Most accurate Bolt Action rifle?
- Thread starter chemcal
- Start date
There is not a definitive answer. There is more like a "group" of pretty darn accurate production rifles, then a group of accurate, a group of serviceable and a group of hit or miss.
Under $600, I like the Ruger American Predators, over $600, Tikkas and Bergaras are where I choose to focus.
Under $600, I like the Ruger American Predators, over $600, Tikkas and Bergaras are where I choose to focus.
Far too many variables, but the acknowledged "best bang for the buck" out of the box is a Savage. Which model doesn't matter.
Even then, if you're not reloading you'll have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can to find the ammo that that particular rifle shoots best. Rimfire or center fire, doesn't matter and neither does the price of that ammo.
Even then, if you're not reloading you'll have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can to find the ammo that that particular rifle shoots best. Rimfire or center fire, doesn't matter and neither does the price of that ammo.
From what I have seen, a Varmint barrel Savage would be it.
Good prices on a Cabellas store only mode 12FV or the 10T (caliber choices a bit limited) -Dicks also has a store model similar I understand.
Caveat on the Remington's, I won't recommend them due to their history on the trigger.
The current trigger is awfull.
They go for long throats so you have to hand load to get them to shoot (my opinion) from what I have seen on the 30-06 heavy barrel my brother got.
First thing he did was replace the trigger.
Good prices on a Cabellas store only mode 12FV or the 10T (caliber choices a bit limited) -Dicks also has a store model similar I understand.
Caveat on the Remington's, I won't recommend them due to their history on the trigger.
The current trigger is awfull.
They go for long throats so you have to hand load to get them to shoot (my opinion) from what I have seen on the 30-06 heavy barrel my brother got.
First thing he did was replace the trigger.
There are good and bad examples of many different rifles. But I'd put my money on a Tikka in that price range. The Ruger American at under $500 is also close. You'll find individual examples from Savage, Remington, Winchester and other brands that are more accurate than some Tikka's. But if you pick up 10 of each brand and try them all, I'm betting Tikka wins.
I've never found a Savage to be any more accurate than anything else as a whole. The thing that gives Savage a heads up is a unique manufacturing method that requires less precise machining in order to assemble an accurate rifle. Any of the other brands will be as accurate, if not better as long as everything is put together right. Because of this you are less likely to get a bad Savage whereas sometimes something isn't put together right on other brands.
I've never found a Savage to be any more accurate than anything else as a whole. The thing that gives Savage a heads up is a unique manufacturing method that requires less precise machining in order to assemble an accurate rifle. Any of the other brands will be as accurate, if not better as long as everything is put together right. Because of this you are less likely to get a bad Savage whereas sometimes something isn't put together right on other brands.
Seems I hear this question 5 or 6 times a week, usually from newbies or people with little or no experience with what they are asking about. Just like anything, "the best" or " fastest" or "most accurate" is highly dependent on the skill of the operator. Now, if the question were "what are some accurate rifles in the $500-$600 range", I would identify the "usual suspects" (Ruger American, Tikka T3, Remington 700, TC Venture, Savage 10, etc).
Sure Shot Mc Gee
New member
Some manufactures advertise their products accuracy right out of the box. Weatherby for one. Then again. Any current model of Weatherby is far better than those labeled promo or entry grade by their firearms manufacture.
Don Fischer
New member
Let me see here. Can you really get a MK IV for under $800? I don't think so.
OP. I think a lot of rifle's are a lot better than rifle's past. But the king still seem's to be the Savage followed closely by the Ruger American. I like Remington's but just can't support the 700 ADL after I was given one of them in a plastic stock. Light's out shooter but you wouldn't believe all the bedding work I had to do in the plastic stock to get there. Now it wear's a take off wood stock!
Nobody has mentioned the Mossberg Partiot and The two I have now I got just to see if they shoot or can be made to shoot. The 243 is a predator Rifle that shoot's good handload's into 3/4" or less all the time. I have heard from some other's that have them and the accuracy seem's to be good in all of them. My 243 shot 1" out of the box! The 308 I fire only cast bullet's through.
I pretty much agree with Scorch.....
From experience, in that price range (from personal experience) three good ones would be: the heavy-barreled Savages, C-Z 527 and 550, and Tikka T3.
Keep in mind it's always possible to get duds in any off-the-rack rifle, and none of these offer a "minute of angle guarantee".
From experience, in that price range (from personal experience) three good ones would be: the heavy-barreled Savages, C-Z 527 and 550, and Tikka T3.
Keep in mind it's always possible to get duds in any off-the-rack rifle, and none of these offer a "minute of angle guarantee".
