Thoughts on top options for "value" centrefire?

Hi

There seems to be a price-point break at around $1,000 for so-called value rifles

I'm interested in what people think are the top three options to take a look at, and why

I've had a Marlin XS7 before and it was good, with a reasonable trigger and I didn't care about the internal magazine or the plastic stock.

So the others that come to mind are the Ruger American, Thompson/Centre Venture, blued Rem 700s, Savage 11 and cheapy Axis, Howa 1500, Zastava

Basically I'm trying to narrow down the field for a .308 deer rifle from eight-ish to three and then consider 'fit' etc.

Thanks for your thoughts

Buy secondhand, you will get a better quality rifle for the same price.

Of the ones you listed the Howa 1500 would be my pick. Run screaming from a Ruger american of Savage axis.

I agree with stug buy a second tikka t3 there's a few on trademe. As long as they have been cared for you will be fine I've never come across a tikka that won't shoot well.


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Second hand tikka t3.

What will the rifle be used for mostly?

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+1 for Second hand tikka, but only if it's been looked after. Howa if you insist of new and shiny

Tikka's come with good rings and will double in value according to trademe.
Howa's are just as good but come with crappy mounts and rings if you get it as a combo

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Savage (Mod 11/14/16 etc, not the Axis). I've used a T3 back to back with one of my Savages (Mod 14) and the one single thing the Tikka did better was being a bit lighter to carry. Everything else I can think of - tigger, action, safety, accuracy etc the Savage was better.

Love my Howa, shoots like a dream.

A new tikka would be cheaper that a second hand one ;)

1 for zastava, very well built "proper" mauser action, excellent ajustable trigger good safety, floorplate magazine. I have 2 a 223 and 308 both synthetic stocked and both benefited from bedding but i believe the wooden stocks are better.

My understanding is that the zastava mini mauser doesn't actually have controlled feed?
But anyway, I still think that they are neat little good value rifles.
Howas to me are just big heavy blobs.
And Ive never met a Savage that didn't shoot unless there was something wrong with the bedding. Their floating bolt head and nice trigger builds in inherent accuracy.

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Originally Posted by Tahr

My understanding is that the zastava mini mauser doesn't actually have controlled feed?
But anyway, I still think that they are neat little good value rifles.
Howas to me are just big heavy blobs.
And Ive never met a Savage that didn't shoot unless there was something wrong with the bedding. Their floating bolt head and nice trigger builds in inherent accuracy.

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Yep no controlled feed but somewhere i read a comparison of winchester ( i think) model 70s with and without, seems it made no difference to reliable feeding even upside down. Agree savage are bloody good, even the axis thougt the trophy hunter has a better trigger and stock/bedding setup.

To answer the OP's question:

Howa 1500 / Weatherby Vanguard - accurate and well made out of the box, only ever seen 1 dud from the first batch. Can have warped actions / scope bases out of alignment so lap your rings.

Rem 700 Blued - Good accurate rifles, very easy to customize, plenty of aftermarket kit out there.

Zastava - Mini-Mauser actions are great on the 223 / 7.62x39, accurate and all models have a set trigger (M85 included), machining is rough but will last ages and get the job done. Can suffer the same issue as the Howa so lap your scope rings. Treat em' rough and they come back for more.

+1 for a second hand Tikka, they come up occasionally for $750-1000. I think Reloaders had blued T3 for $1099 new.

Good luck with your purchase.

wot stug said - be patient & buy 2nd hand.
I've bought plenty of very accurate 2nd boom sticks with not a lot of rounds thru them for less that $1000. Recently picked up w Weatherby MKV ultralight 7mm08 with brand new Truflite barrel for $800. Still doing load dev but shows good promise with 0.5 moa groups. Have had several Weatherby's (308, 2506 & 300WSM) - all have been sub moa. Have had good luck with REM700's apart from one "near new" Sendero 7mmRM - it was "inch of barn door". Sent to Grant at Truflite , trued action & fitted a UM barrel. Its now very accurate. Be careful with 2nd hand Tikka's in the original "plastic" stock. If action screws are over tightened you can crush the stock & accuracy goes to crap.

I brought a savage model 11 lightweight hunter 5.5lb stated weight but actually 5.2lb bare so lighter than a tikka , wood stocked and they are cheaper than tikkas in a store.

I got a second hand Ruger M77 a few weeks ago but the Tikka T3's are reduced now with the t3x out $1399 including cheap scope at hunting and fishing

I've had a go with Savage, Howa, Tikka, Zastava and a couple of others and they all shot pretty good. The main one I went with was Savage as it fitted me better and I liked the safety and trigger. The best bet is to try them and pick the one you like the feel of the best.

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Originally Posted by gadgetman

I've had a go with Savage, Howa, Tikka, Zastava and a couple of others and they all shot pretty good. The main one I went with was Savage as it fitted me better and I liked the safety and trigger. The best bet is to try them and pick the one you like the feel of the best.

