Author Topic: budget rifles (Read 2794 times)

mmt7714 · « **on:** November 15, 2011, 07:58:34 AM »

I am looking for a new rifle. I know a lot has been said about the budget rifles lately and have read a lot about them. I need a very affordable rifle for hunting and shooting. I like to shoot more than the average hunter so above all else I need it to be dependable. This is my hang up with these rifles. Are they going to hold up. I am looking at the usual suspects, the Marlin, or Stevens 200 mainly. I know they are accurate, I don't care if they are "ugly" as some have said. The deer don't care last time I checked. I just need something that will work, work well, and do it for many years to come without breaking. What do yall think.
Mike

BUGEYE · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2011, 08:57:02 AM »

handi rifle in almost any caliber. you can buy a lot of components with your savings.

oops. just noticed this was the bolt action forum. the above still goes.

mdwest · « **Reply #2 on:** November 15, 2011, 09:19:10 AM »

i looked at the marlin, stevens, and the mossberg "budget" guns for about a month before I made the decision to go with probably the least popular option (the mossberg)..

compared all of them side by side on a couple of different occasions and really didnt think any one of them was any better than the other in terms of fit, finish, etc.. they all have cheap stocks, actions that arent super slick, etc..etc..

the deciding factor for me was I got more "options" with the mossberg for less money than the other two offered..

for a couple of bucks less than what I was going to have to pay for the "standard" stevens, I picked up a super bantam ATR model mossberg.. came with three spacers for the stock (adjustable LOP), a fluted barrel, etc..

It doesnt hold a candle to the rem 700's Ive owned through the years or the winchester 70 that is my pride and joy these days.. but it gets the job done reliably.. and it has been surprisingly accurate (holds MOA with winchester power max factory ammo)..

If I were looking for something to shoot a couple of thousand rounds through a year or a presentation piece.. it wouldnt be my first choice..

but if you are looking for something you can put 4 or 5 boxes through every year to practice with prior to deer season, then maybe run through a couple of more rounds killing game.. I think the "budget" rifles work just fine... and should last you a life time if need be..

I bought the ATR so that my wife would have something that fit her (she is 5'4"... I'm 6'5".. the LOP on all of my guns are way too long).. that didnt cost an arm and a leg since she wont use it that much.. maybe 40 rounds a year.. but would be reliable and accurate..

Im pretty happy with the choice..

mmt7714 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 15, 2011, 10:10:14 AM »

Bugeye, I gave some serious thought to buying a handi. I own one in .44 mag that I love. The only problem is that with remington buying marlin out, and already seeing the lack of quality of the new remlin firearms, I am wary of the handi rifles. I am also not too impressed with the prices of the handi rifles. Used to the price is what made them so handi, but they have climbed in price with popularity and I think you pay a little much for what you get. I still have ruled them out though.
For some reason I am leaning toward the stevens mainly because they have been around a long time. From what I understand they are a savage 110 without the accutrigger. If this is true then they should be reliable guns, but I have heard good things about the marlins and some mossbergs too.

mike

BUGEYE · « **Reply #4 on:** November 15, 2011, 11:05:40 AM »

you're probably right about the stevens. secondary brands are generally just as good as the parent brand, just a little less refined.

jim36 · « **Reply #5 on:** November 15, 2011, 02:07:33 PM »

For the Money. Get the Stevens. I have a 243 that is a far better shooter than I am. It is still in the synthetic stock. A little J B Weld around the lug and some stiff angle iron (alum) in the forearm, a lighter trigger spring and it turns in to my best accuracy rifle. I have no regrets with this one.
Jim <")))><

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #6 on:** November 15, 2011, 02:14:04 PM »

For my budget I would shop the used racks.
Looking for a bargin.

tacklebury · « **Reply #7 on:** November 15, 2011, 02:25:08 PM »

Don't discount Mossbergs. Budget minded and the last 3 I had a chance to shoot were sub moa outta the box. Don't have any adjustable triggers (at least on ones I tried) but I was impressed.

