Good Affordable Bolt Action - Page 2

RedHoundTargets · January 8, 2018, 08:41 AM

I’ve gotten good use out of the Savage 11/111. It’s a step up from a full economy level gun and you can feel it in the action and general quality. There are incredible deals on it fairly regularly - particularly in the .3xx calibers. Savage often has as much as $100 MIR on the 11/111 DOA Hunter XP (scope combo) and retailers put it on sale, too. I recently saw it in .308 for $260 shipped (after rebate). Check the gundeals reddit once in a while.

Stillhunter · January 8, 2018, 12:14 PM

I,m a bolt guy.Own a lot of bolt action rifles.
I have owned all 3 mentioned.Ruger American I sold.Still have my Venture and 1500.
IMO the Venture is a notch above the American,closer to the 1500.

texbow · January 8, 2018, 03:33 PM

Sell something else you don't need and get a Tikka Hunter, a few hundred extra bucks but a much more solid gun. 6.5, 6.5x55, 308 all are excellent rounds and will cleanly kills as far as most of n=has any business shooting.

Siggy-06 · January 14, 2018, 06:03 PM

Thanks again for everyone's suggestions. I ended up getting a Howa 1500 in 6.5x55. Gonna order the glass in a few weeks and hit the range.

Wrought · January 15, 2018, 01:31 PM

Let me know how it shoots ive been itching for one of those

batmann · January 15, 2018, 09:21 PM

I know, I’m late to the party! I recently purchased a Ruger American in 7.62x39 and it has been a very good Deer riflle if kept at most of the ranges I shoot, 50-250 yards. I put a Leopold 3x9 Rifleman scope. Not their best best glass, but good for my uses. It also uses Ruger Mini-30 mags. While they are somewhat expensive, you are not going to do Mag dumps.
AAR is light, handy with a decent trigger and while I chose the .30 Russian, comes in various calibers. I can’t speak to the Savage, but I have friends who swear by them.

oldscot3 · January 15, 2018, 09:21 PM

Quote:

I ended up getting a Howa 1500 in 6.5x55.

good choice

Tallest · January 17, 2018, 08:52 AM

Keep us in the loop! The 6.5x55 has been on my radar for a while! I've handled a Howa 1500 before, so I'll have a reasonable frame of reference for any observations you make.

And Congratulations!

ligonierbill · January 17, 2018, 09:30 AM

Welcome to the cult. You did not say you are a reloader. I hope you are. With the range of 6.5 bullets available, you can have a lot of fun. While commercial ammo is available, it is likely downloaded. The few rounds I have fired certainly were.

Wishoot · January 17, 2018, 09:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Art Eatman

The pawn shops are loaded with quality bolt-action scoped rifles. Feel and fondle for fit, just as at a gun show. Then bargain, since they commonly have some 50% at most in their investment.

Lot's of quality used bolts sitting on shelves lookin' for love.

gw44 · January 21, 2018, 09:01 PM

I like the looks of the Mossberg ( wood ) I would have to look at it real hard I like the calibers too !!!

Woodsbum · February 18, 2018, 06:28 PM

The t/c compass gets my vote.It is the best value in budget bolt action rifle s I believe.The axis seems a bit lighter and might have a slight edge accuracy.

Dranrab · February 18, 2018, 08:28 PM

The OP bought a Howa 1500 6.5x55. I have that same rifle. He is going to be very happy.

Pops1085 · February 18, 2018, 09:12 PM

I ended up getting a Ruger American in 308. Very accurate and light. The recoil is fierce though in such a light gun. I feel like I would enjoy it much more in 243.

Whistlebritches · February 18, 2018, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pops1085

I ended up getting a Ruger American in 308. Very accurate and light. The recoil is fierce though in such a light gun. I feel like I would enjoy it much more in 243.

Not exactly sure what you're putting through that RAR 308 but fierce recoil?I wouldn't even call 300 mag recoil fierce..........just quite noticeable.Fierce recoil in my opinion starts with the 338 mag and up,but that's just me.One thing I might suggest is an aftermarket stock.......wood or a laminate wood.I personally am looking at a Boyd's Heritage laminate for my RAR 308.It's going to add a pound plus which should absorb a little recoil.I just like the feel of wood........not a plastic stock fan.

Fusion · February 18, 2018, 11:04 PM

If you want a range rifle the Savage 12FV that Cabela's sells is one of the best deals going for a budget bolt action. It's a bit heavy for a hunting rifle though.

The Savage 10/11 is another great choice if you want a lightweight barrel to hunt with. I'd skip the Axis and go for the 10/11. There isn't that much of a price difference, but the quality difference is significant.

The Ruger American is another great choice to consider if you don't like the Savage.

BeeShooter · February 20, 2018, 06:01 AM

Keep in mind that the 25-06 and the 270 are long actions. The .243 is in the .308 family of short actions. - You may want to re-think about the VX-1 scope it's a real cheapy. The low-end Vortex scopes are a tad better, both in quality and warranty.

Tallest · February 20, 2018, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Keep in mind that the 25-06 and the 270 are long actions. The .243 is in the .308 family of short actions. - You may want to re-think about the VX-1 scope it's a real cheapy. The low-end Vortex scopes are a tad better, both in quality and warranty.

