Great hunting rifle at an even greater price?

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theboyscout

theboyscout

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what great hunting rifle are out ther at evene greater prices?

Who out there has a suggestion of a big game rifle that they have total confidence in and is really low in cost?
 
Ruger American, Mossberg Patriot, Savage Model 11 Trophy, Axis and T/C Compass. You should be able to get these under $450. I have tested the American, Patriot and Model 11 and would not hesitate to carry any of them. The American I had was one of the most accurate hunting rifles that I have had as was a Patriot. If Mossberg would fix their sloppy bolt I would order one of their walnut guns tomorrow. They are very nicely finished.
 
Captcurt said:
Ruger American, Mossberg Patriot, Savage Model 11 Trophy, Axis and T/C Compass. You should be able to get these under $450. I have tested the American, Patriot and Model 11 and would not hesitate to carry any of them. The American I had was one of the most accurate hunting rifles that I have had as was a Patriot. If Mossberg would fix their sloppy bolt I would order one of their walnut guns tomorrow. They are very nicely finished.
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I've not owned the Patriot, but I've owned multiples of the others.
I almost bought a Patriot in .375 Ruger instead of rebarreling my Abolt, and in the process I handled a few of them. Honestly I don't think the bolts any more sloppys than the newer savages I've got.
Honestly the only "budget" gun I'd avoid is the Axis, and that's just because I don't like the way they feel. If you spend 400 on a new rifle at this point, you'll be hard pressed to buy a bad one.
 
theboyscout said:
Who out there has a suggestion of a big game rifle that they have total confidence in and is really low in cost?
Click to expand...
I think you can still pick up one of those H&R Handy Rifles for less than $400.00 new, and they are chambered for cartridges that will take down any big game in North America.
I didn't pay anywhere near $400.00 for my Handy Rifle, but then I bought it so long ago I can't really remember what I paid - probably about $200.00. I DO have "total confidence" in it though - for what I use it for. It's the .17 HMR I keep near the back door for Starlings in the current bushes out behind the garden. It goes BANG every time I pull the trigger, and a Starling usually (but not always) explodes in a burst of feathers.:D
Seriously, if you look around, I'll bet you can pick up a real good, used H&R Handy Rifle with a scope for less than $400.00. It won't be fancy, and it will be a single-shot of course, but I wouldn't be afraid to use it for big game hunting. The fact is, I use to hunt mule deer with a couple of guys that used H&R Handy rifles - one guy used one chambered in 270 Win, and the other guy used one chambered in 7mm-08. They each did as well on mule deer as I did with the much more expensive Winchester 70, 300 Win Mag I was using back then.:)
 
i think the american is the best for the money and ruger is very good to work with if u have to. there are some nice used guns to the Remington 700s with the blind mag are very cheap used. around here they don't seem to come up for sale much but that ems to be changing. i think the 700 is loosing its popularity more and more. all the new budget guns shoot very good. i had a savage edge in 270 that was a one inch gun t 200 yds but the mag sucks and the stock was something i would not give my enemy. i wish the gun makers would go bake to the blind mags and floor plates that i like but they must be cheaper to make with the removable mags.
 
theboyscout said:
That guns $1500.... Looking for low price too, but thanks for the reply
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Cva for a good single shot that won't jam, savage, if you're interested in versatility (can get into good used ones for sub400otd) ruger American as long as the barrel channel is straight, tc, mossy, and the marlin xs7 (?) Can still be had for a steal on cdnn
 
So many- Mossberg MVP/patriot, Ruger American, Savage, etc., all available at wal mart. If someone buys a junky rifle nowadays, its because they want a junky rifle.
 
I really like Savage, been a quality budget rifle for a LONG time. I have a 25 year old one that's still shooting 1MOA. There's a plethora of choices in this category now days. It's a new era in quality well priced firearms. Such guns as the Ruger American are VERY interesting.

Now, I have three main hunting rifles and a few I hunt with that aren't such types of rifles. My SKS I shoot hogs with cost me 75 bucks back around 1990. Those days of unbelievable milsurp deals are pretty much over. SKSs go for 300-400 bucks now and require modifications for hunting and aren't exactly that accurate with mostly awful triggers. Mine is one of the few I've tried with a decent trigger, actually. The budget guns now days even offer adjustable triggers, something unheard of a few decades ago.

So, just pick one and enjoy. :D
 
We have two Patriots in .270. They are actually very accurate rifles and have served us well. Bud's has them complete with a Vortex Crossfire II scope for $416. Patriots with lower grade scopes go for about $334 and no scope for $300 or so. That's not bad.
 
I apparently miss understood what the op meant by " Big Game". He won't like my suggestion so I'll keep it to myself. If he wants a deer/bear rifle on a budget, I also would also look at Savage 110s. Mine has been all I could ask for in a cheap rifle. I have others that are better guns but the price goes up.
 
You might have or not, he really didn’t say, going off he lives in FL, the 30-06 would kill everything in that State, nothing “REALLY” big there.

A raccoon is “BIG” to a guy trying to get rid of mice.
 
Ruger American, Savage Axis.

But for real bang-for-buck? Thompson/Center. Owned by S&W, can get a quality rifle for under $300
 
New? I can't believe Howa 1500's/Weatherby Vanguards haven't been mentioned. Much better than the budget Ruger and Savage imo.

Stocks need to be replaced on all four budget brands ive mentioned imo. Well maybe "need" is a strong word but better off for sure.
 
There are several low-end price ranges, and each one would have its own one or two "best values" within that price range.

Are we talking new only, or new AND used?

Are we talking
1. $250-$300,
2. $300-$350,
3. $350-$400,
4. $400-$450,
5. $450-$500,
6. $500-$550?, or
7. $550-$600

Without knowing more, in the 2nd category, I'd run with the T/C Compass, and in the 4th category, a T/C Venture.

But I hate detachable mags, so I'd find a way to step up to a floor plate gun - a Savage 10/110/11/111 etc., or a Howa / Vanguard in that $500-$550 range. Or better yet, a used Win 70 or Browning A-Bolt II. Chambering - pick one. I like .270 win, .280 rem, and .30-06 for elk-sized critters. Use a premium bullet of any weight, or a heavy budget bullet.
 
Ruger American and the savage 11 xp models are good.

I am not a huge axis fan. I own one and have shot two. The .223 axis is a good shooter but on the light end for hunting medium game.
 
Mn Fats said:
New? I can't believe Howa 1500's/Weatherby Vanguards haven't been mentioned. Much better than the budget Ruger and Savage imo.

Stocks need to be replaced on all four budget brands ive mentioned imo. Well maybe "need" is a strong word but better off for sure.
Click to expand...
Probably not mentioned because they run $100-$200 more than the others. I can get a Patriot for under $300 Wholesale. The Vanguard and Howa run $450+ wholesale. Both bargains, but still not in the lower price range.
 
Captcurt said:
Probably not mentioned because they run $100-$200 more than the others. I can get a Patriot for under $300 Wholesale. The Vanguard and Howa run $450+ wholesale. Both bargains, but still not in the lower price range.
Click to expand...
The vanguard/howa being only $100ish more shouldn't be ruled out. That's splitting hairs. $450 to me is buying a "great rifle at a greater price". Everyone has their own idea of the word "budget" though.
 
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