Couple sample styles as they have wood stainless, etc.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/758/products_id/61853
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/758/products_id/411540251
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/758/products_id/411540263

mjbgalt · « **Reply #8 on:** November 15, 2011, 02:44:25 PM »

go handle a tc venture and see if you don't just walk out with it.

tacklebury · « **Reply #9 on:** November 15, 2011, 03:11:17 PM »

Not an indictment just noticed this was happening to all made before october 2011:
http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Category4_750001_750051_777653_-1_757978_757978_image

Sounds nice with moa guaranteed outta the box. Hopefully they get their production issues fixed. Price is ok. Don't know as I'd call it a bargain level though.

hunt-m-up · « **Reply #10 on:** November 15, 2011, 04:31:33 PM »

Depends on where your "budget" is, but I would certainly look at the Weatherby Vanguard, affordable and built very well.

Ranch13 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 15, 2011, 05:23:10 PM »

We just came into a pair of Savage Axis rifles with the bushnell scope thanks to being very lucky at the Friends of the NRA banquet the other night.
Haven't spent alot of time with them , but they are both in 308. The one we did shoot, shot well on an impromto target at 200+ yds with handloads I had on hand for one of our longtime resident 308's.
I believe those rifles sell in that combo package for around 350$, come in a variety of cartridges long and short action. May just be the best buy going on a budget rifle, that's been around for quite sometime.

klt1986 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 15, 2011, 11:58:57 PM »

Quote from: hunt-m-up on November 15, 2011, 04:31:33 PM

Depends on where your "budget" is, but I would certainly look at the Weatherby Vanguard, affordable and built very well.

You and I think alike. The Vanguard and the Howa 1500's are excellent rifles for just a little more than the cheaper priced rifles.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #13 on:** November 16, 2011, 12:44:59 AM »

A Remington 700 ADL from one of the Box stores or gun show . It will be in the $400.00 and change range . It can be up graded to a better stock later it you want.

mmt7714 · « **Reply #14 on:** November 16, 2011, 01:47:30 AM »

I have given some thought to the vanguard/howa. They have very strong actions but do run a little more. That howa ranchland is pretty tempting.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #15 on:** November 16, 2011, 04:08:55 AM »

It seems some of the less expensive rifles are heavy compared to say a rem 700 of same profile .

charles p · « **Reply #16 on:** November 16, 2011, 08:17:47 AM »

Get the least expensive Rem 700 made and you will have a rifle that will last a lifetime, and always return its value.
I have lots of rifles, and at my age I can about afford what I want. I hunt with an old 270 Rem ADL nearly every time I go out deer hunting. I'd rather spend my money on a very good scope and use an average bolt action rifle. If you reverse my theory, you will end up with a piece of .............

guzzijohn · « **Reply #17 on:** November 16, 2011, 08:20:21 AM »

I would not go with a Handi unless you already really like them. By the time you get done tinkering with it and putting a bunch of "break in" rounds down the barrel you will probably have about as much or more money in it than several different brands of entry level bolt actions that will be accurate right out of the box. I have the basic wood stocked Savage in .243 and it grouped 3/4" right out of the box plus I have immediate back up shots.
GuzziJohn

mannyrock · « **Reply #18 on:** November 16, 2011, 11:47:04 AM »

For goodness sakes. Why is everyone so interested in throwing away money just to buy a budget priced stripped-down new rifle, when there are thousands and thousands of high quality used rifles in excellent condition out there for equal or less money?

Go to a couple of large gunshows, and find a Savage bolt action in a walnut stock, that is used but not abused. Or find a nice Remington 700 ADL in a walnut stock made in the 1980s or 1990s. Or find an Interarms Mark X with a plain grade walnut stock. All of these are classics, and the odds are that they will outshoot any new budget rifle you buy.

Look at the rifles on Saturday morning, narrow them down to two or three, and then return about 2:45 on Sunday afternoon. At least one of those dealers is going to be cash starved and will let a rifle go for a very low price. I have had dealers say "no" to my low offer at 2:45, and then run up and down the aisles frantically trying to find me at 4:30, asking if they could still take it.

