Economical vs Higher End Rifles
- Thread starter Jimms
- Start date
L_Killkenny
New member
That's a load of bunk right there. There are some sub $300 guns that I won't own but I've owned/shot more than a few $400 rifles in my time and there is nothing that the sporter $400 gun/$150 scope can't do that a sporter $1500 gun/$800 scope will. They may not look quite as nice or feel quite as nice but they'll last just as long and shoot just as straight. Maybe straighter in some cases.
It all comes down to disposable income. If you got it and want a nicer (not to be confused with better) gun than go for it. If you don't have it than buy the $400 gun and $150 scope and have full confidence that gun will do everything you need to do. There are times to buy more expensive purpose built guns but if we compare apples to apples (sporter vs. sporter) than performance will be on par for all practical purposes.
LK
603Country
New member
It's my belief that in many cases the less expensive rifle will be almost the same as the company's higher grade rifles, but without the fancy stuff (Walnut stock, but not the fancy Walnut, or not Walnut at all; unpolished finish on the barrel and action; and maybe a less expensive trigger). It costs a lot of money to put great wood and a great shine on a rifle, so I do expect that as a manufacturer cuts cost, those costs are the first to go. As for how to find out whether or not that cost cutting logic applies to the rifle that you want, I have no good suggestions. I'd expect (though I don't know positively) that the Tikka rifles are a good example of what I'm chatting about. The Sako has better stocks and shinier metal, but I doubt seriously that they shoot any better. If you need the shine, buy the expensive rifle, but it might not shoot better. Still...you can't have my Sako.
Hey Johnbt, you're right. The quality and quantity of my firearms improved dramatically when the kids moved out.
They do not mind because I let them shoot with me, and they know my collection will be part of their inheritance.
She who must be obeyed has a different take on it but I won't go into that
They do not mind because I let them shoot with me, and they know my collection will be part of their inheritance.
She who must be obeyed has a different take on it but I won't go into that
Colorado Redneck
New member
Less expensive guns
Are sold because some of us don't want to pay top dollar. Whether or not we can afford the higher end firearms it all comes down to what we want to pay.
Used guns can be really great values. Just because someone traded or is selling a gun doesn't mean it can't be a good buy and do what the buyer wants.
Just my $.02
Are sold because some of us don't want to pay top dollar. Whether or not we can afford the higher end firearms it all comes down to what we want to pay.
Used guns can be really great values. Just because someone traded or is selling a gun doesn't mean it can't be a good buy and do what the buyer wants.
Just my $.02
If you're hunting at short to medium range, you may not need the additional precision presumably provided by the more expensive options.
Another factor to consider is whether there is any possibility you would want to "upgrade", or customize the rifle. This will limit the players...
If you just need a "minute of deer" rifle, any of the offerings from the major manufacturers will get the job done for you. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a current model from anyone that wouldn't shoot under 2 minutes of angle with decent factory ammo. It's whether you want minute of angle, or better- that determines the need to spend the extra dough.
If you expect to want to customize, or "upgrade"- stocks, triggers, etc. then I would limit the field to Savage (10 or 11- not the Axis), and Remington 700 models as they have the most aftermarket support.
Another factor to consider is whether there is any possibility you would want to "upgrade", or customize the rifle. This will limit the players...
If you just need a "minute of deer" rifle, any of the offerings from the major manufacturers will get the job done for you. I think you'd be hard pressed to find a current model from anyone that wouldn't shoot under 2 minutes of angle with decent factory ammo. It's whether you want minute of angle, or better- that determines the need to spend the extra dough.
If you expect to want to customize, or "upgrade"- stocks, triggers, etc. then I would limit the field to Savage (10 or 11- not the Axis), and Remington 700 models as they have the most aftermarket support.
Inexpensive rifle
A SAVAGE or a CZ would get the nod from my Son & ME. They shoot as good or
(( BETTER )) than my modest colection of SAKO`S. We have a few of each and have never had a problem with either. Great triggers on both. We have bought a few new but most used, and they all shoot ! inch or less at a 100yrds. Every one we have is a shooter can`t praise them to much, and we really enjoy them. (( SCOPES )) We like 4200 ELITE`s and own several both new and used no problems at all, with them 4x16, 6x24, & 8x32. My Son and I try to shoot as often as we can, and we reload for most everything we shoot. Good luck on finding your rifle and I hope you enjoy it. ken
A SAVAGE or a CZ would get the nod from my Son & ME. They shoot as good or
(( BETTER )) than my modest colection of SAKO`S. We have a few of each and have never had a problem with either. Great triggers on both. We have bought a few new but most used, and they all shoot ! inch or less at a 100yrds. Every one we have is a shooter can`t praise them to much, and we really enjoy them. (( SCOPES )) We like 4200 ELITE`s and own several both new and used no problems at all, with them 4x16, 6x24, & 8x32. My Son and I try to shoot as often as we can, and we reload for most everything we shoot. Good luck on finding your rifle and I hope you enjoy it. ken
bacardisteve
New member
I picked up a savage axis 308 for a beater around the farm. I paid 325 for the combo with a 3-9x40 scope. With ammo it likes it shoots moa. Like others said the trigger sucks but is easy to tune for non gunsmith types.
