Feedback on rifle choices needed

j-bird

Moderator
I am looking into buying a 308 - due to budget and other things I have my choices currently narrowed down to 3 rifles and need your feedback on them.

Ruger - American rifle
Mossberg - Patriot Rifle
Savage - Axis

I am looking for a budget minded "tree beater" for yotes and deer. All are 22" barrel, bolt guns, synthetic stock, topped with 3-9X40 Vortex scopes (I am looking at a version of the Mossberg in a 4-16x50 scope as well). The only company I have any real exposure to is Mossberg, but that is with their shotguns (which I have been very happy with).
 
I am in the same boad J-Bird, but looking at 7mm-08 for low recoil shooters. From what I have found the Ruger is a front runner (100% American Made!) but the weak spot is the plastic shell rotary mags. The seem to split open after awhile, a new one is $40. The Patriot is a nice solid choice as well but almost a half pound heavier. The old lady has an Axis in 243, my opinion is the bolt is sloppy and the safety is not my style. Another "budget" "tree beater" to look at is the T/C Compass however I haven't held one yet...

IMO for the money the Ruger feels best, I can live with the cheap mags...

I haven't purchased yet so feel free to influence me.
 
I have a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .308 bolt action with a Leopold Vari 3X scope. Great rifle, easy to carry, only issue was as a compact, the stock was a bit short. I just added a stock shoulder pad which added another 1".

I just upgraded my .270 to a Vortex scope, what a difference in glass clarity from a 10 year old Leopold!
 
photo_ultrahunter.jpg

H&R Ultra Hunter in .308
Great gun, light, swings and shoulders well, very accurate, cheap in comparison. Of all the AR's and bolt guns I have access to this is my favorite to carry in the field or have in a stand.
 
I am in the same boad J-Bird, but looking at 7mm-08 for low recoil shooters. From what I have found the Ruger is a front runner (100% American Made!) but the weak spot is the plastic shell rotary mags. The seem to split open after awhile, a new one is $40. The Patriot is a nice solid choice as well but almost a half pound heavier. The old lady has an Axis in 243, my opinion is the bolt is sloppy and the safety is not my style. Another "budget" "tree beater" to look at is the T/C Compass however I haven't held one yet...

IMO for the money the Ruger feels best, I can live with the cheap mags...

I haven't purchased yet so feel free to influence me.
Nope.....I have been told I am a BAD influence!!! I will wait for some other replies and go give these a real good looking over and see if anything jumps out and grabs me.
 
I've got a Savage Axis 243 with the accutriger and absolutely love it.
Mine is camo topped with a 3X9 Nikon Prostaff, have had it for around five years...it is a flat out coyote puncher. It shoots flatter and further than I ever expected.
 
savage will have the best trigger out of the three listed. I am not a fan of the mossberg. Ruger is decent. I would choose Savage. If you want to expand the list for what you are looking for.. I would do the Remington model 783. Nice little package for the price Detachable mag, button barrel, new trigger system crossfire???, May not be the prettiest girl at the dance but she has got new shoes and she can party.
 
I would vote for the Ruger. Buddy has that rifle in 308 and it shoots, I am impressed with it all around. I wouldn't cry if forced to go with the Savage.
 
If those are the only choices you are considering, the Savage with accu-trigger is best.
 
OK - in my digging I am seeing terms I am familiar with but need some clarity on.....as well as a better understanding of what they do and the affect. I have been out out the gun buying world for at least a decade and a lot has changed.

"Threaded barrel" - as I understand it, this means the barrel is threaded to the receiver/action assembly. I am not sure why it would matter if it is threaded or not - other than in a case where you may want to replace the barrel at some point......which would be very unlikely for me. Some folks seem to be pushing it as a sign of quality....and I am not sure I understand why.

Number of locking lugs on the bolt - some have 2, some have 3.....is 3 really better than 2? I realize the lugs lock the bolt into place, but I guess I fail to see/understand why 3 would be better than 2.

Barrel bedding - some are free floating barrels (which I understand), others have different methods ("glass") and I am not sure I understand why one is better than the other. I always thought "free floating" was what you wanted that way the stock and the like didn't impact the barrel....but again maybe that school of thought has changed as well.

I am not sure I am a fan of a rotary style magazine as well (Ruger). ALL my other guns are true in-line, stack type magazines and I have never had an issue.

Barrel length - I know what it is obviously, but I am seeing barrel length range from 18" to 26". Back when I was more into guns barrel length was a double edged sword....the more length meant more stability for longer range accuracy AND ensured the powder charge fully was spent inside the barrel. However too much barrel was just difficult to contend with, but too short of a barrel meant a loss in long range accuracy, but easier to use in tight spaces. For a 308.....is a 26" barrel really needed and is a 18" barrel robbing the cartridge of performance? Most seem to be in the 22" length.

