Help me find a good budget rifle to get me through the next few years

Declared Bishop

Declared Bishop

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Hey brain trust!

I need some help clearing some muddy waters. I have a stevens 334 in 6.5 Creedmoor. it's a decent rifle, but, through trying other people's rifles, and sitting and trying to make this one better, I am tapping out.

I was going to try and find a used Tikka T3x, Bergara B14, or Weatherby Vanguard chambered in .308, 6.5 CM, or .300 win mag, thinking it might be possible in my budget, but in cruising the EE here, or on GP, prices seem to be what they are new? I dunno, I am too new to identify a lot of what is going on, and to be honest, I am probably not identifying stuff properly.

When I start looking around online, I am finding stuff like Savage Axis II, Predators, hunters, Ruger Americans, Ranches, anal probes, etc... And I don't know the differences. I try reading product pages, watching youtube reviews, whatever... and I just come away more confused.

If you had a budget of $600-900ish, what are you reaching for to go hunting with? Where are you getting it? If I am going to sit and stalk the EE, what kind of things am I looking for? Seems every used rifle out there has only had 40-50 rounds through it and when I see that, I instantly think they are being deceitful...

CHeers,
DB
 
Declared Bishop said:
Hey brain trust!

I need some help clearing some muddy waters. I have a stevens 334 in 6.5 Creedmoor. it's a decent rifle, but, through trying other people's rifles, and sitting and trying to make this one better, I am tapping out.

I was going to try and find a used Tikka T3x, Bergara B14, or Weatherby Vanguard chambered in .308, 6.5 CM, or .300 win mag, thinking it might be possible in my budget, but in cruising the EE here, or on GP, prices seem to be what they are new? I dunno, I am too new to identify a lot of what is going on, and to be honest, I am probably not identifying stuff properly.

When I start looking around online, I am finding stuff like Savage Axis II, Predators, hunters, Ruger Americans, Ranches, anal probes, etc... And I don't know the differences. I try reading product pages, watching youtube reviews, whatever... and I just come away more confused.

If you had a budget of $600-900ish, what are you reaching for to go hunting with? Where are you getting it? If I am going to sit and stalk the EE, what kind of things am I looking for? Seems every used rifle out there has only had 40-50 rounds through it and when I see that, I instantly think they are being deceitful...

CHeers,
DB
Click to expand...
There’s a couple of Browning Abolts at CT listed for $700
Probably better than the axis, predators,etc
 
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Declared Bishop said:
Hey brain trust!

I need some help clearing some muddy waters. I have a stevens 334 in 6.5 Creedmoor. it's a decent rifle, but, through trying other people's rifles, and sitting and trying to make this one better, I am tapping out.

I was going to try and find a used Tikka T3x, Bergara B14, or Weatherby Vanguard chambered in .308, 6.5 CM, or .300 win mag, thinking it might be possible in my budget, but in cruising the EE here, or on GP, prices seem to be what they are new? I dunno, I am too new to identify a lot of what is going on, and to be honest, I am probably not identifying stuff properly.

When I start looking around online, I am finding stuff like Savage Axis II, Predators, hunters, Ruger Americans, Ranches, anal probes, etc... And I don't know the differences. I try reading product pages, watching youtube reviews, whatever... and I just come away more confused.

If you had a budget of $600-900ish, what are you reaching for to go hunting with? Where are you getting it? If I am going to sit and stalk the EE, what kind of things am I looking for? Seems every used rifle out there has only had 40-50 rounds through it and when I see that, I instantly think they are being deceitful...

CHeers,
DB
Click to expand...
I'd look for a Parker Hale Safari in good shape, in 30-06 or 308. See them on the EE for 5-600 fairly regularly, and they are good rifles. - dan
 
I got my browning x-bolt in 308 from tillsonburg gun shop for, i think, around $600, plus a couple hundred more for a vortex scope mounted on it.

I love shooting it, it's accurate all day long, and 308 is just a good all around cartridge.
 
I would look into a Weatherby Vanguard S2. Thats what I have anyways. It has a nice light two stage trigger and is also a light easy to carry rifle. It does have a rather thin barrel profile but it shoots very accurately from a cold barrel. I also have a savage 110 but like the Vanguard trigger better. Gobel’s has good prices. Thats where I got mine from. I recently sighted in a friend’s new Browning xbolt and the lightest the trigger went was 4lbs. Seems like a lot of money for a crummy trigger.
 
Declared Bishop said:
Hey brain trust!

I need some help clearing some muddy waters. I have a stevens 334 in 6.5 Creedmoor. it's a decent rifle, but, through trying other people's rifles, and sitting and trying to make this one better, I am tapping out.

