Which Budget Noob Bolt Gun?

[Goodburbon]

I have:
Weatherby Vanguard .308
Savage 10 .308
Ruger M77 mkII .30-06

My favorite of the 3 is the savage, but for half the price the Weatherby/Howa is just as accurate (both sub MOA) with almost as good a trigger. The only real downside to the Weatherby is the cheap plastic stock, but I like that too since I can carry and bash it around and not really care if it gets scratched. The downside of the newer savage 10 is the center feed magazine, which makes it a touch more difficult to reload quickly.

Oddly Both guns recoil lighter than my 12# AR-10, and are several pounds lighter.

I'd go .308. Less recoil than .30-06, more fun to shoot more, cheap ammo. Heavier bullets than the .270 to kill larger game.

[hammer03]

http://www.sportsmansoutdoorsupersto...-action-rifles

For just a tiny bit more than the above listed stuff, you get much nicer glass, and better quality than the Axis/Edge. Accutrigger is oh so nice.

Can't compare directly to the other ones listed, I've handled several but never shot them.

[ray1970]

I vote for Savage. Every one I have ever owned or shot was a tack driver. Even the cheap ones.

[Rucker61]

I'd go .308. Less recoil than .30-06, more fun to shoot more, cheap ammo. Heavier bullets than the .270 to kill larger game.

I have a Tikka T3 Lite, the very cheapest one, and with the cost of reman ammo, I've been able to fire over 500 rounds this summer getting ready for hunting season. .30-06 or anything similar would have cost twice as much, and I don't think I'd want to shoot a hundred rounds of .30-06 or .270 at a time, which I was able to do with the .308. I'm still looking for the Federal 165 gr High Energy Trophy Bonded Tip locally for elk, but will probably stick with the 150 gr Barnes Tipped TSX handloads, since I'm shooting for a cow, not a bull.

[sniper7]

I just bought a savage 11 trophy hunter XP in 300 win mag from budsgunshop. should get here on thursday hopefully. I'll let you know how that one goes.

also have a remington 700 ADL in .243 that has been outstanding!

for the budget though, the savage was a great deal. $450 shipped with the accutrigger, nikon BDC scope, blued barrel and syntheitc stock which I will paint right away.

[RJLou]

I was in your same position about 4 years ago. From what I gathered at the time, for a "budget" rifle savage is the most accurate out of the box, remington 700 being the most customizable/upgradeable.
I went with the 30-06 savage 111 package (110 w/ synthetic stock). I did upgrade the cheap scope that came with it to a burris.
I agree the 30-06 is the perfect starter round. Basically the largest caliber you'd want for deer and the smallest for elk. I've been extremely happy with it.

+1 for the savage 110/111 in 30-06

[DavieD55]

Another vote for Savage.

[DSull]

My Weatherby Vanguard shoots a lot better than I Can.

[fitz19d]

I don't even like Bolt guns so much but I kinda want them all already almost.

One thing I kinda debated is start with the ultra cheap .30-06 and if I enjoy this route I can go get the Savage 10 precision in .308. (Or save .308 for whenever I get around to building/buying that AR-10 and just lug that around.)

[Delfuego]

30-06 ain't cheap to shoot, factor the cost of ammo in to the equation.