gun for shooting .308 for under $500

What kind of surplus is it that you have? 180 gr and 200 gr bullets in surplus ammo is not something that I've ever come across.

How much is a ton of surplus? That surplus might be worth more to you on the EE here than it will be flying downrange trying to group at 300 yards.

If you're talking hundreds of rounds then why not sell the surplus? Then you can buy a good quality .308 with the extra cash, and reload or purchase some good factory ammo that will be far more accurate than surplus ever will be.

If you have 180 gr bullets then you're probably not going to want to use them in a M305/M1A, and you'll probably have some people that tell you not to use them in a bolt action chambered for commercial .308.
 
For what your looking for I'd look at a Savage or a Rem SPS DM as both have a lot of after market upgrades you can put on later, especially if target shooting is you game. Vanguards are a good bang for the buck rifle as well but has fewer after market goodies readily available.
 
I am in the same boat with budget. I have been leaning to the Rem 700 though.. What optics are you looking at? I am worried that I wont have the money for optics once I buy the gun lol. Glass ain't cheap...
 
Your best bet on that list is a Savage 11/111 package with the weaver scope. That or the Vanguard. Your absolutely best rifle set up for (around) that price is a Weatherby Vanguard (II) with a vortex diamondback package. If you don't want to e in that $700 range, then buy a Savage 11 package. DO NOT buy an ATR night train. You will end up making a bonfire with it in a year or two. It's garbage.
 
Despite how most everyone else feels about Mossberg rifles, I would have to vote for the 4x4. Shortly after I bought mine, I sold my savage 110. I don't regret my decision at all.
 
I bought a savage 111 in 300 wm and it shoots great. Savage has more options so if you decide to rebarrel or get a manners stock (or whatever), you are good to go. CDI precision makes excellent bottom metals for the savage as well should you decide to run accuracy international mags. Also, you can switch barrel your savage and have one gun that shoots a bunch of different calibers with respect to whatever action length and bolt face you decide on.
 
Also don't be afraid of buying used and vintage. There are some sweet old rifles out there with a lot of years left in them.
 
I like my Norinco M 14. I added a ORSG and USGI rear sights, so I'm into it for closer to $600, but most Norc sights are serviceable. It is capable for hunting (more of a bush rifle) and I can ring the gong with it at 300.

Downfall of it for hunting is it's weight. It's also not going to give match grade accuracy, but it's a service rifle. I have better hunting rifles; but for a fun plinker, that can be a decent hunting rifle, I'd say it's a good option for under $500.

The only other option I could give in the sub $500 catagory is a Stevens 200. (a better hunting rifle than hte M14, but not always as fun)

Have you considered the used market? For $600 I picked up a Ruger M77 Mk II in .280 Rem, already placed inside a nice B&C stock. This is faaaaar more of a rifle than any on the sub $500 list, don't be afraid to look in the EE. Good deals pop up often.

P.S. For the M14: bullets above 165 grains you will have to reload you own. Don't make the mistake of thinking the m 14 cannot shoot heavy bullets, it's just that it cannot shoot heavy bullets with the slow powders that commercial manufacturers use for heavy bullets. I use 180 grain bullets with a moderate load of Varget (medium burn powder) just fine in my M 14.
 
See, that's not nice. I have a night train. Had it for three years. Shot/shoot coyotes, magpies, crows, and gophers with it. No bonfire yet. However, if you want to come over and build one, I'm willing to bet the rifle that at 200 yds, I can make you drop the match you are trying to light it with and NOT hit your hand.

A buddy and I were out calling 'yotes one day. It was a long day and this was the end. We had been using a frozen rabbit as a decoy. Set up on a river bend, we were up in a tree stand 210 yds away. at the end of the day, we decided that neither one of us was going after the rabbit, terrain too rough and snow too deep, so we just figured we would shoot it. It was his rabbit so I gave him first dibbs. He fired 3 rounds from his Savage 110 and missed every time. One round from the night train blew the rabbit into little pieces.

It will also consistently take out magpies at 150-200 yds. Gopher sometimes just die from shrapnel, but at 200yds, they are a VERY SMALL target but the 110gn VMax does do the job.

OP, I am not sure why so much "Mossberg Bashing" occurs here other than snobbery, but if you want to get either the night train or the 4x4, I guarantee they will shoot better than any Semi or milsurp you are looking at for under the $500 dollars (I am like you, money has always been tight my whole life). And if you don't shoot much, they will definitely shoot better than you can.
 
rookie wildcat said:
OP, I am not sure why so much "Mossberg Bashing" occurs here other than snobbery, but if you want to get either the night train or the 4x4, I guarantee they will shoot better than any Semi or milsurp you are looking at for under the $500 dollars (I am like you, money has always been tight my whole life). And if you don't shoot much, they will definitely shoot better than you can.
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Mossberg bashing occurs because the rifles do have quality issues. I'm not saying yours doesn't shoot, or that they are all inaccurate, but they do have quality issues. Bolt components being press fit together, as opposed to threaded, was a big one. (look for the thread "Night train wreck")
 
I have the Night train and the Weatherby , both are extremely accurate . For me though , the Night train mostly due to the trigger . Some people complain about the Barska scopes , personally , i have had nothing but good luck with the one on my rifle . I shoot cheap 147 grain MFS rounds with great results . Just my 2 cents worth .
 
Barka scopes at the range no problems, if you have an issue, no consequences but while hunting this could be a nightmare9 issue that cause you to miss the biggest 10 points ever).... JP.
 
Trade ex also has some really nice huskies, parker hales, and zastavas that occasionally show up in .308.
Personally, that's where i'd start lookin.
 
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