Best quality "inexpensive" bolt gun

[atitagain]

I would like to purchase a .25-06 bolt gun for my uncle to hunt deer with.
I would like to ask everyone's opinion on the Marlins, Axis, ans the Mossbergs.Would like to keep the price of the rifle around $350.00 or less, so I can put a good scope on it for him.
Any information will be of great help.

[mechanic]

I can only respond on the Axis.  Mine has been excellent, and I plan to buy another.
 
Ben

[cudatruck]

I have the marlin in 7mm-08. I really like it. for your price range you might be able to include the ruger american in your list. Our marlin came with a really great trigger and for only 329 it fit the bill.

[atitagain]

What kind of accuracy are you guys getting with your rifles?

[mechanic]

Mine gets sub moa in .223.  I'm hoping the 243 will shoot as well, (Savage Axis).
 
Ben

[cudatruck]

the furthest range i have been able to shoot the marlin is 300. by the way for this average shooter, 300 is a long damn ways. I know people shoot much much longer distance, but for me a pepsi can at 300 is a damn small target. i can reliably hit a soda can three out of three at 300. i figure a deer or pig won't care about group size.
 
 
By the way i think you have a good plan, buy a decent rifle and an even better scope.
I put a Ziess on mine and really like it.

[bilmac]

I have an American. 270 is the only cartridge it comes in that is close to 25-06. I have shot several 3 shot groups. They average about 1 1/4 inches. This is a handload, but not a tailored load, I am just shooting up some WW II military surplus 4831 powder.

[BBF]

If you can still find a Stevens 200 it would be worth a look unless you need a removable Magazine fed rifle.

[FPH]

Pawn Shop.  Can find some (or use to able to) real sleepers.

[bilmac]

My experience is that the new lines of inexpensive rifles like the Ruger and Savage have made pawnshop prices out of line. It is rare to see a rifle in a pawnshop for less than $300. A decient rifle is way more. My NEW good shooting American was $350.

[Huffmanite]

Own one Axis and two Marlin X rifles, have no Mossbergs.  Did sit at bench near a fellow shooter who shot a Mossberg ATR 7mm-08 for three Sunday mornings at range we've members.  Son had purchased the rifle and gent zeroed the scope and then played around with various reloads to find what shot most accurately in the ATR.  Gent was favorably impressed with the ATR and told me "I might have to get one of these for myself."  This got my attention since he is rather picky on rifles, owning high end Savages and a couple of Remington Custom Shop rifles he had them build for him. 
As to the Axis and Marlin X.....get a Marlin, you should be happier with it.  I am and just think it has advantages  over the Axis.  For example, factory trigger in the Axis leaves a lot to be desired and the one in the Marlin is adjustable and has an acceptable trigger pull.  The little higher price for the Marlin is worth it.  By the way, one of my Marlins is a 25-06.   Its accuracy out of the box with factory ammo first time at range was very good.  Its one of my more accurate rifles.

[Lloyd Smale]

just picked up another axis yesterday. Ive bought 4 of my grandkids 243s. 3 savages and a howa and needed one more and they had brand new youth model axis with a pos bushnell scope on them new for 300 bucks at the local gunshop. this ones for the granddaughter so i figured a youth gun would work out well. There sure not pretty but seem to shoot real well.

[JonnyReb]

 Another plug for the Axis, it in .308 cost me 256.00 plus tax at walmart and is as smooth and precisely made as many more expensive guns I've owned. Balances like a dream and the stock is perfect, little weak in the pistol grip but otherwise perfect. Trigger is good with no finicking and its an MOA shooter with the only factory ammo I've tried. Its a bargain I think. J

[FPH]

My experience is that the new lines of inexpensive rifles like the Ruger and Savage have made pawnshop prices out of line. It is rare to see a rifle in a pawnshop for less than $300. A decient rifle is way more. My NEW good shooting American was $350.

As I said, you can find some real sleepers at a pawn shop.  The last rifle I picked up was a Mauser in .308 with a very bad "runny" poly finish on it for $125.00.( Had set there for weeks).  Included Burris one peace base and rings......no scope........turned out to be a tack driver.

[bilmac]

Kudos, you don't ever find centerfire rifles like that in our part of the world. Pawn shops round here are either going to have to change their ways or waste a lot of shelf space on overpriced guns.

Now, if the innovative gun makers would make the same effort to make leverguns, handguns, ect. high quality and low cost like they did the current crop of bolt guns, we would all be winners.

[FPH]

Kudos, you don't ever find centerfire rifles like that in our part of the world. Pawn shops round here are either going to have to change their ways or waste a lot of shelf space on overpriced guns.

