I have to reccomend the Savage 111. I bought one at a pawn shop for $200.00 out the door. If you NEED for it to be new, I still think they are under $300.00

My son shoots a New England Arms Handi rifle, in a .243 caliber with a Bushnell Banner scope....whole enchilada for about 300 bucks as well...it is a single shot....and it won't win any contests for beauty either....but I read an article that puts the Handi as a very reliable and good shooting rig. My son's is dialed in....he's killed deer in each of his 5 yrs of south Texas deer hunting...and he is 14. That to me , speaks for itself.

Mossberg has a budget offering now. The 100 ATR that lists at Academy for $287.63. I have heard no reviews yet nor have I handled one so I can't offer an opinion on them. They come in 270 Win and 30-06 Sprng.

I had the 710 in 30-06 ,shot good no complaints

If you had a 710 and didn't end up smashing it against a tree or using it as a tomato stake, then consider yourself in the lucky minority.

I have one in .270. I did an extensive review over on thehighroad.org, but to sum it up, I put a nice Leupold scope on it that I had sitting around with Warne rings (it comes with bases attached) and it shot factory ammo pretty well (<1.5" groups at 100 yards). It is reliable, light, and has functioned flawlessly. The bolt action is actually pretty slick with no binding, and the trigger is a crisp 3lbs, with no overtravel and a tiny, tiny bit of creep.

I got mine at Wally-World for $244. I would buy another, and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a beater rifle. It isn't a match rifle, but the deer I shot this year didn't know the difference.

The NEF is a great budget gun. If you can afford a little more, the Savage, and some of the lower end Winchesters, will shoot with the best of them!
I WILL second Frizz's comments! Stay away from the Rem. 710!!!! It's not worth its weight in scrap iron! "Budget" is NOT a "bargain," if its junk!

I love my savage 110 in '06 used from a pawn shop for $229.00. It cleaned up to almost new condition. The Mossberg atr100 (based on th old raptor) has gotten several good reviews in American rifleman, The complete rifleman and another mag whose name escapes me. John Sundra reiviewd it in the current issue of the complete rifleman. Function was great and the smallest group was under MOA.. If Sundra says it's a good cheap rifle, then it is.
The remington 710 is newly redesigned and no longer has the "plastic" action. It is more like a model 700 now. But it is a tad more money and heavier. But it is a much better gun.

BTW noboby is stating an obvious option here. Go to a gun show and pick up a marlin or winchester 30-30 lever gun with a scope on it. You should be able to get one for 200 bucks or so. You are good to 150 or 175 yards with this gun. Ammo is cheap, and is fine for deer sized game. The guns are light and dependable and cool.
okcmco

LMAO..... notice that gorse deleted both his messages to make it look like i was saying what i said to other people. lol