I ran through the gamut of entry level rifles for the most part, pre-accutrigger Axis, American, AB3, 783, and Howa/Vanguard.
Howa/Vanguard is by far the best of them, nothing budget about them....no corners cut, well made traditional style rifle. They are sadly not $400-$500 they were just a few years ago. For a long action cartridge they are tits...bit big n heavy for short action, but you won't wear it out. Very Happy purchase there, so much I have 5 if them.
For cheap/functional/accurate, I hate to say it but the Axis when they were sub $300 gets the nod. Ugly, every corner cut to make them, and not a shred of ergonomics put into them...but at the price and range of chamberings (mine was a 7-08) I could enjoy it because it was stupid accurate.
783 is still around $400-$500 if you hit a sale at $400 is a good value of "cheap quality". Some corners cut, but mostly a solid, accurate, many years out of it rifle. A happy purchase there.
The American was my biggest disappointment, basically an Axis with ####tier fit/finish at twice the price. I didn't like anything about it at all, very overpriced for what it is. Couldn't get rid of it fast enough.
AB3's I got at $500, one wood, one syn, overall fit/finish is excellent, it's accurate, comes factory glass bedded, minimal cost savings done save for the plastic trigger. It's not a real drawback however based on how it functions with the sear, not going to break it for sure. Another happy purchase there.
Handled the Mossberg, would not buy, very sad piece of kit.
Most of my purchases have been older guns recently...a nice HVA or Parker Hale in 30'06 will do everything you need and excellent condition examples can still be found for $300-$500 depending on model.
Howa/Vanguard is by far the best of them, nothing budget about them....no corners cut, well made traditional style rifle. They are sadly not $400-$500 they were just a few years ago. For a long action cartridge they are tits...bit big n heavy for short action, but you won't wear it out. Very Happy purchase there, so much I have 5 if them.
For cheap/functional/accurate, I hate to say it but the Axis when they were sub $300 gets the nod. Ugly, every corner cut to make them, and not a shred of ergonomics put into them...but at the price and range of chamberings (mine was a 7-08) I could enjoy it because it was stupid accurate.
783 is still around $400-$500 if you hit a sale at $400 is a good value of "cheap quality". Some corners cut, but mostly a solid, accurate, many years out of it rifle. A happy purchase there.
The American was my biggest disappointment, basically an Axis with ####tier fit/finish at twice the price. I didn't like anything about it at all, very overpriced for what it is. Couldn't get rid of it fast enough.
AB3's I got at $500, one wood, one syn, overall fit/finish is excellent, it's accurate, comes factory glass bedded, minimal cost savings done save for the plastic trigger. It's not a real drawback however based on how it functions with the sear, not going to break it for sure. Another happy purchase there.
Handled the Mossberg, would not buy, very sad piece of kit.
Most of my purchases have been older guns recently...a nice HVA or Parker Hale in 30'06 will do everything you need and excellent condition examples can still be found for $300-$500 depending on model.