I have a VX-1 4-12x40 and a Vortex Viper 4-16x44... The Leupold is definitely the better. Unless your suggesting that the lower end vortex is better than the higher end vortex, I think your experience is in the outlier category.

Art Eatman · February 20, 2018, 07:20 PM

Since the OP done done his deal, we can go play in other threads, now.

January 14, 2018, 06:03 PM	#29
Siggy-06 Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 1,148	Thanks again for everyone's suggestions. I ended up getting a Howa 1500 in 6.5x55. Gonna order the glass in a few weeks and hit the range. __________________ Flicks just like a lighter, just a different kind of fire.

January 17, 2018, 08:52 AM	#33
Tallest Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2016 Location: West of the Atlantic Posts: 418	I'd be interested to know... Keep us in the loop! The 6.5x55 has been on my radar for a while! I've handled a Howa 1500 before, so I'll have a reasonable frame of reference for any observations you make. And Congratulations! __________________ Matthew "All men are ignorant. The topics of our ignorance may vary, but the nature of the world is that no man may know everything." ~ R Jordan

January 8, 2018, 08:41 AM	#26
RedHoundTargets Member Join Date: January 7, 2018 Location: Connecticut Posts: 36	I’ve gotten good use out of the Savage 11/111. It’s a step up from a full economy level gun and you can feel it in the action and general quality. There are incredible deals on it fairly regularly - particularly in the .3xx calibers. Savage often has as much as $100 MIR on the 11/111 DOA Hunter XP (scope combo) and retailers put it on sale, too. I recently saw it in .308 for $260 shipped (after rebate). Check the gundeals reddit once in a while.

January 8, 2018, 12:14 PM	#27
Stillhunter Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2008 Location: Southern Indiana Posts: 152	I,m a bolt guy.Own a lot of bolt action rifles. I have owned all 3 mentioned.Ruger American I sold.Still have my Venture and 1500. IMO the Venture is a notch above the American,closer to the 1500.

January 8, 2018, 03:33 PM	#28
texbow Junior Member Join Date: March 20, 2014 Posts: 13	Sell something else you don't need and get a Tikka Hunter, a few hundred extra bucks but a much more solid gun. 6.5, 6.5x55, 308 all are excellent rounds and will cleanly kills as far as most of n=has any business shooting.

January 15, 2018, 01:31 PM	#30
Wrought Member Join Date: February 11, 2016 Posts: 96	Let me know how it shoots ive been itching for one of those

January 15, 2018, 09:21 PM	#31
batmann Senior Member Join Date: November 14, 2004 Location: Greenwood, IN Posts: 773	I know, I’m late to the party! I recently purchased a Ruger American in 7.62x39 and it has been a very good Deer riflle if kept at most of the ranges I shoot, 50-250 yards. I put a Leopold 3x9 Rifleman scope. Not their best best glass, but good for my uses. It also uses Ruger Mini-30 mags. While they are somewhat expensive, you are not going to do Mag dumps. AAR is light, handy with a decent trigger and while I chose the .30 Russian, comes in various calibers. I can’t speak to the Savage, but I have friends who swear by them.

January 17, 2018, 09:30 AM	#34
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	Welcome to the cult. You did not say you are a reloader. I hope you are. With the range of 6.5 bullets available, you can have a lot of fun. While commercial ammo is available, it is likely downloaded. The few rounds I have fired certainly were.

January 21, 2018, 09:01 PM	#36
gw44 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 311	I like the looks of the Mossberg ( wood ) I would have to look at it real hard I like the calibers too !!!

February 18, 2018, 06:28 PM	#37
Woodsbum Member Join Date: January 28, 2018 Posts: 28	The t/c compass gets my vote.It is the best value in budget bolt action rifle s I believe.The axis seems a bit lighter and might have a slight edge accuracy.

February 18, 2018, 08:28 PM	#38
Dranrab Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2016 Location: NOLA Posts: 203	The OP bought a Howa 1500 6.5x55. I have that same rifle. He is going to be very happy.

February 18, 2018, 09:12 PM	#39
Pops1085 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Posts: 369	I ended up getting a Ruger American in 308. Very accurate and light. The recoil is fierce though in such a light gun. I feel like I would enjoy it much more in 243.

February 18, 2018, 11:04 PM	#41
Fusion Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2010 Posts: 429	If you want a range rifle the Savage 12FV that Cabela's sells is one of the best deals going for a budget bolt action. It's a bit heavy for a hunting rifle though. The Savage 10/11 is another great choice if you want a lightweight barrel to hunt with. I'd skip the Axis and go for the 10/11. There isn't that much of a price difference, but the quality difference is significant. The Ruger American is another great choice to consider if you don't like the Savage.

February 20, 2018, 06:01 AM	#42
BeeShooter Member Join Date: August 24, 2016 Posts: 85	Keep in mind that the 25-06 and the 270 are long actions. The .243 is in the .308 family of short actions. - You may want to re-think about the VX-1 scope it's a real cheapy. The low-end Vortex scopes are a tad better, both in quality and warranty.

February 20, 2018, 07:20 PM	#44
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Since the OP done done his deal, we can go play in other threads, now.