Bolt Action 308 with Irons

G

gman3

New member
Looking for a short (max 20 inch barrel) bolt action 308 with Iron sights for hunting deer. After a truck load of all sorts of rifles and expensive scopes, I find myself with the desire to simplify my hunting and reloading.

I have enjoyed the long range deer hunting challenge for a long time, and have been quite successful at it. But, I have been bitten by the iron sight bug it seems.

The challenge of working the wind and getting closer to the "rack master" has me intrigued. Any suggestions on a 308 bolt gun with Irons?

Was looking at the Sako 85 Bavarian, but they are quite spendy.
 
Buy the rifle you want, cut the barrel to the length you want and have irons installed. Having a barrel cut and recrowned isn't expensive. Buying iron sights and having them installed is about the same cost as buying a budget scope and mounts. And you'll end up with far better irons than what comes from the factory.
 
Thanks for the suggestions. I like the classic wood, and not looking for a heavy barrel as on the Hog hunter. I have actually looked at them both, and they just didn't trip my trigger. I do like the Ruger 77 compact as well as the model 70 compact, but no irons on either. Also liked the 77 RCM, but I would like to stick to 308 because I have a ton of 308 brass and projectiles.
 
Another vote for the Savage Hog Hunter. 20" threaded barrel, accutrigger, and already tapped for a scope mount. Mine shootsub MOA with my handloads and will hold 1" groups with my AAC SDN-6 suppressor attached.
 
Go to Bud's guns --- the CZ section, and check out the new model 557 carbine -- bolt action, nice walnut, 20.5 inch barrel and available in .308---has a good adjustable rear sight and the tricked out front with a fiber optic rod to really pick up the light along with a protective hood --- this sounds to me to be exactly what your looking for --- I just bought the same rifle in 06 for the same reason, hunt with the irons for a change, plus down here in the swamps all the shots are relatively short range ----- John
 
G-man, I forgot to mention, barrel is free-floated and all my CZ's came with a test target that shows just how accurate they really are ---
 
Older style Remington Model 7 fits that bill as does the older stye Savage Model 11 (although the Model 11's may also have 22" barrels).
 
You are absolutely right, no height adjustment, but I remember reading a field test on them and the writer says he had no problem with holding the front sight dot at the position in the rear sight notch to get them hitting where he wanted ---- I haven't even had a chance to take it out yet but the test target had two touching almost dead center just a tad to the upper right and a "flyer" about an eighth inch just left of the other two ---- that's shooting plenty close enough for me and tells me the irons will get the job done--- of course the receiver is grooved for the CZ scope mounts also ---
 
Irons

I have 2 rifles that I carry to deer hunt in woods that are in your bracket. My
favorite bolt action .308 Win. M-70 feather weight. It has stock front sight and
Lyman reciever sight on rear. I drilled out aperture to biggest size I could. This
is the carbine model, short barrel and no monto comb on stock( pre-64). I don't
think you can get a faster gun to get on running deer. I have Rem 721 in 3006
set up same way. I have gone same route as you only I have been peep freak
since Army, 44yrs ago! Gun shows are full of bolt guns, market is glutted. Get
yourself a good old one , not one of the new " Insult Rifles" You won't be sorry.
 
Dennis, you are right, the CZ 550's are still readily available --- the 557 line is due to replace them and the carbine length barrel is a new option --- a bolt action with a short barrel makes a good brush gun and the shorter .308 action helps cut length even more ---

Keep in mind they are a tad heavy, not real great for extended carry, but really cuts down on "felt" recoil --- I'll just say I've made shots on groundhogs and coyotes that were uncanny with my CZ's , very reliable and very accurate --- well worth the price---

Only other rifle I've had that would shoot like this was my Vanguard in .300 WSM that I should never have let go ---
 
Guys, help me out here, but were the 600 series Remington's ever chambered in .308 ? I think they were in .350 Remington mag and another caliber, but can't remember what it was --- a number of the current writers have noticed a resurgence in interest in them due to the short length and that they were actually a pretty decent gun --- Of course suggesting the used gun market opens up a whole new set of possibilities ---
 
JR,
The front sight's adjustable for elevation on the 557 Carbine.
This one was close enough in testing to use as it was.

The only 550s left are the FS & the safari class magnums, the 557 is replacing the standard 550s.
The FS is still good for a while longer.

I have a 550 FS & the 557 Carbine, both in .30-06, here.
Same length, the 557 is slightly lighter.
Both shoot about equally well.
Both handy length for brush & so on.

The trigger on the 557 is extremely good.
Denis
 
Thanks JR, I will look at the CZ rifles. Can get one of those and a MOD 94 and have some change for the price of the Sako.
 
That's right, I'd forgotten the front sight is adjustable --- I really think this ought to be a strong consideration --- the CZ's are very well made --- years of Bavarian experience and quality and it shows, no frills, no nonsense, just solid handsome walnut stocked guns with blued metal --- probably why the old timers like them so much --

My most recent, the 30-06 557 carbine is due to the move down south and the shorter shooting distances in the Pearl River WMA--- not much need for varmint rifle long range accuracy here ----
 
Just checked Bud's guns, no 557's in .308 right now, but the first one listed is the 550 in .308, with the full length stock, barrel is only 20.5" ---- might think hard about snapping this one up before it's gone ---- pull it up and scan over it ----$740.00

I had this same model in 06 and it was hard on coyotes ----
 
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