Sorry if I sound like a cheapskate, but need a loaner rifle that my family can borrow without me worrying like I do every time they take one of my walnut stocked rifles. I just had my brother in law bang the wood on a Ruger 77 and he wouldn't even apologize Looking for suggestions, cheapest 30-06 that I can buy new. Not a cheap one, but the absolute cheapest bolt action available in the US.

Haven't bought a new rifle in decades. That said, a Walmart Rem 700 is pretty inexpensive and synthetic stocked to boot.

Around here, I see tons of nice used '06's for about $300. There were a coupe of Rem 721's for sale last week, a nice tang safety Ruger, an Interarms Mk X, and an FN deluxe. The FN wasn't $300 of course.

I suggest a Marlin XL7 30-06. Should be decently accurate out of the box. Own several of the Marlin X rifles myself and have seen others with one at range. All were happy with their Marlin.

You will find it to have a decent adjustable trigger and easy to rebarrel as it has a Savage type barrel nut.

An old used Savage from a gun show or classified should be very inexpensive. Stock that feels like a 2"x4" piece of lumber, a heavy trigger, and beauty that only a mother could love. Cheap and inexpensive.

A savage package gun. Rifle, and Scope. everything but ammo. My grandson has one in .223, and a friend of his has one in .270. Both shoot and are reliable guns.

Since you are talking new, Marlin, Remington, Ruger, and Winchester all seem to offer a budget bolt rifle line now days. Any one will do, and I believe they all come in 30-06.

If you open the door to used you can get better quality with a cheaper price. Especially look for Interarms Mark X, they are usually underpriced on the used market. And if you can find a JC Higgens 50 or 51 with the Belgian action....

Even Ruger 77, Rem 700, Win 70 push feeds, can often be had at a better price used than the current new economy rifles these guys are promoting.

I don't think you can buy a new Marlin centerfire bolt action anymore. They have discontinued all centerfire bolt action rifles after being acquired by the same group that owns Remington. Of course some places could still have new-old stock, but they are not made anymore.

I have a old jap that some one did into 300 sav well not feed with more the two shells in the mag has open sites and I only paid 30 dollars for it.

If some one needs to barrow a rifle that is what they get.

After a cousin used a rifle as a drag stick to pull a buck out of the woods I don't lend good rifles.

And the SOB bragged about it.

quote:

Originally posted by p dog shooter:
After a cousin used a rifle as a drag stick to pull a buck out of the woods I don't lend good rifles.

And the SOB bragged about it.

We should introduce your cousin to my brother in law then pay for them to move abroad

Stevens 200. roger

I'm with Roger on this one. The cheapest would probably be the Savage 200. They are also pretty decent to really great shooters. The last two rifles I picked up happen to be 30-06. I got a used Win 70 for $400 and a used Colt Light Rifle for $500. Both are great rifles, but even at those prices not the cheapest.

Love all the advice, thank you. What about Mossberg? Do they make one cheaper than Savage Axis?

my vote is the savage axis... even as the package with the cheapo BSA scope, its a good starter or loaner rifle..and they shoot!!!.. ive got them in .223, 22-250, 243, 25-06, 7-308, 308 and 30-06...... I use them as trading material at several local Texas gunshows, and give them as Christmas gifts... they run me less than $300...

Stevens 200 has been discontinued too.

About the Mossberg. Have spoken to several gents with one at range....various models. General response from owners of a Mossberg was positive. None had an issue with accuracy of their Mossberg. One gent, who is quite discriminating when it comes to rifles spent several Sundays at range breaking-in, hunting load developing for a Mossberg his son had bought for deer hunting. He was fairly impressed with the rifle, a 7mm-08. Commented he might get one for himself for an inexpensive backup/truck rifle.

I'm going off track here, the Original Poster asked for cheapest new rifle in 30/06 and you guys have answered that fairly well, I would go another direction.
I would watch gunbroker for a used Win M70 pushfeed, saw a 270 WSM go for 290$ the other day with a cheap scope on it, I see 30/06's and similar calibers go for the same on occasion.
If that doesn't tickle you then watch for those sales at Walmart for the synthetic stocked Rem 700 ADL. Dirt cheap for a fine rifle.

