"Budget" rifles...

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

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