Looking for the perfect first rifle

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Strakele

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Hey guys,

I'm new to the forum, and it looks like a great place with a lot of experienced people who can help me out.

I have been into shooting for years now. I shoot rifles with friends who have them, and rent different pistols at a local range. I'm on the precision rifle team in my school's ROTC and can shoot a perfect 100 in the prone position.
I'm now looking to buy my own rifle.

At first I was considering the good old Remington 700 series, but I know there are a lot of other good rifles out there that I just don't know as much about. I've been doing a lot of reading up on different guns and calibers, and there's a huge array of choices. I'm looking for a rifle that:

-Has a black synthetic stock
-Can shoot less than 1 inch group at 100 yards
-Can easily mount a scope, bipod, and preferably a sling too, but first two are most important - basically, can take a scope and has 2 sling studs up front
-Uses easy to find and fairly inexpensive ammo
-Has a good and/or adjustable trigger

This rifle will be used primarily for target shooting at 100-200 yards, but I want it to be capable of doing much more, and the ability to take down small-medium game should my friends and I decide to go hunting.

I don't want to spend much more than $500 on the rifle itself. What are your recommendations as far as gun manufacturer and model, as well as what caliber?

In my research I've found the Savage 110/10FP rifles to be very good and I found a lightly used one for a good price with a new stock.

The Remington 700 SPS varmint also fits my needs well.

I've also found Mossberg, Howa, and Stevens rifles that are less expensive than the Savage/Remingtons. Can they really compare accuracy wise?

There are so many choices with rifles and different calibers that I'm somewhat overwhelmed. I'm pretty sure I want to stick with .308, but I'm open to new ideas.

Thanks for the help.
 
I think a Remington 700 or a Savage will fit your needs .. They are both good shooters ..
 
Based upon your criteria, the Savage or the Remington will suit you well.

The Savage will be a lot easier to fit into your $500 budget.

If you want an adjustable trigger, the Savage with Accutrigger will pull ahead for you. However, I don't believe it is that much of an ordeal to put an adjustable after-market trigger in the Remington 700.

As for cheap ammunition, you are going to have a tough time. In many areas, .223 is not a legal round for mid-sized game. I mention .223 because it would be a (fairly) less expensive ammuntion choice.

Without .223, you'd be looking at a bit more expensive rounds for shooting. I have a .308 and ammuntion eats me alive (but it's a great round.)

30-06 could be an option-- there are outlets for surplus ammunition. However, I know a lot of folks that have mixed feelings about feeding surplus ammution to a match-grade rifle. And Surplus will not give you the best reading of your rifle's accuracy capabilities.


So, in short, you really (IMO) have answered your own question. The Savage and the Remington would do you well. I purposely leave out the Mossberg, the Howa, and the Stevens. I don't have personal experience with any of them and am not qualified to give an appraisal of them.


Good Luck!

-- John
 
Everything you and the two posts above have said matches my experience and pretty much covers the waterfront. Sounds like you should buy the Savage you found - I doubt you'll be disappointed. "Perfect," however, is very elusive...
 
Welcome to THR

My choices would include

Remington 700 pick your caliber and barrel configuration and stock option

Tikka T-3 a Finnish tack driver out of the box

Browning A Bolt short bolt throw and great out of the box accuracy

Weatherby Vanguard allot of rifle for the money

1 Inch or less groups are not always possible as each rifle will have its own preference for brand and bullet weight so try allot out to see which one your rifle likes.

Calibers to consider would include.

.308
.270
.280
.30-06
7mm Remington Magnum

Lots of good deals on new and used rifles turn up if you look around enough just keep checking

www.auctionarms.com

www.gunbroker.com

www.gunsamerica.com

For a fee an FFL can order one for you.

A second sling swivel can easily be added to any rifle.

Best of luck.;)
 
I would suggest a Swiss K-31. It might not be a commercial target rifle, and they're not tremendously easy to scope, but they deserve an immense amount of respect for their accuracy and quality. Plus, for under $200 you really can't go wrong.
 
