Budget .308 bolt action recommendations

[Bux_N_Beards]

Just a suggestion, but increasing your budget $100 might get you into a Tikka T3X Lite. They typically run a rebate, although I think the recent one ended in October. Integrated mounting system built into the receiver and you’d be way ahead of many of the options listed, though the Howa would also be a good choice, just beefier stock and heavy in my experience, but they do shoot well.

 

[Southern Elk]

I would personally look for a used Browning x bolt, Tikka, or something similar. I picked up a used x bolt for $400 about 5 years ago.

 

[Rack Daniels]

FWIW I bought a mossburg patriot, used for $300 like 10 years ago. I’ve taken a lot of animals with it. Over the years it started really being “minute of pie plate”. Funny description, because that’s exactly how I described it, at 200 yards, to my buddy. I’d put a new scope on it and adjusted the two screws on the bottom of the stock and it’s shooting a 50 cent piece group at 200 yards now.

Not a 1000 yard shooter but for a BUDGET .308, I think it was worth the money all them years ago.

 

[TX Trophy Hunter]

FWIW I bought a mossburg patriot, used for $300 like 10 years ago. I’ve taken a lot of animals with it. Over the years it started really being “minute of pie plate”. Funny description, because that’s exactly how I described it, at 200 yards, to my buddy. I’d put a new scope on it and adjusted the two screws on the bottom of the stock and it’s shooting a 50 cent piece group at 200 yards now.

Not a 1000 yard shooter but for a BUDGET .308, I think it was worth the money all them years ago.

That’s the thing about this thread. For a backup gun on inside 100 yards deer hunting, anything that goes bang every time and hits a pie plate at 100 yards will work.

 

[seeth07]

I'll toss in another vote for the Weatherby Vanguard. Price is right there at $500 at times, especially if you find a used one

 

[Sheltowee]

50% more than your budget but I'd vote strongly for saving another $250 and buying an entry level Tikka.

 

[Forkyfinder]

Savage 10, ruger american, howa 1500 or superlite, or used tikka/bergera

Even if its 100 yard gun - its nice to have a gun with aftermarket support down the road.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

50% more than your budget but I'd vote strongly for saving another $250 and buying an entry level Tikka.

Quite a bit less than 50%. And thing is, you cant really find used ones cheaper which is a good indication of value IMO.


$630 -

https://www.eurooptic.com/jrtxe316-tikka-tikka-t3x-lite-308-win-syn-224--barrel-mpn-jr

$650 - with an adjustable stock for youth

https://www.eurooptic.com/jrtxe316c-tikka-tikka-t3x-lite-compact-308-win-syn-200--barr

$700 with a wood stock, handy short threaded barrel.

https://www.eurooptic.com/tikka-t3x-hunter-308-win-16-1-10-bbl-walnut-blued-rifle-w-1-3rd-mag-jrtxa316sb

 

[BenimusPrime]

UPDATE

Well, I had thought this was gonna be a shopping search into the new year, and I am thankful for the advice and opinions I got so quickly (I'll keep them in mind if it turns out I made a bad call lol), but Fleet Farm made my choice. Notification went off on my phone this morning that they put the Stevens 334 with the walnut stock on clearance. Got the last one at my location under $350 after loyalty discount. No transfer/FFL stuff to mess with either. Being able to put my hands on the model before purchase and getting the wood stock on a model I was already looking at under 400 is just a slam dunk for me.

I'll let the board know how it goes as I sight in and put it through the paces.

 

[Bowmannate2000]

UPDATE

Well, I had thought this was gonna be a shopping search into the new year, and I am thankful for the advice and opinions I got so quickly (I'll keep them in mind if it turns out I made a bad call lol), but Fleet Farm made my choice. Notification went off on my phone this morning that they put the Stevens 334 with the walnut stock on clearance. Got the last one at my location under $350 after loyalty discount. No transfer/FFL stuff to mess with either. Being able to put my hands on the model before purchase and getting the wood stock on a model I was already looking at under 400 is just a slam dunk for me.

I'll let the board know how it goes as I sight in and put it through the paces.

Hope it's a good shooter for you!

 

[SFC B]

Love me some Fleet Farm!! Hope it treats you well, let us know.

 

[Stcknstringer22]

cva cascade in 308. Very accurate and runs well. Around $600. Barrels are made by bergara.

 

[Bowmannate2000]

View attachment 394768cva cascade in 308. Very accurate and runs well. Around $600. Barrels are made by bergara.

My friend got one in 6.5 cm. Tack driver with Hornady whitetail ammo.

 

[MaddH]

For anyone else looking I know Scheels will run great deals on new and used rifles a lot. Reno store had some killer deals a few months back

 

[3006Sprng]

Ruger american gen 1

 

[publichunter1]

With three kids and a wife hunting these days, I finally had the perfect excuse to buy more rifles—a lineup of budget bolt-action rifles. I started with two Mossberg Bantam Patriots (.243 and .308). We loved the adjustable stocks, and to my surprise, both rifles turned out to be tack drivers even with factory ammo.

Fast-forward a couple of years, after we moved west and my wife decided to hunt some. We picked up a Murdoch’s-special CVA Cascade with the Bergara barrel. It’s a bit heavier, but man, that thing is stable and incredibly accurate.

Fast-forward again, and one of the kids became recoil- and sound-shy. So we grabbed a Ruger American Gen 2 with the factory muzzle brake. They appreciated the recoil reduction, but weren’t thrilled with the increased noise. That pushed us toward the suppressor route, which was easy since these rifles already had threaded barrels. I can say that all three of these setups have been extremely accurate and durable. We shoot out to 500 yards and beyond—well past the distances I allow the kids to shoot at game.

All of these options are budget-friendly. The Mossbergs were the cheapest, but the extra cost for the Rugers was worth it for the threaded barrels. I still love Tikkas as well, but they aren’t quite as cost-friendly these days.