you would probably like the savage axis, and they do make it in a stainless 308 for only 350 bucks with a cheap scope on it. Everything else in that price range that I tried had a pretty crappy feeling bolt, and I was about to buy something in the 700 range when i tried the axis and liked it. Mine is a 223, not stainless, but I have been very happy with it. the scope was good for a while, then quit holding zero and I got a better one.

If you havent looked at the savage axis yet, it is a great enty level gun. Good luckin your search.

 

Of those four, the only one I have not fondled is the Marlin. I would have to agree with the Protector, the Axis is a good shooter and the cash you save might get you a reliable piece of glass.

 

you'll be pleased with the savage, ruger,or the 700. the savage accutrigger not the best trigger on the market but i'm fine with it for hunting purposes. the ruger i have is a stainless mk2 and the first thing it needed was a trigger job but its my go to hunting weapon.

don't have much experience with marlin but others here swear by them.the savage fs series would be my top pick for a out of the box hunting gun based on feature for feature.

 

My dad has a savage and it is a pretty decent gun, he seems to really like it and it shoots well.

That being said he would prefer a winchester model 70, I think mostly because he has always had luck with them and likes them a bit more.

I have had a couple of Remington 700's in .308 now and I will stick with them.

I also know a guy that has a Ruger M77 and that is a pretty good shooting gun.

The only one I don't really have any personal experience with is the marlin, so I can't comment on that.

But as for the rest of them I would say check them out at a gun store and pick whichever one feels right to you. You can't really go wrong.

 

Mossberg ATR100 or 4x4 much better than the savage axis the mossberg has an adjustable trigger system and shoots very well on 150gr BTSP hornady ammo the savage axis does not have an adjustable trigger and is very heavy have fired one and they are not that great especially on the litigation proof trigger that can cause shots to be pulled due to the heaviness of the trigger, I personally have the mossberg ATR in 308win with the redfield scope and I love it.

You could get the mossberg and kit it out with a redfield revolution 3-9x40 rifle scope which is made in the Leupold factory and carries the same warranty as the Leupold,

Marlin XS7 are very nice rifles I used to have one in the long action (XL7) and I loved it and was a shame I had to sell it to pay off a debt, the marlin I had was one of the pre Remington takeover ones, but now that remington make em I would be very wary incase remington decrease the quality of them as an attempt to turn the name to mud.

Not a great fan of remington rifles so will keep my mouth shut on my thoughts about them.

 

Mossberg ATR100 or 4x4 much better than the savage axis the mossberg has an adjustable trigger system and shoots very well on 150gr BTSP hornady ammo the savage axis does not have an adjustable trigger and is very heavy have fired one and they are not that great especially on the litigation proof trigger that can cause shots to be pulled due to the heaviness of the trigger, I personally have the mossberg ATR in 308win with the redfield scope and I love it.

You could get the mossberg and kit it out with a redfield revolution 3-9x40 rifle scope which is made in the Leupold factory and carries the same warranty as the Leupold,

Marlin XS7 are very nice rifles I used to have one in the long action (XL7) and I loved it and was a shame I had to sell it to pay off a debt, the marlin I had was one of the pre Remington takeover ones, but now that remington make em I would be very wary incase remington decrease the quality of them as an attempt to turn the name to mud.

Not a great fan of remington rifles so will keep my mouth shut on my thoughts about them.

I agree. In fact, I took my trigger out and cut a coil or maybe it was 2 off of the spring, which brought it down to a very nice pull weight...not a hair trigger, just right. I've been curious about the atr100, I'm gonna have to go take a look at one now that you pushed my curiosity over the edge.

 

Savage 16 FHSS. Outstanding rifle.

 

One rifle you didn't mention on your list is Tikka. They make a very fine rifle and have the stainless T3 for under the price you are limiting yourself to. My friend has one in .30-06 and it shoots very well.

Out of the ones listed I would personally buy the Remington or Ruger

 

i have a Marlin xs 7 in .243 and it is a very nice shooter. the action is very smooth. i also have a rem 700 sps in 308 nice gun but heavy for a hunting gun
rob

 

One rifle you didn't mention on your list is Tikka. They make a very fine rifle and have the stainless T3 for under the price you are limiting yourself to. My friend has one in .30-06 and it shoots very well.

