The gunsmith I have as a friend says the ruger american is about the best budget rifle he now's of. But again the ones I seen where about $349 without scopes. The new rem 783 looks ok but again does not come with a scope.

Gander mountain has a handie rifle super lite combo for $ 350 in your choice of 223, 243, 35 whelen, and 45/70.they have a rossi heavy barrel 243 with scope.for $300. If a single.shot is ok.

That's a tight budget, but doable if you do some homework and spend the time hunting local shops...you may need to go used...nothing wrong with a good used gun.

I would also disagree with the comment about avoiding Savage rifles...I have bought 3 Savages (Model 93 in 17HMR, Model 11 in 7-08, and a Model 10 FLCP-K in 308) over the past couple years and all are shooters...unfortunately all of which are out of your budget if buying new...but the Model 11 in 7-08 I picked up used (still had the stickers on it and was in like new shape and had hardly been shot) for $375 with a new Nikon scope, sling and very nice soft case.

The Ruger American gets good reviews as does the new Remington 783 are both close to your budget, but without optics.

Don't discount the NEF Handi-rifle (I have one in 243 with a heavy barrel and it shoots very well) or the Rossi single-shot....we bought our daughter one with barrels in 243, 22 and 20g as her first rifle and paid under $300, but again without optics and it was a good shooter and a good first rifle for her to start on...she's since moved onto a Weatherby Vanguard (Howa 1500) in 243 in a youth stock.

I all the savages I tired were bulky and I don't like the acutriger. It is a two stage tiger I don't like them for hunting. My gun Smith friend took that type of trigger out of the ruger american. For the price of a new savage 110 I can spend a little more and get a good remington. I bought my nephew about 7 years ago a rossi match pair youth in 22 and 20 ga. The rossi does not shoot as while as my handie rifle but is ok for a first gun.

If you go Remington, get a 700. The others are junk, imo. The cheapest 700 to my knowledge is the ADL with synthetic stock. They are solid, reliable, good shooting, no frills guns.

The adl are only sold at big box stores now. They are blind magizine rifles. I got more adls then any other remington 700 I got. Most of my adls are the older ones with wood stocks.

+1

I second the motion


Or as was suggested - buy something second hand.

You might check out the Mossberg 100ATR or 4X4. I have a Mossberg Maverick in .270 that I bought as a truck rifle and I liked it so much I hunted with it most of the gun season this year. They don't make it anymore, but it was the no frills version of the ATR. Out the door it was around $180. I bought a Weaver 40/44 2.8-10X scope on clearance from Natchez for $100, $30 for rings, and $15 for a sling, so for a little over $300 it was a value.

The marlin xr7 looks like a nice rifle also.

I read good things about the Marlin xs/xl line and Ruger American when I was looking to buy last year (ended up with a Savage 111 and really like it; not sure about the Axis line, which would be in the budget, but have heard the trigger is so-so).