Not lever, but bolt...

[alnitak]

OK...what say the collective wisdom of the group here...

If you had $700 (or so) to spend on a starter LR bolt rifle in .308, would you go with some variation of the Remington 700, Savage 10, Tikka (T3 may be a little more) or Howa (maybe 1500)?

Opinions and justification are welcome. BTW, notice I am leaving Scout rifles (Ruger GSR, Mossberg MVP, Savage Scout, etc.) out of the conversation. Though I probably will never go to 1000 yards, I want the option...so no 16.5" barrels (though 18" are considered).

To further clarify, I expect over time to tune the rifle for max performance, however, funds will be limited to essential upgrades (e.g., stock, optics, etc.), and limited dollars will be available. For example, it is unlikely that I will spend money to blueprint and true an action; it's more likely that at some point I will sell my "starter" rifle and get a custom one (say a GAP or AI) if I find an affinity for the sport.

Initial thoughts are for an 18"-24" bull barrel (though a 26" could be cut down), threaded (again, could do it later if I cut a longer barrel), with a 1 in 10" twist for heavier bullets (however, the Rem 5R in 1 in 11.25" seems very highly regarded). I'm leaning towards the 18"-20" range for ease of handling and given the minimal impact on accuracy out to 1000 yards. I also want some kind of BDM configuration, though the exact make is unclear. Goal is sub-MOA potential out to 600-800 yards (or beyond, and in the hands of a skilled LR shooter...lol, not me!).

Thoughts?

[Mescalero]

My personal long range rifle is a Rem 700 in 6.5-06.
It was built before the current crop of Savage bolt guns.
I have heard good things about them, but no real experience with them.

[draperjojo]

Check your local news website classifieds( in our case they quit listing guns but a link took you to a local website that does list guns for sale) and see what is for sale in your area in 308 caliber. I have a Savage 114 in 300 win mag that I've hit the 1000yd target with. The barrels are pretty good and I like the accutrigger, I've since upgraded to another Savage 111LRH that I just broke in and its shootin great!!. Save up for good optics!!

[AJMD429]

I'd either get a Ruger or a Savage, personally; I've owned both, and from a durability, aesthetics, and accuracy standpoint, neither seemed possible to beat with any off-the-shelf competitor. I feel like the Rugers are stronger and to me what a bolt-gun should look like and feel like, and yet the Accu-trigger Savages are likely more accurate as a rule. I don't think the Remington or Winchester guns are bad, but I just never saw anything to like about them more than the Ruger or Savage.

[mod71alaska]

Personally, I wouldn't buy a Remington 700; I don't even like to be around them. Too many "accidental" firings in the hands of knowledgeable, responsible users who aren't pulling the triggers. I think Remington did a design change that "fixed the non-problem" but I'd want to check into that and know which 700 I was getting.

I'd look into buying a Savage if price was a driving consideration. I can only say I've heard certain models are extremely accurate for a price that doesn't cost a half semester of your kid's college tuition.

Since I don't have kids!.... I'd go online and find an excellent used Sako Model L579 (pre-72), the later Model 75, or latest (new or used) Model 85 in that order. The Sakos also come in a heavy barrel configuration, but they are hard to find in .308...at least an early L579 HB .308 is. I've been looking for a L579 HB .308 from 1960's for a long time. Sako is known the world over for accuracy. I can speak personally to that for the Sako L579 .308 with a sporter barrel, as well as in .243. The Sako also is a beautifully made rifle in every aspect of form and function, especially the pre-72 models imported by International Firearms.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide on!

Good shooting!

[Mescalero]

model71alaska,
In my shooting, using the safety; is not part of my standard operating procedure.
I am a shooter, not a hunter.
There is some REAL world consequence with the Rem. saftey mechanics.

[arjunky]

Honestly, some variation of the 700 would be first choice. Savage's shoot, but I don't like the looks other than maybe their classic (I think that's what they call it).

Byron

[flatnose]

I would probably go with a savage. An 18'' or 20'' barrel may not be enough to get you the velocity for 1000yds to stay supersonic. 308's have been used for many years to 1000yds, but there are better choices these days especially when handloading. I would go with a 7mm-08 (always plenty of brass out there)or 284 winchester. The 7mm now have bullets with better bc's than either the 6.5mm or the 308's. The 6.5s are comfortable to shoot and dont wear you down nearly as quick as a 308 with 170+grain bullets, but you will see less barrel life. Sub MOA with handloaded ammo is not that difficult to achieve with almost any rifle unless its an absolute dog.

[tman]

Winchester M70 featherweight.

[Lassiter]

Winchester M70 featherweight.

+1

[86er]

If you can stand the green/black textured stock, the Savage Hog Hunter comes in 308, threaded, heavy barrel, 20 or 22" and the few I've used were MOA accurate. Smooth action and tang safety too.

[piller]

New, I would get a Savage with the Accu Trigger. If you could find a good used Remington from at least 10 years ago (before the current owners messed up the manufacturing), then a Timney trigger and a good stock should make it plenty accurate. Remington may have had a few issues with the triggers, and maybe they were from owners messing with the screws to set trigger weight and failing to adjust the other screws for creep and sear adjustment, or maybe they were just from poor design. However, the accuracy has never been in doubt. The longest serving sniper rifles in the Army and Marine Corps are based on the Remington 700. If you want to go up in price, there are many good rifles.

[Rusty]

I just home a new Ruger 77 on Monday. I wanted blue steel and walnut stock but couldn't find one anywhere. I settled for all weather stainless. It kind of grows on you. Mine is .223.
I had a Savage and HATE the Acutrigger, but to each his own.

