Looking for an Economic Rifle

[Doyle]

Another cheap choice is a NEF. Around $300 buys one new and will last for many years.

I'm going to disagree on that one. To iffy. I've seen some that shoot OK and I've seen others that group like a shotgun. The problem is that in any break-open design there can be LOTS of variablity in the machining. Encore owners go through the same thing but they are usually willing to put in some time and money into tuning a $700 firearm.

[MarkCO]

The biggest thing the Marlin X7 rifles suffer from is lack of marketing. They are actually a design that mixes some of the better features, and had a lot of input from Remington's design team, with "economic". They shoot every bit as good as the bigger name bolt actions and are an exceptional value. Pillar bedded, user adjustable trigger and a decent stock (even though it is plastic). This would be my first choice. Just wish they would chamber it in .260.

[kajvid]

Savage Axis .308. Bought the wife one at Big 5 for $339 with a cheap piece of glass on it. For what it is it's a deal. I would have gone the glassless route but they were out of them.

[tahunua001]

Tahuna, in military rifles the magazines are considered disposable items. They're stamped metal and expected to be tossed. You can buy them for $10-$30

tell that to the US navy, one of our ship sentries was being an idiot and playing with his M16 on the catwalks and dumped his mag into the james river, for the next 3 weeks everyone on and off the ship had to submit to bag checks and metal detectors. I guess to some branches a $10 mag and 20 rounds of ammo aren't so disposable.

[Sevens]

I guess to some branches a $10 mag and 20 rounds of ammo aren't so disposable.

Or...
They wanted to stress the idea to ALL, and allow all of THEM to stress the idea to THAT ONE GUY that being an enlisted idiot is not condoned and carries consequences.

[Ruger480]

I guess to some branches a $10 mag and 20 rounds of ammo aren't so disposable.

It's not about the disposability of the item. It's about the consequences if a civilian should find it and use it for nefarious purposes. Headlines read "X number wounded or dead from military issued equipment that was reported lost last week".

An incident like that would make it hard to justify budgets and maintain public support of the military in general if things like this were common place.

They wanted to stress the idea to ALL, and allow all of THEM to stress the idea to THAT ONE GUY that being an enlisted idiot is not condoned and carries consequences

This too

[bbaggs75]

Those were just the rifles that I was looking at so far. I'm open to more suggestions. It seems like every time I look at a new rifle it opens a whole new can of worms. Those calibers were also just the ones offered by the Ruger American, which is kind of my #1 right now. I have thought about looking into a 300WM, but I'm just not sure. I really just want something that will shoot out over 500 yds because I would like to shoot at that distance. It's not for hunting or anything else, just because I think it's cool. I'm really open for anything that is less than (or VERY close) to $500. I was originally thinking about getting an AR in .308, but they're just too expensive for my first rifle.

[Ruger480]

If you don't intend to hunt with it, look at the 243. Recoil will be much easier to handle, making for longer days at the range.

[rfd]

bbaggs75 -

i'm kinda sure yer fishing around without a clue as to why you want a rifle and what yer gonna do with it.

in yer first opening post you said you wanna hunt with it ... ok, hunt *what*? varmints or moose or something in between? lotta caliber lattitude in that "hunting" word, dude.

in yer last post you typed "I really just want something that will shoot out over 500 yds because I would like to shoot at that distance. It's not for hunting or anything else, just because I think it's cool." yer making no realistic sense. dunno what yer fishing for, or what/who you expect to hook.

[Sappyg]

OP,

If this is to be your 1st rifle you need to set your sights a little lower. Get yourself a good 22 LR. Shoot it often and learn trigger control. Everyone needs a good 22.

500 yards is a bit dramatic. But, if you insist, I often see Savage Axis with scope for less than 5 bills.

[5whiskey]

you cant have great quality and low price all in one anymore.

I would say you're right, but I know of plenty of sub 500 dollar guns that are capable of 1moa or less groups. Almost every Savage I've ever seen will, along with most of the Mossbergs. I don't know about the Marlins.

To the OP, after reading the post above, what do you want to accomplish... honestly? Have you ever been hunting? If not, then are you really interested in trying it? What type of hunting? I would assume deer hunting as that is arguably the most popular form here in America. Are you wanting more of a target rifle that you might use to hunt if you decide to start hunting? For you I suggest the Savage Axis. My reason is this. Savage hangs their hat on bolt action rifles. They have all but perfected the art of making an inexpensive (albeit not the prettiest) rifle that is capable of sub moa groups out of the box so long as the shooter is capable.

A rifle like the Savage Axis is not perfect however. It will be accurate and inexpensive, but the scope that comes with the package deal will not be amazing. It will likely hold zero, but adjustments will probably be erratic and the light gathering ability and clarity of the glass will likely be pretty bad. Either way, it'll likely hold zero and that's enough to get you started. After all, you're going to want to shoot it as soon as you buy it. The stock on the Axis is going to be junk. It won't affect accuracy or anything until you try to put bipods on it (which you probably will if you want to shoot at 500+ yards). Forget about putting bipods on a Savage Axis. And further, it will not come with the accutrigger.

