Thoughts on 308 bolt rifles

Namerifrats

Namerifrats

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Been looking for a little while now at 308 bolt rifles. Not sure if one really has that much more to offer over another as far as maker. Wanting it to play around with at the range as well as for deer later on. Any thoughts as far as pros, cons, ect. on a decent one? Looked at Weatherby Vanguard S2 , Savage Axis II, Ruger American, Ruger Predator, TC, Remington, etc. Any other brands worth considering? As far as action strength, accuracy, durability, trigger, design.....seems like apples to oranges in several reviews I've read and watched. Thinking on staying around the $400-$700 range for something like this based on my planned uses.
 
I know Howa makes Weatherby's Vanguard barrels. Would there be much difference in the rifles as a whole as far as comparing a Weatherby and a Howa with the same barrel? Not very familiar with Howa rifles other than that.
 
Namerifrats said:
I know Howa makes Weatherby's Vanguard barrels. Would there be much difference in the rifles as a whole as far as comparing a Weatherby and a Howa with the same barrel? Not very familiar with Howa rifles other than that.
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I think you'll hear talk of Howa's action being desireable. But, I could be wrong.

Admittedly, my experience with them is second hand. My Dad owns one in .308 and it is his go to hunting rifle. He abandoned it for one season and regretted it. He hasn't lost an animal since he started using it again.
 
Don’t think you can really go wrong with the ones that've been named here. Go somewhere that has a variety and hold them up and see what’s most comfortable for you. I’m a Savage fan through and through, so I’m biased.
 
I’ve had several older Savages that were great shooters. You can usually find them used at fantastic prices. Same goes for Howa”s. 308 is common and not too hard to find. I’ve not owned any of the new bargain bolt guns, but I’ve handled and shot several. I’ve not been impressed with many of them. For the price point, you can usually get a barely used safe queen of better quality. Just my $.02 worth.
 
There’s a Savage 10T 308 in the Rifle classifide BTW. Not mine, but the price seems good.
 
Namerifrats said:
Been looking for a little while now at 308 bolt rifles. Not sure if one really has that much more to offer over another as far as maker. Wanting it to play around with at the range as well as for deer later on. Any thoughts as far as pros, cons, ect. on a decent one? Looked at Weatherby Vanguard S2 , Savage Axis II, Ruger American, Ruger Predator, TC, Remington, etc. Any other brands worth considering? As far as action strength, accuracy, durability, trigger, design.....seems like apples to oranges in several reviews I've read and watched. Thinking on staying around the $400-$700 range for something like this based on my planned uses.
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I'm into Savage and a while back I picked up a Thompson Center Compass in .308.

The Compass has Drop Box Mag, 3 Lug 60 Degree Bolt, 5R Rifling, few other things.

I still like Savage, but I like TC Compass more as this rifle is Excellent and accurate.

Currently there is a 50 dollar rebate for Compass running through end of December.

The Compass w/out a scope package can be had for High 2's and with the rebate will put you into one for bout 250, OTD.

If you pick up a Compass in 308 and don't like it, I'll take it off your hands.

Safe Shooting

https://www.tcarms.com/firearms/bolt-action-rifles/t-c-compass-rifles/t-c-compass

https://tcarms.com/rebates
 
Love my Savage 10 5R. There are multiple models that are easy to find in your price range.
 
Another vote for a rem700 5r but you’re gonna have to bump that budget up a good bit even for a used one.
 
I started with a Rem700 VTR (the one with the funky triangular barrel) with the cheapy Hogue stock (that I still like the look of honestly):

vtr_2.jpg

Took my first pig with it. Got a (used) replacement stock, changed the optics, shot it until I wasn't happy with the performance, swapped the trigger out, sent it to GAP to have them work their magic on it, took some classes, changed the optics turrets, repainted the stock skins, got some muffler love from tsconver when I moved here, and now it looks like this with ~3000 rounds through it:

gap_can_1.jpg

Same bipod.... sometimes I'm cheap (and the AICS bipod that came with the stock sucks, not sure if it's just worn out or if they're all wobbly like that). It's kinda big and heavy to hunt with like this, but it is just a Rem700 under all that crap, I could swap it back into the Hogue stock and knock the can off and go right back into the field.

My point is, you can start with something stock and in budget, and then if you end up liking it you can just go nuts over time and turn it into anything. That seems easier, or was easier in 2008, with the Rem700 vs. most other stuff out there.

Just for fun, a picture of me learning to drive it back in the day before I discovered krylon:

me_on_line_with_jacob.jpg

Oh, and those that say you can't do 1000 yards well with a 308, or go over 800 yards with 168gr bullets, we were all shocked when I was hitting 1100 and yards with 168gr handloads at Bang Steel. Now 1200... yea, that wasn't working so well. But given the right combo of environmental factors you can have some fun with the lowly 308 out of a Rem700. Of course tsconver was putting us to shame at 1200 and 1400 with his 300win mag, but whatever man, whatever. :)

1100_yards_annotated.jpg
 
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Straight out of box I would buy a CZ and do nothing to it. Will not get anything better out of box.
 
