Budget bolt-action rifles, which is most durable?

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bricz75

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In recent times a number of budget bolt-action rifles have come to the market-place. Articles and posts will typically comment on the accuracy, trigger, and ergonomics. How about durability? Which one of two of the below rifles are least likely to need gunsmith repair? Which one or two can be knocked around and manipulated without breaking?

Savage Axis
Ruger American
Marlin X7
Stevens 200
Any others in this price range


Happy Shooting
 
The most tried and true of the bunch is the Stevens 200. It is essentially the old Savage Model 110 (or is it 10? ) action with a very plain-jane composite stock.
 
The Marlin and Savage are based on quality designs with cosmetic shortcuts to save money

The Axis and Ruger are new guns designed from the ground up to be as cheap as possible. We won't know how they will hold up for a few more years. The Savage and Marlin would be the safest bet in my opinion.

Others to consider that have been around for a while are the Howa/Weatherby Vanguard rifles which can be found for $350-$400. They are rock solid. The Remington ADL's are still in the $400 range and are based on a well proven design.
 
Missing from your list is the toughest budget rifle of all. The Howa 1500. The action is built like a brick house and smooth as silk. The Hogue stock that comes on them is pretty tough too. The Weatherby Vanguard shares the same action but will cost you a little more for the Weatherby name and accuracy guarantee. Stevens 200 is a good one too. It's nothing less than a pre accutrigger Savage 110. One rifle I would mark off the list is the Axis. Flimsy, flexy stock that cant be upgraded and a horrible trigger. And while I really like the Ruger American, the detachable mag looks and feels like it belongs on a toy gun. I can see them breaking/wearing out over time.
 
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The Savage Axis is going to be the one I would go with,in fact I did 17,000 rounds ago. Give or take 100 or so. Still shoots very accurate and never a issue yet. In fact 3 months ago I picked up another in a 243 Camo. Very accurate rifle for $239.00 . This post is slanted as you can tell. I only own Savages and I have 9 of them now. They will out shoot almost everything out there and match the rest hole for hole. The Howa is a good one also at twice the price and twice the weight. Have not tried the Ruger, but what I have heard is good so far. Yes I have Also had Remmy,s. did not care for them. Unless you get a costly one IMHO they are junk.
 
I wont argue with the accuracy or service life of your Axis, but if for any reason you wanted to rebarrel it, you can't. Its pressed on the action, not threaded. You throw it away and buy another one. If you want a better stock, nobody makes one. If you just want a cheap, disposable rifle to hunt with and never upgrade, then the Axis is just as good as anything else. But not my cup of tea.
 
Steve--all you say is true. What I'm getting at is you have a very accurate rifle, it's cheap, lasts forever (almost anyhow). Only costed 200.00 and as you say disposable. I could buy 3 rifles for what you would pay to re- barrel once. And still shoot as accurate or better. As for looks--- we'll it's a shooting rifle not a display toy.:). I have my own F- Class rifle too, but I have to baby it and make sure I don,t scratch it.:(. My axis--- chuck it in the truck and go.

All said and done I guess both points are valid here.
 
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Vanguard by FAR. This rifle has no plastic parts except the stock and the bolt handle is machined rather than cast so there can be no voids or flaws.
 
I wont argue with the accuracy or service life of your Axis, but if for any reason you wanted to rebarrel it, you can't. Its pressed on the action, not threaded.
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Steve--all you say is true.
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IT IS?!?!!? Since when does the Axis have a press fit barrel?! It obviously has a threaded barrel. What do you think the barrel nut is for!?!?!

The reason the Axis is not as durable as the vanguard and others are the plastic trigger guard and safety, the magazine which has a fragile plastic release. The bolt which is not easily maintained in the field, the fact that the recoil lug is not even part of the barreled action, and a crappy trigger that necessitates that people start clipping away at spring coils. Oh, and tiny ejection port removing the ability to easily single load, and one size action even for short cartridges and a horribly long scope mounting distance....um horribly flexy stock which affects point of impact if using a sling to steady shot, potentially flawed or less sturdy cast parts, and finally a horrible finish prone to rust very easily No need whatsoever to make things up about this rifle, it sucks enough as-is.
 
