Author Topic: Which Budget Bolt Action??? (Read 2834 times)

STUMPJMPR · « **on:** January 16, 2009, 02:03:51 AM »

I'm looking into buying a new low cost rifle for deer hunting probably in .270... I tend to like cheaper guns not only for the lower initial cost, but I don't feel bad for abusing them... I hate to take expensive rifles and drag through a God forsaken swamp. I'm debating between a Marlin XL7, weatherby vanguard, stevens 200, or mossberg ATR... Everything I have read most all of these guns are shooters right out the box... Weatherby offers 1.5" out of the box guarantee and it has a floor plate to aid in unloading... However this is the most expensive of the 4...

Swampman · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2009, 02:20:56 AM »

Walmart has a scoped Remington 700 ADL for about $400.00. Mine is an MOA gun.

sachel.45 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2009, 05:02:24 AM »

get the vanguard. the three vanguards ive had experiance with all shoot better then an 1.5"

no guns here · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2009, 05:49:07 AM »

I guess if I were looking for budget rifle that I didn't care if it got tore up, I'd probably have to look at a Remington. Of course I'd probably put it down and buy a new Tikka T3 Stainless. For another $100 or so above that, I'd get into a CZ. As long as it's stainless and plastic you don't have to worry too much about beating it up anyway. Heck... it's your money, buy what feels the best and to heck with the rest of us and our opinions.

ngh

the jigger · « **Reply #4 on:** January 16, 2009, 06:00:56 AM »

I have three Stevens 200 rifles. all three shoot under moa at 200yds. They require some trigger work but at their price you can afford an after market trigger and still have less than $425 invested.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #5 on:** January 16, 2009, 06:57:41 AM »

Why not look at the used shelf at the local gun store.
and make a project gun. Little sand paper, some epoxy, some paint, and a little time and you can have the perfect swamp gun, that you will not feel bad about dragging through the swamp.
You may even find a second something in a heavier caliber that would be better for the swamp that will shoot heavy round nose bullets to have as your swamp rifle.

STUMPJMPR · « **Reply #6 on:** January 16, 2009, 07:42:45 AM »

Project gun is out of the question.... I have a project gun if I ever get arond to working on it.... I have a ruger M77 that was flooded and needs to be reworked.... It has never shot that great anyhow...

Swampman · « **Reply #7 on:** January 16, 2009, 07:44:34 AM »

The Remington wasn't there to vote for this morning when I voted.

Skunk · « **Reply #8 on:** January 16, 2009, 07:54:32 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on January 16, 2009, 07:44:34 AM

The Remington wasn't there to vote for this morning when I voted.

So remove your previous vote and vote again.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #9 on:** January 16, 2009, 08:51:00 AM »

STUMPJMPR -

The first thing I would do is check out used guns. My safe is full of used Ruger, Remington, Marlin and Browning rifles. All were $225-$350, all were in great condition when acquired (they still are but there are a few “character marks” on some of them now) and all shoot very well. You cannot tell by looking at them which were purchased new or used.

Some examples:
Remington M700 BDL, .308W, $350, Gander Mountain
Ruger M77, .30-06, $350, gun show
Ruger M77, .257 Roberts, $300, gun show (my favorite rifle)

No need to go with a “cheap” gun when you can have a great gun at a very reasonable price. I understand where you’re coming from, though. When I purchased a shotgun I forwent the Browning BPS I had coveted for years and bought a Remington 870 in black synthetic for $100 less. Couldn’t see laying in muddy ditches with the BPS.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #10 on:** January 16, 2009, 09:09:12 AM »

Sorry,
When I said project I ment more toward refinishing the stock or using paint to camo it up, and the epoxy to bed the action into the stock and make it water proof for the swamp.
What caliber is the M77 in? blue or SS? open sights or smooth barrel? Sounds like a challange and a lot of TV time with flitz compound getting the rust off.
I know what you mean I have a project gun that I started in 98 and am down to the last three things. Stock, front sight and fit and finish of the stock.