I was going to try and find a used Tikka T3x, Bergara B14, or Weatherby Vanguard chambered in .308, 6.5 CM, or .300 win mag, thinking it might be possible in my budget, but in cruising the EE here, or on GP, prices seem to be what they are new? I dunno, I am too new to identify a lot of what is going on, and to be honest, I am probably not identifying stuff properly.

When I start looking around online, I am finding stuff like Savage Axis II, Predators, hunters, Ruger Americans, Ranches, anal probes, etc... And I don't know the differences. I try reading product pages, watching youtube reviews, whatever... and I just come away more confused.

If you had a budget of $600-900ish, what are you reaching for to go hunting with? Where are you getting it? If I am going to sit and stalk the EE, what kind of things am I looking for? Seems every used rifle out there has only had 40-50 rounds through it and when I see that, I instantly think they are being deceitful...

CHeers,
DB
Click to expand...
Why not buy a premium quality rifle for a budget price? Check out Intersurplus; european quality for a fraction of the cost of half plastic cheepies. I and others here have been super satisfied with everything that we have bought from them.
 
Declared Bishop said:
Hey brain trust!



When I start looking around online, I am finding stuff like Savage Axis II, Predators, hunters, Ruger Americans, Ranches, anal probes, etc... And I don't know the differences. I try reading product pages, watching youtube reviews, whatever... and I just come away more confused.


CHeers,
DB
Click to expand...
Do not confuse a .308 for your anal probe. It's not going to go well.
 
Hey guys and gals, I'm in the same boat as this gent. I'm in the market for a budget hunting rifle and like bishop I was looking at the axis II, being one of the more budget friendly rifles out there.

My dad has a surplus Russian SKS, but with both those and their ammo getting harder to find, it's not somewhere I'm wanting to go anymore with the Chinese ones. (Also I was leaning towards bolt action)

Was told to check here for used guns and advice for how and what to look at. My requirements are minimum .30, leaning towards 30-06, don't really care about barrel length, would prefer nothing less then 20", but it's not a hill to die on.

Basically I just want something I can go up to the cottage with, do some target with the men, and that is capable of taking down any cervid with as little difficulty as possible.
 
Being an old fart on a pension and a budget I'm always looking for the most bang for my buck. I lucked into a Ruger American .308 and I won't be looking for another hunting rifle again. It came with the Ruger muzzle brake and the rotary 4 rnd. mag, not the straight inline feed mag. I was working up several deer loads and I found one that's sub MOA. I'm still experimenting before hunting season to see what other combinations I can load with my existing stock, but the target pictured shows what I can do at 100 yds. Ignore the flyer (old eyes).
 

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Like Lawrence I have had good luck with the Ruger Americans and continue to shoot and hunt with them.

If that doesn't do it for you, I would go with a new Vanguard unless a used one is a heck of a deal. Trust me their resale isn't strong, anyone charging near new prices is nuts. Shop around and see what you can see! Highly recommend Tikka as well but its a bit out of budget for ya unless you really get a good deal.

One of those in whatever chambering you shoot well is gonna handle any example of cervidae you ever need it to. Its hard to imagine a hunting cartridge that wouldn't do so out to most reasonable/sane ranges.
 
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FatCatsDad said:
What is a cervid ?

Check out Browning 'A' Bolt 3 rifles.
Click to expand...
Cervidae is the deer family.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deer

I regularly see Remington 700s for around $750. I was just told you can no longer get the trigger recall done though, so check year of manufacture and add the cost of a new trigger to the mix if it's from the years impacted by the recall.
 
I'm of the belief that just about any budget bolt action will perform about the same. Sure there are some mechanical differences and feeling but very few guns are going to be terribly inconsistent (and that's usually due to the rifle stock bedding, or lack thereof). However, some actions are easier to find good stocks and/or easier to bed properly than others.

Any budget rifle will suit just fine for the average hunter. Divert as much as you can afford on the glass.
 
I would look for a Husqvarna 1900 or any model really! They are fantastic rifles that usually shoot well are well built not too heavy and are of a descent price!!
 
I am going to go look at a rifle tonight, that unbelievably, is local to me here in Calgary. A Weatherby Vanguard S2. Apparently has had a few hundred sent through it, but the price fits my budget.

I have heard of a barrel getting worn out... how do you check for that? How many rounds go through it before you start to wonder if it is burnt out?
 
Declared Bishop said:
I am going to go look at a rifle tonight, that unbelievably, is local to me here in Calgary. A Weatherby Vanguard S2. Apparently has had a few hundred sent through it, but the price fits my budget.

I have heard of a barrel getting worn out... how do you check for that? How many rounds go through it before you start to wonder if it is burnt out?
Click to expand...
Generally speaking, a few thousand. A few hundred rounds is nothing.

It all depends on the cartridge, but most hunting rifles will never see enough rounds to wear out the barrel.
 
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