Rifle Suggestions For Under $1000

D

dkyser

New member
Looking to replace my rifle and looking for some advice from you guys.
This will be used for Target, varmits and possibly deer in that order.
This will be my main target rifle so do want low recoil.

Has to be a left hand model, so this rules out a lot of guns.

Was going to get a LH Browning X Bolt in 7mm-08 but there are none available anywhere till mid May of 2015.

What rifle would you get (Left Hand) and what caliber?
 
Target and varmints as the main uses means you will be better off getting a rifle with a heavy barrel. Inherently more accurate, and doesn't heat up nearly as fast.

.223 is a good dual purpose target/varmint cartridge. While not ideal, with modern bullets a .223 is adequate out to 200 yards or so if you ever do decide to go deer hunting. Also the negligible recoil of the .223 is nice when shooting targets. I recommend a Savage model 12 FLV. It comes in well under your budget, which would give you money left over to upgrade the stock and/or spend more on optics. The model 12 has a great reputation for accuracy, and good aftermarket support. The 12 FLV in .223 has a 1:9 twist which would allow you to shoot bullets up to about 75 grains, that covers a lot of good target bullets such as the 69 gr Sierra Matchking, and should also shoot the lighter varmint bullets well.

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I second the Savage. Won't find better rifle for the money with some of the best "out of the box" accuracy in the industry.
Also research Howa. I believe they manufacture for Weatherby now. Foreign made but darn good rifles at a reasonable price.
 
Wasn't that a Savage 116 that exploded? I sure wouldnt change brands, but as far as light recoil deer and varmint, go with .243,25-06.
 
For that kind of money I would be looking for the best used model 70 Winchester I could afford. But then again, if you must have a new rifle, the MSRP for a new model 70 Classic or Featherweight is $939.00. You could probably get one for less. I would go with a 270 and call it a hunting rifle. But for the stated purpose, the 243 Winchester would do just fine.
 
Remington is made in America. The Model 700 is the best production rifle. They make Left hand. Go with a 308 and you will never regret it. Look at the Remington web sight they have what you want.
 
A .243 is probably your best choice for varmints and deer. Several companies make left-hand bolt action rifles in .243.
 
My 2 cents: .243 win is your chambering if shooting under 500 yards. On targets, if trying to reach out really far like 600, 700, 800 or more, then .260 rem or 6.5x55 is your chambering.

Rifles...the Tikka T3 recommended above is good. CZ 550 comes in 6.5x55. Many many rifles come in .243 win...maybe a Winchester 70; those are excellent these days.

Willing to buy used, or new only?
 
Don't listen to the haters...7mm-08 is a fantastic chambering...
The 162 Amax at 2800 fps is as capable as most anything else short of a magnum at 1000 yards.

Although my application is purely target, it's reputation as a game-taker is rock solid as well.

My suggestion- Savage is a great choice. Since your application includes varmint and target, might consider a heavy barrel if the hunting side doesn't require a lightweight.

Not sure of Savage's current offerings in this chambering- but if they're not what you're looking for...

Hit up the pawn shops for a used Savage with the medium boltface, any flavor.
Strip it down to the bare action- sell the barrel, stock (if you want something different), and optic (if it came with one and you don't want it) on Ebay...
Order a new CBI or Shilen barrel, along with the precision recoil lug, barrel nut, and barrel wrench- and get a .308 "go" gauge to install the barrel.

There ya go. A custom built, tackdriver for about $600 plus the cost of the stock which can run mild to wild...
 
Wasn't that a Savage 116 that exploded? I sure wouldnt change brands, but as far as light recoil deer and varmint, go with .243,25-06.
Click to expand...

My only problem with savage is my hand hits the scope when using the bolt.
 
If you do go Savage, you might want to consider an offering chambered in 6.5-284 Norma. They offer several in that chambering - or at least did recently for some time.
 
Dkyser, Im not sure any other rifle wouldn't change your hand hitting the scope, maybe an oversized bolt could cure that...
 
Use higher scope rings to get more clearance between the scope and bolt.

Or have an extension put on the bolt handle.
 
So to further recommend something, I have to ask you - did you settle yet on a turnbolt for sure? (I recommend you do). Is the $1,000 budget new only, or are you willing to go used? Did you settle on a chambering yet, because that can help narrow it down?

Here - read my post #22 (and the others) in this recent thread, as far as your usual suspects of mid- to high-end turnbolt makers:

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=553706
 
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would you be interested in a left handed ruger M77? 7mm-08 like you were looking for is available, also 30-06, 270, and 243 are also available and all good for target and deer.
 
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