Good bolt action rifle for <$500?

[MotoSook]

Is there a good bolt action rifle for less than $500?

Something that shoots .308 maybe?

Just curious. I handled some bolt action rifles the other day, but they were all synthetic stock and felt rather cheap...price was $399-450 or so. Savage makes a stainless steel model that looks interesting but I haven't handled it.

What about Howa? Good rifles?

[vash]

.308 for hunting, or target?

Howa makes some fantastic varmint rifles for sure. never seen one, but weatherby came up with a weatherby 399. i guess it's called that because it cost $399.

[bell]

You can find a used enfield .303 for a few hundred, I love my .303, deadnuts accurate although ammo supplyers are limited I've been finding them for $15 for 20.......

[MotoSook]

Originally Posted by vash

.308 for hunting, or target?

Howa makes some fantastic varmint rifles for sure. never seen one, but weatherby came up with a weatherby 399. i guess it's called that because it cost $399.

.308 for anything....and because it's a common caliber that's large enough. I'm limiting my ammo choices to avoid what Bell just posted. The other thing is that one can build an upper for an AR that will take .308 so interchangeability between riffles is nice.

[Jeff Higgins]

Savage does make darn good rifles these days; probably one of the best deals going for a bolt gun. Check out the Ruger Hawkeye as well. Or, check out used at a gun show, or a dealer with some used inventory, or local pawn shop. Remington M700's, Ruger M77's, and newer Winchester M70's can all be had in your price range.

[MotoSook]

I'm really not restricting myself to <$500, but it's a good starting point. The thing I've noticed about firearm is that they just don't have the fit and finish that I expect for such a small piece of equipment. Even some of the very spendy pieces I've held didn't impress me with their quality compared to some lower priced equivalent. Call me spoiled after years of working on Porsche engines.

I won't mind spending $1000+ on a rifle if it is well machined (with good castings - metallurgy and surface finish) and the parts fit together well with moving parts sliding past each other like they are on abll bearings. That's what I expect for a high end piece.

Will probably see if there's a stainless steel Savage in the area, Jeff.

[onlycafe]

look for vintage pieces at gun shows. made back when there was pride taken in workmanship.

[Rick Lee]

Does the Remington 700 come in .308? Find someone selling one of those used. I got one in .30-06 on a trade, maybe $500 into it and was offered $700 for it minutes later at the same gun show. It looks new.

[targa911S]

I'll second on Howa. My 22-250 puts holes in holes at 100 yrds. I did just by a Savage .17 HMR, and it's spooky accurate. Both have wood laminated thumbhole stocks. The Savage .17 kills groundhogs D.E.A.D. at 100yrds+. Only cost .14 a shot. My 22-250 is up to $1.25 a shot now. That is an expensive groundhog. Older Rems (700?) are great. Browning A-Bolt is another older gun that is nice. If you want great fit & finish, even some engraving, look for an A Bolt Medallion model.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Does the Remington 700 come in .308? Find someone selling one of those used. I got one in .30-06 on a trade, maybe $500 into it and was offered $700 for it minutes later at the same gun show. It looks new.

Agree with rick...my model 721 (1950's) in .257 Roberts looks plain jane, but is extrememly accurate. A used Remington 700 should run under $500.

[MotoSook]

Was just at the local Dicks Sporting Good store and they have a camo stock Rem 700 in .308 with scope for $599. It felt good but not a fan of the camo.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

There are several flavors of Mosin-Nagants out there for considerably less than $500 which are plenty accurate and hold up very well. For $500 you should be able to buy a good one and a spare for parts, plus some ammo.

[VincentVega]

You can pickup a very nice Mauser and have room for ammo, nice furniture and/or optics for $500.

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by Chris Martin

You can pickup a very nice Mauser and have room for ammo, nice furniture and/or optics for $500.

Same goes for an 1903 A3 Springfield, and they are GREAT shooters. 30-06 though. Still plenty of that out there.

[Rick Lee]

Mosin-Nagants are under $100 at J&G in Prescott, AZ.

[legion]

Who is this strange, new Soukus?

[Rot 911]

Souk, have some fun looking around for a used rifle. Much more bang for your buck so to speak. And when did you add on to your screen name? Soukus?

[MotoSook]

I don't know who this Souk you speak of.

I'm going to get with my FFL who's also a gunsmith to see if he's got a line on a nice vintage .308.






(tried to gain some ananimity from search bots...and it any working!)

[tangerine911S]

Im playing with the idea of buying a Remmington 700 .308. I know they are popular, accurate, not too expensive, and are good starting points for modifications/blueprinting/customization. Brand new I think they are around $600-$800 so finding a nice used one around $500 should be easy.

[HardDrive]

I have a Weatherby Vanguard .30-06, and I have been very happy with it. Can't recall, but I think it was $400.