Best .308 under $600?

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fulloflead

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Hey, what's the best .308 under $600 for a newbie?

NOTHING'S set in stone, I'll give or take but...
I'd prefer to spend $500 and then buy a nice scope.
I'm thinking a stainless bolt-action, but I'm open to blue and auto just the same.
I'd lean toward a heavier gun with a synthetic stock and target barrel.
I'd like a magazine that holds 4 rounds or more.
I'd like to load single rounds into the chamber with the magazine in if possible or AT LEAST be able to "top off" the mag with it in the gun. (You know, shoot a couple, load a couple back without having to take a mag out OR just leave the full mag in and load one round at a time until I needed the mag-full.)

I like smooth bolt-action, crisp reasonabe trigger weight and 3" groups at 200 yards.
Realistic?

Any suggestions?
 
Alot've the newer Savages with the accu-trigger are producing the sort've accuracy your talking about and for not tons of cash. You can get good deals on 'soso' halfass scopes with them too.
 
Savage 10FP would be a good fit for your requirements. Only disadvantage is a so-so stock, but you can replace it and still be at your $600 limit. But, you will still need a good scope and some rings ;) . Oh, and ammo!

Savage has a great trigger and nice accuracy. Haven't shot one for groups at 200 yards, but if it can do 1" at 100 yards, it should be good for 3" at 200 yards, no?
 
bought a Savage 20" 10FPLE1 last year as my first bolt gun. couldn't be happier.

the stock can be firmed up some with some JBweld and an aluminum rod in the barrel channel. also added some weight in the buttstock for better balance.

extremely accurate. it can shoot 3 shot 1" groups at 225yds using federal GMM.
:D
 
I plan to buy a new 30.06 before the next deer season and I'm torn between the Tikka T3 and the Savage. I've been researching this since last deer season and these two seem to be the most logical choices.

Right now I'm leaning towards the T3, provided the 10-round mags for the new tactical version will fit in the standard model.
 
sorry to tell yah bottom but the tikkas are no more accurate than the savages. as for the action, I wouldn't know. but the savages I have worked with have plenty smooth actions. the new model savages have better stocks and better triggers on them. a 10fp will shoot very competitivly right out of the box.
 
Don't know about the action? Maybe you should shoot a Tikka, Fsflint.
That way you'll see the actions are smooth as silk and that they are indeed more accurate than Savages.
Every Tikka and Sako I've ever shot has beaten Savage hands down.
 
Bottom Gun, have you tried the new Accutrigger Savages? I was never a fan of Savages until the new Accutrigger models came out.
 
Yes, I have tried the new Savage triggers. They are excellent.

I still prefer the Tikka though because the trigger is only part of the equation which makes a rifle a pleasure to shoot. Other factors which influence my decision are the cut of the stock, the way the rifle fits/points, the feel of the action and of course the accuracy.
I think felt recoil is somewhat less with the Tikkas because of the cut of the stock. Same with the Sakos. I've shot them alongside Savages, Remingtons and Ruger rifles of the same caliber. Felt recoil seems to be less when shooting the same ammo. I think it's because of the way the stock is cut and because it fits me better.

Stop in a gun shop and try working the actions, testing the triggers and checking the fit of Savages, Tikkas and any other rifles you care to handle. I'll bet the experience will cause you to look at Tikkas in a new light.

My two cents.
 
I would add though, that for the price of the Savages (I have an FP 10 in .308) you could still buy many stocks and get one to fit you better than most other factory stocks, and still be under budget. The trigger is good (now with the accutrigger) and accuracy I'd bet comparable to anything under $600 if not better. The only thing is I have no idea about the action comparison, as I have not shot the other ones.... the action being a tad smoother on a bolt gun was not much of a deciding factor for me. I'm not going for fast follow up shots with a bolt gun....
 
You're quite welcome, LB. Let us know which way you decide to go after you make your comparison. Rifles, like other things, are a matter of personal preference.
Good luck to you.
 
Tikkas are great. Check the 595s as well as the M3. More classic, wood and metal. Less Beretta-influenced. Many, many versions (stocks, barrel profiles, etc.) all for similar prices.

They are single-position-feed removable mags, and have small ejector ports. Not the easiest to single feed, and impossible to top off.

I rather love my PSS in many ways. They are a little out of your price, but other 700s are quite afforable if you shop around a bit. Like this somewhat whippy ADL?. A tad over ($560) is heavy barrelled VLS, but I am sure someone would sell you one for about $500. And slightly used things about, if you know what to watch out for.

If you will scope it, save up for glass. I didn't really, and still have a just-barely-not-regrattable scope on my PSS. Maybe the wife will let me spend some of the tax refund on it this year...
 
I've found the Savage 99E in .308 is about perfect. Handy enough for a truck gun. Faster than a bolt action but more reliable than a semi.
 
Just got to pipe in my $.02, I have been on an extensive look for a new rifle, budget has not really been an issue so I have been looking up to $1200 numbers. This has Winchesters, Remingtons. Savages, Tikkas, Sako's, Sigs, FN's I have kept my mind open and looked at just about everything.

Sako, out of your price range and for that kind of money I expect forged not cast reciever.

Tikka, a cheaper Sako, I really didn't like the plastic parts associated with these rifles, read a lot of good revieves on this but the plastic just leaves me cold. This are supposed to be very accurate out of the box. Stock was fair, entirely what I expected in a gun in this price range.

Remington....no comment no desire to flame

Winchester...Ditto above

Savage not bad all in all but this action just doesn't do it for me, one of the best triggers though and you need to drop a lot more dollars on a rifle to get a better trigger. A reasonable choice just not my cup of tea.

CZ I don't like set triggers particularly thats the negative. The stock is basic but again definately what I expect in this price range. I liked this best of all the above, not quite as refined as the Sako but I really liked this rifle. It is my 1st choice in the above group, I will probably change out the trigger and restock it eventually, but neither is mandatory just personal preference.

From the above list in your price mark my first choice is the CZ followed by the Tikka they are both decent rifles. You would probably be happy with either.

My choice is I decided I want a old Sako L579 with a Bofors barrel ( or I will rebarrel it with a custom if I don't get the Bofors) and I will restock it at my leisure. I also like the old Husky rifles, I decided either that or a new CZ for my younger sons first rifle.
 
I have a Model 99 in 300 Savage, manufactured in the pre-WWII era. I love that old gun, but the problem with it is that I don't want to tap it for a scope. I don't want to deface what I consider to be a classic gun, and even if I did, the top-ejection/top-load design doesn't lend itself to scope use. I recommend a modern gun for serious hunting.

If you want to consider a different type of action, the Remington 760 is a great gun, and can be picked up for under $300. I've never used one in .308 (never even seen one, now that I think about it), however.

The newer 7600s just don't seem as well built as the old 760, though this could be me getting crotchety in my middle age.
 
ditto regarding the quality of Tikka's. I have a Tikka M595 and it is a tackdriver with a slick bolt. I like the savages in theory, but the only ones I've shot had almost painful recoil in 308 (mind you I'm no wuss, the savage's recoil felt different than the remington's and winchester's I've fired in 308.) Probably a stock issue.

atek3
 
I can't speak for the Savages, but I love my Tikka T3. Don't worry I'm not a Tikka rep. or anything... ;) I'm more like the "Unofficial Wendy's Spoksman". Seriously though, I really like my T3 and really believe that my next 3 or 4 new rifles will be Tikka's. If the Savages are that good, I may have to try out just one.
 
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