The vast majority of used rifles in VG+ condition have probably been shot less than 50 times, and spent almost all of their lives in the back of a closet.

Regards, Mannyrock

mmt7714 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 16, 2011, 02:00:47 PM »

Well manny that would be nice but i don't know what gun shows you are going to. That ones i attend do have a lot of used rifles and they keep getting more proud of them everytime. Deals can be had but they are becoming more rare. I will be going to another show in a week or so and will keep my eyes open bit good deals on a quality rifle are becoming things of the past.

Mike

Swampman · « **Reply #20 on:** November 16, 2011, 02:03:21 PM »

For $399.00 you can buy a new Model 700 Remington with scope. I can't see why anyone would buy something else.

tacklebury · « **Reply #21 on:** November 16, 2011, 02:31:13 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on November 16, 2011, 02:03:21 PM

For $399.00 you can buy a new Model 700 Remington with scope. I can't see why anyone would buy something else.

Where you seeing those Swamp? Cheapest I can find a 700 of any type is $525 at Bud's? $:-\$ All their wood models I see are nearly 1k dollars too. 8(
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/57_981/products_id/97359

Swampman · « **Reply #22 on:** November 16, 2011, 02:33:19 PM »

Look at Walmart, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Academy Sports.

smokehouserex · « **Reply #23 on:** November 16, 2011, 02:40:22 PM »

mannyrock:
I agree, almost never buy a new weapon. Last year I got one of those deals you spoke of, 700 BDL,3x9 Redfield in 270Win. for 300.00. If you don't have to have it "right now" you can find a bargain. Keep on looking.
HM

tacklebury · « **Reply #24 on:** November 16, 2011, 02:43:20 PM »

Yah, our local 2 super Walmarts best price was $447 for a black/black 7mm Mag, but that's still better than I had found elsewhere.

Might have to check ole Wally World more often hehe...

mannyrock · « **Reply #25 on:** November 17, 2011, 04:13:53 AM »

Smokerhouser is right. If you are one of the people who "has to have a new gun today," then you will never find or seal a good deal. Sellers can see by your face that you really want one, and the price will not come down.

You have to actually have the attitude that you couldn't care less whether you buy a rifle at the show or not. After thoroughly checking a piece out, if the price is too high, then just tell them so, and walk away, happily.

I don't think I have ever been to a show where I didn't spot a good deal. I was at a very small show in Woodstock VA about two months ago. Almost all of the rifles had asking prices that were way too high. But there in a rack, among a lot of used rifles, was a J.C. Higgens branded, FN 98 Mauser, in .30-06, with all metal parts, and a beautiful walnut stock, in VG+ condition, with an asking price of just $375. One of the finest commercial mausers ever made, for just $375!

I didn't buy it, because I don't need an extra hunting rifle. But I can guarantee you that I could have gotten it for $350.

I talked to two guys at another table, who were fondling brand new Remington 700 BDLs, with walnut stocks and asking prices around $700. I told them that they ought to take a look at FN if they really wanted a deal. They were so ignorant, they didn't even look.

Another point. When looking at a used firearm, you shouldn't really care what the asking price is. They are always sky high. It should be totally irrelevant to you. You know what you are willing to pay, and that's all that should be important to you.

Yes, it may take 3 or 4 shows before you can acquire a good rifle at your price, but who cares?

Mannyrock

eye shot · « **Reply #26 on:** November 17, 2011, 09:24:49 AM »

mmt7714
You may want to look at some military surplus rifles or good used deer rifles that the bores are hardly ever shot out. Like I told my brother when he moved to AZ and wanted to start shooting paper, check the online auctions out and look for a 60- 70's 700. He wanted a 22-250 and got a nice 1972 ADL for 300$ and it's shooting dimes at 200yds.

