Posted: 4/6/2010 7:37:06 AM EDT
| Hey guys I'm looking for a rifle in .308 due to the availability of ammo. I'm new in the rifle game and would like to be doing some deer hunting a possible something a lil bigger as well as just range shooting. I'm not exactly set on the .308 but was just looking around and seems to have ammo available and good priced. Just trying to get an idea of a good rifle for tops $700. I've heard Remington 700 is good solid rifle but would have to find one with scope which would push the price up a good amt or have heard some about savage arms. Like I said I'm looking for nothing CRAZY distance would be happy with 300+ yards. Like i said i haven't shot much rifle at all so i don't even know what to expect. any suggestions would be great THANKS guys. |
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A word of advice. If you are planning to hunt with it, avoid a heavy barrel. A heavy bull barrel will shoot great off a bench or prone, but it doesn't translate to a hunting rifle. It will weigh more, probably more than you want to carry around all day in the brush, and the balance will be different. By balance, I mean that the weight will be forward on the gun and it makes standing shots, or shots from an awkward angle difficult while hunting.
If you are looking for a good gun that can do both, but won't be a specialty for either, get any recognized name bolt action with a regular contour barrel and a synthetic stock. Remington 700 Savage Winchester 70 Weahterby Vanguard Marlin XL7 |
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A word of advice. If you are planning to hunt with it, avoid a heavy barrel. A heavy bull barrel will shoot great off a bench or prone, but it doesn't translate to a hunting rifle. It will weigh more, probably more than you want to carry around all day in the brush, and the balance will be different. By balance, I mean that the weight will be forward on the gun and it makes standing shots, or shots from an awkward angle difficult while hunting. If you are looking for a good gun that can do both, but won't be a specialty for either, get any recognized name bolt action with a regular contour barrel and a synthetic stock. Remington 700 Savage Winchester 70 Weahterby Vanguard Marlin XL7 Edit to add: The .308 is a good choice. Ammo is plentiful in everything from hunting loads to match loads with a wide variety of weights available. That being said, there are better choices, but few are as versatile. I prefer a .270 for my deer rifle, and a .30-06 for anything larger. The .270 is flatter and faster than a .308, and the .30-06 can take heavier bullets. However, for a range gun, the .308 fits in a short action, and can have the potential to be more accurate. Plus, all the ballistic work is already done with a .308. I'm currently picking out my first .308, but it will be a heavy barrel strictly for shooting paper and steel. |
| Agreed, look for a good used package. I've got a Remington 700 Mountain in .30-06 for my deer gun and it works great. With factory ammunition I usually shoot about 1.15" - 1.25" groups at 100 yards as long as I shoot slow (featherweight barrels heat up fast). The light weight is nice for hunting, but punishing at the range. Personally if I had to pick between .308 and .30-06 and could only have one i'd take the -06 (like I did) because of the ability to shoot heavier loads. If you're sticking to deer sized game the .308 is probably better (little more inherently accurate, lighter recoil, etc.) but if you ever want to hunt heavier game, and only have one rifle to do it - i'd take the -06 |
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Take a look at the Savage package rifles 11FXP3 and 10GXP3 that come with the Accutrigger as well as scope and sling.
These new in box rifles with scopes can be found for less than $500 and are often cheaper than used combos found elsewhere. Granted, the scope will probably be a generic Simmons but you can always upgrade later. |
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I like Howa 1500 / Weatherby Vanguards for the price. - AG I was very impressed with them, and will be getting a Howa 1500 for my .308. Howa makes Weatherby's actions, and are very solid. ETA: That is, unless I have enough $$ at the time to get a Savage 10FP... 
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I like Howa 1500 / Weatherby Vanguards for the price. - AG I was very impressed with them, and will be getting a Howa 1500 for my .308. Howa makes Weatherby's actions, and are very solid. Howa/ Vanguard actions are my favorite for building custom rifles. They are STOUT, and have a flat bottom that is easy to bed. - AG |
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Another big fan of Remington 700s and Savage 12s here.....I've got varmint versions of both in 308 , and sporter weight 700s in 243 and 7 mag. My 300RUM target is also a 700 action.
Dont overlook another favorite of mine....the good ol 788 Remington . An excellent handling woods gun with a detachable mag setup. Long since out of production , there are still quite a few around and hover around $400 used , but often cheaper if you shop. An excellent trigger and very accurate with a beefy trunnion . I've got them in 308 , 243 , 222 , and my 6BR target custom. |
| Another nice thing about Savages is that you can change the barrel/caliber just as easily as changing a AR-15 barrel. Say you buy the short action model in .308, you can switch out barrels and change calibers to like .243Win, .260Rem, 7-08, .358, etc. You can also get pre-threaded & chambered barrels from some of the best barrel makers for a real tack driver. |