Don't overlook the CZ-527 Kevlar.
It is possibly one of the most accurate out-of-the-box rifles out there today.
http://www.cz-usa.com/product_detail.php?id=13

They come with a single-set match trigger, and even the 6 pound light sporter will shoot under 1/2 MOA all day.

And don't let the $844 suggested retail price scare you away.
Actual street price is much less.
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=84517203

Extra front swivels are a non-issue. They only cost $5 bucks, and are easily installed where-ever you want them.

1224.jpg
rcmodel
 
Rem 700 SPS 30-06

Hey,

I was in a similar situation as you a year ago. I had been shooting for a while but with all borrowed rifles. I did a bunch of research and then found a great deal at cabelas . I bought a Rem 700 sps 30-06. I think it meets all your requirements except it does not have double sling/bipod mounts upfront. Its a great gun I put a VXII Leupold 3x9x50 on it and it has shot great even with me behind the trigger. I liked it so much I just bought an 11-87 Sps that is a dream. So I dont have a lot of experience with Savage but I have loved the Rems
 
Too many parameters. Your trying to do what many shooters have tried to do for years, finding one gun to do it all. Your budget is the kicker. Rifle and scope for $500 is tough. Don't forget reloading gear if you want the best out of a rifle. A 223 would be perfect, except for hunting. You never know what your going to get with a used gun. It may have had the snot shot out of it.
Tough question.
I'd hate to see you lay down your hard earned money and then be disappointed.
Mark
 
Budget is rifle for $500, plus extras. $700-750 with scope/bipod.

This rifle will be almost exclusively for target shooting, but it'd be nice for it to be able to kill something if needed.

I'm not going to get into reloading [yet] with this rifle so I want it to be able to shoot with factory ammo.

I also like the Tikka T3 varmint a lot. It's a little more expensive from what I've seen but it's really nice.
 
With your cost parameters, and stated goals, I would get the Savage in.223. Generally accurate round and rifle, and the most economical factory ammo available. Lots of fun to shoot too.
 
Savage. Most accurate, but most people won't admit it. And it's infinitely upgradeable, in your own garage. You can get a 12 FVXP in .204 with scope on the Savageshooters sight for $435.
 
+1 For the Savage. I would suggest the Model 12FV. That gives you the stock you want, a heavy varmint barrel which will aid in accuracy and the AccuTrigger which is very nice indeed. That model is available in both .223 and .308 variants. I would choose between those calibers, depending on how big of animal you wish to be able to take with it.

I took my .223 Model 12 out recently hunting groundhogs and I killed every one that I got a shot off at, except one. All my shots were over 300yds and half of the kills were in excess of 400yds. After that experience, I'm sold on the Savage.
 
every one of those you picked are excellent choices, you should pick them all up, feel them up and down, pull the trigger, etc. They are all capable of moa , in my opinion, with a little work, ammo searching , and tweeking on your part. you can routinely find sale flyers from the big box stores, to get those with scopes allready on, for 400 bucks. I just saw a the last Bass pro in this area , had the mossy atr youth rifle, with scope, in 243, with full set of stock extensions, to make it fit adults, for 299, and the savage they had with scope package, in 7mm mag was 329. Both very good deals.
 
That's a good idea, I will go to the gun shop and actually feel all of the rifles they have that I'm thinking about.

I'm pretty much sold on the Savage. But there's so many models. What's the difference between all the different series? They have the 110/10FP LE series, 11 series, 12 series... what's the difference?
 
Check out the website: www.savagearms.com

Basically the stocks (wood, synthetic), barrels (heavy or sporter contour, lengths), and metal finish (polished blue or matte). Also pay attention to the weight of the rifle. In my opinion, a heavy barrel (and therefore a heavier rifle) is great for target shooting at the range. However, for hunting a lighter rifle is nice if you are gonna be carrying the thing around. I've only been hunting once (got a wild boar) but I was glad I had a regular sporter weight hunting rifle.

