Good gun on a budget
 

My niece-in-law is wanting to pick up a hunting rifle for my nephew as a gift. I have already talked with him about what my opinions are in reference to caliber for hunting in North America and also what I shoot (Remington 700). I told him that it has a lot to do with personal preference as I know guys who shoot savage, winchester, etc..... However his wife has hit me up about it now but has a budget ($300-$350). On that tight of a budget I did not know what is really available or her best options so I am hitting you guys up for your opinions. And yes that is including the scope.....

Wal-Mart usually has remington 700 adl combos but there in the $400+ range. The remington 770 combo is in her price range not the best but will be ok to start out with. I won one a couple of years ago in 300 win camp stock. I gave it to my cousin that want to start hunting and need a gun. It is a ok starter rifle to you can upgrade.

I have seen Ruger American's in 30-06 going for as low as $220.00 at local firearms-internet auctions. There is a buyers premium of 10% plus the 6% Michigan tax .. when I add in the $20.00 gas to go pick it up it comes to about $275.00 out the door.

Of course that's no scope. To do better than outlined above you'd be best served by finding a good used rifle all set with optics. course with Christmas coming so soon you might not have the luxury of "shopping" for a used one.

You might score a savage package gun for $400.00 at a local shop.

Here's a link to a page at "Bud's Gun Shop". He does a great deal of business. The prices shown don't include tax of shipping/FFL dealer fee, but there's a .308 in the bunch for ~ $360.00 ... with tax it should come in under $390.00 and then with an FFL transfer fee of #25-$40 bucks she'd be in the ballpark you mentioned.

http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/a...lin+X7&x=0&y=0

My opinion stay away from the savage. Don't like the the feel of the stocks of the action. I prefer a ruger 77 mk2 or a remington 700 both out of her price range. Did get a rem 700 back in 30/06 with a Simmons scope.for $400 a couple of months ago at a gun show. Using it for the action. So check gun shows, or the used rack.

Haunt the gun shops like Marley's ghost....you'll find used Ruger American or Remington 770 for three hundresh or so....jump on it.

Anything from a .243 through a .30-06 will do the trick.

I can get a new rem 770 with scope at Wal-Mart for $300. Hard to beat the good old 30/06.

Thanks
 

Thanks for all the input. I steered her towards Walmart also and was going to tell her to cruise Budsgunshop (that's where I bought my Rem 700 .270). I also tried to steer her towards a good action because I knew they could upgrade the stock and scope later when their budget wasn't so tight. All my hunting rifles are Rem 700s but I knew a lot of guys on here shoot savage but I did not know much about their guns or how the other manufacturers perform.

Between me and my dad and 8 year old nephew we have 13 rem 700, 2 22-250,204,2 25/06, 2 270, 2 30/06, 7mm, 300 wby, 35 whelen, 7mm-08.

I disagree about staying away from the Savages.....I have a Savage Axis XP Camo Rifle in a .223 with the Bushnell 3x9x40mm scope and it's a great Gun to start out with or simply have as a good reasonably priced Rifle.Mine cost around $365.00 total on sale,the plain black synthetic Savage Axis would cost even less and there's several Calibers to choose from!

I also own the more expensive Savage model 11 GCNS wood stock with the Accu-Trigger in a 7mm-08 that cost around $600.00 plus I added a nice Leupold Rifleman matte black 3x9x40mm scope and Camo rifle sling!

As mentioned the Ruger American is another affordable Entry Level Rifle and it has the adjustable trigger,You can add the price of a good scope and sling to it as You get a little spare cash.I've seen these Rifles run in price from $319.00 to $399.00 depending on who has them and if You catch them on sale?