As long as you buy a darned good recoil pad for em they are so light that the recoil intensifies a lot more plus they feel flimsy plus they have been having some issues too like firing pin not setting off ammo plus the new hornady ammo in the superformace line is too hot for the T3

 

Thanks for the info gamehunter. I wasn't aware of any problems they were having.

 

Weatherby has an option that might work

Weatherby has come out with their new Vanguard 2.
It has a lot going for it including a great accuracy guarantee.

Please check it out.

Best wishes.

 

I have Remington 700 Stainless in .223, .308, and .30-06. I love them.

 

Weatherby has come out with their new Vanguard 2.
It has a lot going for it including a great accuracy guarantee.

Please check it out.

Best wishes.

Agreed.

Vanguard Series 2 Stainless | Weatherby.com

 

Very simple..... but it's not on your list.

Tikka T3 Lite in Stainess Steel.

all the weapons you listed are excellent firearms, but you ask for the best. it would be money well spent, and it's under your price limit.

 

as long as you buy a darned good recoil pad for em they are so light that the recoil intensifies a lot more plus they feel flimsy plus they have been having some issues too like firing pin not setting off ammo plus the new hornady ammo in the superformace line is too hot for the t3

not one word of truth anywhere in there.......This is the biggest line of B/S I've ever read on this site.

I sell guns for a living and own, or owned, most of what he has on his list, including the one I recommended (Tikka) which I still have and will never part with due to it's level of accuracy and dependability. the people that make the Tikka, Sako firearms, make one of the finest bolt action rifles on the planet (Sako firearms).

 

not one word of truth anywhere in there.......This is the biggest line of B/S I've ever read on this site.

I sell guns for a living and own, or owned, most of what he has on his list, including the one I recommended (Tikka) which I still have and will never part with due to it's level of accuracy and dependability. the people that make the Tikka, Sako firearms, make one of the finest bolt action rifles on the planet (Sako firearms).

Dude I have worked in a firearms shop here in NZ and I have seen tikkas come in with firing pin strike issues and I have seen tikkas come in for bolt unjammings to be done by a gunsmith after using the new hornady superformance ammo so don't tell me I am all B/S because some of those rifles I saw come in I sent to a gunsmith personally myself.

Also a friend of mine had one we went out hunting and he went to load up a round to shoot a deer and the firearm went off just as he finished closing the bolt

So I have every right to give my opinion without attacks from people like yourself

Also if you do a google on tikka t3 you will also find that not so long ago there was a recall after some of the t3 s/s rifles had barrels blown apart while being fired another good reason to be wary of the tikka and I will never trust any high powered rifle with lightweight alloy recievers etc.

 

I'd go to the gun store and fondle each one...yes, I said fondle. These are the next closest thing to women. Once you decide with one fits your body best go with it.

HOWEVER, I'd stay away from the Axis. If you like Savage, get one of the other 'NUMBER" models. And if you're planning on building it up, go with the Savage or Remington. Lots of aftermarket stuff for them.

 

Don't be afraid of the tikka. If they can handle the pressure of a 300 win mag it can handle the little 308. It is by far the smoothest action for under 700$. I just ordered a 300 win mag Lite Stainless. Tax n all it was 593 from Whittaker guns in Owensboro KY. They will sell over the phone and ship no problem.

My second choice would be the Ruger I have a 270 n love it. Then Savage, make sure to get the accutrigger. Of the 3-400$ guns I'd go for the Marlin or Mossberg.

 

Dude I have worked in a firearms shop here in NZ and I have seen tikkas come in with firing pin strike issues and I have seen tikkas come in for bolt unjammings to be done by a gunsmith after using the new hornady superformance ammo so don't tell me I am all B/S because some of those rifles I saw come in I sent to a gunsmith personally myself.

Also a friend of mine had one we went out hunting and he went to load up a round to shoot a deer and the firearm went off just as he finished closing the bolt

So I have every right to give my opinion without attacks from people like yourself

Also if you do a google on tikka t3 you will also find that not so long ago there was a recall after some of the t3 s/s rifles had barrels blown apart while being fired another good reason to be wary of the tikka and I will never trust any high powered rifle with lightweight alloy recievers etc.