Now, if the innovative gun makers would make the same effort to make leverguns, handguns, ect. high quality and low cost like they did the current crop of bolt guns, we would all be winners.

I got lucky....the finish was so ugly I think it scared a lot of folks off.  Just needed a good sanding and oil finish.

[JimP.]

I have two of the Remington's. First is a Model 710 300 Win Mag. Shoots very well and is very accurate with my handload. Second is the Model 770 243. Havent shot it much but it shoots well. Check them out, they're good hunting rifles, yes I know the Bushnell scopes are not expensive but they are very clear and let a lot of light in at dawn and dusk. JimP.

[762X51]

I have personal experience with the Axis, the Mossberg and the Ruger American. My Axis in 223 is very, very accurate at under 1/2 MOA! My shooting buddy's 270 Axis is very accurate too. For a cheap rifle the Axis is very accurate and functions flawlessly but the triggers are HORRENDOUS! You can replace them with a rifle Basix trigger very easily for about $85, but by the time you add the trigger to the price of the rifle you're at the price of the Ruger American which already comes with a good trigger. A good friend and my Brother in law both have Americans in 308 and both are sub MOA! Only problem is there is no 25-06 chambering in the Ruger American at this time.  My brother has a Mossberg and I can say with all certainty you want to run as far and as fast as you can from this rifle! Do a Google search for "Mossberg ATR feeding problems". For the money it's impossible to beat the Ruger American...it's fairly inexpensive, superbly accurate and has a great trigger but unfortunately it doesn't come in 25-06 which was one of your requirements so it looks like your second best choice will be the Savage Axis and as an added bonus it's available in blue or stainless. Just remember to factor in the cost of a replacement trigger.

[ironglow]

Althoough i am a long time Savage fan..I did opt for a Ruger American in .308 for my new deer rifle last year..and it worked well on a nice buck I dropped.  Wish I had got it for this price though:  http://www.slickguns.com/product/ruger-american-308
   I was pleased with the accuracy right off, I am older now so I can't shoot like I did 26 years ago..when I was only 50    but Chuck Hawks as well as other guys here can attest to the accuracy..surprised me for a Ruger.
  Some features which drew me to the American;
 1) It's all American
 2) A beautiful "accu" type trigger included at no cost... and it is a good one.
 3) The rotary magazine is slick
 4) The special post bedding system..I think it aids accuracy
 5) A 70 degree bolt lift allows low scope mounting.. and the bolt operates really smooth.
 6) The American in .308 is only 6.12 lbs.. nice for an old geezer.
 
   One drawback...if you like pretty wood.. it comes in synthetic only..but they are so popular, I expect some aftermarket stocks will soon be available.   There are some very good deer calibers available  http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRifle/models.html
                     I still think the Savages are really great..but this Ruger is nice also.

[Lloyd Smale]

look down a couple posts. Swampy posted where you can get 700s for 350 bucks. thats where id spend my money

[scootrd]

I saw a TC Venture 25-06 at a local shop a while back for around 380.00.

One of the on-line dealers has a venture 7mm-08 for sale now for 399.00 with a 50.00 mail in rebate.

I know nothing about T/C quality but perhaps just another option look at.

[BBF]

The factory Axis trigger can be fixed without much problem.

[flmason]

Althoough i am a long time Savage fan..I did opt for a Ruger American in .308 for my new deer rifle last year..and it worked well on a nice buck I dropped.  Wish I had got it for this price though:  http://www.slickguns.com/product/ruger-american-308
   I was pleased with the accuracy right off, I am older now so I can't shoot like I did 26 years ago..when I was only 50    but Chuck Hawks as well as other guys here can attest to the accuracy..surprised me for a Ruger.
  Some features which drew me to the American;
 1) It's all American
 2) A beautiful "accu" type trigger included at no cost... and it is a good one.
 3) The rotary magazine is slick
 4) The special post bedding system..I think it aids accuracy
 5) A 70 degree bolt lift allows low scope mounting.. and the bolt operates really smooth.
 6) The American in .308 is only 6.12 lbs.. nice for an old geezer.
 
   One drawback...if you like pretty wood.. it comes in synthetic only..but they are so popular, I expect some aftermarket stocks will soon be available.   There are some very good deer calibers available  http://www.ruger.com/products/americanRifle/models.html
                     I still think the Savages are really great..but this Ruger is nice also.

Are the American's push feed or CRF like the M77's?

