Bolt action low price vs. high price rifles?

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Hi everyone, I'm looking to get my first rifle. I've already decided I want a bolt-action in either .308 or 30-06 (most likely .308) that I will use for target shooting (100 - 200m) and definitely get into hunting once I complete the hunter's ed course. The main question I have is what is the difference between the the lower priced rifles vs. the higher priced ones in the same caliber?

For example, the Remington 770 is around $300 while the Rem 700 sps is $500 and Rem 700 sps tactical stainless and Tikka T3 lite are both around $700-$800. I've been mainly looking at the Remington 700 and Tikka T3 Lite due to the very positive reviews on CGN. However, what are the benefits of a higher priced Remington 700 and Tikka T3 vs the lower priced Remingtons. Do they shoot much better straight from the box and do the different Rem 700 models really differ a lot in accuracy from one another?

Pretty much wondering what gun I should buy as my first and if going cheap will really hinder my performance when it comes to target shooting.

I feel like I covered everything but let me know if anything is missing that may help answer the question. Thanks in advance!
 
remington is an interesting gun... They sometimes fire without the trigger being pulled, causing much surprise, and sometimes startling game that you'd been stalking for hours... Remington has been on a real downhill slide since they were taken over by a financial group. Now, they're all about profit over quality...
Tikka has a real following. I haven't used one myself, but I hear that they're quite good rifles. I have held one, though, and they feel ok to me.
If it was me buying, and I had it to buy my guns over again, almost everything would be CZ. The guns are in about the same price range as the Tikka, but, to me, they have a much nicer feel. I"m a mauser action lover. The cz has made some nice improvements to the action, and for the dollar, have by far the nicest stock trigger of any gun I've handled... Sometimes they have to be adjusted, but they're really nice... The Lux and full stock is better if you like iron sights, and the american is better if you like scopes.
 
Stay far away from the 770, it is the rifle thar Remington never should have made. It is designed to be built as cheaply as possible. The action is rough, and the barrel is pressed in, rather than being threaded. The 700 SPS is a huge step up , but is not finished as nice as other 700 rifles
 
You get what you pay for here.

The difference between a $400 rifle and a $1000 rifle are in all the small details, and not necessarily accuracy these days.

I have owned(sporting bolt guns) several Stevens 200's, a Savage 11 package and 12bv, a Marlin X7, several milsurp sporters, and more recently a Browning Xbolt. The difference has not been in the groups they shoot, as those Stevens have been some of the most accurate sporting rifles I have ever had the pleasure to shoot.

The difference is in the upgrades you get are in the fit and finish as well as the materials that are put into the higher end guns. This new Xbolt I have while not the most accurate of the bunch exudes a certain pride of ownership. It is flawless from top to bottom, and leaves pretty much nothing to complain about. In the cheaper guns there is always something or another that just takes away from that love you have for the gun. Of course many of these issues can be addressed with some small work like stiffening the forends on the Stevens/Savages, or sanding down and painting the stocks to get rid of the unfinished molding lines left on them from the factory.

Really it comes down to what you want the gun for. If you want a gun that will just go bang when you pull the trigger there is plenty of cheap options that will do just that. If however you want a beautiful gun to feel proud of, and that will last a life time to pass down to the kids, then you might want to spend a little more.

That said spending more does not always ensure you get such satisfaction, as I have found with the Tikka I left behind when I bought my Xbolt. The tikka is full of cheaper parts that do not exude the quality I was referring to ealier. They are known for their accuracy, and are the lowest end of what SAKO has to offer. It shows in some things on the gun, like the mag, bolt shroud, and stock. All just feel more like they belong on a $400 gun, rather than an $800 gun.

My 0.02 cents.........
 
I'm a confirmed Savage fanboy. My Dad bought me a cheap 111 in .270 for my 16th birthday and it's a tackdriver. It will put three Federal blue box nearly touching each other and the fourth an inch higher at 100yards as long as I focus on the fundamentals. This fall I bought a Savage 11 Trophy Hunter Combo in .223 with the Accutrigger and Weaver 3-9x40 scope. While the skinny barrel heats up fast, it will put my handloads well under an inch at 100 yards. For affordable accuracy you can't beat a Savage and it's easier to shoot better with the accutrigger. Word is that the Axis line shoots just as well but come with horrible (but easily fixed) triggers. In 2003 my .270 was $400 at SIR Mailorder, last fall my .223 was $509 at my local shop.

The caveat with the Savge rifles is that they aren't considered 'pretty'. My .270 had a raised line on the stock where it was molded and it needed to be hit with a bit of sandpaper. The synthetic stocks also show a fair bit of flex to them (though the barrels are free floated). However, the stock on my .223 was good to go from the start and had far more pronounced checkering and a very effective buttpad.

Bottom line, if I were you I'd get the Trophy Hunter in .308. The Weaver scope is a big step up from the Bushnell ones on the cheaper combos and the rifle will likely shoot better than it has any right to. Just remember to wait 60-90 seconds between shots with the bolt open to prevent vertical stringing.
 
