Accutrigger or better scope?
 

Hi, just signed up to ask all of your opinions.

I currently only have a Marlin .22, Rem 870 and a couple of 9mm handguns. I'm a Brit transplanted to Colorado and started hunting small game last season. Thinking of picking up a 30-06 for this season.

Budget is limited as I hope to be debt free within 6 months so this year I have about $500 and don't plan on igging a debt hole with this purchase. Next year I should have a bit more to play with.

I'm looking at a Savage 110 or one of it variants (111, Stevens 200 etc). I've heard mostly good things about the accutrigger but it does increase the price of the rifle by about $150. That's money I could put into a better scope. Which is going to provide better accuracy?

So I could get a 111 package with the scope for around $550. I guess the scope would be pretty low quality but would it get me through my first season, until I can upgrade it next year? Or I could get the non accutrigger for $350 and spend the $200 on a better scope. I even seen a NIB Stevens Model 200 XP 30-06 for $336 + $15 shipping (+$25 FFL) with included scope, which would allow me to still get a better scope this year and a few dollars for the old one on Craigs List or to keep as a spare.

Any opinions welcome, thanks.

I would go for the Accutrigger-pass on the scope package.My MK-II BV .22 Lr has it and it is a great trigger.The scopes are basic cheapo Simmons jobs.You can do MUCH better.Check out Natchez shooting supply for the scope.They always have some excellent deals on scopes.Good luck!

I can't do $500+ on the rifle and $200+ on the scope this year, not before this season in CO.

I've been reading about after market triggers like Rifle Basix and Timney. So I could get a non Accutrigger now with a decent scope, then next year if I feel the need replace the trigger for $100. Is that the smartest upgrade path?

Snatch a 200 and a decent scope. They don't have bad triggers and shoot straight too. Best bang for the buck. JMO.

Some people, including me, don't like the accutrugger - but some people love it. Try it for yourself before paying extra for it. If your goal is elk hunting you absolutely need a reliable scope. High altitude and long trails sometimes make cheaply built scopes fail.

i picked up a centerpoint scope on e-bay for under 125.00 and its a 4x16x50 mil dot scope with lighted retical..both red and green and when turned off its black. ive had it on my wifes 30-06 for 3 or 4 years and its been shot 30-50 times with pretty stout
rounds. 150's to 165's anywheres from remington..hornady,,to hand loads and she hasnt moved a whisker off zero. this is just the ticket for you.

Get the accu-trigger and buy a scope used online. Heck buy the whole gun used. I was actually offered a Savage in stainless with an accutrigger in .30-06 two weekends ago for sale for $250. I made a bad decision to pass on the deal.

That was with a crap scope too.

Tom

I second the idea towards buying a used package. I'll bet you could find a slightly used savage with Accutrigger and decent scope in your price range.

I appreciate all the replies and advice. Does anyone have an opinion on the Marlin XL7? It's in a comparable price bracket to the Model 200 or non Accutrigger 110 variants, and has an adjustable trigger that seems to review well.

I've nothing against buying a used gun but being a bit new to the world of firearms, I'm not sure I could tell a good used gun from a worn out one. The chance of me buying a dog is probably much higher than any of you chaps! :) That makes pawn stores a bit of a gamble for me. Sites like GunBroker.com are OK as the seller has a reputation to maintain and a feedback system (like ebay). I've not seen any bargains though. Used and new prices are often within $50, and the extra does buy some piece of mind. I purchased both my handguns from gunbroker.com and got great prices on new guns.

I'll keep an eye out for used but chances are probably slim I'll get a great used deal right before hunting season. Maybe right after, but it's the wrong time of year to expect a great deal. You never know though, I might get lucky. I've got a couple of weeks before I make any decisions.

Is there any other rifle similar to the 110 in a similar price range you might recommend I look into?

When you want to enter the used gun arena it helps to just watch the want ads. I'd be surprised if there weren't some guns for sale in the Colorado papers. Also check with the local gun shops where they often have guns on the consignment racks. Used guns aren't normally beat up too bad, and if they are it should obvious. But if you are not real savvy on looking for things like smooth feeding and extraction, magazine feeding and loading, safety function, etc, then the new gun warranty path makes a lot of sense.
If you're going to go new, personally, I'd go for a decent package deal on a Savage, and then save up for the better scope next season. Then just put the "package" scope on your .22 rifle or hang on to it for a spare.

I have the non-accutrigger one and it's pretty awesome. I have the wood stock, and it's bedded, barrel freefloated. I have one of those deresonators on it as well.

Maybe I just got lucky but the accutrigger could not improve it.

Most modern firearms are more accurate than the shooter.

Buy the best optics you can afford.


Good luck with your decision !