[ironglow]

  The American is a push feed rifle.  I didn't let that bother me though, since I don't plan on using it on the big bears or African dangerous game.  Most likely big game I expect to and have shot is whitetail deer & black bear.  If I was going for dangerous game, I would have went larger than .308 Win.
  The question here was for an inexpensive rifle.  I had to go to Ruger's website to figure what CF was, since I have never been concerned with the issue.  Almost every deer I have shot was either dead or disabled on the spot with no quick followup shot needed.
     Evidently, the CF as done on the M77,  is a residual although beneficial feature of the old Mauser actions which was the base it came from.
  I was also surprised that at about twice the price the model 77 did not have a 3-lug bolt design or the new & excellent adjustable trigger.  In any case, the American qualifies as a quality, inexpensive rifle, as do the Savage Axis rifles.  One of the features which keep the cost down..the synthetic stock..  gives it a hidden benefit; the American "power bedding" system..which contributes to accuracy...
    It's all a matter of choices..

[Lloyd Smale]

do a web search for axis trigger jobs. It relitively easy to disasemble the trigger and clip one coil off the spring. It doesnt make it a 2lb trigger but it does help quite a bit.

I have personal experience with the Axis, the Mossberg and the Ruger American. My Axis in 223 is very, very accurate at under 1/2 MOA! My shooting buddy's 270 Axis is very accurate too. For a cheap rifle the Axis is very accurate and functions flawlessly but the triggers are HORRENDOUS! You can replace them with a rifle Basix trigger very easily for about $85, but by the time you add the trigger to the price of the rifle you're at the price of the Ruger American which already comes with a good trigger. A good friend and my Brother in law both have Americans in 308 and both are sub MOA! Only problem is there is no 25-06 chambering in the Ruger American at this time.  My brother has a Mossberg and I can say with all certainty you want to run as far and as fast as you can from this rifle! Do a Google search for "Mossberg ATR feeding problems". For the money it's impossible to beat the Ruger American...it's fairly inexpensive, superbly accurate and has a great trigger but unfortunately it doesn't come in 25-06 which was one of your requirements so it looks like your second best choice will be the Savage Axis and as an added bonus it's available in blue or stainless. Just remember to factor in the cost of a replacement trigger.

[theratdog]

who makes the axis?. and why not the 30-06 it can be loaded very close to 25-06 loads about the same grain of bullet's?

[JPShelton]

who makes the axis?. and why not the 30-06 it can be loaded very close to 25-06 loads about the same grain of bullet's?

The Axis is a Savage product.  I'm all over "why not the .30-'06" but while it'll get screamin' velocity with 115 grain bullets, they have very frangible jackets, poor sectional density, and poor ballistic coefficient in .308".   The same bullet weight in a .30-'06 doesn't make it perform like a .25-'06 and would be a poor choice in comparison for big game hunting.
 
 

[FirstFreedom]

The correct answer is Marlin.  Maybe Stevens or Axis close 2nd.


Wait... let me modify that.. the correct answer WAS Marlin - before they moved operations to Ilion, NY... now their QC (courtesy of Remington) is sh*t.... so all bets are off.  So dunno; but mostly likely Stevens or Axis.

[JPShelton]

The correct answer is Marlin.  Maybe Stevens or Axis close 2nd.


Wait... let me modify that.. the correct answer WAS Marlin - before they moved operations to Ilion, NY... now their QC (courtesy of Remington) is sh*t.... so all bets are off.  So dunno; but mostly likely Stevens or Axis.

The Marlin bolt actions aren't made in Ilion, NY.  They're made in Mayfield, KY.  I don't think they have the issues that the Ilion-made lever-action line has suffered under Remington.  On the other hand, I bought two Marlin 1894s when they came out with the .218 Bee version.  I had a dealer order them.  Both were turds.  One of them rates as the sorriest excuse for gunmaking I've seen.  I haven't seen "Remlins" any worse than the worst of those two .218's I ordered.  Point is, "Kenna Drive Marlin" was totally capable of dropping the QC ball, too.
I bought a wooden stocked Marlin XT-22 that was made in Remington's Mayfield, KY factory and it is as flawless as human hands and machines can make such a thing. 

[cudatruck]

took my 18 yo daughter to buy her first rifle of her own. we went to sportsmans warehouse in rocklin looking for the marlin xt in a single shot bolt action youth size. found it but now it says Remington on it! it is the same gun I think they are calling it a  514?  its an old model number they have not made for years guess the brains at remingtion decided to to steal the little marlin xt single and put their name on it and reuse an old model number., but this is the marlin xt just relabled. bought it anyway because we have two other marlin rifles of new manufacture and they have been great. her little single shot is just plain fun to shoot, darn accurate with cheapo iron sights. her next purchase will be a decent scope for it. I have the bsa sweet22 on a marlin 795 that is great but I think we want something smaller for her little single. was thinking a fixed 4x 20mm?