Lastly I am finding that the basic synthetic stock just doesn't feel right. It feels cheap and just "wrong" to me. I have 3 other guns with synthetic stocks (22LR, 11-87 & CVA muzzleloader) but for some reason it just feels "wrong" on a true rifle to me for some reason. So I envision I will get a wood stock or an aftermarket one.....or maybe a Houge style one. I am not sure why I am hung up on this, but it was simply the first thing I noticed and gave a poor first impression of the gun.
 
The biggest thing I have notice with the really short barrels is they are to "whippy" for me, I like a longer barrel they seem steadier and quieter. I'm with you on the synthetic stocks, they don't feel right...but they are impervious to weather, lighter weight and you can beat the crap out of them.
In the last five years or so a few of the big gun manufacturers have really stepped up their game and make inexpensive rifles that shoot like custom jobs..Savage and Ruger are two, better triggers/bolts/barrels stocks everything shooting sub MOA right out of the box...that paired with inexpensive yet outstanding optics available today rifle hunters have never had it so good.
 
I have no familiarity with any of those choices, but unless they've made big improvements in synthetic stocks - I agree with J-bird on those. The ones I've picked up were too noisy. They sounded hollow to me and anything brushing against them made way too much noise for my hunting needs. I hunt thick stuff and the brush hitting a syn. stock would announce me for a long way.
 
Well - I thought the synthetic stock thing was just me being weird.....but at least if I AM weird, I am not alone!
 
Well - I thought the synthetic stock thing was just me being weird.....but at least if I AM weird, I am not alone!

Your talking to guys who dream about fruit trees....your not alone or weird, the rest of the world is!
 
"Threaded barrel" - as I understand it, this means the barrel is threaded to the receiver/action assembly. I am not sure why it would matter if it is threaded or not - other than in a case where you may want to replace the barrel at some point......which would be very unlikely for me. Some folks seem to be pushing it as a sign of quality....and I am not sure I understand why.
I understand threaded barrel as threads on the end for attachment of flash and sound suppressors.

Barrel bedding - some are free floating barrels (which I understand), others have different methods ("glass") and I am not sure I understand why one is better than the other. I always thought "free floating" was what you wanted that way the stock and the like didn't impact the barrel....but again maybe that school of thought has changed as well.
The way I picture this is bedding or free floating affect a series of shots. Ie - point of impact can walk if as the barrel heats up. For the purpose of hunting I figure only the first shot counts. I don't worry about it.

I am not sure I am a fan of a rotary style magazine as well (Ruger). ALL my other guns are true in-line, stack type magazines and I have never had an issue.
Single shots don't worry about magazines or number of lugs. ;)

Barrel length - I know what it is obviously, but I am seeing barrel length range from 18" to 26". Back when I was more into guns barrel length was a double edged sword....the more length meant more stability for longer range accuracy AND ensured the powder charge fully was spent inside the barrel. However too much barrel was just difficult to contend with, but too short of a barrel meant a loss in long range accuracy, but easier to use in tight spaces. For a 308.....is a 26" barrel really needed and is a 18" barrel robbing the cartridge of performance? Most seem to be in the 22" length.
Modern powders burn pretty quick. I like a short barrel for carry purposes but don't like the loudness of them. For my needs a long barrel does not eck out enough performance to justify the added bulk.

Lastly I am finding that the basic synthetic stock just doesn't feel right. It feels cheap and just "wrong" to me. I have 3 other guns with synthetic stocks (22LR, 11-87 & CVA muzzleloader) but for some reason it just feels "wrong" on a true rifle to me for some reason. So I envision I will get a wood stock or an aftermarket one.....or maybe a Houge style one. I am not sure why I am hung up on this, but it was simply the first thing I noticed and gave a poor first impression of the gun.
I'm 100% a fan of wood stocks. They can change more due to moisture variations and stuff like that, but not enough to limit my shooting abilities. Like you said; they just feel better.
 
Your talking to guys who dream about fruit trees....your not alone or weird, the rest of the world is!
No....I am weird.....that I will admit......I'm just not alone AND weird!
 
I'm telling you Cat - I'm going to check out a H&R as well. Something to be said about simplicity! KISS!!!!!

I will check on the threaded barrel thing..... Maybe I miss-understood.....that was why I am asking.
 
Lol, just giving you a hard time. I say go to a gun show or a store and hold one of each. A lot will be gained from in-hand experience.
 
Lol, just giving you a hard time. I say go to a gun show or a store and hold one of each. A lot will be gained from in-hand experience.
That is what I am hopefully doing Saturday.....put as many in my hands as I can and go from there. I just didn't want to fall in love with a POS.....besides, the longer I wait the more money I can save for the purchase (at least that is the theory)!
 
That is what I am hopefully doing Saturday.....put as many in my hands as I can and go from there. I just didn't want to fall in love with a POS.....besides, the longer I wait the more money I can save for the purchase (at least that is the theory)!
Guns don't loose value. Buy a POS... sell a POS (and go a different route).

Good luck!
 
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