Poll: How much is an "Expensive rifle" to you?

[Damon555]

I could spend as much as I like on any gun now that I'm older and well established....But as a child we were quite poor so I was taught to be thrifty......In my mind $1000 is still pretty darn expensive so that's how I voted.

[disseminator]

I have quite a few rifles and on average I spend about $1600 all in. It varies some but that's about right for me.

Optics aside, what you get for more money is really more refinement and nicer stocks and such.

I picked $2500

[std7mag]

My latest rifle purchase was a Savage 110 FP for $250.

No Dakota Arms here. Though i would love one!!

[2ndtimer]

I voted for $1,000. I am frugal and typically try to find bargains, particularly when shopping for hobby items. The rifle I hunted with this past season was a Marlin XL7 bolt action in .270 Win. that I purchased new a couple years ago for $259.00. I have mounted on it a Nitrex TR-1 3-9x40 scope that I ordered online for $99.99. I left my Winchester Ultimate Shadow Model 70 .270 WSM with Zeiss Conquest 3-9x40 scope at home. The left at home combo would have broken my expensive level, even though I got a deal on the Zeiss ($279 on sale). I took the Marlin because it shoots better and is easier to pack than the Model 70. I also prefer it's trigger (similar to Savage's Accu-Trigger) to the Model 70.
I may try to upgrade the Marlin next season with a new Hogue stocked Ruger Hawkeye that I scored from CDNN for $449. I haven't gotten around to mounting a scope on it yet, but if I don't like it, I also grabbed a synthetic stock Hawkeye in .,308 Win at the same time and place for $499. I believe these Ruger Hawkeyes were solid bargains and I really need to get their scopes mounted and start working up loads, but at the same time am tempted to keep them new unfired as an investment, since Ruger has announced their production being discontinued since everyone seems to be buying the cheaper American Rifles.

[Hawg]

I used to be able to buy whatever I wanted. I had a couple of rifles built that cost north of 1000. The most expensive rifle I ever bought off a rack was a Weatherby Mark V Deluxe. Nowadays 500 is expensive.

[SIGSHR]

The most I ever paid for a collectible was $550 for an 1896 Krag carbine in 2000-no saddle ring on the stock. The most I paid for one my SIG SHRs was $500 (I think).

[Picher]

I consider an expensive rifle at $2,500, but that would include a scope and mounts. None of my rifles cost that much, but if my accurizing time, Timney trigger, custom stock and scope were included, one would have made it.

[OzeanJaeger]

I compete. I want to win. I go to matches that are 80% amateur, and the only rifles there are built rifles. The carpenter in my squad has $10k in his rifle. It’s his passion. He doesn’t have a Harley or a sports car. He has a rifle.

Who buys a $60,000 truck that’s worth $20,000 in a few years? Buy a $5000 rifle, throw a new barrel on it when you’ve shot it out and it’s at least worth $5000. The glass will be worth 2/3 of what you paid for it at least. Yea, $1000 for a sporter rifle is a ton of money, but if you shoot competitively your perspective changes.

[reynolds357]

Just rifle, not optics, I draw the line at $700. Usually I buy black Friday Savage 10, 110, etc. And Rem 700 a at the big box stores. (Under dealer cost) Sell the barrels off them. Rebarrel with Lilja a or Shilen. Blue print the 700. Use precision faces andrecoil lugs on the Savages. Usually get a tack driving custom together for under $700.

[cdoc42]

The question reminds me of the political one that talks about the "rich." Anybody who makes more money than me is "rich." I've observed folks in my generation (born 1942-46 or so) more likely grew up in a family of blue collar workers who had to closely watch their finances and eat a lot of left overs, taking care of their belongings and not wasting anything. I get the impression those born after 1970 or so don't have that same philosophy. I know of two guys in that category where I shoot who have rifles that cost well over $2500 and one has a reloading room with a bench and cabinets made of solid walnut. So a lot has to be considered when reviewing the answers here. I have he receipt for the Winchester Model 12 in 16Ga that my Mom and Dad bought me in 1959. It was $97. Working together they made $4000 a year. I wonder what that translates to in today's dollars.