nomosendero · « **Reply #11 on:** January 16, 2009, 05:29:56 PM »

I agree with the used gun part & have done that many times myself, but I do like the Wea.& the SPS barreled action at least. I picked up a Marlin 25-06 for a friend a couple of days ago & I am very impressed. I will have a range report soon.

jro45 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 17, 2009, 08:18:04 AM »

Yes a used rifle is usually cheaper than a New Rifle. Just make sure about the rifleing in it.

ratherbefishin · « **Reply #13 on:** January 17, 2009, 03:37:10 PM »

I've posted this on another thread-but don't overlook the swedes-I carried my nice ruger #1 on nice days-and my swede on rainy days-and shot most of my deer with it.I just bought another one last week-nice wood, excellent barrel, good bluing,bolt altered barrel cut and crowned,weaver mounts installed -all for $235-and that leaves some room for a good used Leopold 4 x scope-I'll be hunting for less than $450,with kit second to none.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #14 on:** January 18, 2009, 12:00:18 PM »

Quote from: nomosendero on January 16, 2009, 05:29:56 PM

I agree with the used gun part & have done that many times myself, but I do like the Wea.& the SPS barreled action at least. I picked up a Marlin 25-06 for a friend a couple of days ago & I am very impressed. I will have a range report soon.

Today I had 4 rifles at the range, all purchased used.

The Marlin 375 (.375 Winchester) was up first. It has a 4x Leupold M8 scope in the rings. All I did with it was ring the gongs at 500 yards. Once I had the crosswind figured out, about 4 feet, it did pretty well even though the loads I was using weren't its favorite. Made in 1980, it became mine in November, 2001. Near new condition, $350 including a couple boxes of ammo, Redding dies and some other odds and ends.

Next up was the .257 Roberts, my favorite rifle. No problem with the gong with 120g Grand Slams (not its favorite load - like the .375 W/200g load, I was just using the ammo up), the 110g AccuBond or the 75g V-MAX. This rifle also took out 4 clay pigeons at 400 yards with the 110 ABs. Made in 1989, mine in like new condition in January 2004. $400 including the Leupold M8-4x. Since I had just purchased an identical scope for $100 a couple weeks earlier, also used, I figure the rifle was $300, the scope was $100.

The Remington M700 BDL was like new when I purchased it for $350 from Gander Mountain in November, 2005. The serial number indicates a July, 1975 manufacture date. This rifle was shooting 168g A-MAX at a relatively sedate 2650fps nominal. The 500 yard steel was a joke - like the Roberts with the 110g ABs and 75g V-MAX it was too easy. Took out two clay pigeons at 400 yards with consecutive shots.

The last rifle was a Ruger M77 .30-06 I purchased at a gun show in Texas with the intent of using it to hunt hogs. $350, like new. The load I was usng was ballistically the same as the .308 load - 168g A-MAX at a nominal 2650fps. The wind had come up so the best I could do was dance all around the clays, but the 500-yard gongs were rung on a regular basis (the wind was playing havoc with everyone at that point).

Fun day with inexpensive rifles.

Bart Solo · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2009, 03:03:51 PM »

I bought a Vangard last fall and found it to be a good shooter. The stock isn't pretty, but it is reasonably tough. The only problem is that it is a little heavy.

KAYR1 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 23, 2009, 08:48:02 AM »

Don't overlook the Savage line. The Accu-Trigger has made a believer out of me! I own several and they are hands-down the most accurate rifles on my rack, and that includes Weatherbys, Remingtons, Rugers, and Brownings.

Troll64 · « **Reply #17 on:** January 24, 2009, 03:20:23 PM »

I have shot the Weatherby rifles. I have owned the Savage, Remington and the older Mossberg rifles. I loved my Savage. Don't over look the Mossbergs. My Mossberg .338 Magnum was a true sleeper. Never had a problem. At the time it was the biggest rifle I could afford for use in Alaska. With it's wide buttstock it felt like shooting a .308. Wonderful gun!

