A used rifle/scope combo of good quality is always a better deal than buying new.
All good advice here!! ..........
All good advice here!! ..........
1st Cheap Hunting rifle
- Thread starter MacSeoin
- Start date
This is good advice, I picked up a 1600 in 6.5x55mm and put a Leupold VX1 on it. Great rifles.
colonel3006
Regular
- Location
- Ayton,ontario
First thing yer gonna dew is have to find a replacemint magazine......oar izz it a clip.[/QUOTE]
I'll agree with that. Bought a 243 edge (axis) when they first came out. Swapped out the original scope fairly quickly and the cheap mag didn't last much longer. I can't complain much about the rifle, other than the trigger which I cut a coil and a half off the spring which did help. It's fairly accurate for being a cheap package rifle but don't think I'd buy another either.
I'll agree with that. Bought a 243 edge (axis) when they first came out. Swapped out the original scope fairly quickly and the cheap mag didn't last much longer. I can't complain much about the rifle, other than the trigger which I cut a coil and a half off the spring which did help. It's fairly accurate for being a cheap package rifle but don't think I'd buy another either.
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
I won a Savage Axis II last year in a raffle and for being inexpensive (~$500-600), it's far from terrible and shoots pretty well. I picked .243 though as I already have a .223, 6.5x55, 30-06 and 45-70 for hunting rifles. I figured it rounded out the collection.
They come with a Weaver Kaspa scope that seems to review really well. I like mine. I didn't feel the need to remove it asap like i did when i bought a $279 on sale axis .223. That scope was pretty terrible.
They come with a Weaver Kaspa scope that seems to review really well. I like mine. I didn't feel the need to remove it asap like i did when i bought a $279 on sale axis .223. That scope was pretty terrible.
IMO buying a used tikka t3 off the EE is the best way to go, the good deals are prived around 600-650 and that will get you a much better rifle then anything new in that price range.
Slap on a decent entry level scope, elite 3200 or vx-1 and you're good to go with a setup that you won't be regretting down the road.
Slap on a decent entry level scope, elite 3200 or vx-1 and you're good to go with a setup that you won't be regretting down the road.
I'd recommend a Rem M783 w/ scope combo. These rifles can shoot! Have a look at various reviews online. There are some ugly shortcuts on it but it is very functional and has great accuracy potential. I bought one on spec after a gunsmith friend recommended it. Don't regret it. With my handloads, I'm getting easily sub-moa with the rifle. IMHO, the 783 is better built than the Axis/Savage/Mossberg rigs. II see some recommendations for a tradeex Husqvarna and although I own one and quite like it for its classiness and accuracy you are not always certain about what you are getting then you still need to get rings and a scope. Your purchase can go to $1000 quickly I think. The 783 combo might run you $500.
I am going to second this. But don't get the Axis II, get the regular Axis. All you get with the II is a different scope (although likely not really any better, its still a sub-$100 scope that'll work, but won't wow anyone) and the accutrigger. For the same price difference from the Axis I to II, you can buy a timney trigger for it. Or, you can do what I've done and do a really simple trigger job (just swap springs and a screw) to make the Axis I trigger pretty good, and save that $100+ for ammo.
My Axis shoots better than I do. I'll be keeping mine for a long time. Even when I do have the money to buy something more expensive, my axis will make a perfect backup/lender.
- Location
- Chilliwack, bc
I'm really happy with my ruger American! Pick the rifle that fits you best.
Just because a rifle has a higher sticker price, doesn't mean it's a better gun!
Happy shopping!
Just because a rifle has a higher sticker price, doesn't mean it's a better gun!
Happy shopping!
I certainly understand the appeal of the combo rifle packages. You get a rifle already set up and bore sighted for about $525 after taxes. The problem with most of the rifle/scope combos is that as others have noted- the scopes are usually pretty low quality. They don't track very well, they aren't that durable, optics quality is more like 1985 than 2017 and the rings and mounts are not very good quality.
There isn't really anything wrong with most of these budget priced rifles, although they certainly aren't very refined. I've used several of them, and they function well enough for most hunters, and they are accurate as well. Actually, they are usually just as accurate than many well built rifles of 20-30 years ago. I wouldn't recommend one of these rifles for someone going on a backcountry or horseback hunt, where guns and optics almost always get a bit abused, but they are okay for the guy that drives his truck somewhere and camps for a week or a few weekends each season.
The Tradex rifles are good solid guns, and at about $500, not a bad choice at all.
