Looking to purchase first rifle

B

blue2004STi

Inactive
Hello All,

I'm new to the forums and so far it seems like a great place to learn a lot. I got into shooting just a couple years ago, when I was in college. Didn't have a lot of cash so I went and bought a Sig P6 semi-auto handgun. Enjoyed shooting that for a while, year or so, just plinking around until I shot a friends Colt 1911 which inspired me to go buy the Sig 1911 Tacops. Enjoyed that for the last few months but recently have started to remember my childhood fantasy of being a recon sniper in the USMC. Started looking into rifles and thinking about purchasing one. Here's where I'd like y'all to step in. I've been looking for good entry level rifles, meaning something reasonably accurate out to the 300-400 yd range (after properly dialed in) that also is not gonna break the bank if I take it shooting at the range regularly. The purpose at first would just be learning to shoot long guns with the goal to eventually be able (with the proper setup) to make 800+ yd shots. I realize that's down the road, but I digress. At some point I could see going hunting with some friends of mine so that is also something I need to take into consideration. They mostly go for white tail or antelope when they go hunting. I was hoping to only drop <450 for the rifle and <350 for glass...which I know puts me at the bottom end of most everything. I was wondering if anyone could offer advice on what to get.

More specifically I was wondering if you all could provide me with some advice or opinions on a few rifles I've already taken a look at. I've looked at brand new Marlin XL/XS7's that I heard are decent shooters out of the box but for 399 I've heard the the Savage axis xp is a better deal. I also took a look at, and liked, the Savage 10fcp in 308 win but 699 kind of blows my whole budget on the rifle and leaves me shooting through some pretty poor glass... Then yesterday I went in to a local pawn shop, ya I know some people are pretty opposed to buying from pawn shops but I hear good things about this guy. He had a Mossberg Maverick in 243 with a bunch of "extras", a cheap import 4-9x40 with lit red or green reticle, bipod, sling, and case for 475 and seemed reluctant to come down at all on price... hmm... then he pushed a solid rifle on me really hard, winchester model 70 in 7mm with "nice glass" on it (Nikon buckmaster 3-9x40) but was asking 575 for it...seemed a bit high for a used gun.

Like I said I don't really want to drop a bunch of cash on this first rifle because if I don't like shooting rifles, not much lost, and if I do then I'll just get a different caliber or trade it :D

Thanks

Matt
 
I believe this could be the golden age of riflry. There maybe more serviceable, affordable rifles available to shooters than ever before.

Any of the rifles you mentioned will most likely serve you well. There are also good products available from Howa-Weatherby, Remington, Thompson, Savage. Zastava ect.

There are decent quality mid=priced optices available from Nikon, Leupold, Bushnell, Mueller, Vortex, ect. All of these come with excellent warrantees most for life.

Used rifles are generally available reasonably priced. These should be scutinized carefully. To repeat myself, there are many reasonably priced choices available. Get to a dealer and try some for fit and have any questions answerered. Good luck and good shooting/
 
I was in your shoes a while back with same wants. Here is what I did and it turned out well for me.

I purchased a 308 caliber Remington 700 SPS Varmint rifle for $549 from Bud’s.
This is heavy barrel version of the Remington 700 BDL rifle. I chose the Remington 700 because they are good rifles and there are tons of after market support for them. You can use the receiver as the base for anything you want to do later. I also chose the 308 caliber because of ammo price. You can find 308 ammo for less than 270 or 7mm, etc. and there are many versions of it for anything you want to do. I plan to reload later and components for 308 are cheaper than many other mid size calibers. This rifle is not light but not excessively heavy so you can carry it out in the field for hunts.

I purchased a Game Reaper one piece DNZ mount and Weaver Super Slam 3-15X50mm scope for under $400. This is a very under rated scope. It is very sharp and at 15X it is enough magnification for anything you need within reason. IMHO the quality of the optics is comparable to Leupold VX-3 series. Midway was clearing out these scopes at crazy low price. My choice for DNZ mount was based on wanting something simple but durable.

I started shooting at 100 yards until I could get groups of 1” or less consistently. It took me about 3 months to do it. Then shot at 200 yards until I could get groups of 2” or less consistently. Technically shooting 2” at 200 yards should require same skill as shooting 1” at 100 yards but I found it to be more difficult. Now days I’m shooting out to 500 yards and occasionally take shots at 10” steel gong at 700 yards.

