Budget .308 bolt action recommendations

[buckbull]

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

Jim harmer (backfire guy) recommended these for a while for budget rifles.

OP made his choice but I would have recommended to save more and buy a tikka.

 

[EKYHunter]

I see you bought the Steven’s but for anyone else Palmetto State Armory has been running the Savage trail hunters for $449
308,270,243,6.5cm
And savage has a $100 rebate so it makes them 349
Threaded barrel and a hogue stock

Just looked and I could only find the 6.5 CM. Smokin’ deal for sure.

 

[sigpros]

Just looked and I could only find the 6.5 CM. Smokin’ deal for sure.

They keep switching the caliber on sale up. I get the emails. Really took a lot not to pull the trigger on a 243. I happen to have a Magpul stock sitting here for a savage

 

[Darkside]

As mentioned
Howa/ Vanguard.

 

[Wilderland]

I recently picked up a Vanguard. It shoots factory Hornady Whitetail into .75”. I’m very happy with it.

 

[Justabirdwatcher]

Hard to find a better shooter than a .308 Savage Axis for the money. Ugly? I guess. But I've seen too many of them stack cloverleafs to doubt what they are capable of.

 

[Bonasababy]

Another vote for looking at used guns...from the 90s or earlier...in good condition.

You can sometimes find something on the auction sites. Small gun stores as well.

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/1145694994

Older savage bolts have a great rep and might be cheaper on average.

 

[2rocky]

Do people not buy used rifles anymore?

I think once I decided on a caliber, I prowled gunshops and pawnshops looking at what was available, and came across my rifle that spoke to me. Now granted it was a gunsmith who was a family friend and I was a 14 year old kid. I guess I was just lucky that I found a rifle that has worked for me for 36 years.

I do see a couple of the posts above mention websites that sell used guns. I think that handling a rifle and feeling the balance, action feel and grip once it has been shot and cleaned a few times is so much more "pure" in a way. Makes me think about other things that get better as they break in, like saddles blue jeans, and cast iron pans.

 

[Kauaihunter]

I browse Gunbroker a lot. Bought a used Savage Trail Hunter Light .30-06 off Gunbroker early this year for $355. It was to be the loaner rifle, just in case. It ended up going to Colorado as my hunting partners daughter and son in law drew deer and elk tags. He didn’t have a rifle so we sent it to him. He shot a whitetail and a cow elk.

 

[Bonasababy]

I have bought many used rifles and shotguns and scopes. Have not bought anything new other than a muzzleloader in many years.

Not much new interests me, especially in rifles. The older stuff was better in quality and function in many cases.