IT IS?!?!!? Since when does the Axis have a press fit barrel?! It obviously has a threaded barrel. What do you think the barrel nut is for!?!?!
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You are right. I was getting it confused with the Remington 770, which does have a press fit barrel and is an even bigger piece of junk.



The reason the Axis is not as durable as the vanguard and others are the plastic trigger guard and safety, the magazine which has a fragile plastic release. The bolt which is not easily maintained in the field, the fact that the recoil lug is not even part of the barreled action, and a crappy trigger that necessitates that people start clipping away at spring coils. Oh, and tiny ejection port removing the ability to easily single load, and one size action even for short cartridges and a horribly long scope mounting distance....um horribly flexy stock which affects point of impact if using a sling to steady shot, potentially flawed or less sturdy cast parts, and finally a horrible finish prone to rust very easily No need whatsoever to make things up about this rifle, it sucks enough as-is.
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well said.

And I agree about the Vanguards/Howas. Awesome rifle for the money
 
weatherbyfan- You can not deny they are a great very accurate rifle for the price. ( no other rifle in that price range will out shoot it). Actually for up to 3 times the price that statement is 90% true. Cheap stocks,, yes they are,but of the 4 that i have had and 2 i still have, it has never been a issue. trigger tension--Horrable -yes-- 2 screws out clip 1.5 coils,2 screws back, 5 minutes at the most. Life span 17,000 or so and still shooting one hole at 100 yards.
Contact me when your Vanguard gets there and let me know how it is doing:D
 
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Howa. I have had the Axis, Marlin XS7S, and Howa 1500. The Howa is the better built and the most accurate of the three. I sold the other two. The Marlin was a fine rifle also and was under an inch shooter with handloads and a good day on the trigger for me.

I wanna try a Ruger American.
 
This post is slanted as you can tell. I only own Savages and I have 9 of them now. They will out shoot almost everything out there and match the rest hole for hole.
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I'm not being critical, everyone has a different perspective on what is important. But 9 cheap rifles just doesn't do anything for me. The Axis is $277 here, a Savage can go anywhere from $350-$650 depeiding. You're looking at close to $3000 in cheap rifles with very poor resale value. And another $1500-$2000 in cheap mounts and glass to go on them.

I ended up with a safe full of guns a few years ago. Mostly Rugers, Remingtons and Winchesters that I bought used. I took several to a LGS and sold them on consignment, all for more than I paid. 2 months later I walked out with a new Kimber and close to $2000 in my pocket. Since then I've been slowly selling off lots of other stuff and either saving the money or upgrading.

I cannot use 9 rifles. I'd rather have 1-2 good ones.

I've owned several Savage rifles in the past. I never found the internet myth about them being any more accurate than anything else to be true. I've found them to equal many more expensive rifles, at least sometimes, but never better. Never owned or shot a Savage that could shoot as well as the Kimber.
 
jmr40- Only 2 of them are Axis. 2 are F-Class, 2 are FVSS, One Model 111 Int trophy Hunter, 1- 10/110 Preditor Hunter, oops-- Only have 8 not nine--
I keep the Axis,(Actually one is the older Edge version) only because they shoot so well and as you say-Resale is nothing, That and I never sell a gun:D
 
Dirty_Harry said:
Oh, and to answer the original question, mosin nagant.
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This. Even with the prices going up in the past year, you won't find a more durable rifle for the money.

Probably not the answer you are looking for though.....
 
@jmr40: I felt that about the Marlin and Stevens/Savage, though I prefer a detachable box mag.

@steveNChunter: Yes the Howa is good. The rubber stock isn't for me though. I wonder how others feel about rubber stocks.

@4runnerman: Impressive round count. I wish the mag held more than three rounds, though.

@Weatherby Fan: I didn't know a sling will affect the POI with the Axis. Is that such with the Ruger American? Others?

@Dirty_Harry: +1 on the Mosin for durability. I don't know what kind of adjustments are necessary for POA to equal POI are necessary. I also haven't read anything on groups at 100 yards.

All: I vaguely remember reading something that the bedding in the Ruger American is such that if you sight it when its summer temperature, the POI will be different if you then shoot it at winter temperature. Or vice-versa. I have know idea if this is true or if it is, it applies to the other rifles.

Thanks for the comments, all!
 
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