Gotta agree with Snell

I grabbed a Remington 700 ADL in 30-06 last fall for $349 at Walmart on sale

Also a $40 mail in rebate

This had the camo injection molded nylon stock and cheap rings and scope.....I sold the stock/rings/scope on ARbay $100
this leaves me with a $200 barreled action and it's now a WIP.....but that's another story

Loaner or donor a $300 Remington 700 is where I'd put money

Get rid of the brother in law

mossberg or savage...

or howa

looking at 3-400 new

myself, i keep a VERY light 270 around for them

I'm selling Savage 10 and Ruger American rifle/scope combos for around $350.

My sons Mossberg ATR has been decent. We both shot elk with it last year.

Got a Gander Mountain ad today; Rem 783s for $229.

I'd rather keep the $229.

Why? If you need a basic rifle, they will do a good job; they look bad but they will kill as well as a $4K custom job. Everyone can't afford the top of the line stuff for what is really a luxury item.
The 783 is actually a very good design; the stiff receiver should be better than a 700. Yes, the stock is cheap.
I understand the rifle snob mentality; but some guys simply don't have money to burn these days.

Not snobbery. Ok, maybe a little. But I'd rather have a 50 year old beat up Husqvarna or similar than a new 783. There are too many older, ugly but good guns on the market for me to get excited by the 783.

quote:

Originally posted by dpcd:
Got a Gander Mountain ad today; Rem 783s for $229.

Wow! I thought $300 was the basement! I suppose for a knockaround rifle like the OP wants, that's the answer. It certainly makes exploring the used market seem needless.

quote:

Originally posted by analog_peninsula:
Not snobbery. Ok, maybe a little. But I'd rather have a 50 year old beat up Husqvarna or similar than a new 783. There are too many older, ugly but good guns on the market for me to get excited by the 783.

I've handled and shot a 783

They are far from ugly and imo are only a 700 trigger gaurd away from looking damn nice

Now you are changing your position; first it was, NO rifle (keep the $229) rather than a 783.
Now it is, "rather have an old one than a 783". Fine, if you can get one for $229, which will be difficult. Maybe an old mil sporter, which will not be better.
I stand by my evaluation of the 783; not a bad rifle at all and for the "under $400 group" possibly the best. Certainly not the worst.

quote:

I've handled and shot a 783

They are far from ugly and imo are only a 700 trigger gaurd away from looking damn nice

I agree on the ugly part. Honestly, any rifle with a black finish on the metal and a black, plastic stock looks about the same. Generic, not ugly. IMO, there are far more heinous rifles out there that cost significantly more (I'm looking at you, Ruger...). Either way, a can of Dura Coat in your favorite color can go a long way to a cheap improvement on the color of a synthetic stock.

I to have loaned out guns and have had them mistreated so now I will only allow a few select people to borrow a gun. I do have a Springfield 03a3 that has been sported that I would loan out and a Savage 340 in 30-30. If they want fancy then the gun store is down the road and will sell them whatever they want.

With a BIL like that I would buy an old Ruger 77 with the skeleton stock in .338 Win Mag.
Tell him he can borrow it any time he wants.

quote:

Originally posted by COYOTE HUNTER:
With a BIL like that I would buy an old Ruger 77 with the skeleton stock in .338 Win Mag.
Tell him he can borrow it any time he wants.

This is funny. The only improvement might be to add a scope with really short eye relief.

I have that same rifle in my closet. Nobody has asked to borrow it yet.

My brother in law is a pain in the ass as well.

He got a Winchester 670 push feed in 243, when he asked to borrow a rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by COYOTE HUNTER:
With a BIL like that I would buy an old Ruger 77 with the skeleton stock in .338 Win Mag.
Tell him he can borrow it any time he wants.

If u find one let me know. It seems Alaskans have finally figured out how great a gun they are and the used supply of them has dried up. .

My vote is shop Gunbroker for a Savage Edge or Axis. My 269$ Edge in 223 is litterly a tack driver!!

How about a 1903 Springfield sporter? I see them around from time to time for usually less than $300 and with a scope!

Your first problem is having a caliber that someone would ask to borrow. I used to know a gentleman who, when asked for a loaner, offered his unbraked 378 Wby. Only once did he get it back with two fired cases. (Usually only one)