What the rifle does offer, though, is cheap accuracy. Also... Savage rifles are pretty modular and there are tons of aftermarket accessories. The action of the axis is the same action found on the most expensive long-action rifle that they sell. So, you can get trigger time in on your budget model. If you really like shooting, hunting, etc, you can always put a better stock on it that will allow the use of bipods. Also, there are a wide variety of aftermarket triggers available for Savage actions. You could also order a stock accutrigger from Savage or (likely cheaper) Numrich. Last but not least, if you are mechanically inclined you can change barrels and calibers on a Savage rifle via home gunsmithing because the barrel is mated to the action via a barrel nut. You cannot do this with any other brand of bolt rifle (to my knowledge) because they do not use a barrel nut, or at least not easily. It is possible to swap barrels, but you have to learn a whole new skill set of cutting a chamber with a chamber reamer (which is a pretty expensive tool). Let's just say starting with a Savage is far easier. So, I have articulated reasons why you should buy a Savage. With that, I have also heard that the Mossberg rifles shoot pretty good groups and are serviceable. I am an evangelical Savage fanboy, but I'm not a fanatic who can't recognize the abilities of another rifle. Get what you want, but I think that a cheap rifle is in order so you're not out a ton of money in case you decide not to hunt and shooting 500 yards isn't all you thought it was cracked up to be. If you do turn into an enthusiast, then the Savage has the potential to keep serving you because of the aftermarket support and ease of changing the rifle into what you want it to be. The Mossberg or other oddball rifle would likely be sold off or left in the safe as your taste, ability, preference, need, etc. has progressed beyond it's use.

[rfd]

"you cant have great quality and low price all in one anymore."

the validity of that statement depends on your firearm needs and usage. any of the bottom feeder cf rifle brands/models offered - axis, rar, xs7, atr, etc - are more than just plinker junkers, but may not offer the consistent quality/accuracy of far higher priced rifles.

assess your rifle needs, not wants, then do some extensive homework on both calibers and rifles, gain the knowledge of exactly what's offered by the different manufacturers, and move forward. buy once, not twice, and enjoy. ymmv.

[oldscot3]

Not including the scope, I've got about a $450.00 investment in my Vanguard 270 win. I took it the ranch today to shoot it for the first time. Spent 4 rounds to get it zeroed, then fired a 3 shot group at 100 yards. The first two literally went through the same hole, the third one dropped down a smidge. The result was a .400" group. Not bad for a budget rifle, right out of the box.

I didn't have time to shoot anymore, so perhaps that was a fluke. Time will tell, but so far I'm liking my Howa built budget rifle.

[Doyle]

so perhaps that was a fluke

Nope. Like I've said a few times on this forum, I've only seen one Vaguard that wouldn't shoot right straight out of the box. The problem with that one was miscut stock that a little bedding work solved.

[ntg]

I was looking for basically the same a little more than a year ago. I went with an X7 in 7-08 as I was given reloading supplies for it that needed to be used. I also own a Howa in 22-250 and it's a great shooter and IMO a better finished rifle vs any mentioned except maybe the T/C venture. The howa action isn't that light, however.

Also, this is one article I enjoyed and found valuable as I was deciding which 7-08 chambered rifle: Mike's RAR vs. X7 comparison

BTW my X7 has been great and it's quite a shooter, as is my Howa.

Also, I concur in thinking a detach mag is more of a hindrance than good for a hunting rifle.

[oldscot3]

Two things I observed which, one or both may be a factor...

I have a Remington take off barrel in 270, compared to the Vanguard it seems to have more leade. Oal much different.

The Vanguard seems to also have a tighter chamber... certain pieces of resized brass that dropped right in the Rem chamber were snug in my Vanguard.

I'm going to Cerrosafe both chambers sometime and compare them.

[cdbeagle]

In your price range the Vanguard S2 is the only rifle I would buy.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...UARD+S2+270WIN

[Metal god]

With your last post and the fact your not going to carry it all day hunting , I'd go with a 20" heavy or bull barrel . Short action 308 only because of the cost and amount of ammo available . If not 308 , I'd stay with the short action in 7-08 , or 243 . . Really if your taking hunting/shooting game off the table a nice 223 will get you to 500yds nicely at a nice low cost per shot .

Howa 1500 would get you the above for $500 or less . I think you could find a Rem 700 for close to that as well . Both of those rifles are easy to customize later with lots of after market parts available for both .

[barnetmill]

I noticed several of the posts focusing on sub MOA groups. That degree of accuracy is needed for varmit hunting, but not much else. 2.5 MOA in theory with hit a 7.5 inch circle every time at three hundred yards.

[oldscot3]

I thought 2.5 moa at 100yd.s would be 10 inches at 300yd.s.I think it doubles every 100yd.s.

Nope, I'm wrong. Barnetmill was correct with 7.5". Please pardon my brainfart.

[nwtradegun]

try roy's gun service in Adairsville, ga. 770-77303548.

[jimbob86]

you don't intend to hunt with it, look at the 243. Recoil will be much easier to handle, making for longer days at the range.

By this logic, a .223 would be twice as nice, and .22lr double that.

[Metal god]

By this logic, a .223 would be twice as nice, and .22lr double that.

yes I agree that is good logic . Well not the 22lr part because he wants to shoot 500yds with this rifle .

Here is my quote and good logic from above

the fact your not going to carry it all day hunting , I'd go with a 20" heavy or bull barrel . Short action 308 only because of the cost and amount of ammo available . If not 308 , I'd stay with the short action in 7-08 , or 243 . . Really if your taking hunting/shooting game off the table a nice 223 will get you to 500yds nicely at a nice low cost per shot .

Although not the same advice , it's kinda close

[Model12Win]

You could always get a Moison Nagant rifle in 7.62x54R.

Same ballistics as .30-06 but the shells are MUCH cheaper. Very accurate rifles for under $150.

[tahunua001]

um... no. unless you are buying hornady match ammo($1.50 a round) and have a Finnish rework, odds of having a long range target rifle are several thousand to one.