Well that's some for the accutrigger and some for the scope. :/ lol

I have to say, my head has been turned by the Marlin XL7 For $400 right now on Gunbroker I can get the Pro-Fire trigger which is a rip of the Accutrigger with a cheap scope. I read a lot and it's seems like an ideal first 06 rifle and in my price range.

I'm going to keep looking to see If I can get one for around $300 without a scope and see if I can get a Nikon Prostaff 3x9 40/50 with the BDC reticule. I might be able to find one for sub $200, which just squeezes into my budget and is still an accurate rifle and decent scope. I know rings, case and sling will push me over $500 but that's what a budget is for... to control spending not restrict it ... right? :)

Thanks for the input. Any more opinion is still most welcome.

X 2 :party0005:

Just won an auction on GunBroker.com for a new Marlin XL7, no scope, for $290! :woot: That's cheaper than some of the used prices. It's from the auction account of Buds Gun Shop and I bought one of my 9mms from them (also through GunBroker). A+ retailer.

I just kept seeing similar posts to Sheridan's, the gun will be more accurate than I am! That leaves $200 for the scope, enough for something decent.

I have a few more questions now, but I'll start another thread.

Thanks for the help.

Bud's is a good shop and you got a good gun at agood price.


Now, bring it to a gunsmith and have the barrel hand lapped and a basic trigger job done on it.


You did good !

I've looked up what hand lapping is and now I know it's not, as the name would suggest, a bonding ritual between man and rifle.

Please excuse my noobishness but as the XL7 has a user adjustable trigger, what would I ask to be done in a trigger job?

A smith will go ahead and adjust the trigger as you could (but might do it better). It will include eliminating creep and any lag, and also the pounds needed to release the sear. He'll also do any needed polishing and burnishing of the contact points so the break is crisp and clean. The trigger will probably come from the factory with a break of about 8 pounds or more, and you'll want to lighten that for sure.

Congrats on the purchase, and please let us know about the XL7 and it's performance. I've been interested in that gun b/c of the good reviews and very affordable price.

OK thanks for the info. I imagine I'd be looking at $100 or so which I should have available in a few months. Can't blow half my scope money right now. I'll see how it shoots and how acceptable it is out of the box. Will report back for sure! Least I can do :)

A nice trigger clean up should cost about 40-50 bucks. 25-35 for adjustment and a little more if the smith is going to polish or smooth the workings.

Local smith charges $45/hour so about the same again for the lapping I would imagine, that's what I'd estimate the $100 at. If it's OK out of the box that kind of falls into luxury spending. I'm not looking to win the Olympics, yet. I'm not flush with cash this year and plough any spending I can't fully justify into the CC hole I hope to soon be out of. Next year will hopefully be a different story.

I'm going to keep looking to see If I can get one for around $300 without a scope and see if I can get a Nikon Prostaff 3x9 40/50 with the BDC reticule. I might be able to find one for sub $200, which just squeezes into my budget and is still an accurate rifle and decent scope. I know rings, case and sling will push me over $500 but that's what a budget is for... to control spending not restrict it ... right? :).[/QUOTE]

The Nikon Prostaff is a great choice. Another one to look into is the new Redfield scopes, they're made by leupold.

Hold off on the lapping. Shoot the rifle for a while and see how satisfied you are with it before spending extra cash. There is not that much to gain from lapping a factory barrel except that it MAY improve accuracy a tiny amount, and it will make the barrel easier to clean.
Good choice for your first centerfire rifle. Spend the rest of the budget on a scope and ammo, and sometime in the future look into a trigger job. Good hunting!

The lapping/trigger job does eat too much budget right now, but before this thread I'd not even heard of it before so I appreciate being told about it. My plan is to shoot it first, then see.

I know you already bought a rifle, and I think you made a great choice. Let us know how you like it. IMO The Marlin's and the Savage package at Walmart are two of the best deals going.

However, for others pondering this, I thought I'd point it off. Most Walmarts sell Savage Model 10's or 110's depending on if you want the long or short action one for right at $400. This has the accu trigger, a Simmons scope, and a sling. It's not a great scope, but a great rifle, with a scope that should last until you can upgrade. The accu trigger imo is well worth it. This package is also often not much more than the Stevens 200's without a scope or accu trigger.

As for scopes for your rifle, I'd look at the Burris Fullfield II or the Vortex Diamondback. The Pentax Pioneer is also supposed to be a rebadged Burris FFII and you can get for a great price from BestBuy.com. There is a great writeup on OpticsTalk.com in the members test and review section about Inexpensive scopes. Out of the ones tested the Nikon Pro Staff came in last with the Redfield in second to last. It's not that the Pro Staff is a bad scope, because it's not. However, you can get the FFII or the Diamondback for not much more and they are a lot better scopes.

My roommate has that rifle and is looking forward to using it this year.