$1500 budget rifle other than Savage/Rem

I

Infringed711

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Full Member
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Nov 24, 2012
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San Diego, PRK
#1
My next rifle is turning out to be harder to find than I would have imagined and I was wondering if the collective knowledge of SH had an answer for me.

What I'm looking for:

Under $1500
Bolt action rifle with a 22"-24" heavy barrel
Not a Remington or Savage
Take AI mags
Caliber: prefer 6.5cm, .260, or 7mm-08 but at this point is even take a .308 that fits the criteria

Originally I was going to pick up a T3 varmint but unfortunately I'm a few years too late for that. Rebarreling a lite puts it out of my budget with the KRG and the CTR only has a 20" barrel and takes mags priced like they are made out of gold. So now I am looking for another option.

Thanks
 
#3
Just a thought STEYR SSG 04 in the 308. You can get these at Buds Guns for $1765. I know its over the budget a bit but they are great out of the box. They come with Harris bipod and have a muzzle break. Mine shoot .5 MOA. Take a look a STEYR web site.
 
#7
you can get a Howa barreled action from Buds, it has a 24'' varmint barrel in .308 for $450. then drop it in an XLR chassis and you should have a decent shooter for under your budget.
 
#10
+1 on the Howa. I have a 24" Varmint in .308 with just some trigger work and a stock swap. Shoots 1/2" or better with my hand loads and I have never been disappointed with it. They are under rated actions and have features that make them more appealing to me than a 700. Case in point, flat bottom of receiver and an over pressure system far better than the pin hole on a 700 in the event of a case failure in chamber.
 
#11
Buy the CTR when it comes out
Sell the TRG mag for $150
Drop into a KRG X-Ray

You just met every criteria you wanted save 2" of barrel, which really isn't a big deal anyway since a 20" 260 can still get 140s to 2700fps.
 
#12
tikka t3 used if possible 4-500

xlr element 600 tikka inlet should be available soon

rest on a barrel of choice in caliber of choice. might be pinching the 1500 limit, but should be pretty close
 
#14
Used Winchester stealth, 600
Used FN SPR stock, 250
Drop in PT&G AI AE DBM, 150
Bedding and fitting, free (owner applied)

ptgdbm002.jpg


ptgdbm004.jpg


PT&G has another DBM out now that uses the AICS mag as does CDI, but it will require inletting both the stock and opening the bottom of the action up enough for the front of the mag to clear.
 
#15
Tikka T3 Sporter -$1500
X-Ray chassis from KRG - $550
Sell the factory stock for $500 and you are good to go. And you can shoot the factory stock while you wait to get a good price on it - its an awesome stock with great ergonomics, and only thing you'll miss is the 10 rd AICS mags.

As boilerUP pointed out, this works even better with the Tikka CTR when it comes out, as long as you can live with the 20" barrel.
 
#16
Have you considered a Sig SSG 3000, I know that it does not exactly match everything you are looking for but for the money, and the performance, it is hard not to at least consider.
 
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#18
I'm really digging the build that Niles Coyote put together, think it would be pretty hard to beat that quality of components put together at that cost....

I'm also curious if you have considered one of the new variations of the FN SPR? Mike over at tacord has a plethora of options available at a price point in your ballpark. Although the factory FN dbm and mags are exactly what you've spec'd, they function quite well. I was very pleased with the FN SPR I bought from Mike a few years ago, you can find him in the Hide commercial sales.
 
#21
Tikka T3 lite.
With the appropriate barrel.
Drop it in the stock of you choice, there are at least 10 options.
Buy a new trigger spring for 10-15$
And your good to go.

Not a heavy barrel but it will still shoot good, the barrels are exactly the same except for the contour.
Will just heat up a bit faster.

Well within your budget, and you can still add a good pic rail, recoil lug if going with a conventional stock.
Change the plastic shroud for one you like, buy a replacement oversized bolt handle and you will still be within budget.
Then rebarrel it at a later time if you feel the need.

Alternatively a SSG 3000 ready to go out of the box, will from my experience generally outshoot a Tikka by a small margin.
Have not tried the new stock for the US market though, so only have experience with the original SSG and owned a 200 STR for over 10 years.
Won't find a better weapon for the price.
THe bad side is there is no aftermarket support in the US not even to get new barrels.
Only fail your AI mag requirement, but the Sauer mags are good, just limited in caliber choice later on.
You can barely fit a 284 case in due to the width.
 
#22
Howa 1500 action, $600, XLR chassis $750, Harris Bipod $100, 10 round AICS mag, $70. Put this together for my wife and it keeps up with my customized rifles.

Sully
 

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#24
Cascade_Sherpa said:
I'm really digging the build that Niles Coyote put together, think it would be pretty hard to beat that quality of components put together at that cost....

