concentric before you take it home. The compass was good to go, the ruger is so far off center that I cant use my can or even put a muzzle break on it without serious POA shift (like off the backstop shift). |
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Posted: 8/25/2019 4:35:54 PM EDT
[#33]
Weatherby Vanguard Series II
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Posted: 9/4/2019 4:48:05 PM EDT
[#34]
I’ve had several of the budget guns ($350 or less).
My preference, in order: Mossberg Patriot (standard calibers) - most features for the price, pretty light weight. Almost always an accurate shooter with a variety of loads, even cheap ones. Cheap stock and all plastic mags are the key negative. Remington 783 - smooth action, acceptably accurate, solid overall choice. Molded sling swivels ruin it for many, although the stock itself is probably the stiffest of the ultra budget guns. Savage Axis - accurate, stout action, tang safety, horrible trigger if you don’t get the Accutrigger model (Axis II XP) All are usable, all have some negatives. The most ready to go out of the box is the Mossberg. I was tempted to try a Compass, but it seems like the accuracy and triggers are really hit and miss on those. I am a fan of the 3 position safety, though. All 4 (if you include the Compass) can be had for sub $300. If you can stretch your budget to about $450 or so, you can find a Howa 1500 or Weatherby Vanguard, which I consider lifetime quality guns. |
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Posted: 9/4/2019 4:52:15 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I will vouch for the 783 as well. They're simple, rugged, and super accurate for the price. The competition shooter at Remington told me he was blown away by how accurate the one he test fired in .223 was. They come in a myriad of stocks and calibers/barrel contours. I wouldn't hesitate picking one up if I were in the market, but I'm slightly biased spending 3 months assembling and inspecting the damn things (gotta love mismanagement) and learning every piece, feature, and operation in the meantime. |
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Posted: 9/5/2019 10:35:14 AM EDT
[#36]
Shot the compass out to 720 this weekend with really good results. Wife and I were both able to ring steel consistently and shot some pretty nice groups (she shot sub moa and I was just over at 720)... I was pretty happy considering the heat mirage in my value scope was pretty harsh and we had a variable wind. |
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Posted: 9/5/2019 1:56:03 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The 783 is a very underrated rifle. Too many folks confuse it with a 770. It's a whole different animal. The 783 is essentially a Marlin X7; I've seen people slam the 783 while lamenting the lost Marlin. Other than a few minor details it's the same gun. |
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Posted: 9/7/2019 5:46:51 PM EDT
[#38]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
And the Marlin X7/XL7 is essentially an amalgamation of features from the Model 70, R700 and Savage 10/110 (barrel nut). I don't know if the 783 uses the same trigger as the Marlin, but my XL7 has a very nice adjustable trigger. If I had a use for .270Win I'd shoot it more. |
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Posted: 9/7/2019 7:38:18 PM EDT
[#39]
I’d have to go with one of the $250 T/C Compass rifles at CDNN.
CDNN also has the Marlin X-7 in .243 with a scope for the same price. |
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Posted: 9/7/2019 8:06:00 PM EDT
[#40]
See, this thread is a good example of why we needed a bolt gun forum. This is exactly the kind of discussion I was looking for before I bought my Savage; might have gone with the Remington had I read this first.
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Posted: 9/7/2019 8:08:41 PM EDT
[#41]
You can't beat the T/C Compass for the price. Every now and then you can grab them for $200 or less on rebate. Ruger American is another good one but a couple hundred more.
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Posted: 9/7/2019 8:11:18 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Only issue I've noticed is with the mags. The rounds sit so far back in the mags that when you work the bolt, the bolt doesn't get all the way behind the round. It hits the side of the case about 1/2" up from the base and pushes it forward from there; you have to nudge the bolt forward, which moves the round forward a bit, and then pull the bolt back and push it forward again to chamber a round. “The bolt on the Savage Axis has two hubs; one large and the other a bit shorter. The guy on the savage forum stated that the short hub needs to be rotated to be on the right side of the bolt to cycle large caliber rounds smoothly. I pulled the bolt on the Axis, rotated the hub and she now cycles like a dream. I'm not sure why the bolt is made that way, but I wanted to post it here in case anyone else has had a cycling issue with the Savage Axis.” Rotated the lugs and now it feeds perfectly. |
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Posted: 12/29/2019 12:58:38 PM EDT
[#43]
Tikka, Howa, Vanguard, older 700
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Posted: 12/29/2019 1:21:51 PM EDT
[#44]
My nephew has a Mossberg Patriot that was part of the rifle/scope combo packages. It functions well enough, but it has some accuracy issues. I haven't been able to troubleshoot the gun aside from a loose action screw which helped a lot but not completely. I'm not sure if it's a bum scope, loose rings or bases, or what. Given that it had a loose action screw when he showed up at the range, I'm not ready to blame the gun. It was a .308 and he brought some kind of Winchester hunting ammo.
I'm still happy with my Ruger American. |
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