i had a military lee enfield carbine in .303 brit, 18" barrel, kicked like a mule. the .303 caliber is no longer a mainstream cartridge like .308win or .03-06. i've had a number of .30-06 and .308win rifles and yer cartridge choice should be dependent on yer needs and whether or not you'll handload. personally, i prefer the .308win for a .30 caliber rifle for both long range and hunting, and i handload for all my firearms. lotsa great choices out there. for long range, a marlin xs7vh with 26" heavy tube and adjustable trigger; and for hunting, a ruger american predator with 18" slightly hefty barrel and adjustable trigger ... or just go with the marlin and chop the barrel. both are in the under $400 dollar price tag range, and both are excellent choices, imho. good luck.
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Need advice in choosing a 308/30-06 rifle.
- Thread starter AnimalMother
- Start date
I own both the savage 110 and weatherby vanguard (howa 1500), both are great shooters and consistantly sub moa. The main thing to consider is do you want to change parts out later as the vanguard/howa have a somewhat limited selection while the savage 10/110 are easily modifiable, I bought my 110 as a 270 pencil bbl and installed a 26" stainless 300 win mag tube with a custom break, magnum bolt face, an aluminum bedded stock, trigger turned down to 14 oz all for under $600 INCLUDING THE RIFLE! The 110 goes with me to the nra whittington center and walks all over the 1000 yard range (with the help of a leupold vx3).
If you can get it for the recently seen lower prices ($399ish), there is nothing in the budget category that can come close to the Venture.
I've owned two and they were (and are) great rifles. I still have one in .308 that I'll be keeping forever. Polished blue finish, 5R rifling, great balance, and stiff synthetic stock. Out of the box it was under an inch at 100 yards with Core-Lokt ammo. You don't see as much about them because they cost a little more than an Axis or RAR, but they are great for the money.
I've been sending Boyd's an email every now and then about making a wood stock for it, but have heard nothing back. With a Walnut stock it would look and perform like an $800 rifle.
I've owned two and they were (and are) great rifles. I still have one in .308 that I'll be keeping forever. Polished blue finish, 5R rifling, great balance, and stiff synthetic stock. Out of the box it was under an inch at 100 yards with Core-Lokt ammo. You don't see as much about them because they cost a little more than an Axis or RAR, but they are great for the money.
I've been sending Boyd's an email every now and then about making a wood stock for it, but have heard nothing back. With a Walnut stock it would look and perform like an $800 rifle.
No mention of Marlins X7 series. Nice smooth functioning rifle right out of the box. Good or better cosmetics than the Savage no doubt.
What I would recommend as well. Under $350, .308 or .30-06. Very nice rifle that I would place above the Savage in quality. I have several guys who have bought them and are very happy with them. I really like the TC Venture as well, but it is more coin.
I think either are every bit as good in the performance side as the 1500, Vanguard, Savage, but they are more nicely built than the Savage and less money than a 1500 or Vanguard.
I can tell you this from experience doing it:
Getting an elk tag and getting a shot at an elk is not easy.
Getting a deer tag and getting a shot at a deer is easy.
If the 30-06 is adequate for elk, then the .223 is overkill for any deer.
That flies in the face of conventional wisdom.
How did we get unwise conventional wisdom?
We can only carry a 10 pound rifle, scope, sling, bipod, and ammo.
So we carry rifles that will bang flop any deer and rifles that take a couple non vital shots on an elk.
And then we justify what we are doing.
Getting an elk tag and getting a shot at an elk is not easy.
Getting a deer tag and getting a shot at a deer is easy.
If the 30-06 is adequate for elk, then the .223 is overkill for any deer.
That flies in the face of conventional wisdom.
How did we get unwise conventional wisdom?
We can only carry a 10 pound rifle, scope, sling, bipod, and ammo.
So we carry rifles that will bang flop any deer and rifles that take a couple non vital shots on an elk.
And then we justify what we are doing.