Economical vs Higher End Rifles

If I had the choice between a 1500 dollar rifle and 500 dollar optic
s or a 500 rifle and 1500 optics....I would choose the latter.

When you start shooting long range having a scope that has horrible tracking is awful. Hold over you can, but IMHO it ain't got nothing on the dials.
 
Except for when they get fogged with moisture or dropped on a rock or if the game is moving fast across close in front of you.
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Scopes are not any more vulnerable to damage or losing POA due to hits than iron sights. It's a myth generally spewed by inexperienced shooters that have spent way to much time reading the net and gun store wanna be experts. I've knocked exactly one scope off of zero due to a fall and never broke one. None of my scopes cost more than $150 and most were well below that price point. Where as I've broken 3 sets of irons sights and they are just as likely to lose zero if you knock em around. I've also never had a scope fog up.

As for the fast moving game.......... The same advantages a scope has at longer range apply just as much at close range, maybe more so. It doesn't matter if it critter is standing 300 yards away in an open field or if it's running 20 feet away in heavy brush. Having the sights and the target on the same focal plain is faster. The problem with scopes at close range is more of an issue with shooters and the fact that they vastly over scope a gun. Sure you're gonna have all sorts of problems if you stick a 8-32x on your hunting gun or keep just about any variable scope on anything but the lowest setting. But a 1.5-4x or 2-7x set on low power when you are in the brush is just as fast as a red dot and faster than any open sight. 3-9x is all anyone needs on a hunting gun and even that is more than manageable when set on the low end for any woods hunting or the fastest game.

LK
 
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Years ago, my Grandad and I would ride his old Studabaker truck up into the Bighorn Mts of northern Wyoming. We dropped off grain pellets for his range cattle and occaisionally brought supplies to an older shepard named Pedro.

Pedro had an old German Mauser in 7.9mm which the stock looked like it had been dragged down a gravel road. But the metal work and barrel were clean. Pedro hunted whenever he wanted to and killed all manner of wild game with his Mauser.

What's the point? A patient and careful hunter will be successful with just about any rifle regardless of caliber, sights, or price tag.

If it were me, I'd probably seek a Remington model 7 in .308 and fit it with a good 2X - 7X scope.

Jack

alpinebasin.jpg
 
Unlike the latest electronic Ipads or computers, guns are durable goods. If you take care of them, you can pass them from generation to generation. They can carry memories and intangibles far greater than their actual worth.

I'm not saying that you should break the bank for your hobby. However, I think I much rather pass on a Rem 700, Win M70, Ruger M77, or Savage 110 to my kids and grandkids than a cheaply built Savage Axis or a Marlin XL7.

I have an 1942 built Mark III Enfield .303 that was sportorized after WWII that pushes 3-4 MOA with handloads on a good day. Its far less accurate than any sub $500 economy rifle sold today and uses a near obsolete, historical cartridge. However, my father-in-law gave it to me and that in itself is worth something.
 
Stevens Model 200 with a Nikon Monarch scope...270. Many dead deer,coyotes and hogs. Good enough for me, and it don,t get baby treatment. It is my work horse.
 
Stevens 200 action $250 after reselling the take off barrel and scope
Choate stock 215 dollars
Criterion barrel $280
Rifle basix trigger $100
Mueller eradicator scope $225

I did splurge and drop close to 400 on CDI bottom metal and AI mag but the stock blind mag would have shot just as well. So for around $1000 or less you too can build a tackdriver with sub .5 MOA accuracy in your garage. It ain't rocket science, hardest part was getting the original barrel off

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/19/204load.jpg/
 
It's a myth generally spewed by inexperienced shooters
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Sorry, I'll come back when I have after another 35 years worth of rifle shooting experience under my belt. In that time I've only had 4 or 5 scope fail, one was on a very expensive western hunt. But since I won't buy a hunting rifle without iron sights, I had a backup to the glass and got my elk. In that same 35 year period I can't ever recall my iron sights ever failing. But then you are the expert.
 
Well a truely top shelf rifle and scope is going to set you back like $6000 - $200000. A bottom end rifle is like $500 with a cheap scope.

There is alot of middle ground. For my money, something solid in the middle like the Rem 700, Savage 10 or Winchester 70 is a good bet. Ruger is probably fine too.

I chose a Savage 12BVSS in 300 WSM. It is not ideal in every way, but after bedding it, I am getting 5 shot .6" groups at 100 yards with minimal work. I have a Burris XTR 3-12 on top of it. That is good enough for me. Spending $6000, would only guarantee me .5" groups. Still, by the time it was fitted out for hunting, I had ~$1800 into it, not counting the reloading stuff. Since the rifle was $700ish at the time, I guess it is midrange?

Now I could have received a normal barrel shooting 1.5" groups and had to replace with a Krieger +550. Maybe the stock would not have fit me well in positions. Then I would have been out $300 for a Bell & Carlson Medalist Stock.

Or for $6000, you could have a great rifle built and topped with a US Optics scope!
 
Scopes are not any more vulnerable to damage or losing POA due to hits than iron sights. It's a myth generally spewed by inexperienced shooters that have spent way to much time reading the net and gun store wanna be experts. I've knocked exactly one scope off of zero due to a fall and never broke one. None of my scopes cost more than $150 and most were well below that price point. Where as I've broken 3 sets of irons sights and they are just as likely to lose zero if you knock em around. I've also never had a scope fog up.
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Wow! You are lucky! Really. I have personally seen 3 scopes fail usually unknown to the shooter until we really started chasing it around on paper. If your known good gun won't sight in in 3 shots, your scope is broke. If you have to sight in every year for the same load, your scope is broke. This could also be mount related.

I did notice that buying a good scope made all the difference in sighting in and having reliable moves for extended range.
 
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