JR8899 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Hello all, I am looking at buying my first bolt action rifle. I am leaning towards a .308. My intention is to get comfortable with it and use it for primarily for target shooting now and down the road join a buddy in PA for rifle deer and wherever else my hunting journey takes me. I do not have a specific budget in mind but would like to be sub $1,000 for the rifle. I know optics will cost me a pretty penny as well. Right now I am looking at the savage axis series & 110.I also just found a weatherby vanguard with 24" barrel on sale for $694. I was also told Ruger makes great quality affordable rifles as well. Any and all suggestions are very much appreciated! Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazzgolf Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 (watching this thread) I'm in the same boat - I am likely going with .30-06 though (but .308 is my close second choice). If you are right-handed, then the world is your oyster Plenty to choose from. In addition to what you already named, take a look at Tikka bolt-actions. I hear very good things about them. (FWIW: I have a .223 Savage 110 bolt action - it's nice, but I'm looking for something "nicer" ) djhunt, Gman and JR8899 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haskell_Hunter Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Savage, Weatherby, and Ruger all make excellent rifles. None of them will let you down. I own all three manufacturers, and each rifle is a tack driver. Are you going to shoot it stock, or are you going to make any modifications to it after you buy it? I am partial to the Weatherby because I own one but it came from the custom shop. Probably one of the best shooting rifles I own. Sapere aude. Audeamus. When you cannot measure, your knowledge is meager and unsatisfactory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BHC Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 .308 so common, and made by all gun makers, no matter you spend reasonable amount or alot they are all good....worry more on a quality scope Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archer36 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 (edited) I have a Savage Model 11 in .308 I used once on a Safari to South Africa. If interested PM me. Edited December 1, 2021 by archer36 JR8899 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slayer1962 Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 (edited) Tika has been my choice for a while. Quality built , accurate and not expensive . I like my Tika so much i bought a Kimber mountain rifle in 6.5 I never even mounted the scope because i like the tika Edited December 1, 2021 by Slayer1962 JR8899, Bigmac and djhunt 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucndoe Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Remington Model 700 There is nothing more intolerant than a liberal preaching tolerance God gives the toughest battles to his strongest soldiers "Leadership is a potent combination of strategy and character. But if you must be without one, be without the strategy." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR8899 Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 1 hour ago, Haskell_Hunter said: Savage, Weatherby, and Ruger all make excellent rifles. None of them will let you down. I own all three manufacturers, and each rifle is a tack driver. Are you going to shoot it stock, or are you going to make any modifications to it after you buy it? I am partial to the Weatherby because I own one but it came from the custom shop. Probably one of the best shooting rifles I own. I'd prefer stock. I'm not one to tinker with things much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Haskell_Hunter Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 2 minutes ago, JR8899 said: I'd prefer stock. I'm not one to tinker with things much. Then pick the one that gives you the best options out of the box. .308 has decent recoil, and after about 40 shots at the range you will feel it. Which gun has the best recoil management? My Weatherby has a muzzle break, and that really takes the edge off of the recoil. JR8899 1 Sapere aude. Audeamus. When you cannot measure, your knowledge is meager and unsatisfactory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigmac Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Tikka t3 is a great gun my son and I are both left handed and have them but my other son is a right handed and he has a Browning xbolt, xbolt has a button on bolt to push while gun on safe on open bolt the only thing I don’t like about Tikka is Gun has to be on fire to open bolt to load and unload Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob kudile Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 i have a winchester model 88 pre 64 in 308, its a good woods rifle as well as a open field rifle. just stay away from ruger any thing. i had a bad time with a ruger 7722 hornet. i had to send it to conn. prec. reamer for rework and it became a k hornet. now it will shoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djhunt Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 I’m in a very similar boat, wanting to buy something probably 308 (it seems to be the only ammo that didn’t completely vanish) around the $1k mark as an all-purpose target and hunting rig. im between weatherby vanguard & tikka t3x. Both promise sub MOA out of the box and seem to be well built. can I ask what got you on to the 110 & axis? I know savage is a solid brand i contemplated both 30-06 and 270 for a bit more ooomph but ammo is hard to come by & I want plenty of rounds to work on my shooting, so want to keep it cheaper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazzgolf Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 34 minutes ago, djhunt said: contemplated both 30-06 and 270 for a bit more ooomph but ammo is hard to come by & I want plenty of rounds to work on my shooting, so want to keep it cheaper That's why I'm still not quite 100% sure on my decision for 30-06... cost of 308 ammo might help tilt the scales in its favor. If I find that 308 is easier to find than 30-06 then I'll probably change my mind - but I'm thinking 30-06 is easier to find in days like these (am I wrong? ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swamprat Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Was in same boat last year. Wanted something I could use on east coast for deer or pig. Picked up a Ruger American in 7mm-08. Put a Leupold 2-7 scope on it. I happened to draw a coveted cow elk tag in pa last year. Practiced out to 200 yards. Took a 180 yard shot. 460lb cow down. Done deal. I'm not a rifle expert but the trigger felt fine for a sub $500 gun. The gun gets my recommendation. djhunt, DonW, Haskell_Hunter and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djhunt Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 14 minutes ago, mazzgolf said:but I'm thinking 30-06 is easier to find in days like these (am I wrong? ) I gotta admit I’m no expert at finding ammo, but midway always has a ton of 308 and I haven’t once seen 30-06, and have only once seen 270 which I immediately bought as a just in case I go that route (feel kinda bad I’m helping the shortage there) the other site I looked at is ammoseek.com which has everything, but when I search and skip the random brands it looks like there’s a ton of 308 starting about $0.95 (federal) vs $2.00 for 30-06 (Winchester) howpfully someone smarter than me jumps in with some thoughts archer36 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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