best rifle/scope combo under $1500

This, in 308.

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=001C&mid=535206

With this scope

http://swfa.com/Leupold-3-9x40-VX-2-Riflescope-P51800.aspx

I have several rifles to choose from, but this is the most useful all around. I have replaced the stock on mine with a McMillan Edge. It is light enough to carry all day in rough terrain and accurate enough to keep 3 shots around 1/2" @ 100 yards. Recoil is tolerable. I handload, but 308 is easy and cheap to feed with factory ammo.

 
Tons of variables in the question. Just as many choices that fit that budget or well under.

Short or long action? Synthetic or wood stock? Stainless or blued? Magnum or Standard?

For all around everyday use it's hard to beat the offerings of Savage be it a 110, 10, 16, 116 or others they offer. Put a good quality optic on it and you're good to go within your parameters.

.243, .308, 7mm08, .260, .270, .280, 30'06, .270, .280, 7mmRM, etc. all will do the job.

Hard to beat a .308 since ammo is readily available and the performance over those ranges is good.

I'd look at the Savage 10 Precision Carbine in .308 and top it with a good optic from Leupold, Trijicon, Meopta, Weaver, Burris, Ziess etc.

I own one with a Bushnell 4200 2.5X10X50 #4 IR and it is a whitetail's worst nightmare until it gets pitch black dark.

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/

http://www.savagearms.com/firearms/models/

I'd recommend a Remington 700 but I'm starting to get a little miffed at Remington. I purchased a 700 Long Range in 7mm Mag from Buds back in May, they had sent their Remingtons back to the factory for the recall and I'm still waiting on them to send the gun back. Deer season is about 34 days away here and I won't have that gun ready for the season, good thing I got others to pick up the slack. Sucks too, because the first thing I was going to do was replace the trigger with the Timney sitting in my dresser drawer waiting on it.
 
For what purpose?

JMR, you said "this one", so that constitutes an offer to sale for that price ($1,500), which I hereby accept!!!! Do you prefer check or money order? :D

But for hunting, without knowing more, a T/C Icon Classic or Winchester 70 Featherweight, in 6.5x55, .30-'06, .280, .270, or 7mm-08, with a Trijicon Accupoint 5-20x50mm. $750 for rifle if you look around, and $850 for scope if you look around. You may have to add some tax & shipping. What a rig!
 
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Tikka T3 in 308 with a Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x50
The Tikka in that caliber is a nice balance between weight and recoil, the 308 takes down anything in the lower 48, and the Zeiss is big enough for the occasional shot past 300 m.
 
With me its a Ruger M77 or a Remington 700 . Savage is great but not my choice . Pick any chambering that suits you . With todays technology and manufacturing process any of the popular brand scopes . I don't but the cheapo's or the top $'s anything in the midle should work for you .
 
Tikka T3 in 7mm08 probably, you wouldn't go wrong with 308 or 260 or 270 too, but 7mm08 or 270 is probably the pick for a hunter, but depending on whether you want to start reloading will make a big difference

Scope is hard as you can get something that'd do the trick for $300 and something that'd do the trick for $900.

Depending on the weighting of hunting to target shooting can have a large impact on what would be best, if it's 50:50 or 30:70 either way will make a huge difference.

For a 50:50 split, I'd go something in the 4-16 zoom range. I have a Nikon Monarch 4-16x42 and it's an excellent scope, the mildot reticle is nice, it seems to work well in low light, is nice and clear and isn't to big and heavy. As well as the turrets track well.

If it was more hunting I think I'd go a 3-9x40, anything from Burris, Leupold, Ziess or any other good make will do the trick.

If it was more target, then that is a big can of worms in regards to a scope.

A Tikka in 7mm08 and a Nikon 4-16x42 would be around $1000.
Then I would spend the rest on ammo and or a reloading kit.
May want to consider a bipod too. I like the Harris S series 9-13, very sturdy, strong and suprisingly lightweight.


http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/...M-08+Remington+wStainless+Barrel+&+Black+Synt

http://swfa.com/Monarch-3-C4957.aspx?s=Name ASC&p=1
 
Another Vote for Tikka here. Have had mine since Beretta first started importing them. It is a light weight, super accurate rifle with an excellent factory trigger.

Top it off with a Leupold or Vortex scope and you are well under your budget and can spend the rest on ammo or other hunting related items like a range finder, good binoc's, clothing etc...
 
If it was me I'd spend roughly $600 on a Savage all weather in 260 Rem and another $4-$500 on a decent scope Which leaves $400 for beer.
 
What I would I almost surely buy if it was available from the factory is the the Savage "Lightweight" hunter, but *IN* a Savage Lady Hunter stock; not in the Lightweight stock - in .260 of course.

st_lightest_woodstock_rifle_g.jpg


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