Inexpensive rifle and scope combo

R

rickmelear

New member
looking to pickup a rifle and scope combo under a grand to punch tight groups out to 300 and ring steel a bit further. Thinking about a Ruger American or the like in 223 or 260. Rather spend more on glass than rifle. Want something out of the box. Any suggestions on rifle and scope appreciated
 
+1 on the Howa. I recently purchased one in 308 with threaded heavy barrel, and while I'm still in the break-in and load development stage, it has shot multiple five shot groups in the +/- 1/2" range.
 
Savage 12FV from Cabela's. 26" heavy barrel, accutrigger, oversized bolt handle for $419.95. Have seen them for as low as $319.95 on sale after mail in rebate. Bought one for my son in .308 Win, he shoots steel regularly at 800 yards+ with Nosler175 gr handloads. Grab one in .223, find a Vortex Viper 6.5-20X scope on sale for around $300 and some 30mm rings, and you would still have enough left over for a couple hundred rounds of ammo. Even the 223 can reach out to 600 yards out of that 26"barrel. It should shoot the 69 gr bullets okay with the 1 in 9" twist.
 
You wont go wrong with the Ruger American Predator, but I would look into the 6.5 Creedmoor. They can be found for less then $400.

Then look at the Vortex Crossfire II, a modest price scope that can often be found for under $300.

Check out YouTube for videos on the RAP in 6.5, you'll be impressed. I picked up one for the possibility of having a light weight hunting rifle for antelope and deer.

I'm quite impressed, it shoots as good as my wife's Ruger Precision Rifle in 6.5 CM but 1/3 the price.
 
I just got a Mossberg Patriot in 243. Plastic stock I don't like but Mossberg has the wood one so I will get it. I had thought about bedding it but I've never seen the inside of a stock like this before! But, the barrel floats with 2 dollar bills to the action and three to the chamber. Trigger came set at 2 1/2# very very little creep, won't bother me. Ran a few loads through it yesterday. h 414 46.0 grs to 47.5 grs (max). 46.5 I messed up. but after that 46.0 was 1 1/8th, 46.5 was 1" and 47.5 was 7/8th inch. I think it's a keeper but am gonna get the wood stock.The rifle was $200 plus I'll order the wood stock at another $189. New with the wood stock was around $400. Best trigger I've ever had out of the box. I re-adjust all my trigger's but this one stay's as it is. Plastic magazine well, magazine and trigger guard. Bough a new Rem 660 in the early 70's that had a plastic trigger guard/floor plate. Still works fine today. Of course up grade those thing's to steel and the price is going up. I'll take it as it is. I though about the 700 in 243 but I have one and it had the lawyer trigger on it and absolutely the worst bedding I'd ever seen. Seem's to me the Rem was over $450.
 
The Ruger Predators in various calibers are stealing everyone's thunder. You won't find a more accurate rifle. They don't need anything done to them except mounting a scope. If you ever decide to buy a suppressor they are already threaded.

For just punching paper and hitting steel targets at those ranges a 223 is hard to beat. Very good quality ammo can be found at attractive prices and cheap 223 FMJ is there for plinking.

If you want to hunt with it or think you might shoot longer ranges someday the 6.5 Creed or 308 are the way to go.
 
I just got a new Mossberg Patriot in 243. Best trigger I've ever felt on a factory rifle, breaks at 2 1/2 #!Got it with the plastic stock but will upgrade to wood soon as I can. Plastic trigger guard, magazine well and magazine but I can live with that. Shoot, my old 660 had a plastic trigger guard and didn't effect it one bit. Biggest surprise for me was the cost, $299!
 
Not sure which rifle I'd recommend, most of them can be made to shoot well. In the less expensive models, there's a reason they are less expensive. Some of those I've heard good results from other's not so well. friend got me a mod 700 ADLyears ago that was the worst shooting rifle I'd seen in years! But lot of work rebedding the stock and it's a great shooter now, ugly as h*ll but shoots great.

As for th cartridges you choose, I'd go with the 260, better bullet's to shoot long range with. I've heard a lot of good thing's about the 6.5 Creedmore and might consider one of them if you found it. It'll give about the same ballistics as the 260 but sounds like ammo is in much better supply.

I wouldn't pick up a rifle with inexpensive scope on it unless you want it for your 22. Two best deals in my opinion are either the Redfield and the Nikon. I have two Nikons, one 4 1/2-4X and the other 3-9x, both are very good and the 3-9x was under $200. Also have two new Redfield's both 2-7x and under $200 also. I don't have a complaint with either of the brand Oh, and both are guaranteed for life!
 
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