My first serious (!) rifle
- Thread starter SMLE_Dingo
- Start date
The best rifle you could buy would be a older model Rem 700 there on EE boards around $600 right now.guntec haad a very nice one.
and a I saw on EE boards yesterday a member offering a used Leupold Varia x 111
2.5 to 8x scope for $300 How could you go wrong, Liftime warranty on leupold and if you backed over your 700 and bent barrel and destroyed stock the action is worth $450 500 all day long.
Total cost $900 and about $40 shipping can't go wrong.no taxes
Even better if you can find member close to you to examine bore of rifle etc.
and a I saw on EE boards yesterday a member offering a used Leupold Varia x 111
2.5 to 8x scope for $300 How could you go wrong, Liftime warranty on leupold and if you backed over your 700 and bent barrel and destroyed stock the action is worth $450 500 all day long.
Total cost $900 and about $40 shipping can't go wrong.no taxes
Even better if you can find member close to you to examine bore of rifle etc.
Well if its just for targets go with a .223 you can still buy some reasonably priced winchester ball ammo and in my Rem . completly factory stock heavy barrel it will shoot 3/4 to 1 inch groups . How about one of the new triangular barred Remingtons the REM VTR they are $899.00 at fronteir for under $1000.00 top it off with a bushnell 3200 and your away. or even a cheaper scope as the recoil on the 223 isn't much
Their is a lot out there. price goes up with quality sure but also with features. Synthetic vs. wood or laminate would save you aswell as blued instead of stainless, crappy recoil pad, detachable mag, stuff like that. My opnion is any Remington 700 will fit your purpose and they start at cheaper than $1000. Marlin makes real tack driving quality rifle and you can buy them brand new I believe for a little under $600 to start. you can get their leaver actions in 45-70 which although expensive to shoot, very fun! Browning a-bolt classic is a nice rifle aswell. My buddy bought a Savage around the mid $500 range and he is getting good groups with it. He might of lucked out but I have heard similar praises from other savage owners. Got the impression that might be the best bang for the buck.
My picks,
Remmington XCR - $1000 even
Remmington 700 BDL - $949
Browning A-bolt classic Hunter - $879
Tikka T3 lite - $749
Marlin XLR Lever action - $835
Or any Marlin Lever action Rifle (All well under your budget, the xlr is the only pricey one I know of). Or any of those cheap savage rifles, Never owned one but have only heard positive things about them. Personally I'm a fan of Remmington 700's. Didn't care for the sps's because last time I looked they had a rough finish on the outside of the barrel which to me seams it would hold moisture.
Let us know what you get!
My picks,
Remmington XCR - $1000 even
Remmington 700 BDL - $949
Browning A-bolt classic Hunter - $879
Tikka T3 lite - $749
Marlin XLR Lever action - $835
Or any Marlin Lever action Rifle (All well under your budget, the xlr is the only pricey one I know of). Or any of those cheap savage rifles, Never owned one but have only heard positive things about them. Personally I'm a fan of Remmington 700's. Didn't care for the sps's because last time I looked they had a rough finish on the outside of the barrel which to me seams it would hold moisture.
Let us know what you get!
- Location
- Edmonton, Alberta
Cheap savage package, marlin xl series... or why not a 336?
- Location
- not sure yet
I'd say look closely at several things that have already been said here: (a) savage 10/stevens 200, (b) .223 or otherwise even milder cartridge than .270 and (c) invest in scope (probably Leupold).
The best thing for a gun nut about, especially one starting to think about accuracy, in the savage/stevens is the ease of upgrading bits at modest cost as you go along. A < $400 high quality barrel plus head-spacing gives you any new cartridge/improved accuracy if you want. A couple hundred bucks gets a nice and far better stock. Not much money for a trigger if you go Stevens instead of savage...
You can get the stevens for something like $360 now and put $400 into a higher power vx1 scope and be in budget - the scope is the only part you can't upgrade incrementally, so it's the thing that economizing to start wastes money in the end.
RG
<><
The best thing for a gun nut about, especially one starting to think about accuracy, in the savage/stevens is the ease of upgrading bits at modest cost as you go along. A < $400 high quality barrel plus head-spacing gives you any new cartridge/improved accuracy if you want. A couple hundred bucks gets a nice and far better stock. Not much money for a trigger if you go Stevens instead of savage...
You can get the stevens for something like $360 now and put $400 into a higher power vx1 scope and be in budget - the scope is the only part you can't upgrade incrementally, so it's the thing that economizing to start wastes money in the end.
RG
<><
You don't have to spend big money to get an accurate rig!
Case in point: I was at the range a few years ago, with my .270Win M-700 Sendero. I had a Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10x scope on it and it's a pretty decent shooting rig, and it was up around $1500. I was attempting to shoot <1" 5-shot groups.
