Standard low cost models ??????

[CoffeeInMe]

I want to buy a .223 rifle. As of right now I am willing to spend up to 250.00 for a single shot rifle. My question is can someone please tell me the MODEL #'s of any manufacturer that sells a base model/basic bolt action rifle for under 350.00 ? There might not be any out there but I wanted to ask before I invest the 200.00 to 250.00 for a single shot.
I forgot to mention the purpose of this rifle. It will be used by my son to shoot deer, coyotes, fox, ect..at shots no more than 100 yards. Most shots will be around 50 yards. Then when our second son passes his hunter safety course he too will be using the gun for the same purpose. When they are grown and gone I believe I would like to keep the gun for the same animals.

[300S+W]

   www.ableammo.com is advertising the Savage/Stevens Model 200 in .223 for $289.40.

til later

[CoffeeInMe]

Thanks 300S+W for the link. I saved the link and will definitely keep that option in mind.

[Old English]

Good deal for a good rifle

[Freezer]

    CoffeeInMe,  Wait on3 minute you said deer with a 223.  Not a good idea!  First you need to check the state game laws.  In a lot of states you can't use a .22 caliber (223, 22-250, etc) for deer.  There is a lot of debate if the 243 should be used for deer.  That said though I don't agree with a 243 as a beginners deer gun it is the minimun I would consider.
    The NEF Handi Rifle should fit your bill.  It has many interchangeable barrels including shotgun and muzzle loader.  There are also a lot of stock configurations.  GB has a talk and trade forum for the NEF.
    Lastly this is the bolt action forum, there is a single shot forum in addition to the NEF forum.

[mountainview]

Both of the above are good and I'll add another wrinkle or two.
1) Good used bolt rifles can be found with careful shopping and coupled with managed recoil ammo would let the lads grow into higher power rounds as they get older and/or be used on deer sized game.
2) Only let them load one round at a time and ergo, a bolt gun becomes a de facto single shot.

[beemanbeme]

+1 to what Mountainview said

[CoffeeInMe]

Thank you all for your help and advice. We just got back home from town and I went ordered a Rossi heavy barrel .223 single shot. This was not my intentions but after hearing the price was 215.00 I thought this might serve the purpose just fine. I probably should have done more research on the bolt actions or consider a used one but I didnt. Again thanks for the help and I hope the next time I bother with a question on this forum I might actually buy one

[Swampman]

I'm gonna order me a new Remington SPS in .223.

[mcwoodduck]

I think you still will have this same question in a few years when the kid grows up and moves out. $10 SAYS He takes the rifle with him!  I still have my first single shot and use it every now and then for tree rats and quail.
You may want to start looking for your own 223 now and get what you want.

[LHitchcox]

Sportsman's Warehouse sell the Stevens for $289. The price from Able will also have shipping and dealer markup of 7-10% and probably tax. Sportsman's OTD price is about $325.

Leon

[Bart Solo]

Coffee in me, 

Even if using a 223 on deer is legal in your state, I would suggest you buy a 243.   I used my Remington 788 in 6MM for years. My son used it after me. We had a rule--no more than one shot per deer.  It got to be a game. We had a box of empty shells. Each representing a kill. 

At a 100 yards or so a well placed shot from a 243 is more than adequate for deer. My son took a 350 lb 12 point buck a few years ago with the 6MM.  The deer traveled all of 10 yards before folding up.   

The big advantage of the 6 MM or 243 is that it will swing both ways.  Coyote, etc on one end, white tail on the other. It also helps if you work hard to teach your son how to shoot.  The 243 is mild enough to allow the development of good skills.

On the other hand the big advantage of 223 is the cost of ammunition. It is really not good at all for deer, even if it is legal in your state.

[bilmac]

I'm with Ron

223 is no deer killer. The kid might be witnessing some sad stuff. 5 deer may run off hit and die in the bushes for every one tagged.

[mcwoodduck]

223 will work for deer.  Depending on the deer.  Big Montana Mule Deer,  NO! but the small deer on the Carolina coast, Yes as long as the shot is in the chest.  the light bullets just come apart and shred the lungs.  But a good shot from a light recoil gun in the right spot is better than a heavy recoiling gun in a miss, or worse a bad hit.
I have a friend of my fathers that hunted in NY for deer with a 222 Rem Mag for years and he just had to pick his shot and ensure that the deer was going to go down.