Bart Solo · « **Reply #27 on:** November 17, 2011, 03:39:57 PM »

I have to agree about buying used. Many fine rifles sit in their owner's safe until he dies and his wife sells them for a song. My late father in law had several such rifles. In his later years he didnt hunt much and shot even less. He kept buying guns. His widow sold them cheap.

If you buy from my widow on the other hand you will be buying a rifle that has been shot and shot a lot, but over the years I have encountered several situations like the one described above.

Huffmanite · « **Reply #28 on:** November 17, 2011, 03:53:31 PM »

Own 2 Stevens 200s, one Edge/Axis and 2 Marlins, an XL and a XS. I prefer my Marlins. Only experience I have with a Mossberg ATR bolt rifle was when a gent. who is a serious shooter, showed up at range a couple of times with one. His son had bought one and he had it to sight in the scope and try various reloads in it. My fellow shooter was favorably impressed with it.

JPShelton · « **Reply #29 on:** November 18, 2011, 01:24:27 AM »

Quote from: mannyrock on November 16, 2011, 11:47:04 AM

For goodness sakes. Why is everyone so interested in throwing away money just to buy a budget priced stripped-down new rifle, when there are thousands and thousands of high quality used rifles in excellent condition out there for equal or less money?

Go to a couple of large gunshows, and find a Savage bolt action in a walnut stock, that is used but not abused. Or find a nice Remington 700 ADL in a walnut stock made in the 1980s or 1990s. Or find an Interarms Mark X with a plain grade walnut stock. All of these are classics, and the odds are that they will outshoot any new budget rifle you buy.

Look at the rifles on Saturday morning, narrow them down to two or three, and then return about 2:45 on Sunday afternoon. At least one of those dealers is going to be cash starved and will let a rifle go for a very low price. I have had dealers say "no" to my low offer at 2:45, and then run up and down the aisles frantically trying to find me at 4:30, asking if they could still take it.

The vast majority of used rifles in VG+ condition have probably been shot less than 50 times, and spent almost all of their lives in the back of a closet.

Regards, Mannyrock

The "false economy of cheap" is something I don't understand, either. People who say "I can't afford a nice rifle" are really saying that they don't have the discipline and patience to save for one. They also don't understand the value of money.

In hawking is expensive airguns, Dr. Robert Beeman used to ask: "If you could buy a Ford that would go 100 mph and get you from Point A to Point B, or for just a few dollars more, get a Mercedes that would go 100 mph and get you from Point A to Point B, and last the whole of your life, what would you choose"?

I recently did the gun show thing pretty much as Mannyrock described in the quote above. I walked away with a brand spankin' new 63 year old Remington Model 721 in .270 Winchester. Now, this was perhaps the "buget rifle" of its day, but it is also the rifle (along with the similar but short action 722) that Big Green built their "out of the box accuracy" repuation on. It has a genuine walnut stock that is very precisely inletted. The metalwork is flawless. The build quality is very high. And I don't have to worry about wearing the thing out in my lifetime anymore than I'd worry about wearing out a Remington Model 700. The difference, though, is that if I ever get bored with this 721 and decide to move on, as long as I take care of it, I'll very likely get all of my 400.00 back for it or maybe more. If I got bored with a Mossberg ATR I doubt if I'd get my money back. But with the 721, I'm not inclined to want to part with it because its action ISN'T rough... It is one of the slickest bolt guns I've ever owned. Feeding is smooth. Rapid fire is no problemo. No failures to feed, fire, extract, or eject. And the accuracy is every bit as good as it is on a new Savage or Remington bolt action sporter. I obviously think there is more value in a 721 at $400.00 than I see in a Stevens at $300.00. And to me, it is worth the difference in price simply because if I do sell, I'll get all of that $400.00 that I spent on the 721 back but I'd be lucky to recoup 2/3 of my outlay on the Stevens. And that Stevens isn't going to have a trigger as crisp and creep free as my 721. It isn't going to have an action anywhere nearly as slick. It might or might not be as accurate. It is definitely going to be uglier. It isn't going to have the same high quality polish and blue of a late 40s / early 50s Remington.

JP