I'm looking to get a new bolt action(either223/243/270/308) I haven't decided yet. I'm thinking between savage axis -mossberg patriot- Remington 783 or Marlin xs7 . Does anyone have any experience with them or suggestions on caliber with them I know a few of those don't come in those 4 calibers but I'm open to any please let me know what y'all think
I'm looking for for plinking and casual shooting I am a weekly range goer but not to much bolt action basically have mostly AR's / aks and semi rifles/ lever actions not a expect on bolt actions though
How about the Ruger American, they've been getting good reviews.
If I was getting a range bolt rifle i'd spend the extra cash and get a CZ 527 Carbine, 7.62X39.
Can pick up a 440rd spam can of surplus 7.62x39 Combloc and there is your cheap Blamo-Ammo.
I have the Savage Axis heavy barrel in .308. The trigger was awful so I replaced it right away with the Timney trigger which was a huge improvement. I don't have very many rounds through it, in fact I'm still doing the barrel break-in procedure. I have been using Lake City NATO surplus rounds with 147gr FMJ heads and even though they say the barrel is tuned to 168gr bullets it shoots like a laser beam! I can only imagine what this rifle will be like when I start reloading for it and find it's favorite load. I'm also saving up to replace the low budget plastic stock, I believe a Nutmeg Boyd's Prairie Hunter will be part of it's near future. I'm hoping that adding a little weight to it will tame the recoil some. - Bill
I'm looking for for plinking and casual shooting I am a weekly range goer but not to much bolt action basically have mostly AR's / aks and semi rifles/ lever actions not a expect on bolt actions though
i clean forgot about the Ruger American. that rifle is getting some great reviews. and it's attractively priced as well. people seem to like that it's pretty danged accurate for it's price.
do your reload? if not, to get the best accuracy, you are probably going to have to use some premium ammo. the best choices in caliber, IMO would be the 223, or the 308 as they will have the most ammo choices available off the shelf, as well as cheaper of the four calibers you listed as choices.
i agree. the 308 of all the caliber choices, would probably be the most versatile because of availability, price per round, and overall performance. because of it's popularity, you can find it just about anywhere as well.
You might consider the Mossberg MVP rifles. They are chambered in 5.56x45 and use AR magazines. They also have a 308 that uses the AR 10 and M1A/M14 magazines. I have 5.56 with a medium 20 " barrel and laminate stock. It is sub moa with hand loads. I mostly use 10 round mags. http://www.mossberg.com/category/series/mvp-series/
You might consider the Mossberg MVP rifles. They are chambered in 5.56x45 and use AR magazines. They also have a 308 that uses the AR 10 and M1A/M14 magazines. I have 5.56 with a medium 20 " barrel and laminate stock. It is sub moa with hand loads. I mostly use 10 round mags. http://www.mossberg.com/category/series/mvp-series/
Of those you mentioned I would choose the Mossberg Patriot Rifle! Being in that price range.
As far as the caliber once again as mentioned it would depend on what you want to do with it. For example if you are just going to target shoot and plink with it the 223 might be a good way to go. But if you ever plan on going deer hunting or similar size game I would suggest the 308. What I would recommend before you decide you go and personally check all of them out. Especially the Smoothness of the Bolt Travel, Trigger Pull and others. I know the Mossberg has feed ramps for good reliability a smooth bolt travel and a good trigger.
Good Luck!
03
I recently purchased one of the Savage Axis II's and love it. You have the adjustable Accu-Trigger, nice soft butt pad, it doesn't break the bank, and they have a combo option that comes with a Bushnell optic. The optic isn't the best in the world, but it serves it's purpose.
Last year, I bought a Savage Axis II XP in .223. As Bryson indicated, the Axis II comes with the AccuTrigger. My XP came with the Bushnell 3-9X40 scope. Not the best by any means, but sufficient for my plinking. I got it with a $50 rebate from Savage (usually toward the end of the year) and it wound up being $315 delivered to my FFL.
Comments: Savage now offers them with a hardwood stock. Should you choose to go with a Savage, get the hardwood one. They're just a bit more expensive but well worth it. The polymer stock mine came with seems a bit flimsy up front. Theoretically, it is free-floated, but if you place the rifle on a rest or bi-pod, the front of the stock touches the barrel sometimes.
Savage mags (four rounds) are expensive.
It only shoots .223 REM - not 5.56 NATO.
