ISO New Rifle; What To Avoid?

kyotekiller25 said:
Not sure if the Weatherby Vanguard has been mentioned, but for a $500 rifle you can't beat it.
I had one in a 240 WBY and it did 3/4 MOA easy.
Looking to add another in a 6.5-300 WBY for a lighter packing rifle for deer and elk that can get thrown around and I don't have to care to much about it.

I would also vote for a Tikka.

Not a factory rifle guy myself these days, but if I was to buy one, those are the only two I would even consider under $1K. Still leaves a lot of room for a really nice $1K piece of glass, and a lot of powder and bullets...
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I don’t think anyone has mentioned the vanguards, but the howas have been mentioned.
 
I spilled the beans to my son so I could get a little more input from him before purchasing.

Now I gotta figure out how I’m gonna get through this process without buying myself a new rifle. I’m really enjoying some of this research into the precision side of things.

I’ve got a heavy barreled D-Tech build in .223 that sits in the back of the safe. Guess I should get it out and knock the dust off of it before making a new purchase for me.

We’re avid hunters but we’re in timber covered hill country which doesn’t typically equate to long shots. And we trap way more yotes than we shoot. My son likely could be heading westward after school though, and I know that’s part of his thinking when looking at longer range rifles.
 
Just remember that there are several cartridges that can do doubly duty both in the woods as well as on the prairie. Any of the 6mm and some of the 6.5mm cartridges are excellent choices for double duty. And the old, trusty, ancient 243 has claimed who-knows-how-many victims over the years.
 
The way things are today with ammo or component availability, I'd look at calibers I could get ammo or components for. Nice gun and no ammo sucks.
 
This is my Tikka T3X Hunter in Stainless 6.5x55 …I picked it up on sale and got a $75 rebate from Beretta…I did splurge on a Murphy Precision picatinny rail, High Desert Rifles bottom metal, Mt. Tactical bolt release, recoil lug & Limbsaver Pad. Atlasworx bolt shroud…Scope is a Leupold VX3HD Firedot 3.5-10x40 in Warne Maxima rings. sling studs and swivels were swapped to stainless and sling was custom made…still under your budget.
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arkman said:
Ive got a Ruger American in 6.5 and its pretty much become my go to gun for just about everything. For the price it would be hard to beat imo
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I have a Ruger American Predator in the 6.5 Creedmoor. It looks cheap, it feels cheap and the action is as smooth as sandpaper. It would be sold down the road but it makes tiny groups. Pretty amazing for a rifle I payed less than $400 for.
 
I got lucky I guess. Mine doesnt look expensive but it doesnt feel cheap either and the action is definitely smoother than sandpaper.
 
Softpoint is wanting aesthetics vs functionality. I’ll take ugly and can shoot lights out any day. Again, I’ll put money into optic more than the rifle itself.
 
A cheap rifle may shoot good today but will it still be still functioning 20 years from now? Cheap isn't made to last like a more expensive rifle will be. That's why they're cheap. If your spending good money buy something good with it.
 
Got a cheap shotgun when I was 12 years old, all my parents could afford. Shot a limit of dove with it this past season…I’m 56.
Cheap needs a numerical value I guess…I consider a $600 or under rifle cheap and while I haven’t reached 20yrs with it, it still shoots as good as the day I put a Leupold on it. In fact she was used this past season on some does from 25-275yds with one shot kills.

In response to the OP’s post, he probably needs to buy a precision rifle if his son is wanting it for competition or only long distance shooting. And he’ll need some nice expensive optics. With his budget, I’d go with a cheaper rifle and nicer optics.
 
Duhhh said:
I’m on the tikka and Seekins band wagon.

Tikkas more customizable for sure but there’s just something about my Seekins Havak PH2 that I can’t get enough of. Plus they’re out of Idaho and have great customer service, if that’s something you care about. Can’t go wrong with either of them.

I like Howas too but it’s Tikka and Seekins for me from here on out.
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Bought my first Seekins this year, awesome awesome rifle. Hard to beat for the money. Not to mention they’ll rebarrel it for $550. That’s pretty cheap.
 
Spurchaser said:
Got a cheap shotgun when I was 12 years old, all my parents could afford. Shot a limit of dove with it this past season…I’m 56.
Cheap needs a numerical value I guess…I consider a $600 or under rifle cheap and while I haven’t reached 20yrs with it, it still shoots as good as the day I put a Leupold on it. In fact she was used this past season on some does from 25-275yds with one shot kills.

In response to the OP’s post, he probably needs to buy a precision rifle if his son is wanting it for competition or only long distance shooting. And he’ll need some nice expensive optics. With his budget, I’d go with a cheaper rifle and nicer optics.
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I’m kinda a “best for the money” type of person. So I have a few “cheap” rifles. Today’s cheap rifles are a lot different than 15 years ago cheap rifles. Today, you don’t need to go custom nor drop thousands to get an accurate rife. In fact, most companies today offer a moa guarantee even on their budget lines.

I agree, none of my axis or American rifles are as “nice” nor smooth as my tikka, but they shoot just as accurately and are reliable.

IMO $2,000 is a very good budget to get a quality rifle and glass. Since we can shoot so late here in SC, most people here will buy an American to tikka priced rifle and put a $1,500 piece of glass on it.

If his son wants a “crossover” rifle, maybe an sig cross or Springfield waypoint would work.
 
I shot these groups yesterday with a Tikka T3X 223. Barrel is cut to 18”ish and threaded for a suppressor. Factory ammo. Tikka’s just seem to shoot consistently well.

During the second group when I saw the shot was off to the left I realized the wind had picked up a little. So I started holding right edge of the orange and that helped. Definitely minute of coyote for as far as I would shoot with this rifle.

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I wouldn't mess with a Ruger American. They have mag and feeding issues. I've sent 2 up the road and have been dealing with Ruger with a third in 22-250 with feeding issues.

I like Tikka. I also Like Sauer 100's. I would rather have a Winchester Model 70 than either though but they can be hard to find in the caliber you want right now..
Weatherby Vanguard or Howa is also decent. Browning X-Bolts are good.

I would stay away from any of the entry level models like Savage Axis, Rem 783s, Browning AB3 or Winchester XBR. They feel like cheap junk. I would put Ruger American with them.
Most rifles are very accurate anymore because of modern machines. You'll just need to find somewhere to go look them over and hold them. See which you like best.
 
I have 2 Ruger’s and deal with 0 feeding or mag issues. These rifles have been so good, I have another on the way.
I wonder if it’s the smaller calibers having issues? Both my .308’s run smooth and true. One is just the Ruger American and the other is the Predator. The regular American is about 6 years old and the predator is a little over a year old. I wouldn’t trade or sell either of them for anything else out there. A good rifle is like a good woman, you just don’t get rid of them!
 
Spurchaser said:
I have 2 Ruger’s and deal with 0 feeding or mag issues. These rifles have been so good, I have another on the way.
I wonder if it’s the smaller calibers having issues? Both my .308’s run smooth and true. One is just the Ruger American and the other is the Predator. The regular American is about 6 years old and the predator is a little over a year old. I wouldn’t trade or sell either of them for anything else out there. A good rifle is like a good woman, you just don’t get rid of them!
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The feeding issue is a pretty well known problem with the Americans, but most of it is due to mag issues.
However, Ruger isn’t the only company with this issue. IMO is bc all of the companies try to run a “universal” mag to cut costs.
 
Did some looking and you’re correct, supposedly they’ve “resolved” the issue with the Gen 2. Guess I was lucky with my two.
 


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