I've been thinking about selling this Howa 1500 30-06 with a Hogue stock that I have. I bought it basically to teach CORE courses, but I haven't had much time to do courses lately, and I have other rifles that I can use anyway. I only fired about half a dozen rounds through it, maybe 10, tops. It's not a scope/ring/combo but it's a solid rifle and accurate. At only about $100 more than a Tradex 1600, this would also be a solid choice.
Ultimately, it comes down to what you want to do, and how much you can afford. I wholeheartedly agree that it's better to save up for a bit and get a better rifle/scope, but some people only have so many disposable dollars, and it's better to be out hunting with what you can afford rather than sitting at home saving pennies. And sometimes it's better to buy a cheap rifle and more ammo so you can practice than it is to buy an expensive rifle and not be able to afford more than a box of ammo to practice with.
There isn't really anything wrong with most of these budget priced rifles, although they certainly aren't very refined. I've used several of them, and they function well enough for most hunters, and they are accurate as well. Actually, they are usually just as accurate than many well built rifles of 20-30 years ago. I wouldn't recommend one of these rifles for someone going on a backcountry or horseback hunt, where guns and optics almost always get a bit abused, but they are okay for the guy that drives his truck somewhere and camps for a week or a few weekends each season.
The Tradex rifles are good solid guns, and at about $500, not a bad choice at all.
I've been thinking about selling this Howa 1500 30-06 with a Hogue stock that I have. I bought it basically to teach CORE courses, but I haven't had much time to do courses lately, and I have other rifles that I can use anyway. I only fired about half a dozen rounds through it, maybe 10, tops. It's not a scope/ring/combo but it's a solid rifle and accurate. At only about $100 more than a Tradex 1600, this would also be a solid choice.
Ultimately, it comes down to what you want to do, and how much you can afford. I wholeheartedly agree that it's better to save up for a bit and get a better rifle/scope, but some people only have so many disposable dollars, and it's better to be out hunting with what you can afford rather than sitting at home saving pennies. And sometimes it's better to buy a cheap rifle and more ammo so you can practice than it is to buy an expensive rifle and not be able to afford more than a box of ammo to practice with.
Do not rush to buy
It is tempting time for sure, but you will loose money selling the cheap first rifle you got.
I got my first deer with Remington 770 combo - the cheapest offer there was. That rifle was making below 1" groups at 100 meters (300 win mag).
It was a below 300$ package. Did the job. But I sold it fast after. Got a tikka T3 blued after. Great rifle, but not as accurate as the cheap rem 770
. Sold that too. And so on ... , you get the idea 
Do not rush to buy
It is tempting time for sure, but you will loose money selling the cheap first rifle you got.
I got my first deer with Remington 770 combo - the cheapest offer there was. That rifle was making below 1" groups at 100 meters (300 win mag).
It was a below 300$ package. Did the job. But I sold it fast after. Got a tikka T3 blued after. Great rifle, but not as accurate as the cheap rem 770
WAIT!!!!...... What!?, A Tikka?!. A Tikka T3 that didn't shoot 1/4" with every kind of ammo during a hurricane...... say it ain't so.
But yes,
The quest for the perfect rifle in the perfect chambering, for the exact application never ends. That's half the fun.
I will 2nd that a quality rifle/scope makes the hunting experience that much more enjoyable.
WAIT!!!!...... What!?, A Tikka?!. A Tikka T3 that didn't shoot 1/4" with every kind of ammo during a hurricane...... say it ain't so.
Yeah
. Mine was .308 T3 Hunter. Stock was nice walnut, bolt was nice and smooth, trigger was nice and that's all good that it was in it. The colors of metal on barrel and receiver didn't match, the receiver was kinda dry rusty when I bought it brand new. The trigger guard plastic, and the crappy plastic magazine.
the groups I got with it with 3 different ammos were sometimes 1 to 2 ". Same shooter that made less than 1" groups with the rem 770
. I even had them at same time at the range.So yeah, no Tikka T3 anymore for me
Sako Roughtech Pro seems nice one, never tried. was 1400$ at some point, great for what the rifle is
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
There had to be someone to give terrible advice in this thread. Difficult to scope, terrible trigger, modest accuracy...all the things I'd rather avoid in a hunting rifle. And before you accuse me of being a rifle snob I have three Bubba-Lees. Still wouldn't choose to hunt with one on purpose. Damned fine truck gun though.
