[huntingbro.]

I want to get a bolt action deer rifle, preferbaly in 30-06. I was looking at several different ones and I wondered if anyone has experience with any of them. Here they are: Savage Axis, Marlin XL7 (I can get a used one from a good friend of mine), and Remington 770.
Thanks in advance!

P.S. Since I'm sorta tight on money, I'd like to find on for under $500.

 

[soundguy]

i think all of them will kill a fury animal.

as much as I love remington guns.. I also love my savages... the axis looks decent... not sure if they come with optics. last rem 770 came with good enough optics to take furry animals.

other than that.. a gun show might save you a lil bit on a used but better than entrance quality gun...

in a pinch any of the 3 you mentioned will work.

 

[oneoldsap]

Take a look at the Ruger American also . I've read nothing but good reviews on it ! Remington has a new Model out , the Model 783 , I believe it is . Avoid the 770 , like the plague , it's junk .

 

[Rogeritall]

I want to get a bolt action deer rifle, preferbaly in 30-06. I was looking at several different ones and I wondered if anyone has experience with any of them. Here they are: Savage Axis, Marlin XL7 (I can get a used one from a good friend of mine), and Remington 770.
Thanks in advance!

P.S. Since I'm sorta tight on money, I'd like to find on for under $500.

If you get a Savage Axis XP series they come with a (I believe) 3x9x40 scope already mounted and bore sighted. The regular Axis does not come with any sights... My wife and I both own Savage Axis rifles, but ours are in .223 Rem, and used for Coyote and general target fun. They do seem to be very accurate rifles for the money, or else we just got lucky...

One more rifle I would ad to the list would be the Ruger American Rifle. Also Mossberg has a "Budget" rifle out as well, but I don't remember the name of it. EDIT... The Mossberg is the ATR bolt action, but you can find some 4x4 Mossberg bolt guns under $ 500.00 as well.

 

[myfriendis410]

Look at the T/C Venture as well. Good reports about it and it's (barely) within your price range.

 

[Guest]

Take a look at the Ruger American also . I've read nothing but good reviews on it !

The Ruger American is the way to go for a entry level hunting rifle. It is the superior rifle of the group.

 

[Bindernut]

Yup. Good advice all around so far.

Out of the three that you listed, I would pick the Marlin first and the Axis second...but that's just my opinion. Both are good rifles for their price bracket. The Marlin stock fits me better than the Savage.
The 770...save your money. they do work and get the job done, but I just am not impressed by the quality of the 770s.

As stated, the Ruger All-American does look to be a promising "budget rifle" contender. I haven't shot one yet but I have been eyeballing them on the racks.
Another good budget rifle to check out are the Mossberg bolt rifles.

If you do some shopping, you might be able to find a Weatherby Vanguard2 or a Howa 1500 (identical rifles, different names...Howa makes both of em) in your price range too.

 

[HAGEN442]

A nice old 03-A3 or Model 70 Winchester Would make a fine Hunting Companion
The Remy 770 has a Rough Bolt, but Feeds and Targets Great
Nothing wrong with most of the new Stuff , but there is a lot of Old Barely Used
Stuff Out There with a Bunch of Carry Time and Very Little Shooting Time

 

[Albtraum]

I really like my Axis. Check out the Ruger American too.

 

[68c15]

from the reviews I see and handling all the ones in your (mine) price range I highly suggest the Ruger American. I was about to jump on one this last summer but couldn't decide on caliber. then I found a used Savage 110 in .270 for half of my rifle-scope budget and it came with a scope. I think I would do some looking around for used ones first. accuracy is good (0.7"@100)

 

[wolfdog]

I say Axis first, then the Ruger. Axis first because if you decide to upgrade later it has been out for awhile and aftermarket triggers and such are available. On the other hand a couple of guys I shoot with regularly have bought the Rugers and they are very accurate, but dont' know much about how long the plastic bits will last, and have not seen anyftermarket upgrades for them yet.

 

[Albtraum]

I say Axis first, then the Ruger. Axis first because if you decide to upgrade later it has been out for awhile and aftermarket triggers and such are available. On the other hand a couple of guys I shoot with regularly have bought the Rugers and they are very accurate, but dont' know much about how long the plastic bits will last, and have not seen anyftermarket upgrades for them yet.

Neither of those guns were meant to be upgraded or modified. The main reason to go with the Ruger over the Savage is the adjustable trigger, and the price difference between them is about what an aftermarket trigger from Timney or Rifle Basix costs.

Also, consider you need to dish out $ for a quality scope, base mount, and rings. And a bipod is always nice.

 

[gdmoody]

I would also say look into the Ruger American. I bought one in .308 a couple of months ago but haven't really put a lot of rounds through it yet. I did read an article in Gun Tests magazine last week that gave a really good review and graded it pretty high.

 

[gvw3]

My son has an Axis. He had problems with his from that start. He sent it back to Savage and they fixed it. Works great now. The bolt would lock up. Couldn't eject spent shell.

I would go with the Savage or the Ruger. Both good entry level guns from good company's.

 

[JLA]

Ruger american, Savage axis, Rem 783, Stevens 200, Marlin XL7, Mossberg 100ATR, All great starters for less than 450 bucks.

 

[tim peterson]

Howdy maybe you should look at the Mossberg ATR 100. I never had much use for mossberg guns in the past. Then two years ago I bought a ATR 100 in 243.This rifle has turned out to be a great choice. with a very good trigger.My buddy liked it so much he bought the same rifle in7mm-08. The ATR 100 is a well built rifle for the money. Thats my 2Cents worth good luck and have fun

 

[CampingJosh]

There are deals to be had on the used gun rack, too. Higher-end models for less than the discount versions.

I got a near-mint Remington 700 with a bull barrel recently for under $500, and it came with an "adequate" 6-18x40 scope. It's in .223, so it's not a deer rifle, but there are plenty of deals like that to be found, especially with so many people trying to get into ARs and AKs and thereby trading in their deer rifles.

 

[gdmoody]

Howdy maybe you should look at the Mossberg ATR 100. I never had much use for mossberg guns in the past. Then two years ago I bought a ATR 100 in 243.This rifle has turned out to be a great choice. with a very good trigger.My buddy liked it so much he bought the same rifle in7mm-08. The ATR 100 is a well built rifle for the money. Thats my 2Cents worth good luck and have fun

I had a terrible experience with the Mossberg ATR a couple of years ago. I bought one in .308 and on the 5th shot, the bolt fell apart, the extractor broke off actually, so I sent it back to Mossberg. When I finally got it back, I took it to the range again and this time it made it to the 7th shot and the bolt fell apart again, so I sent it back to Mossberg. When it came back the second time, I traded it immediately for a Remington 700 VTR.

 

[H-D]

All the ones mentioned will work but since deer season is out o would look into some used guns they always pop up after season is out I would skip the 770 Walmart had the synthetic and Matt black 700 sps w 3x9 scope for 469 a few weeks ago that would last forever with regular care and maintenance .

 

[wolfdog]

Neither of those guns were meant to be upgraded or modified. The main reason to go with the Ruger over the Savage is the adjustable trigger, and the price difference between them is about what an aftermarket trigger from Timney or Rifle Basix costs.

Also, consider you need to dish out $ for a quality scope, base mount, and rings. And a bipod is always nice.

Heck Albtraum, none of them were ment to be upgraded or modified. Including Paul Mausers creations, that has never really stopped anyone though.