2 words: Cheap Ammo.

PSA ran deals on XM80C last year for around 50 cents per round. This year, Walmart has had Winchester soft points for around $11 a box. Only thing cheaper that has brass cases and is centerfire is .223.
 
Remington used to be THE bolt, but over the years their quality has declined. They are still the action that the military uses for most precision bolt rifles FWIW. That said, Tikka, Howa, Savage are the hot brands today.
 
Jayne said:
Oh, and those that say you can't do 1000 yards well with a 308, or go over 800 yards with 168gr bullets, we were all shocked when I was hitting 1100 and yards with 168gr handloads at Bang Steel. Now 1200... yea, that wasn't working so well. But given the right combo of environmental factors you can have some fun with the lowly 308 out of a Rem700. Of course tsconver was putting us to shame at 1200 and 1400 with his 300win mag, but whatever man, whatever. :)

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are those live cows downrange??
 
I have the Remington 700 sps threaded barrel. I put a Magpul stock on it and a muzzle break. Vortex glass and Harris swivel bipod. I originally planned to put a different trigger on it, but I actually like the stock trigger. Have shot out to 1000 yards and had no problems. I load my own. I no longer have a place to shoot long distance. So now stuck at 100 yards. I do enjoy playing around with different loads, so I still have fun with it.

Get what you can afford and enjoy it.
 
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Mossberg MVP 7.62. This is the TALO edition; I like the stock/grip angle. It’s similar to their 5.56 Varmint version

This has an 18.5” 1:10 twist fluted medium contour barrel, takes 7.62 PMags and shoots very well. Mine loves 168gr
 
I picked up a Savage fcp-sr in 308 on sale last year. I haven't shot it yet, I already load for .243 and thought about switching it over.
 
ECNC said:
I have the Remington 700 sps threaded barrel. I put a Magpul stock on it and a muzzle break. Vortex glass and Harris swivel bipod. I originally planned to put a different trigger on it, but I actually like the stock trigger. Have shot out to 1000 yards and had no problems. I load my own. I no longer have a place to shoot long distance. So now stuck at 100 yards. I do enjoy playing around with different loads, so I still have fun with it.Get what you can afford and enjoy it.
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I'm buying Butter's Rem 700 SPS in .308 off the B/T/S thread and can't wait to get it and try it out.
 
Tikka's are great, and super accurate, and also happen to fall in your price range. The only thing I didn't like about mine was the plastic bolt cover, and that's being pretty picky.

Another rifle to check out would be the Sauer 100. Sig produced a similar rifle called the Sig Sauer SSG 3000 a few years back that is super accurate. The Sauer 100 is in your price range and would do everything you're requesting, but is outstanding on Quality. I would buy one if I had not already picked up a Steyr Scout.
 
Grim said:
Tikka's are great, and super accurate, and also happen to fall in your price range. The only thing I didn't like about mine was the plastic bolt cover, and that's being pretty picky.

Another rifle to check out would be the Sauer 100. Sig produced a similar rifle called the Sig Sauer SSG 3000 a few years back that is super accurate. The Sauer 100 is in your price range and would do everything you're requesting, but is outstanding on Quality. I would buy one if I had not already picked up a Steyr Scout.
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Have you ever handled one of the Sauer 100’s? I’m interested in how it would compare to my Steyr Pro Hunter.
 
teamglock2002 said:
I'm buying Butter's Rem 700 SPS in .308 off the B/T/S thread and can't wait to get it and try it out.
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I had a 20” version and a 16” version (the heavy barrel AAC-SD Model)

I put a Boyd’s stock on them and they were lights out.

6-24x50 Vortex HST on sale at Optics planet for like $569 right now.
 
The LE-only Remington stuff is still nice. Can be had easily on gunbroker.
 
I have a freind that has a pretty nice Savage set up (factory tan digital camo) really nice looking rifle. PM me if you might be interested. I can get you some pics. Low round count. I think she has a bipod and pretty nice glass on it.

She's in WS too.
 
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JakeH said:
Have you ever handled one of the Sauer 100’s? I’m interested in how it would compare to my Steyr Pro Hunter.
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No, just the SSG, but the rifles are designed very similar. Can't say I've seen them in stock anywhere.

IMG_20180128_153207890.jpg
 
OP, go with want fits you and you can afford. Don't forget to check out the used gun racks. My .308 Win hunting rifle is a H&R 340. This is a Zastava Mauser 98 action (Yugoslavian) that H&R imported and barreled. Goes along with my Yugo M48 BO military rifle. Taken my fair share of whitetails with it. A good gun that is accurate and low cost suggest looking at the Remington 783. History on the gun borrows the Savage M110 barrel nut design that Marlin produced as the X7 series. When big Green took over, closed that competing rifle line down and made this modified version, still a very good capable gun.

CD
 
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