Looking at low cost bolt action guns. - Page 2

BumbleBug · April 22, 2013, 12:47 AM

Look for a good used rifle & don't buy junk. A rem 700 or win 70 or Ruger 77 or Sav 110 & you can't go wrong. I have found that a lot of used rifles have not really been used very much at all, they just been sitting around a long time.

Try to buy from a guy that buys his ammo. Just think what it would cost to buy enough factory ammo to shoot a rifle out!

FWIW...

..bug

BigTex308 · April 22, 2013, 01:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BumbleBug

Look for a good used rifle & don't buy junk. A rem 700 or win 70 or Ruger 77 or Sav 110 & you can't go wrong. I have found that a lot of used rifles have not really been used very much at all, they just been sitting around a long time.

Try to buy from a guy that buys his ammo. Just think what it would cost to buy enough factory ammo to shoot a rifle out!

FWIW...

..bug

This x1,000!!!!!

You'll be a million times better with a used remmy700 or ruger77 than with a brand new ruger American. I don't care who you are! Or what people say.

Ike

TB9 · April 23, 2013, 01:03 PM

ive always been a big fan of the savage model 110 in .270 & 30-06 with iron sights and a good scope. but that new hog hunter of thiers has got my attention esp. in .308 but i dont think im gonna be buying any new rifles for now, other stuff needs attending right now.

imp · April 23, 2013, 06:06 PM

What do you really want from a rifle? People that complain about the Ruger American feels cheap are the same type that could buy a 200mph Ferarri for $20,000 and complain that it dosent have leather seats. Its not meant to compete with a presentation grade model 70, it just supposed to shoot like one. I, for one, am happy to live in a time where performance can be had at a low price.

As for the used guns, might be a good option, and you might get stuck with a lemon that someone else already got rid of too. Not all old rifles were winners

Scout · April 23, 2013, 06:55 PM

I really like the Stevens 200. It's a Savage 110 without the accutrigger. Mine in .243 was sub MOA out of the box with Federal Power Shok 80 grain soft points.

Rifleman1776 · April 24, 2013, 09:57 AM

Even with all our concerns about gun regulation, it is overlooked that we are very fortunate that quality rifles can still. be purchased at very reasonable prices.
My Mod. 70, Ranger version 30-06, was purchased 20 years ago for $180.00. It is topped with a $3.00 yard sale scope. It has won me many competitions and brought home the meat. Except for braggin' beauty, it is as fine a rifle as one could ask for. And U.S.A. made.

btmj · April 24, 2013, 09:59 AM

It hasn't been mentioned here yet, so I must:

The Weatherby Vanguard with synthetic stock is slightly more money than some of the others being discussed, but it is a very good rifle. Very accurate for the money.

elund · April 24, 2013, 01:56 PM

Go with a Remington 700 used or new. The new ones are great rifles. They have the same actions that they always had. Finishes are different on some models but the CDLs, BDLs, stainless versions all have very good finishes.

But the actions are very good.

The Ruger American feels flimsy to me.

Someone made the point to not go cheap. I agree with that. You will be buying something, that if properly maintained, should last forever. Spend a couple hundred more and get a good, solid rifle with a great legacy. In five/ten years, you will be glad you did.

breakingcontact · April 24, 2013, 04:10 PM

I've heard very little positive about new Remington's, 700s, 870s and 1100s.

Cowboy_mo · April 24, 2013, 09:11 PM

Look around for a series 1. Cabelas, Basspro, and several others were clearing these out for less than $400 to make room for the new series 2 with the 2 stage trigger. I have a series 1 that will shoot less than 1 moa when I do my job. I did replace the trigger with a Timney but I'm finicky about triggers and in all honesty it shot 1 moa before the trigger change.

Another very good inexpensive rifle (less than $500) if you look around is the Thompson Center Venture. I have one of them in 30-06 and again it will shoot 1 moa or less with factory ammo if I do my job.

I also own a Winchester Model 70 in .243 win that I purchased used. It cost a little less than the Venture or the Vanguard purchased new, but not by a lot.

I hear a lot of guys suggest pawn shops for good buys. However, in my area the pawn shops aren't that great. Around here (about 50 miles from St. Louis) they price their good used guns high and don't really want to negotiate much. My bad luck

reynolds357 · April 25, 2013, 09:32 PM

I bought a Ruger American in .243Win just to have one to play with and to have a rifle to beat up hunting. I like everything about it EXCEPT the stock. Working up loads off a mechanical rest, I have found the rifle is scary accurate. Put the rifle in real world hunting scenarios, and the crappy stock begins to greatly hurt that accuracy. I usually shoot my hunting rifles from a bulls bag to see how variables in stock pressure will effect accuracy. It is devisdating to the American. If you use the rear bag to put even the least amount of torque on the Americans stock the tight group turns into flyers everywhere. I love the rifle, but as soon as I find a good aftermarket stock I am purchasing it. If I dont find one soon, I am going to stiffen the forearm up on the factory one. Ruger needs to take a lesson from Wby. and offer a crappy stock and a good stock on their entry level rifles.

Rmart30 · April 28, 2013, 02:21 PM

I prefer Remington 700's but a 223 Savage axis is one of the most accurate rifles I have owned.

reynolds357 · April 28, 2013, 07:04 PM

In my experience accuracy of 700's are hit or miss. Some are tack drivers and some are dogs.

