most cost effective predator gun?

price

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ive been cruising around GunBroker looking at potential varmint/predator guns..

17s, 223 and 204 are my most viewed guns.

What do you guys think of those choices? Im in college so id like to get a gun that is cheap to shoot but also does a [beeep] of a job. It will "mainly" be a groundhog gun because i do that a lot at golf courses. So it will be used the most in that sense. But i also predator hunt for coyote, fox a bobcat a fair amount...

so what do you guys think? What an accurate, flat shooting, pelt saving gun that is pretty cheap to shoot?
 
AR15 in 5.56, get with Scott @ SD and he will hook you up with an excellent rifle that will meet and exceed all your needs.
 
That won't work in PA, not an AR hunting friendly state. Look at a Stevens 200 in 223. Upgrade parts as you need to or can afford to. Change calibers later if you want and go 17Rem or 204 with just a barrel swap. I've got predator rifles already and am thinking seriously about doing one myself in 17Rem. and upgrade the trigger and stock to a Rifle Basix and a Boyds thumbhole laminate. I see the 200's new around $300-$350. Sometimes you can find them in the $200's used. Hard to wear out a 223 barrel on a bolt gun.
 
Quote:AR15 in 5.56, get with Scott @ SD and he will hook you up with an excellent rifle that will meet and exceed all your needs.


While I have no doubt the AR is a fine predator rifle, IMO, its not the most cost rifle unless you can build one for under $400.

Stevens rifles: LOTS of aftermarket parts, easy barrel change and very accurate.

Savage Axis (Edge): The rifle to get if you are looking for no aftermarket stocks or mods (other than a trigger upgrade). It just plain shoots and is a no frills gun for normal predator hunting conditions. It's also an extremely acurate rifle.
 
Stevens 200 in 223. I have one that I sometimes use for ground hog and it does a real good job. It may be a little hard on fox but with the right bullet it should be good for everything else.

A 204 would also be good but would cost more for ammo. 223's are cheaper and can be found everywhere. I really can't say about a 17 having never used one.
 
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Met a guy at the range earlier this week and he was shooting a savage axis in 223. He said he got it from cabelas on sale for 230 dollars,regularly 330. I have no idea what kind of groups he was getting i wish i asked. Savage makes an ok gun but they just dont make a 700 action.
 
My NEF Handyrifle was about $200 new. I had to tweek it, but its a shooter now. All you really need is one shot anyway- if you do it right.
 
17 Remington hands down, with a 30gr Kindler and a case full of Varget it'll make a 223 look bad. Also you won't hurt skins if you're hunting for them. Adam
 
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Savages have always performed well for me so I agree with the others on the Savage or Stevens and the .223 that they've suggested is a good choice for your purpose as well.
 


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