Best budget .308? - Page 2

Unlicensed Dremel · July 22, 2014, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Metal parts are about equal. I Paid $275 for my Venture .308.

The metal parts on the Venture are equal to what? I can't imagine any budget rifle that comes close to the Venture in quality of any parts (or parts as a whole), especially metal parts. Bomb-proof bolt, innovative styling, 60 deg throw, 5R rifling, etc.

reynolds357 · July 23, 2014, 08:28 PM

The Venture and The American are of about equal quality with exception of stocks. I would rank the Venture higher had I not had to send one of my Venturres back to Smith 2 times.

SCgman · July 24, 2014, 07:01 AM

Howa offers 20" barrels on the 1500. Academy sports had the heavy barrel varmint versions for $550, but I would imagine that a 1500 compact ranch version with a thin barrel is available for less.

Gabe1972 · July 31, 2014, 11:09 PM

The Savage Axis is a good rifle. I have on in .223. Wallyworld has them for $300 and sometimes under if on sale. Last month they had them for $279.97. They have a synthetic stock, a 22" barrel (I know you said you wanted 20"), and being a Savage, they are accurate. With the money you save you could get a decent scope and some rounds to boot.

Orion6 · August 1, 2014, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Quote:
Metal parts are about equal. I Paid $275 for my Venture .308.

The metal parts on the Venture are equal to what? I can't imagine any budget rifle that comes close to the Venture in quality of any parts (or parts as a whole), especially metal parts. Bomb-proof bolt, innovative styling, 60 deg throw, 5R rifling, etc.

Unlicensed Dremel is correct. Nothing in the budget category compares to the Venture.

And the Venture has polished blue finish, as opposed to sandpaper rough unfinished metal like on the American.

Duzell · August 3, 2014, 10:10 AM

mossberg? they can be affordable bolts

reynolds357 · August 3, 2014, 05:29 PM

Orion, my two Ventures must have fallen off the line before they got to the metal polishing station.

jgcoastie · August 5, 2014, 11:47 PM

I'd put the T/C Venture leaps and bounds above the Ruger American.

Yeah, it says American on it... But it seems to have been made in America using the cheapest parts available with little regard to anything else. It feels cheesy in the hand, it's Ruger's answer to the Remington 770, both of which are utterly disappointing.

The Venture doesn't try to fool you into thinking it's an Icon (T/C's upper-level rifle), but it feels like a solid budget gun, and I've never heard a bad word about them.

2ndtimer · August 9, 2014, 07:37 PM

Another vote for the Marlin X7, unbeatable in its price range. Much nicer, IMO than the Axis or the Ruger American. Also offers the option of a Boyd's laminated stock, if you don't care for the tupperware, and would probably still be under the $500 budget.
The T/C venture is another viable option, which I haven't tried but a friend in Montana has one in .300 Win Mag and loves it. I am a fan of the 5R rifled barrels, and have heard very good reports of the Venture's accuracy.
I love my Stevens 200 in .243, after my son sanded down the stock, installed a Hogue recoil pad and Rifle Basix trigger. It might be the most consistently accurate sporter rifle we have. (Too bad Savage discontinued it, I liked it a lot more than the Axis/Edge).
The Howa/Weatherby Vanguard is also a nice solid rifle, but noticeably heavier than the Marlin X7, and would push your budget a little.
I have owned and hunted with rifles with 20", 22" and 24" barrels and frankly don't see much difference between them. I certainly wouldn't exclude a rifle because it has a 22" barrel rather than a 20".

July 23, 2014, 08:28 PM	#27
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	The Venture and The American are of about equal quality with exception of stocks. I would rank the Venture higher had I not had to send one of my Venturres back to Smith 2 times. Last edited by reynolds357; July 24, 2014 at 08:46 PM.

August 3, 2014, 10:10 AM	#31
Duzell Senior Member Join Date: October 30, 2011 Location: Monterey Posts: 803	mossberg? they can be affordable bolts __________________ Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism. -GW

August 5, 2014, 11:47 PM	#33
jgcoastie Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Location: Kodiak, Alaska Posts: 2,118	I'd put the T/C Venture leaps and bounds above the Ruger American. Yeah, it says American on it... But it seems to have been made in America using the cheapest parts available with little regard to anything else. It feels cheesy in the hand, it's Ruger's answer to the Remington 770, both of which are utterly disappointing. The Venture doesn't try to fool you into thinking it's an Icon (T/C's upper-level rifle), but it feels like a solid budget gun, and I've never heard a bad word about them. __________________ "To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." -Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, initiator of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the first Senate, which passed the Bill of Rights.

August 9, 2014, 07:37 PM	#34
2ndtimer Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2004 Location: Kennewick, WA Posts: 293	Another vote for the Marlin X7, unbeatable in its price range. Much nicer, IMO than the Axis or the Ruger American. Also offers the option of a Boyd's laminated stock, if you don't care for the tupperware, and would probably still be under the $500 budget. The T/C venture is another viable option, which I haven't tried but a friend in Montana has one in .300 Win Mag and loves it. I am a fan of the 5R rifled barrels, and have heard very good reports of the Venture's accuracy. I love my Stevens 200 in .243, after my son sanded down the stock, installed a Hogue recoil pad and Rifle Basix trigger. It might be the most consistently accurate sporter rifle we have. (Too bad Savage discontinued it, I liked it a lot more than the Axis/Edge). The Howa/Weatherby Vanguard is also a nice solid rifle, but noticeably heavier than the Marlin X7, and would push your budget a little. I have owned and hunted with rifles with 20", 22" and 24" barrels and frankly don't see much difference between them. I certainly wouldn't exclude a rifle because it has a 22" barrel rather than a 20". __________________ NRA Endowment Member

July 24, 2014, 07:01 AM	#28
SCgman Member Join Date: March 6, 2013 Posts: 67	Howa offers 20" barrels on the 1500. Academy sports had the heavy barrel varmint versions for $550, but I would imagine that a 1500 compact ranch version with a thin barrel is available for less.

July 31, 2014, 11:09 PM	#29
Gabe1972 Member Join Date: July 29, 2014 Location: Western New York Posts: 39	The Savage Axis is a good rifle. I have on in .223. Wallyworld has them for $300 and sometimes under if on sale. Last month they had them for $279.97. They have a synthetic stock, a 22" barrel (I know you said you wanted 20"), and being a Savage, they are accurate. With the money you save you could get a decent scope and some rounds to boot.

August 3, 2014, 05:29 PM	#32
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Orion, my two Ventures must have fallen off the line before they got to the metal polishing station.