I gather from the OP that you may be a little bit new to bolt guns. If I were you, I would start with the least expensive option, a Savage or Ruger American. Try it, keep it or trade in until you find out what caliber you like and what you'll be shooting. Once you know that, if that gun is as accurate as you can shoot, great! If not, upgrade.
You ask 5 different shooters what's the "most accurate" rifle you will get 6 different opinions. I belong to a gun club with 1800+ members and I have to listen to every range bragger how their rifle "shoots 3/8" groups all day long". Yet oddly when i'm observing their 1.5" group shots at 100 yds through my spotting scope they immediately claim "rifle doesn't like this ammo". Fact of the matter is that ANY rifle will shoot accurately occasionally. What sets apart the master precision shooters from the range commando braggers is handloading and the expert ability to control and identify daily shooting variables. The guys that can shoot consistent MOA or better are the ones that have spent countless range trips fine tuning loads and shooter mechanics to help maintain consistency. I have days when my Savage 12 FTR will shoot a .250" 3 shot group at 200 meters, then 3 weeks later same load shoots a 1.75" group . Still a good group but why not like the previous .250" group ? Because i'm not able to control the variables. I'm just an amatuer precision shooter, and I don't brag I just shoot, shoot, log my data and try to improve each session. My R700 Varmint rifles box stock with handloads are MOA shooters with handloading. My Savage 12 FTR is definately a frequent sub moa rifle with my handloads , but again it takes a lot of expertise to pull sub moa outcomes EVERY range trip and i'm not at that level yet.
With our advances in metallurgy and technology any rifle you buy now out of the box is an MOA shooter, unfortunately the shooter is not. A few months ago just before deer season I was checking out my Tikka T3 in 30-06 zero at 200 yards. This young gentleman parks next to me and brings out this beautiful rifle with a carbon fiber barrel, not a Christiansen and a scope that could very well have been a spotter. We start to shooting and he fires several rounds and I do the same. His rifle shot an almost clover leaf 3 shot group at 200 yards about .600, and I shoot a sub Moa group too about .850 at same distance. I was happy my scope was a sightron 4X16X44 and his was a Husqemaw 5X30X56. His gear according to him was about $9000 and mine was about $900. I am not willing to spend an additional $8100 to shrink my group by .250 of an inch. Regardless, the deer won't know which rifle killed it.
CZ bolt action rifles fall in the price range and all mine have been sub moa shooters. That is factory ammo, five shots, consistent under an inch. My 527 varmint, right at 1/2 inch. No reloading, no endless searching for the best factory load. Open the box, mount the scope and start shooting. No break in. Traditional wood and blue steel. The 527 and big 550 magnums still come with an excellent set trigger. The 557 does not.
I have done ok with some Rugers, but; they seem to vary more from one to another. I suppose all makers have the occasional dud. My friend got a bad savage. He traded it in and tried another. Second time was a charm. There is accuracy reputation and then QC reputation. QC concerns eliminates Remington and Marlin in my view. Then buying in at the bottom (or below) the OP price range, you take a little more risk. I just got a ruger in 450 BM. Short money (under the OP's 500 min) & No complaints.
I would also like to toss out the TC Venture as a great option for accuracy and value. I would choose this over the Tikka. Today, that is my leaning. Not as well known. If you see one - check it out. Accuracy (MOA)guarantee FWIW. Adjustable trigger that actually adjusts. TC also makes a light youth model and comes with a stock insert. You can play the same game with the ruger american youth and buying a adult stock. The old CZ 550 and current CZ 557 tend to be on the heavy side for typical deer rifle rounds. Tikka lite, is a safe bet, for a woods gun - if you dont want to Venture where you have never gone before
I have done ok with some Rugers, but; they seem to vary more from one to another. I suppose all makers have the occasional dud. My friend got a bad savage. He traded it in and tried another. Second time was a charm. There is accuracy reputation and then QC reputation. QC concerns eliminates Remington and Marlin in my view. Then buying in at the bottom (or below) the OP price range, you take a little more risk. I just got a ruger in 450 BM. Short money (under the OP's 500 min) & No complaints.
I would also like to toss out the TC Venture as a great option for accuracy and value. I would choose this over the Tikka. Today, that is my leaning. Not as well known. If you see one - check it out. Accuracy (MOA)guarantee FWIW. Adjustable trigger that actually adjusts. TC also makes a light youth model and comes with a stock insert. You can play the same game with the ruger american youth and buying a adult stock. The old CZ 550 and current CZ 557 tend to be on the heavy side for typical deer rifle rounds. Tikka lite, is a safe bet, for a woods gun - if you dont want to Venture where you have never gone before
Last edited: