gun for shooting .308 for under $500

JTF#

JTF#

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i am looking for a good gun in semi or bolt in .308 win. that would cost under or close to $500. i have been looking them up and the guns i like the most are these. how would you guys rate them? i am a target shooter 300 yards plus but maybe will hunt one day. i look to you hunters and sporters because you know how to use and abuse a gun and get your moneys worth.
the loads i dont want to be limited to, i want to use up to 200 grain loads not stuck with 150s. so i am looking at rugged reliable accurate and looks too. one other item i really want but i dont seen on the semis is an addjustable trigger

the guns i have been looking at are:
norinco M-14
remington Woodsmaster 742
mossberg 4X4 fluted and brake
mossberg night train
marlin X7 varment heavy barrel

the others i dont really like the looks of would be:
remington 783
savage 11 package
rugar american
weatherby vanguard

i had a savage edge but i dident like the bolt and the trigger was way to hard.

let me know what you guys think. there is a gun show comeing up sunday i might put some money down.
 
Your going to need more than 500 dollars on that list of demands. A rem 700 sps heavy barrelled 308 can be had for 600 plus taxes. I shoot mine to 300 often with great results. I never shoot 200 gr in anything except for maybe my 303s

The savage is the best gun in that bracket for sure other than maybe the m14 but by no means isit a tac driver nor can it shoot 200gr bullets well
 
i agree with the remington 700 sps. i just dont have the money. is it really worth saveing the money for tho? the ones in the second list also go for more money. like:

marlin $360
mossberg 4X4 is $399
M14 is $450ish?

the remington sps 700 longrange gos for $650 is it really worth that big of a price difference? should i save up? $300-$250 is not small change.
 
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Not sure what they cost, but I'd suggest the Vangaurd S2. Excellent trigger, accuracy, and a 24" tube for the heavier bullets, plus no mag box, so should be able to theoretically load em out a little further.

And if you want to hunt one day, avoid all the heavy barrels.
 
If your looking for a fun shooter.. Maybe out to 300 but not crazy accurate but an absolute blast at 25-100 yds buy the m14. I have yet to see anyone who hasn't enjoyed shooting one. Shoot 150s in semi or higher weights with the gas system off.. Best part of the m14 is if you don't like it you don't lose a ton of money on a resale.

Now if your looking for an out of the box .5-.75 moa rifle the Remington will do that with the right ammo and shooter


It all depends on what you consider "target shooting"
 
as for the loads. i have a ton of surplus ammo mostly 180s and some 200s thats why i wanna get a gun that can handle them.

i found a remington sps basic DM that gos for $530. do you think this gun would be a better shooter then the marlin with its heavy barrel.? i really cant go much more then $500 tops.
the hunting i'm not worried as much as the target shooting.
 
The Savage package is a bit like a McDonald's hamburger. It works, it looks like a gun, there is nothing fancy about it and it is priced to sell. FWIW, I know two guys who knocked down outstanding sized Mule Deer with Savage guns in .300 WM. I have one of the guns now.
 
Get the Marlin. It will likely be the best $360 you ever spend on a new rifle.

If you're not satisfied with it, just list it on the EE, and see how long it lasts. They are never on here for more than a few days, usually gone in hours.

Ted
 
hoytcanon said:
Your "Don't Want" list has better options in it.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly!

I would have kept the Savage Edge and put a Timney trigger on it. My Axis with a Rifle Basix trigger on it is the best shooting rifle I own. Oh ya and also the ugliest.

A Stevens 200 with an aftermarket trigger would be a great option.Later if you want to pretty it up you can buy a wood stock for it.

George
 
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Where is 200 gr from? I've never heard of that. I know a lot of guys do shoot higher than 150 gr in their m14s. I'm really not even sure what its supposed to damage when you do. I personally like the 150gr bullet and with modern bullet designs I don't know if the knock down power is all that much greater.

One other thing to consider is that dirty old surplus ammo shooting through our other "target" rifles
 
One of the site sponsors has a Zastava for under $400.
Forget which one, but it was in their inventory earlier today.
I too think the OP has his list upside down or arse about face.
 
JTF# said:
as for the loads. i have a ton of surplus ammo mostly 180s and some 200s thats why i wanna get a gun that can handle them.

i found a remington sps basic DM that gos for $530. do you think this gun would be a better shooter then the marlin with its heavy barrel.? i really cant go much more then $500 tops.
the hunting i'm not worried as much as the target shooting.
Click to expand...

The accuracy difference in heavy barrel will be negated by the old surplus ammo more then likely.
 
Buy a Stevens (which is a Savage without some of the 'features' of the last few years - nearly identical to the Savage I bought about 8 years ago) and spend more money on optics.
 
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