Low End New 30-06's?

[Ethan]

Mossberg,Stevens 200 or Savage Axis. Value priced and good shooters. Cant go wrong with either one.

[Singleshotsam]

Ushe
On our 700s we use JB bore polish on patches to clean and polish the bore before a bullet ever touches it. Follow that up with some kroil and dry patches and your good to go.  But on a barrel that has cut rifling I would definately work it over well before shooting anything through it.

The reason I'm so adamant about going with an upgradable rifle is because I've been down the budget rifle road so many times and lost a lot of money jacking with them and then trading them off in search of something better.  I landed a 700 and started customizing it.  I've not looked back and it led me into long range shooting and  competition. 

Don't settle for a lesser gun because you want one right now.  ThT was my mistake several times.  Save up and get a good rifle that will take you further.  Its worth it.


 

[Singleshotsam]

It will still shoot amazing groups right out of the box with the Bushnell scope that comes on it.  The point being is a Model 700 is well worth owning.

At 100 yards they are functional.  Beyond that they are worthless.

[max1138]

I would look at an older gun, specifically remington sportsman 78's,its a model 700 action, barrel and trigger, Housed in a plain jane birch stock with a blind mag, ive owned one and it did fine with a little tuning. plus Im seeing them at shows for around 240 to 320.in good shape If I needed another 06 I wouldnt have a bit of concern picking one up.

that said a savage 110 package gun from wally world  with the accutrigger aint a bad deal if you can pick one up for less than 300 and it gets you mounts a sling and a scope that may be good or may need traded away for something a bit better if its not up to stuff.

[ironglow]

  Speaking of lower priced guns, I have had a Savage 11G in .223 for years.  It shoots like a Savage (accurate) and has never given me a single moment of "buyers regret"..but with one exception.  I wish the accutrigger was available back when I bought this one..  I believe most of the higher price is in wood, fit of the wood and the finish.  It is nearly as easy to make an accurate bore as an inaccurate one and a decent trigger is not a cost killer.. The extra bucks is mostly for esthetics (IMO)..and esthetics don't hunt !
 
Big bucks, isn't always the answer..  Here $250 shoots right with $9000
      http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/feb97money.html  Of course, that was pre-Remlin..
 
   Chuck Hawks had a similar experience with the same brand of guns..

[Swampman]

It will still shoot amazing groups right out of the box with the Bushnell scope that comes on it.  The point being is a Model 700 is well worth owning.

At 100 yards they are functional.  Beyond that they are worthless.

Not for me, but then I don't get sucked into the Outdoor Channel hype and the magazine ads.

[Singleshotsam]

Not for me, but then I don't get sucked into the Outdoor Channel hype and the magazine ads.

So it's ok for you to quote ads out of Guns and Ammo praising the Remington 700, yet when it comes to optics, that all goes out the window huh?

You don't have to spend a million dollars on an optic for it to be reliable and accurate.  You do however need an optic that has 3 essential features if you ever want to shoot beyond 100 yards accurately.
 
1.)  Reliable adjustments. -  If you have a scope that does not pass the box test then get rid of it.  The box test is the ablility for you to shoot one round in the center.  Adjust the scope 3" high and left.  6" down.  6" right.  6" up and then return all settings to zero and verifiy that the point of impact is back to the center shot. 
 
2.)  Decent glass -  If you dont' have a scope with decent glass that is relatively clear then a scope is pointless. 
 
3.)  Adjustable Parralax - Most cheap scope have their parralax set for 50 or 100 yards.  after that items at a longer range will start to look blurry and out of focus.  If you ever want a gun to group your gun at longer ranges then the ability to dial out the parralax really improves your ability to shoot well.
 
I have a Bushnell Banner 6-18x50 AO (adjustable objective) my wife got me for Christmas one year.  It probably costs 140.00 and it fits this criteria.  Granted I've had to send the orginal scope back to Bushnell twice to get a good one BUT the final product is able to reliably shoot at long range.  It's not the scope I'm currently using on my long range setup but it will preform if i need it.

[SHOOTALL]

Low end guns and low end optics are called that for a reason. If your expectation or wealth are either low end then you and the low end gun/scope combo will fit together well as they were made for each other. No cut intended but the low end products are made to fill that part of the market. Often folks in that situation try to justify their purchace by hiding the fact that either they can't afford better ( been there ) or don't have the experince to understand the benifit the higher priced equipment cost and are unwilling to buy better. The guy who shoots a deer each year will be fine with low end as his wealth is better spent on other things . The guy who shoots competition 3 weekends a mo. will be willing to go high end to be competive. Some will up grade to high end as funds become aval.
 For any of us to accuse either end of being wrong or useless if pure foolishness and shows a lack of knowlege on the subject.
 
Yes Remington guns are worth owning , the High end more so as they become an investment.
 
As for banner scopes I have one that was new in 1970 it still works and still ain't much .

[Singleshotsam]

I agree.  Just because you don't have the funds RIGHT NOW to buy the gun you want doesn't mean you wont be able to build a very nice custom rifle as money becomes available.  But if you wind up making a silly decision in buying a Marlin XL7, Savage Axis or Ruger American Rifle, you have removed the ability to make a crappy gun into a nice one.
 