I'm also curious if you have considered one of the new variations of the FN SPR? Mike over at tacord has a plethora of options available at a price point in your ballpark. Although the factory FN dbm and mags are exactly what you've spec'd, they function quite well. I was very pleased with the FN SPR I bought from Mike a few years ago, you can find him in the Hide commercial sales.
Click to expand...

I was looking at the FNs, might have to give him a call tomorrow and see about pricing
 
#26
Niles Coyote said:
Used Winchester stealth, 600
Used FN SPR stock, 250
Drop in PT&G AI AE DBM, 150
Bedding and fitting, free (owner applied)

ptgdbm002.jpg


ptgdbm004.jpg


PT&G has another DBM out now that uses the AICS mag as does CDI, but it will require inletting both the stock and opening the bottom of the action up enough for the front of the mag to clear.
Click to expand...

That's awesome, thanks for the idea, might be perfect
 
#27
Infringed711 said:
How's the howa action feel?
Click to expand...

Very nice, but as your considering FN actions I feel the FN is superior. The Howa is much better then the Savage IMHO (not a Savage hater) and the trigger is very nice as well. The set up NilesCoyote has is very nice as well but the problem is waiting for the right used parts to pop up. I did the same waiting for all the right used items at the right used prices to pop up and it took about 7 months to get it all together. I ended up saving a but and didn't mind the wait because I have a surplus of rifles but if lag time is an issue you make want to put 2-3 options together and see what works both your budget and time line.

Sully
 
#28
sulcop96 said:
Very nice, but as your considering FN actions I feel the FN is superior. The Howa is much better then the Savage IMHO (not a Savage hater) and the trigger is very nice as well. The set up NilesCoyote has is very nice as well but the problem is waiting for the right used parts to pop up. I did the same waiting for all the right used items at the right used prices to pop up and it took about 7 months to get it all together. I ended up saving a but and didn't mind the wait because I have a surplus of rifles but if lag time is an issue you make want to put 2-3 options together and see what works both your budget and time line.

Sully
Click to expand...

Yea I'm not in a huge hurry, would like to have completed by September for the release of the new Steiner's but other than that I have no real deadline. Might have to start checking the used listings. Thanks for the ideas everyone
 
#29
So I just priced some stuff...

A 24" Howa barreled action from Buds, a A2 Medalist, a PTG DBM (seems they are pretty close to drop-in to a Medalist, maybe only slight filing needed) and a Timney gets the OP to his wish list for $1000 or less, though it is "just" a 308.
 
#30
My howa .308
This is my .308 and it is truly a 1/4 to 1/3 minute shooter
The following is what I've done to it.
Howa heavy barrel 20" threaded with a bader fte brake
Tubbs lapping kit
equilibrium barrel cleaning regimine
rifle basix trigger...I love these triggers and have them in all my rifles.
this one is set to 14oz.
egw 20 minute rail
cdi bottom metal and 10rd mags
bell and carlson medalist stock. I've bedded it and shaved the wings off
barrel and stock have been duracoated
shmitd bender 5 x 25 pmII
tactical works stock pack
aadland scope caps
and the most important part of the equation 2,782 logged rounds


Lets see some more from the hill country
 

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#31
FN (Win pre-64 style) triggers are the ONLY trigger I've not see go down in bad conditions.
Tikka t#'s are awesome and there are nice chassis systems avail-Tikka would probably be my choice (of the choices)
 
#33
have to define pretty easy.

LA Tikka options are limited. I think CDI is the only maker of LA Tikka bottom metal available in the US. But, they will modify stock and action to get longer OAL for the larger rounds. so, easy if you don't mind sending off everything to CDI for fitment so you can have a repeater.
 
#34
bmt said:
Fascinating Thread.

So could a lefty get a Tikka T3 varmint Stainless in 300 Win Mag, add an GRS chasis, and a nightforce and shoot Extended long range pretty easily?
Click to expand...

If you got a secret stash of tikka varmints lying around let me know please lol

Aside from that I think I've narrowed down my choices to

1) FN SPR-out of the box ready to go (or building a clone over time)

2) Getting a T3 lite and upgrade it as time goes on, shoot it and decide if I need to rebarrel

3) Building up a Howa barreled action
 
#36
TexAz couldn't be more right if he tried. For me the over pressure system is the key. I'm a lefty who started shooting right handed bolts in the early sixties and I finally feel safe behind one. Until you become familiar with a particular system it is almost a act of faith to have your right eye directly looking at the gas escape ports on a bolt...although it helps tremendously with ensuring that a round has been successfully chambered as your looking at it.
 
#37
Daryl licht said:
TexAz couldn't be more right if he tried. For me the over pressure system is the key. I'm a lefty who started shooting right handed bolts in the early sixties and I finally feel safe behind one. Until you become familiar with a particular system it is almost a act of faith to have your right eye directly looking at the gas escape ports on a bolt...although it helps tremendously with ensuring that a round has been successfully chambered as your looking at it.
Click to expand...

Glad I'm not the only one who values that over pressure system!
 
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