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That's it in a nutshell the one that fits you / you feel more confident with!!

Whats the go with the mossberg atr's? I see hardly anyone ever mentions them, I had one in 270 way back in the day but didnt really have it long enough to form an opinion. They seem like a pretty solid platform for a budget rifle? Im actually tempted to buy one in 308 and bush pig it, wouldnt get much use but would round out my rifle collection.

Second hand Tikka, there are always millions of them on Trademe so you should be able to haggle down the price a bit.
Just don't go for one that's got every single mod imaginable done unless you think you really need it.

Thanks for everyone's replies - appreciate your thoughts

Being a owner of 2 weatherbys that were purchased for less than 1k I can honestly say You WONT go wrong with the old HOWA, and +1 for buying a mans gun(NOT 7-08) hehehe

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

Whats the go with the mossberg atr's? I see hardly anyone ever mentions them, I had one in 270 way back in the day but didnt really have it long enough to form an opinion. They seem like a pretty solid platform for a budget rifle? Im actually tempted to buy one in 308 and bush pig it, wouldnt get much use but would round out my rifle collection.

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I had a mossberg 308 for a little while, sold it on when i got too good a deal on a new REM 700. It shot pretty good, just shot a few goats with it but for the budget price its underrated. The atr mossberg came about when Charter ARms sold the design and rifle on to Mossberg after the leading hand gun maker stopped producing its only rifle for the year 2000. Only pity was Mossberg cut even more corners and made it ever cheaper even thou it was produced as a budget rifle by Charter arms. The Charter arms one had a custom barrel(ERShaw), good S/S, better trigger and was just nicer all round.
I still have my Charter arms 243, its been great and certainly better than the re make by mossberg but for 599 the mossberg wasnt to bad. In saying all that i rather have a howa for the little extra or a good secondhand tikka etc than the mossberg unless price was a big factor then the mossberg be the best of the real cheap options, better than a axis or rem 770

I bought my first rifle a few months ago. Being a uni student I didn't have a lot to spend, & being a left-hander limited my options a bit more. Tried out my mates Howa & that was nice enough. Ended up buying a brand new Savage Model 16 in .270, popped a Bushnell Elite 3-9x40 & a Gunworks Spartan can on it. Shoots like a dream- was sub-MOA the first time I used it, & with the can & the recoil pad that the 16 comes with the recoil is extremely tame.

Have heard a lot of mixed reviews on the Savage Axis, but the Model 16 is fantastic.

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Originally Posted by Pixie Z

I bought my first rifle a few months ago. Being a uni student I didn't have a lot to spend, & being a left-hander limited my options a bit more. Tried out my mates Howa & that was nice enough. Ended up buying a brand new Savage Model 16 in .270, popped a Bushnell Elite 3-9x40 & a Gunworks Spartan can on it. Shoots like a dream- was sub-MOA the first time I used it, & with the can & the recoil pad that the 16 comes with the recoil is extremely tame.

Have heard a lot of mixed reviews on the Savage Axis, but the Model 16 is fantastic.

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116?

Short action = 10, 14, 16 etc

Long action = 110, 114, 116 etc

16 and 116 being stainless, agree that the savages are bloody good shooters, used a 116 for quite a few years and it was a bloody laser with damn near anything I fed it.

Do howa do a stainless left handed? Ideally 308? Am semi in the market for a new boom stick and have reloading dies and brass for 308

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Originally Posted by 223nut

Do howa do a stainless left handed? Ideally 308? Am semi in the market for a new boom stick and have reloading dies and brass for 308

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No, unfortunately not, we made some enquirers for my dad who wanted one but they don't make any left hand rifles. I was sure they used to but can't find any.

Found one on guncities site 308 savage model 16 stainless left handed $1300 though, not much less than a tikka

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 223nut

Found one on guncities site 308 savage model 16 stainless left handed $1300 though, not much less than a tikka

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Less than a Tikka for a better rifle IMO, but you should be able to find one cheaper at another gun shop.

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Originally Posted by GravelBen

Less than a Tikka for a better rifle IMO, but you should be able to find one cheaper at another gun shop.

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Problem is finding one... Gun city seem to have the best range but definitely not the best prices, usually

Yeah fair point, lefties don't seem to come up as often especially if you're after a specific cal.

I picked up a second hand Savage for @TimeRider for $600 with the bolt on the wrong side. She gets around 15mm at 100m.

http://i844.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps070edd1b.jpg

@gadgetry up sure up didn't think pick that up for me?!

Anyone looking for a lefty there are two tikka t3 in H&F whangarei on special.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 223nut

@gadgetry up sure up didn't think pick that up for me?!

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Keep an eye on trademe as they come up frequently. Put in a search for what you want and save the search. Then just wait for the email.

Yeah the Savage 16/116 in lefty come up pretty regularly on trademe. Have seen at least half a dozen in various calibres show up on there in the past 3-4 months. I bought mine brand new, as happened to get an extra sweet deal.