Stevens 200 is the best choice for the OP.

[SHOOTALL]

I'll stick with the Rem 700ADL 

[Singleshotsam]

We know what we would choose Shootall but it wasn't in the original posters choice list. 

[SHOOTALL]

I know but ................

[Swampman]

I'll stick with the Rem 700ADL 

Because it's 10 times the rifle that the Steven/Savage is. 

[Singleshotsam]

That may be but your not the one buying it are you?

[SHOOTALL]

I'll stick with the Rem 700ADL 

Because it's 10 times the rifle that the Steven/Savage is.

I don't know how many times better but it has been a solid gun for years . Its the truck gun of choice for many. AND if you look at any after market part cat. everything is made for a Rem 700

[Swampman]

That may be but your not the one buying it are you?

Just pointing out that for the same money you can get something besides a turd.

[SHOOTALL]

That may be but your not the one buying it are you?

Just pointing out that for the same money you can get something besides a turd.

so abusive ! why not - with less of a track record for quality ..........

[Singleshotsam]

Just pointing out that for the same money you can get something besides a turd.

As was I.  But then you get attacked by all the other haters of quality and ... Well all I can say is i've been going around wearing dark glasses and trying to hide the bruises...

[usherj]

Here's an interesting comparison of various cleaning methods used by different shooters. Some use JB, some brush, some say no brush, some clean after 10-15 rds, some wait over 200 rds. I suppose it depends on what your barrel needs?
 
http://www.6mmbr.com/borebrushing.html\
 
Here is cool video from Brownells on the cleaning method Sam mentioned (JB & Kroil):
 
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/lid=13084/guntechdetail/Using_JB_Bore_Paste_and_Kroil_with_the_VFG_Bore_Pellets
 

[Singleshotsam]

For what it's worth I've been averaging about 80 rounds between cleanings.  It's not good to over clean your rifle because it has to be slightly fouled to be accurate and maintain it's former poi.
 
Just depends on when the groups start to open up...

[Swampman]

Once a year right after hunting season.  Hoppe's #9 on a patch.

[SHOOTALL]

I don't remember the last time I cleaned my 2506 bore . It still shoots great so why worry? Wipe it down with CLP every so often and would clean bore if accy falls off.

[BBF]

 Two days ago the Courier delivered a Savage Axis Package in 308 Win to my place. I haven't shot it as yet or cleaned. Compared to the  Stevens 200 it has a nicer looking and feeling stock and the bluing seems to be better.
 
The trigger takes some effort but isn't horrible. There is no creep or rough spots that I can feel. For a hunting rifle, particularly in cold weather when you might wear gloves the trigger is doable.
 
Believe it or not, I had to think about which way the cartridges go into the detachable mag It looked weird to me.  The mag itself is built flimsy. For myself it will be fine as I only load two shells into it anyway.
 
The scope is a bottom line Bushnell which may or may not stay for the time being. As most of my hunting is up close a 3-9  is not required and will be replaced by a low power  fixed "something".

[flmason]

 
The scope is a bottom line Bushnell which may or may not stay for the time being. As most of my hunting is up close a 3-9  is not required and will be replaced by a low power  fixed "something".

I've read, but don't know from experience, been mostly an iron sights guy all my life, that 4x fixed power scopes used to be the "standard" recommendation. Not sure when 3-9x40 became the "standard" recommendation.

I know the one scope I have, on a Traditions Yukon of all things, it came with 4x.

[Swampman]

Many years ago it was believe a fixed power scope was less likely to fail.  That hasn't been true in 20 years if it were ever true.  Some folks are still stuck in the dark ages.

[ScoutMan]

Many years ago it was believe a fixed power scope was less likely to fail.  That hasn't been true in 20 years if it were ever true.  Some folks are still stuck in the dark ages.

The downside to variables is the power ring which does not allow you to mount the scope forward fully.
 
The late Jeff Cooper postulated that a scope should be mounted no more aft than the rearward curve of the trigger guard.

[Swampman]

I haven't had any trouble.

[351 power]

lots of interesting OPINIONS here so i will throw in mine.
if a guy is after a low end rifle advice from experience is helpful but personal bias is counter productive.
i have owned and traded off most of these budget guns. my experience with most have been good.
the remingtons feel good and shoot good. i don't like their safeties because i like the bolt locked down.
i currently have 2 stevens which shoot good and i like their safeties. don't like the new type magazines
axis rifles are light to carry. haven't owned the marlins but they seem good.
have tried many used rifles and h&r handis. not a huge fan of the handis any more but they have their place.
try out a few and see what feels good. the truth is that you will likely buy and sell afew before you find something you can't part with.
the scope thing though. shooting the box is a game for real gun nuts. it is interesting but for a low end rifle you need a clear image and adjustments that move into place and then stay put. fun to throw around my opinions

[351 power]

postulate is just another kind of opinion

[ScoutMan]

I haven't had any trouble.

Have you shot the  " rifle ten" or "rifle bounce"  in competition?