Just want something to shoot with a cheap price tag.Looked at 399 weatherby, remington 770, what else is there. Maybe under 500$ Any suggestions. The caliber don't really matter, bigger than a 243 though. Kind of going towards the 770. What do you guys think?

The Howa-made Wby is a very nice gun for the money and the best of the rifles I'll discuss here. The Remington 770 is pretty rough looking; makes their 710 look like a show pony. The Marlin XL7 and Mossberg 4x4 are entry level rifles at a good price. S&W iBolts are in the same league but have been recalled for safety reasons. Savage sells a no frills Stevens 200 that can be found for a good price. Of course a fella can still get into a Marlin 336 lever action for well under five bills. For a not too homely but very affordable single shot look at the H&R/NEF. If you want absolutely cheap - and ugliness is no object - look into the Rossi single shot.

Even the rem guys would likely admit that the 710/770 is a turd.
For what you are after the stevens 200 is the easy choice!
Cdog.

3rd vote for a Savage/Stevens 200. If a cheap shooter was on my list, that would be the first chioce. JMHO

gd

$500 will buy a world of good used rifles with FN actions or M70s. It just takes a little shopping.
Most of the Sears and Monkey Wards FN based rifles will be in .30-06 or .270.
A good shopper can buy a rifle that never depreciates.
I helped one of my brothers find a M70 Winchester in one of those early tacky 70s variations. It was not the 1964 version but close enough that most M70 buyers would not touch it. It did have a real walnut stock and it was a .338. It cost him $300 and he has taken it to Africa, Canada and Alaska.

4th vote for the stevens 200. IMO its hard to beat for the money. Remingtons 700 sps can be had for under 500.00 if you shop around.

I bought a Stevens 200 for #300 bucks new in 223. Shoots great but needs new trigger. Probably gedt one fo these and a useazble scope for about $500. Nothing fancy, not a DGR but it works.

Keep adding on the Stevens 200. There are other choices. Handi-Rifle is another favorite cheapie. Lots of middle quality rifles under 500 used.

What calibers does the stevens come in. Probuly the standards? I guess I could look when I get off AR.

Commonly you can get a CZ527 used but in nice condition for $400-$450...nice trigger...accurate...good workmanship

Stevens 200

quote:

The Howa-made Wby is a very nice gun for the money and the best of the rifles

quote:

$500 will buy a world of good used rifles with FN actions or M70s. It just takes a little shopping.

and in many cases quite a bit less. I'd far prefer the used gun route to the Stevens/Savage option.

I would look for a good used Remington 700 or a Model 7.

I went to the local sporting goods store and he didn't have no used guns at all. Just all new. Over here the used guns people sell don't last to long. Is this everywhere? I known the owner since he bought the store. That was about 13 yrs ago, then it seemed his racks were full of used guns. Even went to the pawn shop but he didn't have really nothing I wanted. Just a No1. That was 750

Get the Stevens! roger

My father-in-law bought a Marlin bolt action last year, had success with it deer and antelope hunting. It's in 270, and is similar to a Savage product.

He likes it; I'd look at one, or the Savage/Stevens line.

quote:

Originally posted by SR4759:
A good shopper can buy a rifle that never depreciates.

Words of wisdom.

New is great, but I have over forty guns I purchased used.
Only 1 or 2 had issues, and it was far cheaper to fix them than to buy new.
Use the money you save to upgrade your scope.

$50 or a 100 bucks really doesn't mean a great deal on a $500 rifle, but it makes a WORLD of difference on a $200 scope!

quote:

Originally posted by dampatents:
Commonly you can get a CZ527 used but in nice condition for $400-$450...nice trigger...accurate...good workmanship

Bought a CZ527 used with a scope couple years ago for $550. It looked new!
It had a little less than 30 rounds through it, the scope was a $160 Swift.
It came with the rest of the box of ammo and an extra mag (mag cost $35).

Basically got the scope and mag for free.

The only new firearms I've ever owned were a standard Colt 1911A1, and a Savage .22/20 ga OU- both Xmas gifts, and long, long ago

Gotta agree that Used Firearms can sometimes be a bargain, then again, if you do not know the answers to these questions, you might get something you really do not want, or should not have.

Best of luck to you.

Howa by far with a nikon scope .This a gun you
can shoot for ever.

quote:

Originally posted by rocket56:
Howa by far with a nikon scope .This a gun you
can shoot for ever.

And you have a better selection of calibers.

