I'm looking to buy a used bolt action rifle in .308, around 700 dollars. Leaning towards a Model 700 action, but was wondering if I could ask for you and your readers suggestions. (I'd really rather have an AR-10, but that's currently out of my price range).There's a few assumptions I think we need to make with this sort of question. First, odds are this price range isn't going to give us a rifle with ½ MOA at 500 yards - maybe 1 MOA on a good day, sure, but not a consistent sub-MOA. You can find accurate rifles in this range, certainly; adding in the "used" factor one might be able to find something close to a precision rifle. Secondly, whatever the intended use (hunting, competition, etc.), there will be need of glass of some sort - that can be addressed later, of course, but whatever rifle is chosen should have the ability at least to be scoped. And lastly, while "tactical" might be the aim, it's unlikely that bull barrels, composite stocks with adjustable rests, etc. will fall into this price range.
There's two basic paths that can be taken here:
1. Find a milsurp rifle in .308 and use the difference in purchase price (a used K98 in .308 should run ~ $300 - $400) to drill & tap for a scope mount, smooth out the trigger, re-crown the barrel, etc. Or you might luck out and find one that just needs a scope mount and spend the difference on quality ammo. This path is pretty much hit-or-miss, and if Robert is looking for something off-the-shelf obviously not the path he should take.
2. Entry level factory rifle. In this range, Savage and Remington are the first rifles to come to mind, with Browning, Howa, Ruger, and others also in the running. Most manufacturers offer something in this range; which rifle one ultimately ends up with is up to the end user's whim as much as anything. Let's take a look at a half-dozen different rifles:
Browning A-Bolt. Several models of A-bolt in .308 fall in this price range, with the Micro-Hunter the most economical of the Browning offerings at $739 MSRP. Specs from the Browning website:
Receiver - Steel, Low-luster blued finish, Glass bedded, Drilled and tapped for scope mounts • Barrel - Low-luster blued finish, Free floating, Hand chambered, Target Crown • Action - Bolt-action, 60ยบ bolt lift, Non-rotating bolt sleeve, Adjustable trigger, Detachable box magazine, Hinged floorplate, Top-tang safety • Stock - Satin finish walnut, Sized for smaller shooters, Checkered • Features - Sling swivel studs installed, Recoil padRuger M77. Most of the Hawkeye offerings come pretty close to the target price, with the Hawkeye Standard the closest at $827 MSRP. Specs from the Ruger website:
| Stock: | American Walnut | Finish: | Hawkeye Matte Blued |
| Sights: | None | Weight: | 7.00 lbs. |
| Barrel Length: | 22.00" | Overall Length: | 42.00" |
| Material: | Alloy Steel | Length of Pull: | 13.50" |
| Twist: | 1:10" RH | Grooves: | 6 |
| Capacity: | 4 |
Howa M-1500. The Thumbhole Sporter variant actually falls below the price range with an MSRP of $621. Specs from the Howa website:
- Howa® M-1500 Thumbhole Sporter Rifle
- Manufacturer Number: HWR44003
- Action: Bolt
- Caliber: 308 Winchester
- Barrel Length: 22 Inches
- Capacity: 5
- Trigger: Adjustable
- Safety: Three Position
- Length: 42 1/2 Inches
- Weight: 8.3 Pounds
- Stock: Nutmeg Laminate/Thumb Hole
- Finish: Blue
| Caliber | Barreled Action | Approx. Weight (1) | Overall Length | Magazine Capacity (2) | Barrel Length/ Contour | Rifling | Length of Pull | Drop at Comb | Drop at Heel | Monte Carlo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| .308 Win. | RH 24" | 7 1/4 lbs. | 44" | 5+1 | 24" #2 | 1-12" | 13 5/8" | 7/8" | 1 1/4" | 1/2" |
Savage 11. Both the 11 and 111 series of Savage bolt-action rifles fit the requirements; the 11 FCNS has been chosen as a representative with an MSRP of $656. Specs from Savage website:
Remington 700. The 700 SPS is a middle-of-the-road variant with an MSRP of $639, leaving it pretty square in the middle of the Remington 700 offerings. Specs from Remington website:
Series: Hunter AccuTrigger: Yes Sights: Drilled and tapped for scope mounts AccuStock : Yes Magazine: Detachable box Stock material: Synthetic Barrel material: Carbon Steel Stock finish: Matte Barrel finish: Satin Stock color: Black Barrel color: Blued Action: Short
The Model 700™ SPS™ features an improved, ergonomically designed synthetic stock for better handling and enhanced overall functionality. The carbon steel barrels are clean without sights and receivers are drilled and tapped for scope mounts. All exterior metalwork features a matte blued finish. Standard amenities also include a hinged floor plate magazine, and swivel studs. Key Features:
- Improved, ergonomically designed synthetic stock
- Sling swivel studs included
- Legendary Model 700™ action
- Drilled and tapped for scope mounts
So there's a roundup of a quick half-dozen bolt-action rifle offerings in .308 Winchester. I'm sure I've missed another dozen or so rifles, as this is a very popular configuration it seems. Most of the rifles listed above can be had in many different variants, most running from blued steel and wood stocks to stainless actions & barrels and synthetic stocks. How the rifle is configured is entirely up to the user; you are limited only by your imagination and your budget.
So, which .308 boltie would you recommend for Robert?
That is all.