I could get really close, like 4-5 shots inside 1" and then get a flyer, so best I could do was just over an inch.
So then my buddy pulled out a WWII surplus .303, that he had thrown a spare scope on, just to test it out. I think he said he had paid $150 range for the .303.
He shot 3 different 5-shot groups with that and every group was under 1", from a 'cheap' shoulda-been-shot-out rifle... Man, I wouldn'ta believed it, 'cept I saw it done!
Case in point: I was at the range a few years ago, with my .270Win M-700 Sendero. I had a Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10x scope on it and it's a pretty decent shooting rig, and it was up around $1500. I was attempting to shoot <1" 5-shot groups.
I could get really close, like 4-5 shots inside 1" and then get a flyer, so best I could do was just over an inch.
So then my buddy pulled out a WWII surplus .303, that he had thrown a spare scope on, just to test it out. I think he said he had paid $150 range for the .303.
He shot 3 different 5-shot groups with that and every group was under 1", from a 'cheap' shoulda-been-shot-out rifle... Man, I wouldn'ta believed it, 'cept I saw it done!
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
If its for target shooting, why pick such a large calibre? Get something like a .223. Ammo is waaaaaaaayy cheaper, and you can shoot it all day.
mike shickele
Regular
If I was looking for a good accurate rifle for under $1000.00, I would look at the new Savage with the accustock, or the tikka T3. Irregardless of what others say, good servicable scopes that won't let you down (optically or mechanically) can be had for about $200.00............it's best to spend a litle less money at the start, and find out what your own needs and preferences are, then to drop a wad on a scope just because someone else said to do so.
What are you going to use the rifle for other than shooting sub MOA groups? This would dictate the caliber that suited you the most. The 270win has less recoil than the 30-06, but the 30-06 is better suited to taking moose and elk. The 243 has less recoil than the 270win, and due to bullet selection, it may be a better target rifle.............get my point?
Mike
What are you going to use the rifle for other than shooting sub MOA groups? This would dictate the caliber that suited you the most. The 270win has less recoil than the 30-06, but the 30-06 is better suited to taking moose and elk. The 243 has less recoil than the 270win, and due to bullet selection, it may be a better target rifle.............get my point?
Mike
Hey, I'm new to the site but also found myself in your exact shoes, well so to speek ; )
I ended up getting the Remington 700 SPS chambered in 300WSM and put a sling and a bushnell trophy 4-12 X 40 scope. I am VERY pleased with my purchase for 1,100 total, thats with 4 boxes of ammo. at 100 yards this gun will shoot 1.5 inch groups in my rest.
I shot my first cow moose with it at 50 yards and hit exactly were I aimed.
Using 180 Grain bullet on the moose but could sswitch to 150 grain if i wanted to hunt deer with the same rifle, bass pro had the gun on sale for about 450.00 plus tax, scope was 250, sling case ammo etc... 1,100 out the door and i couldnt be happier.
Hope this helps.
Regards
andrew
I ended up getting the Remington 700 SPS chambered in 300WSM and put a sling and a bushnell trophy 4-12 X 40 scope. I am VERY pleased with my purchase for 1,100 total, thats with 4 boxes of ammo. at 100 yards this gun will shoot 1.5 inch groups in my rest.
I shot my first cow moose with it at 50 yards and hit exactly were I aimed.
Using 180 Grain bullet on the moose but could sswitch to 150 grain if i wanted to hunt deer with the same rifle, bass pro had the gun on sale for about 450.00 plus tax, scope was 250, sling case ammo etc... 1,100 out the door and i couldnt be happier.
Hope this helps.
Regards
andrew
Hmmm.... TradeEx has some Swedish CG63 target rifles (in 6.5x55 of course) for under $600. Now it might be an anathema to have one d&t'd for a scope
as they come with very good aperture sights, but it could be done. Stuart
Stevens Model 200 in .270 ($369.99 cabella's)
Nikon Buckmasters 3-9x40 ($399.99 cabella's)
Weaver Bases (front & rear) ($7.98 cabella's)
Weaver Grand Slam 1" rings ($29.99 cabella's)
2x Winchester PowerMax 130gr ($25.99 cabella's)
total_______________($859.93 + tax)
Enjoy
Nikon Buckmasters 3-9x40 ($399.99 cabella's)
Weaver Bases (front & rear) ($7.98 cabella's)
Weaver Grand Slam 1" rings ($29.99 cabella's)
2x Winchester PowerMax 130gr ($25.99 cabella's)
total_______________($859.93 + tax)
Enjoy
Which is all true, but after taxes and shipping, you'd be well over $900 for a gun that would be worth about $450-$500 used. That's why many suggest buying used. You'll get ALOT more for your buck and if you buy right, it'll still be worth what you paid for it down the road.
.