Along the way I’ve made some changes to my gear.
First, I changed the factory stock to a HS Precision stock that free floats the barrel after couple months. I picked it up from E-Bay pretty cheap or else I would have purchased a B&C Stock. This helps my group size when I’m shooting a lot as warm barrel seems to shoot better when free floating. At 100-200 yards the factory stock worked well but as I started to shoot longer range it made a big difference.

Next, I picked up a set of Warne steel one piece base and matching steel rings. I don’t shoot any better with then but I feel that my large/heavy scope is more secure now. I’ll use the DNZ mount on my hunting rifle (a Remington 700 ADL in 308 caliber).

In the future I plan on getting a high quality scope with better clarity and more magnification. I think more magnification will help with the group size and I need clarity to lessen my eye strain. Finally, I would like to replace the trigger group with an after market target trigger. There are many other things I can do to it but I don’t see any advantage in most of them.

Right now I have 4 modern centerfire bolt action rifles in my safe and all 4 are Remington 700 short actions… 3 in 308 caliber and one in 223.

What ever you decide to do, just do it and enjoy it.
 
I would suggest the Rem 700 as well. I have an ADL Varmint in .223 and it has done the job I have asked it to. My buddy bought a SPS Tactical .308 and competes out to 600 yards with his. Buds have them for $599. I have seen them as low as $500.

The aftermarket support on a Rem 700 is excellent. It is a rifle that can grow with you.

I would go with the .308 as well due to the reasons stated above.

For a scope, get the most scope that you can afford. Vortex seems to have a good rep. I like the Nikon Buckmaster 6-18x40 Mildot from Midway for $350.
 
Thanks for all the replies, I really like the idea of a 308 for the stated reasons. Although I hear that the market for Savage aftermarket support is increasing quite steadily. I'm just thinking about the fact that in 308 from buds it would be 558 + transfer fees and tax, ~ 625 for a 24" barrel, or I could spend an extra 45 bucks, and get a fluted savage 10fcp in 308... Does the fluting do anything really? I mean in theory I suppose I could guess but....

Also the only reason keeping me on the fence with the smaller rounds like the 223 beyond cost of rounds and availability, is that I definitely don't want to go out, send 30-40 rounds down range and come home with a purple shoulder... :/ Maybe I'm just being a wuss about it :D

Part of me says screw it and just buy something like a savage axis xp package for <400 and call it a day, learn then buy better later, but then the planner in me says that I should buy something that will last and perform in the long run. That's why I'm thinking used, since I buy it at a used price I should be able to resell for close to no loss in investment right? :? hmmm....
 
I looked into Savage rifles too but I decided against it because there are several versions of Savage receivers in the market and aftermarket parts are not all compatible… it just limits your aftermarket choices. The other thing is their Accu-trigger. I’ve seen three of those triggers give problems at the range. Again, there is nothing wrong with Savage rifles as they shoot as well as anything else out there.

The recoil of .308 in a 10+ pound rifle is not severe. I’ve shot 50+ rounds of .308 in my 7 1/2 pound hunting rifle in just one day and never had sore shoulders. Even my wife who is 5’ 4” and 125 lb. shoots 20-30 rounds from my rifle without problem. If you learn the proper technique the recoil is not an issue.

Used rifles are a bit of gamble. You can get a jewel for low price but you may end up with a lemon. I got lucky recent and picked up a used 308 caliber Remington SPS Tactical for $400 and it even had a scope on it (cheap $9.99 Simmons scope and mounts). The rifle was only 3 months old and shot only few times but the owner didn’t like it because it was too heavy to take out hunting. I was just lucky and happened to be at the right place at the right time. I plan on setting this one up as a varmint rifle as the 20” barrel is much easier to maneuver than the long 26” barrel.
 
I definitely don't want to go out, send 30-40 rounds down range and come home with a purple shoulder... :/ Maybe I'm just being a wuss about it
Click to expand...

What are your experience with shooting rifles? Have you ever shot a bolt action .308?