18 comments:
Some mighty fine rifles there. I would make a few other suggestions. First, since Robert expressed a willingness to buy used, he could step it up one or two notches from your list with a nice used one.
Also, I'm going to assume like you did that we aren't including glass in that price range. If you use the old rule of thumb that a scope should cost at least as much as the rifle, that brings you up to $1400. If Robert were to save his pennies until he can better afford both the rifle and the scope, I think he could probably get more bang for his buck (pun intended) buying a rifle/scope combo in the $1000+ range if he wants to go the used route.
I recommend any of the Savage rifles. I have a Stevens 200 (Savage without the Accutrigger) that I get 3/4 MOA with the right ammo. As a matter of fact, I say go with the cheapest 308 Savage he can find and then spend the extra money on optics. It's great to say your rifle can shot a 1/2 MOA group. But, it does not do you any good if you can't see your target.
Savage or Winchester, they have the best triggers out of the box. Remington as a third choice, since they are basically bulletproof guns and with gunsmiths attention, their triggers can be very good also!
The Winchester is a bit higher, but I'd still put it on the list.
http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535114
Well Jay you've certainly given me a lot more information and options than I'd hoped for! It'll take awhile to chew through this and decide. One thing to note which I didn't mention before is that I'm a fairly big guy (6'-3" with long arms and big hands), so the Micro Hunter does not look like a good fit. As for intended use, I just want something that I can do medium - long range shooting just for fun and not for competition. The 700SPS Tactical does have a heavier barrel and is at $734. Decisions, Decisions...
Thanks a Bunch!
Robert
Savage 110/10 series, long or short action.
Best "bang" for the buck.
Or the "buck".
Heh.
Hunting season is winding down so you'll find a fair number of used bolt action rifles on the market. I as others have stated would be looking for a used Savage. With a bit of persistence you should be able to pick one up for $200-$300. Spend the remainder of your $700 budget on optics. I paid $200 for my 110 last winter. The scope sucked and went away. The base and rings were Leupold as is the scope on it today. Some previous owner had bedded the action and if I'm on it will hold 3/4" at 100 yds, for three shot, after that things open up.
I bought a used Savage 10. The bull barrel was quite nice (heavy though) and the accutrigger was worth its weight in gold. The stock that comes on Savage rifles is pure crap. I dropped 160-ish on a Ultimate Sniper Stock. I really liked that it had a very, very solid aluminum block. And it looked very badass. I got a used Barska SWAT extreme something or other scope. It is a very good scope for the price (even retail). This set up easily gets me sub-MOA accuracy with my handloads (168 gr A-Max on 41.5 IMR-4895).
Those are my 2 cents! Good luck with your rifle!
Savage is probably the best buy, Rugers are an excellent value as well. I have a CZ 550 coming, and have a look at them as well. And yes, get the best optics you can. Kittery always has some good values in scopes and .308s.
The new Savage Edge rifles are a damn good deal... You can get em for under $300 brand new.
Just so you know, Remington is currently running a rebate offer on their Model 700 rifle.
http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/rebates-and-promotions/Fall-2010-RebateRoundup.aspx
-Russ
A lot of the used guns you see for sale were designed for big game hunting. This is an issue for a “range” gun, after 5 or 6 rounds the thin barrel used tends to get hot and move the POI. Possible solutions are to take a second gun to the rage allowing cool down time or hold out for a varmint or tactical model to come up for sale. The down side of the varmint/tactical rifle second hand is that some of them will have had a LOT more round though than the average hunting gun. 308/7.62 helps as it has a reputation for good barrel life, you should get around 5000 rounds before the drop off is noticeable in a basic gun.
So, I had to go to the bank at lunch, and decided to stop by one of the local stores that's on the way. What do they have that just came in? A brand new 700SPS Tactical in .308! $670 + tax with top rail and rings thrown in.
And, as Russ pointed out above, a $40 rebate on the SPS series.
A sign from above, perhaps?
(They also had a Weatherby Vanguard in .308, with a bipod and a Bushnell scope already on it, for about $450 + tax. Made in Japan of all places.)
It's probably made by Miroku - they make a lot of the rifles for Browning, Weatherby, and Winchester if memory serves.
They also make - or least made - a knock-off of the Colt Detective Special. I know because I happen to have one!
Run from a Winchester or Remington right now.
I have a new 700 that has caused me nothing but fits, the chamber was cut too tight and has already been back to the factory once.
Savage is probally the best bet out there for cost effectiveness and ease of cleaning and such. I have yet to hear a single bad thing about any savage, Infact If I do not get this 700 resolved correctly I will be trading it in for one of those savages.
Great list, but don't forget the Tikka T3. Slick, accurate and about $615.
Love my Savage 10 except for the plastic stock.
It is nose heavy but works fine on a bench [cloverleaf @ 100].
My question- whom to restock with?
Hmmm. No takers on the Howa. I picked up one in 30-06 a few years back and have nothing but nice things to say about it. Stainless, synth stock, Bushnell glass, whole package about $800. Good deal for a quality weapon. Had maybe twenty rounds through it.
Hunter
Alaska
The snipercentral Howa rifles seem like a fairly good deal. The site was recommended to me by a buddy who shoots F class as a way to get started on the cheap. Package includes rifle (your choice of caliber and synthetic stock finish), scope, bipod, case, and shipping to your FFL for $1055.
http://www.snipercentral.com/scriflepackagedetails.phtml?packageid=1
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