I found a used A-Bolt for sale at the local Gander Mountain for $439. It is a 30-06 and comes with a Simmons scope. I know Simmons are not that great a scope but it would do for a while. Is this a fair price? This would be my first hunting rifle.

Is it Stainless or blued, Wooden stock or synthetic?That all makes a difference.As you mentioned the Simmons is not the best scope,but would get you by until you could buy better glass for it.The 30-06 is a good cartridge so there shouldn' t be a problem there.I shot a " A Bolt " a year or so ago and I was very impressed with it.Without some researching I would say that sounds like a fair price depending on it' s condition.See if you can have a competent gunsmith check it over first.I always wonder why a nice rifle like that is sold to begin with.That' s why I mentioned have a smith check it.It sounds like it would be great first deer rifle as long as it' s up to snuff.
Ruger Redhawk

Offer the guy $400 and you will own a very fine rifle for every thing short of dangerous game. The .30-06 is a truly great big game cartridge. The browning A-Bolt is a fine gun regardless if it' s stainless or synthetic.

sdm,

The price sounds as though it is fair. A-Bolts are good solid rifles. Frequently people will sale a " perfectly good" rifle because either....

They just need the money, or....

They decided they want the newest, (what their buddies just got), and they
finished reading about in the latest gun mag....

Sometimes Gander Mountains will tack an additional 19.95 to the price and include a one year warranty. (With out the 19.95 they give you 90 days on used guns. So if you know you will get to try it out immediately you might not need the full year. Besides most gun manufacturers have some type of warranty already. Also, most Gander Mountains have some " room to move" on the price of their used guns. (New guns there is usually not much of a margin to begin with.....but on used guns they will usually deal! If you can' t get an outright drop in the price you can frequently get some extras....ammo, sling, soft-case, etc.... Oh by the way, NOT all of the above but sometimes some of it!) And by the way, Gander Mountain warrants their used guns (and you can ask their in-house gunsmith to check it and give you a " slip indicating that he/she checked it and it is sound" ).

Remember, they want to sale the gun.....as much as you want to buy it! Take the time to get to know their in-house gunsmith and ask them what they know about that (or any other) gun that you are interested in purchasing.

Good luck!

If it' s an A-Bolt II, it' s a good price. If it' s the standard hunter model, I' d definately see if you could talk him down a bit.

If it' s the old A-Bolt, I think the price is a little stiff unless it' s a stainless stalker. But, that is one fine rifle too. In fact, I prefer it over the II model.

I would go for it, great bolt guns.