The CZ is old world craftsmanship for the price of a somewhat molded tikka... The details are very well done, and they are a pleasure to shoot. Hold one side by side with a few of the others... You'll see what I mean. The bolt at first can be a bit rough, but it's nothing that cycling it 250 times won't fix...
 
There are reasons you cant buy a new lambo for chev aveo money. Same with guns. To a point the higher the price the better they are made. I used to love cheap savages because they are cheap to buy but after geting a few quality guns I will not buy a gun because the price tag is one days pay. I love the new Winchester model 70's built by fn. THey shoot great and feel like they are made from real steel unlike lots of others. I have a few cz's as well and they also feel like real steel unlike lots of others.
 
Thanks for the replies everyone! I looked into the Savage trophy hunter and the price is definitely nice. One thing I've also noticed is a lot of these rifles differ by about 1lb ranging from 6 - 8 lbs with the x-bolt and tikka being on the lighter end of the spectrum. Does that difference weight (1lb) have a large effect when aiming without full support in an environment such as hunting?

Also some have mentioned that the tikka may be using parts that feel cheaper (and maybe are cheaper?), does this mean it is more likely to break down and require more maintenance or is it just a less premium feel with little or no effect on the performance?

Also I'd like to add that I'm able to spend up to $900 taxes in for my first rifle. Having a nice rifle would be nice, but for now its more about functionality and durability.
 
The other guys have pretty munched summed it up, plus a quality rifle will always be a quality rifle, and therefore hold value.
 
There's nothing wrong with the 700 action or trigger group if it is properly maintained and not monkeyed with by a wanna be gunsmith. I have several 700's, including a bone stock SPS tha strangely enough only fires when you pull the trigger. There is a difference between the finish of a BDL or CDL making them a smoother action then then the SPS models as well as more attractive. I have put more than 40k rounds through 700's with no issues ( my 280 is on it's 5th barrel) so if you like the rifle buy it and be happy.
 
Its mostly status. Both Kia and a Mercedes will take from A to B but only one will do it in style. There is nothing wrong with the budget Savages but a nice wood stock, crf M70 represents good taste and prestige.
 
Accuracy is not the only thing to look at. Even many cheap guns are accurate these days. Durability, pride of ownership, quality workmanship, artistry in form and function cost more than the cheap ones, but are worth it. You will enjoy using a high quality firearm for a lifetime, maybe your offspring will continue to enjoy it. The temporary joy of paying a cheap price for a poorly made firearm is quickly replaced by many small failures and disappointments. I would rather buy a good quality used rifle than a poor quality new one at the same price, or even if the new one was 'cheaper".
 
v-king said:
Its mostly status. Both Kia and a Mercedes will take from A to B but only one will do it in style. There is nothing wrong with the budget Savages but a nice wood stock, crf M70 represents good taste and prestige.
Click to expand...

I'd have to say it goes further than status, prestige or taste. A mid-higher end rifle cycles way smoother than the cheap guys, the triggers are better, the stocks are better (better/nicer wood or for synthetic a solid composite instead of injection molded plastic.).

My suggestion to the OP is to grab a Sako off the rack and grab a 770 off the rack. Shoulder them and cycle them, lay them side by side and look them over. Can you see what you get for the extra $$$$? I hope so lol.
 
I've spoiled myself with a Sako and a custom built Mauser sporter... and now I can never own a lesser rifle. Having said that, I am still impressed with Tikka centerfires and the Savage .22's. With the exception of the 870 police and marine magnum pumps and the 700 series bolt rifles, I wouldn't take a Remington if it was given to me for free or willed to me. Same goes for the new Marlins.
 
OP,ready to spend $900.is this for the rifle only or rifle and scope/bi-pod/sling/ammo.get the best/highest priced outfit you can afford.but do not spend 700 on the rifle and put a 100-150 dollar scope on it.be better off to spend a little less on the rifle and more on your optics and the mounts.better glass will make all the difference at longer ranges.if it is just for hunting i cannot justify spending $1000 on a rifle when the 400-500 dollar rifle will kill them just as dead at most hunting yardages and if it gets scratched/dinged i will not feel as bad.as for the 6-8 pound weight range on most sporting/hunting rifles.the heavier ones will have reduced recoil but are harder to hold steady and carry for extended periods.for target/bench rest shooting the heavier the better.
 
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here is the deal.

What do you want the gun for?

If its to jam under the back seat of you pick up truck incase you see a coyote, the stick with a cheap savage!

If its to take to the range to impress the range lizards then go with a Sako or Cooper

If its some where in between then you have to decide what matters to you!

Caveat: I have everything from a cheap as dirt Savage Axis to a Sako Bavarian, there are many things better to reccomend the Sako but accuracy is not chief among them.

But i would never casually toss the Sako in the back seat, The prettiest gun I have ever seen was a Sako, thank god some one else bought it first
 
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