Strabs. Just like the TV commercial says,"Maybe I'm a little partial." Well I'm more than a little, I'm a lot partial. I get the impression you want a controlled feed, "goofproof" rifle. So here are my choices in descending order. Mauser, Win. Mod. 70 Classic (current version) Ruger Mod. 77 MkII. Savage purports to have a form of controlled feed, but it is not of the Mauser claw type, therefore I am very skeptical. (Told you I was very Partial)
Assuming you plan on locating a complete rifle rather than building one up from components, My suggestions would run along these lines. Try to locate a Mark X Mauser. Nice rifles, unfortunately no longer imported. I had two, a .300 Win.ag. and a .375 H&H mag. Both were well made and very accurate. I consider the Win. 70 Classic and Ruger 77 MkII to be nearly equal. The Winchester's trigger is adjustable, the Ruger's is not. The Ruger is a bit less expensive, so the cost of replacing the trigger with a Timney won't be that big a deal.
I'm not sure Sears ever sold J.C. Higgins model 50s in .308, but if they did and you found a good one, I'd snap it up like a striking cobra. These were made on FN Mauser actions made in Belgium. Barrels and stocks were made by High Standard and H/S assembled the rifles for Sears. These rifles are real sleepers, and are very accurate, at least the three I have are.
Why do I like the Mauser action over the others? They're the original. The others are copies. Good copies, but copies nontheless. Paul Mauser designed his rifle for the most serious shooting of all. War. He wanted a rifle that raw recruits would not screw up or jam in the terrors of war. He wanted a rifle that was rugged.
You might find a good Mod. 98 mauser in .308. With a few simple changes to the stock, grinding down the raised portion of the clip guide, bending the bolt handle to clear the scope, and removing the double pull of the military trigger will make a fair sporting rifle. The cost will probably run about the same as buying the Ruger MkII, but that choice is for you to make. A full blown custom job? Well, I built a .280 Rem. on a 1909 Argentine Mauser for $2800. A Steyr 1912 Mauser was made into a very lightweight sporter for $1400. A J.C. Higgins in .270 was made into a pre-war style mauser sporter in 7x57 for $500. The Higgins cost me $250 to buy new, and the barrel was shot out. As you can see, I much prefer the Mauser for my sporting rifles.
Partial? Me? I'm not partial to Mausers, I'm prejudiced in favor of them.
Paul B.
) pre-64 type action bolt gun chambered in .308 Win.
Debee, was that the one at Gunbroker.com? If so I tried to get a hold of the guy with no reply. You lucky dog.