Inexpensive bolt action rifles

If you want a new rifle, of course that is the answer. But if you want practicality and economy, buy a real good case for your Kimber, and go shoot more stuff with it.
 
I am not suggesting that it would always be the case, but I bought a Remington 783 [Blued, Walnut]
chambered in 6.5 CM, and it surprised me. My initial test loads were all sub MOA, and load development
revealed a couple of ½ MOA loads. This was not with target/match bullets, either. Pleased I am. EE.
 
A wood stocked carbine in 243 would be my choice if wolves are on the menu. Plastic stocks in sub zero Temps can become fragile and brittle and 22 caliber might be a bit light for wolves
 
Bought an original axis in 223 when they first showed up in Canada. The package with the Bushnell scope. I tightened down the bases a re-mounted the scope. Used mostly as a gopher/farm gun. Bounced around on quads, sleds and tractors. Everything is original and bit beat up but it still shoots 3/4 or better moa even with the crappie trigger. Never had to re-sight in and has 3500 plus rounds fired. Darn good for a $300 dollar gun.

Yeah but they're not $300 guns anymore. I love my Axis for what it is - a functional hunting rifle that only cost $235 - but when I bought mine the only things available in the price range were Sporter Enfields and Mosin Nagants. Now that the Axis is $500 there are a lot of other options in that price range from places like Intersurplus or the used rack at your LGS.
 
.257 Roberts is a great cartridge for calling predators. Definitely powerful. I agree, get a good case and hit the field.

However, if you WANT a new gun, you don't need to justify it to us. Depending on how "inexpensive" you are looking for, I really like the Winchester XPR. Much nicer than a Savage Axis or Ruger American. Mine was nice and quite accurate, someone decided they liked my short .308 more than I did and offered a very reasonable amount for it.

If a base Vanguard is in your price range, those are just straight up solid at any price. Howa also. Compared to a Kimber though, a Tkka T3X could qualify as "budget" (still under 1k).

Skip package guns and get a decent scope for it - in terms of inexpensive I would go for a Burris Fullfield IV all day over anything else in the price range.
 
Yeah but they're not $300 guns anymore. I love my Axis for what it is - a functional hunting rifle that only cost $235 - but when I bought mine the only things available in the price range were Sporter Enfields and Mosin Nagants. Now that the Axis is $500 there are a lot of other options in that price range from places like Intersurplus or the used rack at your LGS.

Pretty sure I paid 239 + tax at wholesale sports several years ago
 
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Ruger American Ranch in .223 has a 16" barrel so easy to pack. Uses readily available AR magazines. Great training rifle and good for coyotes to about 400 yards. Wolves, about 200. When you get around 10K rounds through it the bolt release will break but that's a $12 part. :)
 
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