Had I to do it all over again and knowing what I know now, I would have probably gone with Mossberg MVP in .223/5.56 for reasons previously stated (accepts AR mags). Since you already have an AR, you instantly have compatibility with both mags and ammo.
RJF
Regarding your comment on Flimsy! I do not know if Savage has changed that stock design. But I had a friend of mine fill his Savage Stock with Bondo! Yes car bondo! It improved the stock significantly. He was able to fill the hollow portions which also not only added rigidity, but added some weight to the ultra lite stock. Only a thought!
Last year, I bought a Savage Axis II XP in .223. As Bryson indicated, the Axis II comes with the AccuTrigger. My XP came with the Bushnell 3-9X40 scope. Not the best by any means, but sufficient for my plinking. I got it with a $50 rebate from Savage (usually toward the end of the year) and it wound up being $315 delivered to my FFL.
Comments: Savage now offers them with a hardwood stock. Should you choose to go with a Savage, get the hardwood one. They're just a bit more expensive but well worth it. The polymer stock mine came with seems a bit flimsy up front. Theoretically, it is free-floated, but if you place the rifle on a rest or bi-pod, the front of the stock touches the barrel sometimes.
Savage mags (four rounds) are expensive.
It only shoots .223 REM - not 5.56 NATO.
Had I to do it all over again and knowing what I know now, I would have probably gone with Mossberg MVP in .223/5.56 for reasons previously stated (accepts AR mags). Since you already have an AR, you instantly have compatibility with both mags and ammo.
RJF
Regarding your comment on Flimsy! I do not know if Savage has changed that stock design. But I had a friend of mine fill his Savage Stock with Bondo! Yes car bondo! It improved the stock significantly. He was able to fill the hollow portions which also not only added rigidity, but added some weight to the ultra lite stock. Only a thought!
Mr. Sniper, this a very common problem with many factory synthetic stocks. they can fixed in the manner you suggest. i have used epoxy and steel rods to reinforce several of mine in the past.
synthetic covers a variety of materials other than wood stocks. most of the factory ones are injection molded plastic. simply because it's cheap and it works decently for it's application. now some of the higher end hunting rifles use such materials as Kevlar, or fiberglass or other exotic materials, that are much stiffer and even heavier than injection molded plastic. but they also much more expensive to make due to the materials and time spent to make them.
The Marlin XS7 has been out of production for a while but I guess maybe someone like CDNN may have new/old stock for sale. Never owned one but have read they were fantastic rifles. That would be my first choice out of OP's options. Second choice for me would be the Patriot. If range and plinking were 100% of the menu I'd go .223. Throw in hunting and I'd go .308.
Oh, if you shoot it, and like it, BE a copycat. Nobody will fault you for it.
Not only is imitation the sincerest form of flattery, life is to short to
let politics or appearances get in the way of getting a decent gun you like.
The Marlin XS7 has been out of production for a while but I guess maybe someone like CDNN may have new/old stock for sale. Never owned one but have read they were fantastic rifles. That would be my first choice out of OP's options. Second choice for me would be the Patriot. If range and plinking were 100% of the menu I'd go .223. Throw in hunting and I'd go .308.
if i had to guess, it would be the Model 783 that were more concerned with over the X7 series, not the Model 700.
the Model 783 is more at the closer price point to where the X7 series of rifles were. even the least expensive Model 700 is at least twice the price of the X7 models.
if i had to guess, it would be the Model 783 that were more concerned with over the X7 series, not the Model 700.
the Model 783 is more at the closer price point to where the X7 series of rifles were. even the least expensive Model 700 is at least twice the price of the X7 models.
As good as the X7s are/were, since they're no longer offered, the Ruger American is the ONLY clear choice in MY opinion! Being RSO & instructor at the local range for years helps me gain knowledge & experience with a LOT of different firearms/platforms/models I'd otherwise not be exposed to.
because possibly Remington already had plans on bringing out the Model 783. the development of the 783 was probably a few years in the making. and when they decided to discontinue the X7 series, they already had plans on 783 taking it's place and the X7 series not being a competitive option to the 783.
and from a business standpoint it makes perfect business sense. drop the X7 series, roll out the 783 and the market is looking for a lesser expensive bolt action, and they eliminated it's competition. Marlin is not really widely known for bolt actions, but are for lever actions.
it's a shame since the X7 series was very nice rifle for the price. but business is business.
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