April 22, 2013, 12:47 AM	#26
BumbleBug Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2013 Location: Near Heart of Texas Posts: 870	I say buy a good used rifle... Look for a good used rifle & don't buy junk. A rem 700 or win 70 or Ruger 77 or Sav 110 & you can't go wrong. I have found that a lot of used rifles have not really been used very much at all, they just been sitting around a long time. Try to buy from a guy that buys his ammo. Just think what it would cost to buy enough factory ammo to shoot a rifle out! FWIW... ..bug

April 23, 2013, 01:03 PM	#28
TB9 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2013 Location: N.H Posts: 120	ive always been a big fan of the savage model 110 in .270 & 30-06 with iron sights and a good scope. but that new hog hunter of thiers has got my attention esp. in .308 but i dont think im gonna be buying any new rifles for now, other stuff needs attending right now. __________________ Why thats... Brilliant ! now go lay down by youre dish and shut up .

April 23, 2013, 06:55 PM	#30
Scout Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2009 Location: Central Florida Posts: 510	I really like the Stevens 200. It's a Savage 110 without the accutrigger. Mine in .243 was sub MOA out of the box with Federal Power Shok 80 grain soft points. __________________ God bless the U.S. Cavalry

April 24, 2013, 04:10 PM	#34
breakingcontact Junior member Join Date: October 25, 2012 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 736	Re: Looking at low cost bolt action guns. I've heard very little positive about new Remington's, 700s, 870s and 1100s.

April 24, 2013, 09:11 PM	#35
Cowboy_mo Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 1,039	+1 for the Weatherby Vanguards Look around for a series 1. Cabelas, Basspro, and several others were clearing these out for less than $400 to make room for the new series 2 with the 2 stage trigger. I have a series 1 that will shoot less than 1 moa when I do my job. I did replace the trigger with a Timney but I'm finicky about triggers and in all honesty it shot 1 moa before the trigger change. Another very good inexpensive rifle (less than $500) if you look around is the Thompson Center Venture. I have one of them in 30-06 and again it will shoot 1 moa or less with factory ammo if I do my job. I also own a Winchester Model 70 in .243 win that I purchased used. It cost a little less than the Venture or the Vanguard purchased new, but not by a lot. I hear a lot of guys suggest pawn shops for good buys. However, in my area the pawn shops aren't that great. Around here (about 50 miles from St. Louis) they price their good used guns high and don't really want to negotiate much. My bad luck

April 23, 2013, 06:06 PM	#29
imp Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2006 Posts: 626	What do you really want from a rifle? People that complain about the Ruger American feels cheap are the same type that could buy a 200mph Ferarri for $20,000 and complain that it dosent have leather seats. Its not meant to compete with a presentation grade model 70, it just supposed to shoot like one. I, for one, am happy to live in a time where performance can be had at a low price. As for the used guns, might be a good option, and you might get stuck with a lemon that someone else already got rid of too. Not all old rifles were winners

April 24, 2013, 09:57 AM	#31
Rifleman1776 Senior Member Join Date: April 25, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 3,309	Even with all our concerns about gun regulation, it is overlooked that we are very fortunate that quality rifles can still. be purchased at very reasonable prices. My Mod. 70, Ranger version 30-06, was purchased 20 years ago for $180.00. It is topped with a $3.00 yard sale scope. It has won me many competitions and brought home the meat. Except for braggin' beauty, it is as fine a rifle as one could ask for. And U.S.A. made.

April 24, 2013, 09:59 AM	#32
btmj Senior Member Join Date: November 1, 2011 Location: Near St. Louis, Missouri Posts: 864	It hasn't been mentioned here yet, so I must: The Weatherby Vanguard with synthetic stock is slightly more money than some of the others being discussed, but it is a very good rifle. Very accurate for the money.

April 24, 2013, 01:56 PM	#33
elund Junior Member Join Date: March 20, 2013 Posts: 6	Go with a Remington 700 used or new. The new ones are great rifles. They have the same actions that they always had. Finishes are different on some models but the CDLs, BDLs, stainless versions all have very good finishes. But the actions are very good. The Ruger American feels flimsy to me. Someone made the point to not go cheap. I agree with that. You will be buying something, that if properly maintained, should last forever. Spend a couple hundred more and get a good, solid rifle with a great legacy. In five/ten years, you will be glad you did.

April 25, 2013, 09:32 PM	#36
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	I bought a Ruger American in .243Win just to have one to play with and to have a rifle to beat up hunting. I like everything about it EXCEPT the stock. Working up loads off a mechanical rest, I have found the rifle is scary accurate. Put the rifle in real world hunting scenarios, and the crappy stock begins to greatly hurt that accuracy. I usually shoot my hunting rifles from a bulls bag to see how variables in stock pressure will effect accuracy. It is devisdating to the American. If you use the rear bag to put even the least amount of torque on the Americans stock the tight group turns into flyers everywhere. I love the rifle, but as soon as I find a good aftermarket stock I am purchasing it. If I dont find one soon, I am going to stiffen the forearm up on the factory one. Ruger needs to take a lesson from Wby. and offer a crappy stock and a good stock on their entry level rifles.

April 28, 2013, 02:21 PM	#37
Rmart30 Senior Member Join Date: June 20, 2008 Posts: 602	I prefer Remington 700's but a 223 Savage axis is one of the most accurate rifles I have owned.

April 28, 2013, 07:04 PM	#38
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	In my experience accuracy of 700's are hit or miss. Some are tack drivers and some are dogs.