[1sourdough]

 I know you already bought but; I wouldn't mess with new prices & sales tax. I bought a used Savage 110 30-06 last winter for $220. Just keep yours eyes open for slighty used.

[Coyote Hunter]

You have several options including new and used.

In used you can often find excellent rifles in the area of $350.  I'm talking Ruger and Remington, and I've got both to prove it.

In new there is NEF single shots, Stevens and Savage.  Bought a brand new .30-06 Savage 111GNS at Gander Mountain a while back for $299 and change.  The NEF should be even less.

As far as the .223 and deer, I generally frown on the combination unless you're talking very small deer.  Even then I tend to go with the idea that small calibers are more for experts than novices.

[Illhunter]

Mossberg ATR can be had for about $250 or so. Savage /stevens are good rifles as well. I think a used rifle would have been good to probably find a good deal on one. For deerand yote i would have at least a 243 or larger in a bolt gun. in single shot i would have looked 25-06.

[slim rem 7]

well its good you didn t get the savage .. it would have just caused frustration in the future when the high end future purchases didn t quite match up,,in short you now have something to look forward to when you get an savage 110 or 111. in 06 mabe..im not being sarcastic either..its better this way.. now later at some time ..try the savage 111. or something.
  of course im a big believer in knowing your gun like an old friend..
if you do that the rossi might just turn out to be it for you.. good luck..

[Swampman]

I'd say the Rossi & a Savage 110/111 are about equal.  Both are entry level guns.  Enjoy your new rifle.

[CoffeeInMe]

Thanks again for all the help. Im not real happy with the Rossi's accuracy. Im thinking real hard about spending more money and getting a different rifle.

[Coyote Hunter]

I'd say the Rossi & a Savage 110/111 are about equal.  Both are entry level guns.  Enjoy your new rifle.

CoffeeInMe –

Remington should have  “entry level guns” as good as the Savage!  The Remington “entry level guns” include the M710/770 and in contrast to a Savage they are junk IMHO.

Here are a few facts about Savage rifles:

1.   From their low end to their high end rifles, the difference between Savage products is cosmetics – they all use the same basic action. 

2.   The Stevens brand represents Savage’s real entry level products but they also use the same action.

3.   Savage rifles are known for being very accurate right out of the box and the reputation is well deserved.  Many people think they are the most accurate “out of the box “production  American rifle.

4.   The Savage barrel nut turns some folks off but others feel it adds to the accuracy potential of the Savage rifles.  If you ever need to change barrels the nut makes it an easy do-it-yourself job.  Try that with a Remington 710/770 and their press-fit barrels.

5.   The Savage AccuTrigger, which is available on the Savage 111 models, is a great trigger.

Here’s some personal observations regarding Savage rifles:

1.   My older Savage 110 .22-250 was, as Daughter #2 often said, “downright ugly”.  It featured a “hardwood” stock with a “walnut finish” but was not “walnut”.   The trigger guard was plastic and it was cosmetically challenged in a number of other ways.  The stock had a Monte Carlo hump which I detested from an aesthetic viewpoint.   (Some Savage models have the hump, others do not.)  The thing I liked about that 110, though, was that it would shoot great – 5 shot groups at 100 yards you cover with a dime.

2.   This year I purchased a Savage 111GNS as a wedding present for my future son-in-law and a Remington M700 ‘Special Purpose Wood’ for myself, both in .30-06.  The Remington wins on cosmetic points, mostly due to a real walnut stock as opposed to a “walnut finish” stock, but cost $125 more ($425 vs $300, both on sale).   I had to adjust the trigger and free-float the barrel on the Remington, the Savage came with the AccuTrigger (which was fine as it came) and the barrel was already free-floated.  Which one is more accurate only God knows – I certainly can’t tell the difference. 

3.   For an accurate hunting rifle it is hard to beat the value of a Savage/Stevens.  You can pay a LOT more for cosmetics and not get anything resembling better accuracy.




By the way, although I tend to prefer Ruger rifles for a number of reasons I am not anti-Remington and expect I will end up with more Remingtons in the safe as time progresses.  Depends on the deals I find.

[mcwoodduck]

Remington  has lots of entry level guns.
As you mentioned the 770 series.  Friend had one and hatted the thing.  You couldn't give him another one.
The also have the Bikal single shots
The whole H&R line
and the 98 mauser series guns they are importing including a micro action 98 that is sized for the 223.
and the new Marlin bolt actions. 
Remington has been on a spending spree lately and aquired a bunch of companies.