"Budget" rifles...

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Tenntrapper

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Over the years I've had rifles from just about every major manufacturer. Savage, Remington, Marlin, Ruger, Winchester, CZ, Christensen, Browning, etc.
Hard to believe, but some of the most accurate have been the "budget" rifles. Like Axis 1&2 for example. I sold my Christensen because a 300.00 axis I had would out shoot it. Now...we aren't talking target rifles...just your average, off the rack, deer rifles. And this is where I am now..

I picked up a rifle (308) from a guy. He bought it new, but had only shot it a few times. I got a good deal on it. I researched quite a bit about it before buying. It got good reviews for a "budget" rifle. I need another budget rifle to play with... 😂
I had a scope to put on it (didn't really want to spend much on it...it is a budget rifle after all).
The scope was too much (6.5-20). It was good for testing ammo, but not for my style of hunting (eastern woods). I haven't shot it much, but enough to find out that it is a shooter for sure.
So...I ordered a "budget" scope for it. I say budget, but I like Burris glass. It isn't a thousand dollar scope. Again...don't need that for how/where I hunt...and funds are limited now anyway.

I likely won't get to shoot it again for a couple months now...but the glass is on it and it's ready to go for when I can.

Anyway...this is my new "budget" rifle...

It's a Mauser M18 308, DNZ game reaper mount, and Burris fullfield e1 3-9x50. I've got about half in it that I have in my Tikka. And to be honest...I doubt this will be the last one I own...it's a good one for sure. It's basically a Sauer 100...only minor differences...built in same factory.

If you are looking for a budget rifle...check them out.
 
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I've got an old 80's something Savage Model 110 270win that will impress anyone. Clean, filthy, or any ammo it's touching holes at 200 yards. Just flat out impressive!
Back then Savage rifles were looked at about like Tasco scopes.
Got it from my dad so wouldn't sell it regardless how it shot but the fact it shoots so well, makes me really smile when I go to grab it.

Hope you kill a true Warhorse with yours! You certainly deserve it.

Matt
 
I see you've liked some items I have for sale. If anything truly interest you please let me know and I'll do a Tenntrapper special for you.
Not because you can't, but anything I can do to give you that kick and get you thinking hunting full time will only help you.

Just let me know & Smile God Loves You!
 
Fire_Medic890 said:
I see you've liked some items I have for sale. If anything truly interest you please let me know and I'll do a Tenntrapper special for you.
Not because you can't, but anything I can do to give you that kick and get you thinking hunting full time will only help you.

Just let me know & Smile God Loves You!
Click to expand...
Will do..thank you. Let me get through these surgeries Tuesday and I'll take another look.
Very generous thought/offer. Very much appreciated.
 
Fire_Medic890 said:
I've got an old 80's something Savage Model 110 270win that will impress anyone. Clean, filthy, or any ammo it's touching holes at 200 yards. Just flat out impressive!
Back then Savage rifles were looked at about like Tasco scopes.
Got it from my dad so wouldn't sell it regardless how it shot but the fact it shoots so well, makes me really smile when I go to grab it.

Hope you kill a true Warhorse with yours! You certainly deserve it.

Matt
Click to expand...

I have the same and love it!
 
I've had two budget rifles that even to this day are the most accurate that I've ever owned. One was a Remington model 788 in .308, and my cousin still has it after I gave it to him when he killed his first deer with it.

The other is a Savage 110E in 30/06 with a B&C stock. I was testing some neck sized loads for it about 20 years ago at Owl Hollow, and an older gentleman was shooting his new Forbes NULA right beside me. Dang fine rifle and really nice guy.

As we walked together to check targets he just shook his head as he realized the 279 dollar rifle bought in 1985 just outshot his custom.

That Savage is on loan to a college kid in Texas and he's wearing out the hogs with it.
 
EuroOptics had a sale on the M18's a few years ago and my nephew got a 6.5 creedmore at a good price. My favorite budget rifle was the Marlin XS and XL. I had an XL in 270 that was extremely accurate.
 
accuracy has never really been my issue with "budget" rifles. Most of them shoot accurate enough for hunting purposes if not more accurate then I am. My issue has always been the action, POS stock, and trigger. Some of the ones Ive own just "felt" like crap in the hand or shooting. Trigger is a mess, or stock is just garbage, or action is sloppy etc. Obviously not ALL of them fit that bill so I just tend to try and find ones that are slightly higher on the budget list but eliminate some of those flaws.....Bergara IMO has some that fix all of those issues FOR ME.

I say all that but still understand whats budget to some is not budget to others.
 
When the M18s first came out, they could be had for $400. They were a steal at that time.

I think it was around 2021, Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing was offering Mauser M12s for $500. They were 20" fluted .308 models. I picked one up and it has to be one of my most accurate hunting rifles besides the Tikka/Sakos.

The only thing I have against the Mauser M12s and M18s are the super long LOP on the stocks. If they were 13.5" LOP, they'd be about perfect.
 
vonb said:
When the M18s first came out, they could be had for $400. They were a steal at that time.

I think it was around 2021, Connecticut Shotgun Manufacturing was offering Mauser M12s for $500. They were 20" fluted .308 models. I picked one up and it has to be one of my most accurate hunting rifles besides the Tikka/Sakos.

The only thing I have against the Mauser M12s and M18s are the super long LOP on the stocks. If they were 13.5" LOP, they'd be about perfect.
Click to expand...


A friend of mine bought one and couldn't get a scope to work the LOP was so long, I believe it's 14.5". He's around 5'8" and fairly lean.
 
Mossberg 1500's are Howa 1500's built on the same line when they were built in Japan and can still be found for around $200. I have one in 7rem mag and it's all one could ask for IMO

They also rebranded them as a Smith and Wesson 1500

All of which was the same gun as weatherby vanguard
 
I've been watching GunBroker for a target quality rimfire. A lot of them are the offerings from the 40's to the 60's that were "budget" guns then. But they aren't now. Our country is really falling behind in quality firearms production. Hopefully that can change in a more gun friendly environment.

I've not seen any comments about Tariffs raising the prices of imported firearms and ammo. I wonder if that's going to happen on the 2nd​? I suspect the tariffs on steel and aluminum could possibly impact the price of American made firearms somewhat.
 
Fire_Medic890 said:
I've got an old 80's something Savage Model 110 270win that will impress anyone. Clean, filthy, or any ammo it's touching holes at 200 yards. Just flat out impressive!
Back then Savage rifles were looked at about like Tasco scopes.
Got it from my dad so wouldn't sell it regardless how it shot but the fact it shoots so well, makes me really smile when I go to grab it.

Hope you kill a true Warhorse with yours! You certainly deserve it.

Matt
Click to expand...
My wife's savage 243 is the same way. Makes it easy for me to load for it.
 

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