Good Affordable Bolt Action

[Siggy-06]

I have experience with plenty of AR-15s, AR-10s, and 10/22s. I'm ready to add a bolt action rifle to the stable. It'll be for range practice and for hog/deer hunting. I'm looking at a few different calibers: .243 win, .25-06, and .270 win.

So far the 2 rifles I'm looking at(at under $400) are the T/C Venture and the Mossberg Patriot(in wood). I have a few optics in mind already(Leupold VX1/2 or the Vortex Diamondback).

Any info on either of the 2 listed rifles is appreciated, and I'm also open to other suggestions in my price range.

[Dranrab]

Based on my little experience and a lot of reading, most of the bargain bolt guns these days are very accurate and reliable. You just missed a great rebate on the Venture. I have handled them and was impressed. Add Ruger Americans to the list. The American Predator model has a slightly heavier barrel. They have been proving ridiculously accurate.

https://shop.whittakerguns.com/product/ss-210

https://shop.whittakerguns.com/product/ss-25193

[std7mag]

You might want to look at the Ruger American and Savage Axis also. Both devent guns for the price.

Choice of calibers..
While 243 does kill deer ever year, to me it's kinda marginal. Ya gotta pick the right bullet.

25-06 and 270 really like a longer barrel. 24"+ to bring out their full potency.

I'd recommend a 7mm-08 myself. Efficient, lots of choices in bullet weight/construction, fairly mild recoil, does well with 22" barrel.

While i really do like Vortex( i own 5 scopes + binos) i would stay away from the straight Diamondback series. I hear the HP's are decent though.
Not a darn thing wrong with the Leupold.

[Siggy-06]

Thanks for the info. I did see a Ruger American with the stainless barrel the other day, I liked the safety position. Definitely a close choice.

Std7mag, thanks for the geads up on the diamondback. I was also looking at maybe a fixed power scope as well like the Leupold FX1.

[Rmart30]

How much range practice are ya wanting to do with it? I would probably add 308 to the caliber choices for its lower cost of ammo for range time.

Most any of the budget offering from any manufacturer will work just fine.
You have missed most of the sales and rebates but there are still deals to be found.

[Pathfinder45]

If you were me, you would rather have fewer guns of higher quality than lots of cheaper arms. I have decided that I can do just fine with only one bolt-action rifle, but I must have one, and it must be a Walnut-stocked, model 70 Winchester, in 270 Winchester, of course. So my advice is to go thou and do likewise. If it's over budget, sell some of your ARs, all of them, if that's what it takes.
But then again, you're not me.

[Art Eatman]

For the avowed purpose and looking at ammo costs, I'd go along with the .308 idea.

(I already handload for a .243, which keeps the cost down quite nicely.)

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.

[Siggy-06]

If I was gonna spend a bit more I'd go with a Tikka T3 or a Browning A-bolt. But I'd rather get something a bit cheaper to get better glass and ammo.

[Pathfinder45]

I like the Leupold 3-9x40.

[jmr40]

Ruger American Predator in 308 or 6.5 Creedmoor. Street price is $350-$400.

https://ruger.com/products/americanR...> /26974.html

https://ruger.com/products/americanR...ets/26973.html

I'd wait a few weeks. Ruger just announced new versions that take the American International magazines. They are not in stores yet, but will be soon. These are priced exactly the same as the ones that used the old style magazines, but available in 3, 5, or 10 round versions. That will be a huge improvement over the old magazines.

The Predators have earned a reputation for excellent accuracy. I have both the 6.5 and 308 version and both will shoot .5 to .75 MOA consistently. Quite often much better.

Ammo in either caliber is readily available anywhere now including Walmart and is priced the same. The newer 6.5 Creedmoor has about 25% less recoil and is slightly better inside of 500 yards, but beyond 500 is way better than 308.

[Whistlebritches]

I'm a Browning (A-Bolt in 25-06 is my baby)guy and have been for a long time.That being said I recently purchased a Ruger American 308 for a test run so to speak.I'm left handed so only offerings in southpaw were studied before purchase.The 70 degree bolt throw of the Ruger is very much like the 60 bolt throw of the A-Bolt.I like lightweight sporters.......another in the Ruger pro column.I went to a couple gun stores and handled all the under $500 rifles(mossberg,savage and Marlin)....only the Ruger didn't feel cheap.So when I made my mind up deciding on the 308 was easy.......lots of factory ammo available and because I reload components are also readily available.As for scopes .........Leupolds rule,3-9x40 VX-2.

