Suggestions for a .308 bolt rifle...

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nfafan

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Any suggestions for a right-handed .308 bolt rifle with the following criteria:

Light weight and with a short barrel 18-20" preferred

Slick, finger-tip bolt operation to minimize shooting hand movements/adjustments

Externally removable magazine a bonus but not as important as the smooth, easy, finger-tip bolt manipulation

Thanks in advance for the ideas!
 
Howa/weatherby vanguards (same action) are pretty smooth, can be had with lighter weight and shorter barrels and you can buy a replacement trigger guard assembly and detachable magazines for under $100. Pretty accurate rifles too.
 
A budget will help with advice.

Forget the Vanguard/Howa suggestion. They are the heaviest rifle actions made. Even with shorter barrels they will still be very heavy. Good rifles if you want something heavy, but a poor choice for a lightweight. They weigh just under 8 lbs

You have most closely described a Tikka T-3. Don't worry about the barrel length. A longer barrel can easily and inexpensively cut to the length you want. A Tikka is just a hair over 6 lbs and has one of the slickest, easiest to operate actions out there. They have a reputation for outstanding acuracy.

If on a budget the Marlin XS-7, or new Ruger American are about the same weight as a Tikka. Marlin is blind magazine while the Ruger has a detachable mag.

If money is not a problem than a Kimber 84M is your best bet. Just over 5 lbs, CRF, stainless and a high quality synthetic stock. Priced just over $1,000 though
 
low budget accurate tack drivers, Stevens 200, mid range Ruger M77, spend more money and there are so many to choose from....bottom line you will be the one using it, good rifle with good optics.
 
+1 on the Tikka T3, great rifle. Barring that, Ruger American? Savage Axis? Ruger Scout? Oh heck, the list goes on and on!

;)

Andy
 
Thanks all for the ideas!

So far, I had a chance to handle NEW Ruger Americans, a Tikka, Browning-something, Japanese-made Weatherby and a couple Savages.

Of the above, the one sweetly priced Ruger felt like the bolt was covered in sand, the other Ruger was smooth. The Tikka and Savage Axxis weren't too bad, but IIRC, the Rugers were lighter. The one Savage had a bull-barrel making it way too heavy for my needs.

ALL of the new rifles had quite a stout "bolt lift" to unlock.

I later visited a Gander Mtn and handled a couple used Remmy 700s they had; the bolt on either could be lifted and cycled with almost fingertip effort - nice!

Downside to the above - any of the rifles that included a bundled, pre-mounted scope had them mounted so as to be in the way of easily working the bolt - or easily/quickly charging an internal magazine. Not a good design.

I wonder if the rifles would support a scope mounting similar to the Ruger Scout rifle - well forward of the action?
 
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