[PatientWolf]

$1000 to $2500 is a big jump. I'd pick a radio button that was either $1200 or $1500.

With the options given, I guess I'd have to pick $1000 because it is closer than $2500.

[Don Fischer]

Actually expensive is just a word. Depends mostly on your income! Also will depend on your indebtedness. If you make $10 hr and have a family, $300 is expensive for a rifle. If you make in excess of $100,000 a year, I would suspect that rifles are not expensive unless custom made and then not really a problem. Expensive anything depends on your income!

[gunman5646]

At $2500, you're just entering the custom rifle realm and that's expensive.. With good optics, even an entry level rifle will put you into the $800+ range, the better production rifles with premium optics push it to a $1500 minimum.
I must say at this point, that may of todays entry level rifles, even though they are lacking aesthetics, can and do perform better than many premium rifles of 20 yrs ago.

[fourbore]

A million dollars

Not enough zeros on the poll.

[Kvon2]

I've purchased 2 guns that were all in more than $1000 ever and I honestly regret one. Anything past $1000 likely won't happen again, at least not any time soon. We're currently spoiled in a time of mail in rebates and competitive prices.

[reynolds357]

My new bolt rifle is $199 after rebate. TC Compass. I have nice rifles, but they are becoming safe queens.

[THE]

Being as I just spent $1300 dollars for a new lever action rifle without optics I suspect maybe something over $2500 I would consider expensive, maybe.

[pete2]

In my case, it's 1000.00 for the bare rifle, only one at this price. I was bit by the AR bug before the election and bought one, it's name is Hillary, I was afraid she'd be elected. I do have a CZ .22 that approaches 1000.00 with scope, mounts, extra magazine etc.
It's pretty easy to hit 900.00 to 1000.00 with scope and accessories.

[BeeShooter]

This is strictly subjective. It's like ' what is accuracy ' to you? I've spent $5000 for a custom rifle that shoots .2 moa @ 1000 yrds. and I've spent $3000 for the same shooting at 200 yrds. I'd build my own now for no more than $3500 and it would have to be for a particular purpose. I honestly can't see building a rifle capable of shooting inside a .3@100 yrds for less than $2000 and the balance going for the scope/mounts. So, this is me, I don't own a rifle that shoots outside of a .3 moa at 100 yards.

[SCgman]

I own 7 bolt actions, none were rifle/scope package purchases. Excluding tax, shipping, fees, stock upgrades-I average $600 for the rifle and $470 for optic systems. Then there's the side arms............

When charities come knocking I don't like discussing my firearm purchasing.

[PlatinumCore16]

I voted prior to reading, oops. I picked $1000 because I think I need, or even want a rifle, that costs more than that. But I know, at this point, that good glass is expensive. You don't need to spend $3000 on a scope to get great optics, but with a $800-$900 rifle plus a $600-$1000 scope, you're way over $1k. So realistically, I wouldn't spend over $2000 on rifle, scope, mags, stock. In fact I just picked up my buddy's used MVP LC for $1000. Thought it was the scope package, but he had just put a $200 diamondback on it. No slouch, but I would rather the 4-16x44Vortex in the package, since I would like this to be a 1000yd/m rifle for me.

[joe45c]

$2500 is high for me. At least until a week or so ago. I'm looking at adding a Original Winchester 1885 Single shot that's close to that. Still trying to make up my mind if i should pull the trigger on it.

[fl_rich]

$1000 - I consider expensive.

Do I have Rifles over $1000? Yes 2. But I consider them expensive rifles. Both have expensive glass, one is a 50mm Vortex Viper PST FFP Riflescope. I think I spent around $900 for that.... it was expensive.

Nice toys can be expensive. Would I buy a $2500 rifle? Maybe... thats really expensive

[condor bravo]

I consider $1000 expensive but pay that anyway.

[Morgo]

Apart from .22's the only bolt rifles I'm interested in are precision long range rifles and they are pricey.

Buy a DTA or AI throw a nightforce, USO or S&B optic on it and your getting up their in price.

My old setup was well over 5 figures.