[msmith1228]

Have you looked at the CZ's?

[Pete44ru]

.

IMHO, the best .308 starter rifle would be a Ruger American (under $400).

My 2rd place choice would go to either Marlin XS-7, a Mossberg ATR, or a Savage Axis. (same price range).


.

[cshold]

Winchester M70 featherweight.

+1

+2

[JReed]

Plain Jane savage and use the left over cash for good glass.

[7.62 Precision]

Any you listed will work well. Savage is probably the most accurate out-of-the box factory rifle today. If you understand the construction of the rifle, you know why. They are not as pretty as the others.

Remington 700s are very popular for long-range rifles. A lot of this popularity is because they have a round action and are therefor easier to bed than other rifles, resulting in a preference by gunsmiths. The result is that there is a lot of gunsmith knowledge and a lot of parts for them.

I like the Howa rifles, they are not expensive, look and feel very nice, and are very accurate, getting close to or matching the accuracy you can get from a Savage. They have the Sako-type extractors that a lot of people want in their 700 bolts, which are not zoo good to add to a 700, but are fine in a rifle that was designed to use them.

I have always liked Tikkas. The really hie thing about the Tikkas is that they are the budget Sakos, but the quality is still Sako quality everywhere it counts, quite different from what most manufacturers do (think Rem 700 vs. Rem 770).

I have always liked Winchesters (prefer them to a Rem 700), and Ruger makes stout rifles, but Winchesters are more expensive and Rugers have design issues that make consistent accuracy more difficult to obtain, which is why you don't see long range rifles built on them, so despite the recommendations in this thread, I think you are on the right track with the rifles you are looking at.

Make sure you consider stock design and save enough money for quality glass, base, and rings. Don't go cheap there.

[model55]

What JREED said . Savage has some good package deals with fair glass.Howa does have package deals not sure of their optics.It is said to be the same action as the Weatherby Vanguard.Later on should you choose Savage you could do DIY barrel changes.

[7.62 Precision]

Not impressed with the scopes in most package deals - better off to choose exactly what you want. I always consider package deal to mean I would have a scope and rings I would need to upgrade.

[Awsomepossum]

Tikka t3, very lightweight, smoothest action, great quality. Also I would look for a savage or Remington 700(one of the older ones)

[7.62 Precision]

What JREED said . Savage has some good package deals with fair glass.Howa does have package deals not sure of their optics.It is said to be the same action as the Weatherby Vanguard.Later on should you choose Savage you could do DIY barrel changes.

The Vanguard was a Howa 1500 marked Weatherby. Now Weatherby builds them in the US, but it is the same rifle. Howas or Howa/Weatherbys tend to be more accurate than the US-made Vanguards, unless you pay extra for the accuracy guarantee from Weatherby.

[CowboyTutt]

Lots of interesting rifles from CZ. I have a CZ 550 American that I just adore. What is unusual about the CZ rifles is the set trigger. Very nice triggers and excellent for target shooting. Check out this one as an example. Guaranteed MOA to 600 yards.

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz- ... ing-rifle/

-Tutt

[Malamute]

Here's some interesting reading on the subject. The answers may not be exactly to what question you are asking, but the more info to base decisions on the better I believe. He does touch on basic entry level guns though. I enjoyed the entire series of articles and re-read it now and then.

http://demigodllc.com/articles/practica ... equipment/

[alnitak]

Here's some interesting reading on the subject. The answers may not be exactly to what question you are asking, but the more info to base decisions on the better I believe. He does touch on basic entry level guns though. I enjoyed the entire series of articles and re-read it now and then.

http://demigodllc.com/articles/practica ... equipment/

Good article Malamute!

Thanks all for the good advice. I can see this new venture will take some time, learning ...and cash to do it right!

[jcw]

I have owned both the Savage w/accutrigger and the Howa 1500. Both are accurate enough. The Howa balanced and handled better IMO than the Savage. The howa has a much smoother action. I replaced the trigger on the Howa with a unit from Timney. Once that was done along with some stock work both rifles were just about equily accurate. I have relativly cheap glass on both. Burris Fullfield II 3X9. Not bad for what I paid though. The Howa is in .308 and the Savage is an '06. I would choose a Tikka T-3 over both if I had to do it again.

[wm]

I bought a badly bubbaed up Argentine '09 and am rebarreling it to 308 NATO and looking to stock it as a poor mans version of the Parker Hale M-825 Sniper rifle the Canadians used (referred to as the C3A1).

But of the rifles you mentioned.......the Savage or the Remington would be my choice. Remington offers several match ready rifle models so they might be the easiest and in the long run the least expensive option. At least that was what my research showed before I embarked on this project. I just decided I want the experience of building up my own rifle from scratch.

Wm

[Old Time Hunter]

Lots of interesting rifles from CZ. I have a CZ 550 American that I just adore. What is unusual about the CZ rifles is the set trigger. Very nice triggers and excellent for target shooting. Check out this one as an example. Guaranteed MOA to 600 yards.

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz- ... ing-rifle/

-Tutt

Absolutely agree...CZ 550 FS, personally I would chamber it in 6.5 X 55

:http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-550-fs/

[mod71alaska]

Here's my CZ choice: The 550 Varmint .308 heavy barrel with a walnut stock. There is no special order high grade wood available for the 550 Varmint. Turns out the standard walnut on these rifles ranges from average to exceptional...the luck of the draw.

http://www.cz-usa.com/products/view/cz-550-varmint/ (Note the review at the bottom.)

I'm looking for one of these right now. Please PM me if your LGS has one with nice wood.