BTW, I own a Savage 10FP I have been quite pleased with. Good luck!
 
I'll go out on a limb here... back in the day, Kimber bought a bunch of Swedish Mauser 96's in 6.5x55, stocked them up in your basic black synthetic stock and, well, you can still find them.
The round is excellent for meat or target. The action is, well, excellent, superlative. Swede's are known for their accuracy and can stand beside the Swiss K-31's all day long for the most part. (Don't know how they'd do up against a new Savage tho. Those things are scary) Kimber is Kimber and these were/are a steal at $300 buy now price.

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=84836632

Kimber already added the scope base holes. (I've seen old men using open sights and old 96's outshoot younger men with scoped Remingtons... always good for a wakeup and smell the coffee laugh)
Yes they're ancient. (he's also got a 1900 Obie) Yes, they've been factory bubba'd. (and a good looking job it is too)

Like I said, it's an "out there" sorta thought. Just one fool (who loves the Svedes and the 6.5) and his opinion. Tikka T3 also available in 6.5 (tho in wood)

And welcome to THR.
 
That's a good idea, I will go to the gun shop and actually feel all of the rifles they have that I'm thinking about.

I'm pretty much sold on the Savage. But there's so many models.
Click to expand...

Same is true of Remington, and many of the different models not only have different mechancial and physical features with respect to the action and barrel, but are stocked very, very differently - another good reason to go slow and shop around.
 
I'm on the precision rifle team in my school's ROTC and can shoot a perfect 100 in the prone position.
Click to expand...

Most guns you listed, probably all of them, will shoot better than you can make it shoot. Not to burst your bubble but shooting 100s and 99s consistently isn't that hard, not easy, but its something that time will teach. However, with the knowledge that you learned through shooting through that will help you with the big bored guns.

-Uses easy to find and fairly inexpensive ammo
-Has a good and/or adjustable trigger
Click to expand...

Ammo wise, its going to be more than you want it to be. No matter what you are shooting. As for the trigger, savages accutrigger is more than well known for its good functioning.

In the end i think you should go for a savage. It will run you less money that you can thrown on ammo.
 
The Remington 700 SPS varmint also fits my needs well.
Click to expand...

They can be found for $450 new at stores and you get a rebate of $50. The gun should easily group under an inch at 100 yards and I like the action a lot more than I do savages. IIRC, the gun has two studs up front, it is very easy to scope, there are tons of aftermarket parts, and depeding on caliber ammo won't be very expensive, but should be pretty common for all choices. I don't know how the trigger on the SPS varmint is, but any competant gunsmith should be capable of adjusting it if you do not like it.

Savage rifles are said to be very accurate for their price, and I think that the trigger is excellent. I don't like the way the action feels because the ones I used all feel sloppy and wobble. Also you would probably have to special order a 10FP, I have never seen one at a gun shop.
 
Two problems you need to know about.
-Uses easy to find and fairly inexpensive ammo
Click to expand...
That is not something you want to base a purchase on as ammo prices are only going up and milsurp ammo is drying up. You can get started reloading for around $150 so don't put too much weight on ammo cost, hunting ammo is expensive across the board these days for the most part. The second thing is that in most places .223 is not allowed for hunting anything bigger than a coyote. I'm not saying it won't kill deer, but in many places it is the law. Also remember that a .223 may not be able to shoot milsurp 5.56 as they are loaded just a little bit different.
 
+1 to RCmdel

Take a look at the CZ 527 Kevar, It maybe the best bang for the buck.

To get a better or more accurate out of the box rilfe then the 527 Kevar

you will have to pay $1500 to $2000. If you ever shoot a 527 you will get

one.
 
I think I'm going with a Savage 110 I found already in a nice stock with included ammo and scope rings. Going to put a Bushnell Elite 3200 10X40 mil dot scope on it.

Is a pivoting bipod worth the extra cost or should I stick with a fixed one? And do all bipods come with a sling attachment point or only RockMount?

Thanks.
 
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