BTW an extremely happy camper.Thinking bout another in 223 for the grandkids to plink with.

[Siggy-06]

Jmr40, thanks for the info on the updated Predator magazines, I saw the new listing on Ruger's website. Lots of votes here for the Ruger Americans, got me really researching here now.

[shootbrownelk]

I'll second the nomination of the Ruger American. My friend has one in .308 and it's very, very accurate right out of the box. He added a 3x9 leupold scope and it is capable of 1" to 1 I/2" groups @ 100 yds easily. Outshoots my Remington 700 30.06.

[Don Fischer]

Don't know that I've ever even seen a Ruger American in a store, probably have though. Deal is I don't pick up and handle rifle' with plastic stock's much. I got my first Patriot in a plastic stock though but only after I found I could get a wood stock from the factory. Never noticed where the other's in it's price range had factory wood stock's for them. Have red a lot of good about the Savage's but then when it come's to shooting, I've never read much bad about any Savage. The Ruger with wood stock is a really nice rifle but don't know the cost. Remington 700 ADL in a plastic stock I got for a Present from and old girl friend. Horrible shooting rifle so spent a lot of time re-bedding the whole thing, even if I liked plastic stock's I wouldn't get another one of those. The Mossberg Patriot I got just to see if I could make it shoot. It's better than I am! Shocked at how well it shot and not one thing done to improve it other than hand loading. The bedding was beautiful no stress anywhere. Their wood stock accepted the barreled action from the plastic stock with no hitch. The trigger came set at 2 1/2#, best factory trigger I've ever seen. Magazine fit's flush with the bottom of the stock. Magazine is some kind of plastic as is the well and the bedding surface. Never seen a rifle bedded like this before. What can I say, every thing fit'! The barrel channel floats absolutely the whole distance. I think about it, and might describe it as a barreled action mounted in a vice, very goo job.

I would suspect the other's your looking at come bedded very well also as they all have a reputation for being very accurate of of the box. Haven't read much about their out of the box trigger's but suspect they more than work well. The thing you need to decide is which one appeals to you in hooks and handling the most and go with that.

Come's to scope, I favor the newer Redfields and Nikon's but the Leupold Has proven itself over a lot of years. The Vortex scope's seem to be getting a big following also. I'd try a Vortex in a heart beat about now and of course a Leupold in the same price range.

I don't think any of the rifle's have much of an advantage over any of the other's other than look's and handling, how they feel in your hands!

[ed308]

Ruger American or Savage Hog Hunter. But in .308.

[Nathan]

I'll second the 308 recommendations......there are a lot of new tangled rounds, but 308 gets most things done quite well with minimal fuss or recoil.

[Pathfinder45]

Another way to get the most for your money is to not rule out 2nd hand rifles.

[jimbob86]

I've been giving the same advice for years now re: new hunting rifle bargains:

The consignment racks hold the best deals, especially this time of year: Christmas bills are coming due and Construction work has dried up until spring .... Folks will thin out the herd in the closets .... most "deer rifles" don't get shot a whole heck of a lot .... a box or two in a year .... and often already have trigger upgrades and good glass already on them .... sometimes they come with reloading kits and components, even.

[Siggy-06]

So far I'm leaning towards the TC Venture and the Ruger American Predator, possibly in .308.

[Palmetto-Pride]

Originally Posted by Siggy-06

If I was gonna spend a bit more I'd go with a Tikka T3 or a Browning A-bolt. But I'd rather get something a bit cheaper to get better glass and ammo.

You can't go wrong with a Tikka probably the best rifle for the money IMO up your budget a couple hundred and you won't regret it.

[458winshooter]

I am in love with my Mossberg Patriot I bought last year,mine is in 300 win mag but they have it in other calibers from 22-250 to 375 Ruger.All the calibers you mentioned are in there as well as 7mm-08.

[Siggy-06]

Anyone have experience with the Howa 1500 Lightnings or Mini-Actions?

[Dranrab]

Howa 1500 is a fantastic gun. Just fantastic. The only knock is that they are fairly heavy. I don't know anything about the mini.

[Wrought]

For under 400 id say the tc venture or compass series rifles would be my go to. Next in line is the savage axis/ruger american. If you want a customizable rifle go savage if you want a rugged and reliable out of the box rifle go tc

[morgaj1]

I have a Ruger American Compact in .243Win that my son uses for deer hunting. It is the most accurate gun in my safe and is the cheapest. I got it on sale for $299. I put a DNZ mount and a Leupold VX-1 on it and it has been great.