Dittos on the Stevens!!!
I actually won one at a banquet!!! It was a 308 with a cheap scope. Replaced the scope w/a Leuopold (probably worth more than the rifle) and worked up some 150gr loads. Shoots about 1 1/2" at 100yds and took a large doe w/one shot placed exactly where I aimed.
Trigger a little rough, but managable.
I like it a lot, and am thinking of buying one in 243.
Pretty damn good gun for the money!!!
Mike

I think that in 02/09, the best value in a new hunting rifle is the Marlin XL-7 in 30-06, 270, or 25-06. If you're on a budget, the 30-06 or 270 version might be worth looking at, as Wal-Mart's usual price for Federal 30-06 and 270 ammo is under $15 per box of 20 rounds. The Marlin XL-7s usually retail for about the same as the Stevens 200s, but they have better triggers and the stock feels better to me, less "boxy" in the forearm. For $500 I think that you could buy a Marlin XL-7, a Nikon ProStaff 3-9x40, a good set of Weaver style rings, and couple of boxes of Federal factory loads to get started.

Good luck!

Jeff

Does anybody know the website for HOWA? When I tried to look for it there was too much too go through. When I was at the sporting goods store yesterday, there was a Nikon scope for 149. I thought it was a good price. Was clear also. I will look at the marlin also.

quote:

Originally posted by kennedy:
Does anybody know the website for HOWA?

Have you tried www.howa1500.com

I'd go with the Stevens or the Marlin. I've never been that happy with a Howa.

I looked at the Stevens 200 and it is basically a Savage without the accu-trigger and a cheap plastic stock. The trigger in the Stevens in my opinion is pretty rough and the stock while it looks like the barrel is free floated has probably just sagged away from the barrel. You can grab the stock and barrel and squeeze them together pretty easily. Mechanically the rifle seems to be OK and should otherwise be accurate. If you are looking for a cheap rifle that looks cheap too, look no further.

O.K. I did locate a savage 2 hours away. its a 110 in 30-06,black stock, banner scope, wants 225 for it. Thats all I know about it. Sounds like a steal to me. Never had a 110 before. What could you tell me about it. Would I be better off with this rifle then the ones mentioned. From what I read in magazines the 110 is accurate, but yet never owned any.

Stevens. Howa. Vanguard.

Used: Rem 700. Savage. CZ

Until you look at the rifle, how can you determine if its worth $225? Savage has been making the 110 series for 50 years, so there are lots of them out there.

If your budget is $225, then it is a great deal. If your budget is $500, I think that you'll probably come out ahead by spending it the way that I have suggested earlier in this thread.

Jeff

My brother got a marlin in 270 last week and I got to set it up and shoot it some at 100 yds.I tried 2 loads that I shoot in my rem 270 and both went less than an inch.Brother only shoots to check his rifle just before deer season and he shot 3 different loads that went about an inch.
The triger is easy to adjust and looks like the accura-trigger,it has a barrel nut,I think it is a new savage barrel nut.
He gave $317 for the cameo with blue barrel.
Would put this one or the stevens at the top of the list.

If I was shopping for a budget bolt action:

Howa 1500/Weatherby Vanguard
Savage 110
Stevens 200
Used M700 ADL

Tikka T3's are a good value at just over $500.

Within the past month, I have seen NIB Remington 700 ADL synthetics in 270 priced at $325 and 700 SPS Youth synthetics in 270 priced at $350. I bought 2 of the 700 SPS Youths and swapped the barrels out for 7x57 and 8x57 700 Classic barrels and 700 Mountain Rifle stocks.

Jeff

I have two 700's and a model seven and my Stevens 200 will outshoot any of them.

Want to trade your used Remingtons for new Stevens 200s? When building rifles, I'm much more likely to build on a Remington 7 or 700 action then I am to build on any Savage 110 series or Stevens 200 action.

Jeff

He is talking about a cheap factory rifle that shoots. Most Savage rifles do, and many Remington 700's don't. My 7mm mag is at a gunsmith now for a blueprint and a barrel. The .223 started to shoot after a trigger job, bedding lapped barrel and believe it or not the cryo seemed to help a bit. The Stevens shot sub 1/2" 3 shot groups, "hunting rifle, don't need 5 shots at a deer with federal blue box ammo. The model 7 shows promise, with handloads. Out of the box cheap gun, I still take a Stevens 200 over a Remington 700 ADL for an accurate, functional, UGLY, rifle.

The term "cheap rifle" kinda ruffles me. They are all cheap if it's what you want and it puts a smile on your face. Life is too short to shoot anything other than what makes you happy. If your not happy it's junk, not cheap. A good old Walmart ADL is really hard to beat when you consider the available add ons that can be done on seperate time table and a reasonable budget.

Howaby Vanguard for my money.

I've seen 1/2 MOA shooters (O.K.....one) come straight out of the box. The others were all within the 1 1/2" guarantee.

quote:

Originally posted by Moorepower:
I have two 700's and a model seven and my Stevens 200 will outshoot any of them.

Unfortunately, he is correct.

And this would be true 99% of the time...