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.

 

[buffybr]

Having a Weatherby rifle for more than 40 years, I finally bought a .300 Wby Vanguard in 2009. I liked it so much that a few years later I bought two more Vanguards, one in .223 and the other in .308 Win.

The last two are my weekly practice rifles, for shooting the 200, 300, and 400 yard steel gongs at our local range. Depending on the wind, I have developed handloads for each of my Vanguards that will shoot 3-shot moa at each of those ranges.

As for buying used rifles, both of my 7mm RM rifles I found in pawn shops, and again I have developed moa handloads for them, and I have used each of them on multiple international hunts.

 

[BenimusPrime]

FYI, started a review and opening thoughts thread on the new rifle here:

.308 Stevens 334 ongoing thoughts and review.

Just figured I would post my thoughts and experiences with my new back up rifle. I grabbed a cheap sling and 4x scope on Amazon with some Christmas gift cards for a full build under $400. Out of the box, the weight seems nice and it feels good to have a good old wood checkered grip. The trigger...

www.hunttalk.com

 

[hillbillyfab]

Just wanted to give my opinion on the “does anyone look at used guns anymore?” I most certainly do. Although I can’t tell you the last time I found anything priced realistically in a gun or pawn store. Those days seem to be a thing of the past in area. The good pawn stores have all but closed up. What’s left are pricing their stuff at or right at new pricing. I’m always checking out gun an pawn stores if I’m in a new area for work or travel.

 

[EKYHunter]

Just wanted to give my opinion on the “does anyone look at used guns anymore?” I most certainly do. Although I can’t tell you the last time I found anything priced realistically in a gun or pawn store. Those days seem to be a thing of the past in area. The good pawn stores have all but closed up. What’s left are pricing their stuff at or right at new pricing. I’m always checking out gun a pawn stores if I’m in a new area for work or travel.

I hesitated a missed out on a sweet deal at a local pawn shop. 2003 Remington 700 BDL stainless 7MM mag in like new condition, $600. One of my dumber moments.

 

[Mallardsx2]

Sometimes you can find some really good deals on bolt action Browning X-bolts. I would go that route.

 

[accone]

Tikka t3x superlite would be great depending on how sensitive you are to recoil. I find myself grabbing the tikka more than my weatherby due to the action and how light weight it is.