My wife (5'2", 125 lbs) shoots a X-bolt in .308 if that helps you imagine about the amount of recoil. :)
 
I have not, just going on people comments and the facts of bullet size and amount of powder as well as muzzle velocities. Just an assumption :D
 
I would suggest you try out your childhood fantasy by enlisting in the USMC. They will supply you with clothing, skills and a rifle. My BIL, who is a retired marine officer, says that the USMC are the world's best riflemen.

FH
 
It just seems really difficult to find a used bolt action 308, especially of a remmy 700 or win m70 that isn't going for 1000+ because they put a 600+ scope on it or what have you... I don't see hardly anything in 223 either. Mostly 243, 270, and 7mm.

While I'm thinking about it, I know that 223 and 308 etc are readily available in bulk, but what about 7mm? Everywhere I see it offers no discount for large quantity orders of it.
 
Don't be in a rush to buy. The journey is the best part.

Another idea is to look at the new Weatherby Vanguard S2. Guaranteed to shoot 1 MOA or better. Not much of an aftermarket support though.

Also a Tikka T3. One of the smoothest bolts I have. But at last again, it does not have much aftermarket support.

Keep looking.
 
I concur with the poster recommending the M70. The scope is worth about $150 while the gun is worth $350-400. Try to get the dealer down to around $500. Does the M70 have walnut stock? Push feed or controlled feed? 7mm mag or 7mm-08? clean bore, etc. If it passes tests, then you won't go wrong.
 
It is a synthetic stock, I cannot remember what he said the actual version of the round was -08 or mag but I'm headed back to take another look and will see. I'm willing to bet it's the pushfeed since it's a newer model and not the classic (as far as I know) but once again I'll have a closer look when I head back
 
says that the USMC are the world's best riflemen.
Click to expand...

That is because we are... :D


A controlled feed m70 would be dynamite for you. If it has a wood stock the rifle will be a little easier to control from the extra weight of the wood over the plastic.
 
Rifle

Best bang for your buck is Savage hands down. Down the road if you want to change calibers you can do it yourself with a few tools. Don't care id it's quantized to shoot 1/2 moa if you can't do it. I went with a Savage Model 12 FVSS Fluted barrel in .308 with factory ammo it shoots 5/8 inch groups at 100 out of the box. Put a WOTAC scope on it 4-14x50mm and no problems at all great rifle and scope. By the end of winter we will be shooting 1760 yds.with it.
 
Any of them are going to break them bank if you shoot enough to build your skills from the ground up.

You need a .22. Work on basic skills while figuring out what you really want/need. You also need it to help fight flinching, which will very probably occur if you shoot nothing but CF.

There are a bunch of 22 threads, check some out.
RT
 
My advice would be to skip the Savage Axis for $400 and go to Walmart and pick up the Model 10 package deal they have in .308 with the accu trigger. It's right under $400 at every Walmart I've been to. Our local one is $387, but the other Walmarts in this area are $397. It comes with a cheap scope and rings that I'd sell online to help recover a little bit of your money, and then I'd go with a quality optic. IMO this is one of the best deals going for a rifle. For the same price as the Axis, you get a gun that has a much better trigger, has a barrel that's easier to swap should you ever want to change calibers, and has much more aftermarket support. It's just the way to go imo. If you don't want to go this route, the next best option in my opinion is the Stevens 200 that's basically the old 110 without the accu trigger. IMO the accu trigger is worth the extra in price though.

As for Winchester 70, like said I think if you got him down to $500 it would be a decent rifle as well. I disagree with one of the above posters about the scope though. It's not worth anywhere near $250, nor did it cost that new. It's worth more in the $130-150 range in my opinion, and the rifle should be worth $300-400 depending on the overall condition and which particular one it is. I would prefer the Savage over this however, but that's just my personal opinion.
 
+1 Get a 22lr

Red Tornado is right. Get a quality bolt action 22 Long Rifle that's built as much like a centerfire as you can afford and a decent scope. Once it is sighted in, shun the bench and shoot it a lot from all positions. When you become really good with it at 100 yards standing then get your centerfire. You may have a chance to try out someone else's rifles in the mean time. If you wait 'til you gain some experience and you will probably make a wiser choice on the centerfire. If you shoot a rifle with substantial recoil too much in one session you will develop a flinch. Return to the .22 until cured. Repeat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top