*ROCK-MAN* · « **Reply #18 on:** January 25, 2009, 05:11:40 AM »

You may want to check out a HOWA,same rifle as the Weatherby for less dollars.My wife has one in 270 that I picked up at a gun show for a great price.Off the bench at 100yds will shoot an inch or under reliably.The Vangaurd is made for weatherby by Howa.Same action and everything.Check it out.

351 power · « **Reply #19 on:** January 27, 2009, 01:32:48 AM »

i would get the stevens again myself if i needed a new rifle. wait i always need a new rifle. i think it has a proven record regardless of cost.
but a good used rifle is not a bad idea

FW Conch · « **Reply #20 on:** January 27, 2009, 03:25:56 AM »

STUMPJMPR, I vote for the Stevens 200 because of the versatility it offers. However, since you

mentioned a 270 & said you don't want any kind of project rifle, you may be happier with the Marlin

XL 7. I say this because it is possible the trigger on it is good enough, for you, that it may not require

any work. I go for the low cost rifles but I don't expect to find one that I don't have to do "anything"

to. If you find one, please let us know which one it is !

Good Luck Good Shooting Jim

MGMorden · « **Reply #21 on:** January 27, 2009, 06:40:19 PM »

Out of the ones listed the Stevens 200 should do you well.

I'm not sure what you mean by the Remington "SPS" (haven't seen that one yet), but if it's along the lines of the 710 or the 770 then I'd avoid that one. I've shot several and never liked them. The 700's are very good though.

Truthfully though, not to sound like a broken record, but a browse through the used rack at a local pawn or gun shop is always good. In particular I've seen the Winchester 670 series for very good prices (picked one of those up myself for $225 2 years back or so). Sometimes you luck up too. I got a Savage 340 in .30-30 about 6 months back that was in decent shape, and shoots great, for $100 even.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #22 on:** January 28, 2009, 02:01:08 AM »

Quote from: MGMorden on January 27, 2009, 06:40:19 PM

Out of the ones listed the Stevens 200 should do you well.

I'm not sure what you mean by the Remington "SPS" (haven't seen that one yet), but if it's along the lines of the 710 or the 770 then I'd avoid that one. I've shot several and never liked them. The 700's are very good though.

The Remington SPS is an M700 with a synthetic stock. SPS = Special Purpose Synthetic. Not sure what finish they use on the action and barrel on the SPS.

mjbgalt · « **Reply #23 on:** January 28, 2009, 08:10:26 AM »

the finish is known as "crappy."

i think it's a proprietary finish put on by sandblasting and creating a porous surface to hold dirt and water.

-Matt

Tunaman · « **Reply #24 on:** January 28, 2009, 08:12:53 AM »

Quote from: mjbgalt on January 28, 2009, 08:10:26 AM

the finish is known as "crappy."

i think it's a proprietary finish put on by sandblasting and creating a porous surface to hold dirt and water.

-Matt

lmao

HogFan · « **Reply #25 on:** January 31, 2009, 03:50:38 AM »

As many have mentioned the used rack, but I have no luck here on the used racks. They seem to be as much as a new one. Heck, I looked at a used CZ yesterday in .308. The guy was asking $525. I can pick a new one up at Gander for about $25 more. I did find one good deal at a local pawn shop though. It's a Remington 700 SPS Stainless in 7mm MAg with a Swift scope for $400.

jimkim · « **Reply #26 on:** January 31, 2009, 05:19:18 AM »

Get a Howa 1500. It is also known as a Weatherby Vanguard, and was once known as the S&W 1500 and Mossberg 1500. You wont be disappointed.

http://www.snipercentral.com/howa.htm

torpedoman · « **Reply #27 on:** January 31, 2009, 04:51:38 PM »

Quote from: KAYR1 on January 23, 2009, 08:48:02 AM

Don't overlook the Savage line. The Accu-Trigger has made a believer out of me! I own several and they are hands-down the most accurate rifles on my rack, and that includes Weatherbys, Remingtons, Rugers, and Brownings.

+1

Poll

Which Budget rifle would you buy???

Author Topic: Which Budget Bolt Action??? (Read 2834 times)