I am looking to buy a rifle and was looking for something in a .308. I checked out a few different remington 700s and some savages to but dont know enough about the rifles. I am looking to spend 1500 to 1700 with optics. I want to use it to get into target shooting and hunting as well. Is it better to go a bit cheaper on the rifle and eventually upgrade the stock and other parts. What would be a good optic i was looking at either a nikon monarch or a leupold vx II.
first .308 rifle.
- Thread starter emostoway
- Start date
While some folks prefer one brand over the other, most agree that they are pretty much the same. If you are going to do no work on it, buy the cheapest model you can find and shoot it. They all are using the same action, trigger assembly and barrel, so the difference between models is the stock and the finish. The finish has no affect on accuracy. The choice of stock does have an affect but since they do not bed the rifles at the factory I am not sure that a superduper expensive carbon fiber stock that is not fitted to the action has a significant advantage over a not fitted cheap plastic molded stock.
Using a gun for hunting and target shooting is like using a vehicle for hauling gravel and for comfortable touring. The two functions are diametrically different and require completely different characteristics - not to mention ammo.
Decide which function is more important, and buy accordingly. The characteristics of one is an anathema the other.
Decide which function is more important, and buy accordingly. The characteristics of one is an anathema the other.
juanvaldez
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Sudbury, Ontario
Lots of guns can serve dual purpose. Lots of guns can shoot targets and hunt. I shoot military target matches with my enfield. I also hunt with it. I shoot cowboy matches with my marlin 1895 and I also hunt with it. Not all target shooting means F-class believe it or not.
If you want a .308 that will do both buy a savage 10 FP HS precision and pick up a used tupperware stock. The EE has a used 10 FP with a Mcmillian stock for a little over 1000$. Pick up a used 4200 for 500$and you have a nice tactical shooter that could do well in those types of matches. Buy a cheap plastic stock to lighten it up and you have a decent hunting rifle. Obviously a dedicated rifle is going to be better but for recreational shooters there are lots of guns that will do both jobs.
If you want to cheap out and upgrade later that works ok but usually will cost you in the long run. Lots of people will tell you all factory guns are the same but in reality some shoot better then others even within the same brand. Savages are well known for out of box accuracy. They have become some of the best internet group shooters for a reason...they shoot. Of course you can't believe all the internet claims you hear...but where there's smoke there's fire. Remingtons have tons of different trigger and stock options for a reason, they have long been known as good platform to build very accurate rifles on.
On your budget in .308 I would buy the 10 FP and bushnell 4200. Some guys are getting 1/2 moa on factory savage bbls, you'll get a good trigger and a good stock. When it comes time to upgrade it is easy to find drop in match quality bbls prechambered for savage rifles.
If you want a .308 that will do both buy a savage 10 FP HS precision and pick up a used tupperware stock. The EE has a used 10 FP with a Mcmillian stock for a little over 1000$. Pick up a used 4200 for 500$and you have a nice tactical shooter that could do well in those types of matches. Buy a cheap plastic stock to lighten it up and you have a decent hunting rifle. Obviously a dedicated rifle is going to be better but for recreational shooters there are lots of guns that will do both jobs.
If you want to cheap out and upgrade later that works ok but usually will cost you in the long run. Lots of people will tell you all factory guns are the same but in reality some shoot better then others even within the same brand. Savages are well known for out of box accuracy. They have become some of the best internet group shooters for a reason...they shoot. Of course you can't believe all the internet claims you hear...but where there's smoke there's fire. Remingtons have tons of different trigger and stock options for a reason, they have long been known as good platform to build very accurate rifles on.
On your budget in .308 I would buy the 10 FP and bushnell 4200. Some guys are getting 1/2 moa on factory savage bbls, you'll get a good trigger and a good stock. When it comes time to upgrade it is easy to find drop in match quality bbls prechambered for savage rifles.