Quote: "You cant hit what you cant see"
True up to a point. Your problem is different depending on whether your target is a ground squirrel or a moose. If big game is your quarry, a scope is not needed most of the time. Good work can be done with a "ghost" ring and a post front.
A scope is an advantage in a low light situation though.
True up to a point. Your problem is different depending on whether your target is a ground squirrel or a moose. If big game is your quarry, a scope is not needed most of the time. Good work can be done with a "ghost" ring and a post front.
A scope is an advantage in a low light situation though.
L_Killkenny
New member
Both of you are wrong to a point. Scopes are way better, all the time, from dawn till dusk and even in the dark than any iron sight. The low light capabilities are a very small part of their advantage and only account for very few minutes at the beginning or end of the day.
As for spending the money in glass do it if you want. But there is not much that needs doing that can't be done with glass that cost between $100 and $200 and much of what needs doing can be done with many of el'cheapo package scopes. Is more expensive glass better? Most of the time but once you get above $150 or $200 the improvement means nothing to 99.9% of shooters.
LK
Well, seeing how I got this discussion started and I believe that we are all exactly right--Nice wood and Nice polish cost more. For the most part, the mechanics of the guns are the same. I had already decided what glass I wanted, but the rifle was another issue. So I went looking and I just got back from BPS looking for a 308. I had been looking at another Win M70 Ult Shadow, TC Icon, Ruger M77 Hawkeye and lately the Savage with AT.
I don't mind, actually like, synthetic stocks as I like to actually beat the crap out of my gear, and will put a Hogue Overmold on whatever I get. **I know some people can't stand them, but they just feel right in my hand. I like the way they lay flat in my hand with the side cuts for your fingers.
I was leaning towards the Icon, love the looks, love the 60 bolt throw, love the DM. But Hogue has no intentions of making a stock for it. Bye Bye.
Ruger, it was nice. Good heavy gun, that looks like if your bullet didn't kill it, you could beat it to death with the gun. Hogue makes a stock for it, check.
Win M70 Ult Shadow. Already have a M70, so know everything about it. The original stock feels nice but feels real skinny in my hand at the for grip. But I can get a Hogue stock for it, check.
Then comes the Savage with the Accu Trigger. The Savage Accu Stock I didn't care for, but supposedly they are making changes to it, that you could see at the SHOT show and should be out the first of March. BPS had a clear stock so you could see the frame inside, and they had a table top of the Accu Trigger. Simply put, I LOVE the Accu Trigger. Of course I only got cycle through it on the counter, but it seems SUPER crisp. And the Glock style trigger safety was so nice. It seems to take all of the pre-travel out before you even get your finger on the trigger it self, then it is just Boom! Now I have not had my hands on a Timney or Rifle Basix, and don't know if I ever will, because I will probably end up buying a Savage with Accu Trigger and a Hogue stock. That trigger sold me. More than my worked over M70 trigger.
I don't mind, actually like, synthetic stocks as I like to actually beat the crap out of my gear, and will put a Hogue Overmold on whatever I get. **I know some people can't stand them, but they just feel right in my hand. I like the way they lay flat in my hand with the side cuts for your fingers.
I was leaning towards the Icon, love the looks, love the 60 bolt throw, love the DM. But Hogue has no intentions of making a stock for it. Bye Bye.
Ruger, it was nice. Good heavy gun, that looks like if your bullet didn't kill it, you could beat it to death with the gun. Hogue makes a stock for it, check.
Win M70 Ult Shadow. Already have a M70, so know everything about it. The original stock feels nice but feels real skinny in my hand at the for grip. But I can get a Hogue stock for it, check.
Then comes the Savage with the Accu Trigger. The Savage Accu Stock I didn't care for, but supposedly they are making changes to it, that you could see at the SHOT show and should be out the first of March. BPS had a clear stock so you could see the frame inside, and they had a table top of the Accu Trigger. Simply put, I LOVE the Accu Trigger. Of course I only got cycle through it on the counter, but it seems SUPER crisp. And the Glock style trigger safety was so nice. It seems to take all of the pre-travel out before you even get your finger on the trigger it self, then it is just Boom! Now I have not had my hands on a Timney or Rifle Basix, and don't know if I ever will, because I will probably end up buying a Savage with Accu Trigger and a Hogue stock. That trigger sold me. More than my worked over M70 trigger.
If you want a high dollar gun to hunt with your just adding one more problem in the field......taking care of your baby! My high dollar guns stay in the safe until I head to the range on a nice pretty day and my mossberg atr 30-06 and winchester model 70 shadow 270wsm are my hunting guns. Both cost me less than 400 and I dont have to worry about not beating them around. FYI my mossberg atr shoots .65in at 100yds.......paid $300 for it with a busnell scope from gun broker
You might also want to consider a Weatherby Vanguard 2. Sub-MOA guaranteed, adjustable match quality trigger, lots of after-market accesories, and a long history of solid performance and reliability from the original Vanguard and Howa lines. You should be able to get one for about $500-$550 retail.