$300 Bolt Action - HELP

Why a new gun? I'd haunt the hock shops and bargain hard on them. Whatever price tag is on a rifle is probably double what they have in it. In thirty years of taking in trades at gunshows, I never got a rifle which was "bad"; granted that a few needed minor tweaking to get tight groups, but that's no big deal.
 
I think we need to sort out CHEAP from INEXPENSIVE.

Cheap is poor material, poor reliability as well as poor components.

Inexpensive in the right gun means it is reliable, its accurate, it just does not have the fancy furniture that some find appealing.

Savage is not cheap. They are inexpensive. Local store has them in the various 30-06 cartridges for $279. Its a reliable and accurate gun with a good trigger.

You may get a fancier used gun at a that price used, but not a new gun.

I do not follow Marlin, but I understand they have figured out how to make a good functioning gun inexpensively.
 
You will get a lot more gun for your money if you buy a used rifle. I recently have seen a nice Savage 110 in .30-06 with a 4x Weaver scope for $250, a couple of very nice scoped Commercial FN Mauser's for $350 each. The quality of these older guns far exceeds any new budget offering.
 
While the Axis is a viable choice, it uses a different action than the Savage 10's and Steven's 200.

This will heavily limit your options with aftermarket upgrades- stocks, barrels, etc....

For a few bucks more- very few bucks- go with the Stevens 200. It will allow you all the flexibility of the traditional Savage actions for future customization.

If you can find $300, I'm sure you can find $325- and that includes shipping to your FFL...

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/products_id/14610
 
If buying new I'd look at the marlin xl7. Buds has them listed for $300. Or do some looking around. My lgs had the weatherby vanguard on clearance for $299. Weatherby updated this rifle this year so some great deals are to be had on leftover stock of the older model. A great rifle for the money.

As far as scopes for economical good glass I'd look at the nikon Prostaff or the redfield for around $150. You might can find some old stock of the older prostabutton clearance. I have seen those for $100 but i think the newer model is better. There's also some good buys on bushnell elites out there too since they revamped that lineup too. I saw cabelas had the elite 4200 for $199. Heck of a deall on that scope.
 
I'm currently going back and forth between the Marlin X7 and the Savage Axis XP. The Stevens 200 seems to be getting great reviews as well. As far as optics are concerned at least the Axis X9 comes with something. That should do me well enough until I can get a more serious scope.
 
If you can go to $349.00 then check out the Howa 1500 lightning at CDNN . Some folks knock the S&W I bolt rifles ,but I have just mounted a scope on and shot my friend Mike's I bolt in 3006 23 inch barrel and for $299.99 it realy surprised me . CDNN is blowing them out for $299.99 .;) It shocked me when after sighting it in with a Nikon Prostaff 3x9 scope it printed 3/4 inch groups at 100 yards with 165 remington corlokt ammo . :eek: I don't know if they all are that accurate or that one was a freak .The trigger was very nice after adjusting it .
 
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New I would go stevens/savage. If you get the base model stevens 200 you can always build it up with a better trigger, stock, etc. there are tons of parts and options available. But if you are willing to go used you can get more rifle for your money if you are patient and don't mind some cosmetic wear and tear. You can always touch it up yourself. You can sometimes find old fn commercial mausers, brownings, winchesters, rugers, and old remington 700's etc. for fairly cheap and they are going to be much nicer and better quality in my opinion than a new budget rifle.
 
Good Review?

thinkingman - Honestly I just started with a Remington bolt action in within the budget. From what I remember of my old man he always shot Remington so I thought "what the hell, I'll start there." Plus the 597 hasn't given me any problems. After only a few days of briefly looking at reviews the most common issue on the 770 was the bolt sticking. But that was debunked after I read one addressing the need to lube the bolt first. Simple enough. But now that I can seriously start looking I joined this forum seeking real advice from folks NOT trying to sell me a rifle. I have indeed gotten a lot of good advice in this thread. Thanks!
 
Rc20, the axis line from savage IS cheap. It is not an inexpensive but quality rifle. It is cheap. Thats what it was designed to be. I'm not disparaging it for filling a niche role in the market. Just clarifying.
 
It is not an inexpensive but quality rifle. It is cheap.
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They (Savage Axis) are inexpensive but will out-shoot rifles costing 3 times as much without any trouble.I plan on getting one in .223 stainless and never looking back.
 
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