Top 5 hunting rifles at/under $1K

[hzy1369]

Ruger Scout in 308. Great caliber nice little gun they make a full rail if you want to scope mount it or a red dot and use the supplied sights

Ruger® Scout Rifle Bolt-Action Rifle Models

ruger.com

 

[Bill28]

Hi All.
My budget for a setup is $2K for rifle and optic. I expect to spend at least half of that on glass. So now I'm trying to figure out the best rifle I can fit into. I have looked at X-bolt and Kimber Mountain. I don't need to shoot 3moa at 1000 yards or anything and don't expect to. Just looking for something accurate enough to to get a good kill shot on an elk at 500 yards maximum. Appreciate everyone's input!
Thanks!!

Ruger American Predator in the go camo. Have 2 great hunting guns, the Optics I put on them where almost double the cost of the guns.

 

[38 south]

I talked to a Browning tech guy and these are his answers about changing a Browning A-Bolt Barrel



The tech that I spoke with could not tell me if the actions were investment cast. He said he would find out and call me back.

He verified the threads had been changed from 20 tpi to 32 tpi.

He said no glue was use to lock the threads. ( another bit of misinfo I heard)

He said with the appropriate wrenches and technique the barrel would screw right off the action. He said he had done thousands of them.

I did ask him about using never seize on the barrel when manufactured and he laughed and told me it was never needed so why use it. He does use a special "made for Browning barrel wrench and they are available to the general public.

I've had two X-bolt SS stalkers rebarelled to go to higher twist rates, factory thread locker was white on these but probably equivalent to red loctite strength-wise. Both guns just have the original factory bedding, change of trigger spring, polished sears, and shoot 1/2 moa or better consistently. If you hunt in wet conditions or encounter high humidity in your gun-safe be sure to clean all metal surfaces, particularly the bolt head, and treat with oil or other corrosion inhibitor, stainless steel, regardless of manufacturer is still prone to corrosion. The X-bolt receiver is machined from stainless steel with a bead blasted exterior finish, it is not an investment casting. The application of never seize to a barrel/action joint is inappropriate, it would encourage it to fall off, not stay where you want it. A very competent gunsmith/barrel-maker told me that the only problem he had encountered when removing X-bolt barrels was one where the front scope mount base screws were bottomed on the barrel tenon thread, effectively mechanically locking it, something to watch for. I have Talley mounts on both of my X-bolts and had to trim the supplied forward mount screws on both.

 

[Mach1Morgan]

In my opinion it's pretty hard to beat a Tikka T3 Lite. They're not expensive (under $800 bucks) they're light and they're quite accurate. Available in 7mm Rem mag which will fill your elk requirements. Leaves you a couple hundred extra bucks for a brake or some fine tuning.

 

[glasser]

I with the tikka vote. I own a t3 hunter in 7mm and it shoots under 1/4moa!
This is with the 168 Berger VLD with h1000View attachment 219367

Just curious if you have an extended magazine or just seating them out as far as you can so they feed. I haven't tried the heavier bullets In my Tikka , but it shoots pretty amazing for the money. I did put it in a B & C stock, Changed the recoil lug, action screws, trigger spring. I shot a 3 shot group 1/2 " at 200 yards a couple of days ago.

 

[dciron]

I talked to a Browning tech guy and these are his answers about changing a Browning A-Bolt Barrel



The tech that I spoke with could not tell me if the actions were investment cast. He said he would find out and call me back.

He verified the threads had been changed from 20 tpi to 32 tpi.

He said no glue was use to lock the threads. ( another bit of misinfo I heard)

He said with the appropriate wrenches and technique the barrel would screw right off the action. He said he had done thousands of them.

I did ask him about using never seize on the barrel when manufactured and he laughed and told me it was never needed so why use it. He does use a special "made for Browning barrel wrench and they are available to the general public.

Murph - Can you point me in the direction of a smith who does ABolt work? I can't seem to find anyone who will touch them. I love the rifle, love the 60 degree bolt lift, but I want to install a new barrel and perhaps a stock change. Thanks

 

[dciron]

Has anyone mentioned the Sauer 100? It's less than $1,000, or right at it, and I really liked the fit and finish.

 

[Swiftkill]

The new Springfield Wayward rifles appear impossible to beat. 6.5 creedmoor ammo is cheap . 6.5 PRC is a mans cartridge, at least.. they have 308...boring but functional.

 

[dciron]

The new Springfield Wayward rifles appear impossible to beat. 6.5 creedmoor ammo is cheap . 6.5 PRC is a mans cartridge, at least.. they have 308...boring but functional.

I did see those the other day and liked them also, but I think they are way north of $1,000. I'd 2nd the 6.5 PRC as well.

 

[Swiftkill]

Murph - Can you point me in the direction of a smith who does ABolt work? I can't seem to find anyone who will touch them. I love the rifle, love the 60 degree bolt lift, but I want to install a new barrel and perhaps a stock change. Thanks

PTG does bolt work. Youll have to ask if theyll do it on your supplied bolt. They charge $37 to spiral flute a bolt. Plus 20 for bluing

 

[dciron]

PTG does bolt work. Youll have to ask if theyll do it on your supplied bolt. They charge $37 to spiral flute a bolt. Plus 20 for bluing

Thank you.

 

[dciron]

PTG does bolt work. Youll have to ask if theyll do it on your supplied bolt. They charge $37 to spiral flute a bolt. Plus 20 for bluing

Do they have a website? I tried to look it up but didn't see one. Golden, MO???

 

[Swiftkill]

Do they have a website? I tried to look it up but didn't see one. Golden, MO???

Precision Tool and Gage

 

[tomsd]

Tikka

Would be high on my list to check out.