I tried a Google search and found absolutely nothing to back up your claims. found no issues or even a complaint.

In 40 years in dealing with firearms from gunsmithing, competitive shooting, to working behind a gun counter selling firearms I have never heard of a single complaint concerning Tikka / Sako rifles. only praise.
until your post anyway.....

I see you seem to think the recievers are some lightweight alloy? they are not. they're either Stainless or Carbon steel depending on which version you choose. just another line of B/S.

Please enlighten me as to the problems with Hornady Superformance ammo while your at it.

your on a roll, this should be interesting....

PS.... Tell your friend to keep his finger out of the trigger guard when closing a bolt. my advice to you.... hunt behind him.....

 

After a trip to Scheels, (doing some fondling XD) I looked at some of the rifles I listed (and some more I did not) Dropped the Marlin, Savage, And Remington from my list; they are no doubt beautiful rifles, that in the hands of someone in a different circumstance would be a superb choice. I did however add the Tikka to my list, not only because of the reviews on this site, but because of my personal preference to the feel of the rifle. it felt very light, sturdy, and well put together. It is now between the Tikka and the Ruger Thanks G&G

 

I see you seem to think the recievers are some lightweight alloy? they are not. they're either Stainless or Carbon steel depending on which version you choose. just another line of B/S.

Please enlighten me as to the problems with Hornady Superformance ammo while your at it.

your on a roll, this should be interesting....

PS.... Tell your friend to keep his finger out of the trigger guard when closing a bolt. my advice to you.... hunt behind him.....

OK DZ you want to argue about it, every thing I have said about the issues has been from what I have personally seen myself when customers had come in with problems with their tikkas while I was working in a store it seems that what does not go over your counter that there is no problem. So you want to bag those who bring it up and start some sort of school yard crap fight. I just hope this post puts and end to your foul attitude about what I had said if not then that is your issue really I can not be bothered arguing with you over it, so go suck a few more lemons you sour old goat. All I did was voice my own opinion based on research when I was looking for my first centerfire some years back and it happened to be during the tikka/sako recall (hmm it is a wonder you never heard about that with you being so informed about things) and as stated earlier from when I used to work for a firearms retailer when some came in with the issues I had mentioned which were fixed by a gunsmith bar the superformance ammo issue that is an issue to do with a brand not agreeing with a hot loaded round of factory ammo.

Hornady superfomance in tikka T3: blown primers and jammed bolts, saw it with my own eyes while working at a gunshop over here

As for my friend you were not there I was one hand was on the stock the other on the bolt no finger near the trigger.

Are you ready to apologise yet?, You ready to eat your hat would you like ketchup with it?, You want to try and shoot me down some more?. Read the links below and then you can go hide back under your lemon tree.

Stainless Tikka .243 exploded at the range today - lots of luck - TheFiringLine Forums

Sako Blow-up - THR

The Gun Zone -- Rifle kB!s

Tikka T3 and Sako recall! Catastrophic failures! - Hunt Chat

http://noslerreloading.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=209&start=0&view=print

http://www.snipercentral.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=726

http://thehunterslife.com/forums//archive/index.php?t-1847.html

Maybe I should just leave again so you can have it your way.

 

I have the savage weather warrior and I love it. Also have a marlin xl7. Both very good for the price. For me I would stay away from the remington. Just don't want to pay for the name only when I don't see the quality as any better than the others. With the money saved you can get a decent scope.

 

Well I seer you have narrowed your options. I have a Ruger M77 Mk II in 270. When I baught it I wasn't real thrilled. Bolt was stiff and the trigger was horrible. After a little use and oil the bolt smoothed out. I got a trigger job done. Then free floated the barrel. Now it shoots under an inch at 100 with my handloads.

Like I said I got a tikka on the way.

 

I have owned and hunted with the Savage Weather Warrior and think is the best bang for the buck. If this is for a 'younger' hunter I would recommend you consider a 7-08 over the 308.