Help me choose my first 308

[Jesus805]

So I've been looking and looking and found some guns that caught my attention
I am thinking of the

Ruger gunscout 308

Howa 1500 whitetail package

Or the mossberg mvp

I would only be plinking and maybe some small hunting in SoCal with it
Please let me know that u guys think or other suggestions
Thanks gunners

[firemanjoe]

I can only speak for the ruger, very nice and well made rifle. It's super light weight and makes a great rifle for packing around all day if you'll be hunting.

[DArBad]

Consider also......Savage FCP SR. It is a direct competitor to the RGS. It is cheaper, less clunkier, and marginally more refined.

[Jesus805]

Thanks I'll check it out

[NapalmCheese]

They'll all work for plinking and hunting but the shared similar qualities between them (short barrels, large magazines) make them suboptimal for most hunting in my opinion. As brush guns the short barrels can be nice, but in the field the big magazine is useless and sometimes detrimental. If not in the brush longer barrels are nice for a little extra velocity. Flash hiders are useless on plinking/hunting guns unless you're hunting at night. Muzzle brakes make short, loud, .308 rifles longer and louder than they need to be for plinking and hunting.

Edit to add:
Not to be a curmudgeon, they all look like fun rifles, none of them would be my first choice for hunting and none of them would be my first choice for plinking. I look for cheap ammo (and usually less recoil) in plinking rifles which puts me into a .22, a .223 (since I reload), and a mosin when I'm feeling plucky. In a hunting rifle I normally want something light in a mild recoiling cartridge that has a 22 - 24 inch barrel and either a hinged floorplate or a flush magazine with a recessed mag release.

[Tere_Hanges]

The ruger is nice and accurate but not very practical for plinking as the recoil is a real b*tch. For some reason that thing kicks like a mule. And it aint cheap, $800-$900

If you want a plinking .308 I recommend a semiauto like an M1A, PTR91, AR308, etc. as recoil is much less and you can shoot it all day.

I have a weatherby vangaurd in .308 that is nice.

The Tikka T3 lite is probably the best out of the box hunting rifle. Super accurate, lightweight for carrying in the field. Recoil is strong but if your hunting you only need to shoot it once.

Savage makes good accurate rifles too.

[TMB 1]

Of those three my first pick would be the Ruger 2nd the Mossberg. For a 308 hunting rifle my first pick would be a Savage Hog Hunter with 2-7 Leupold or Redfield scope.

[Jesus805]

well I have an ar15 .223 and and salga 7.63x39 and just want something with a little bit more bang.. Don't really care of the ammo if it's cheap or not just want to get a ok .308

[jimmykan]

What's your budget?

Do you want iron sights?

[Jesus805]

Well I was thinking in between those guns not a budget price

[Jesus805]

Well I was thinking in between those guns not a budget price

[rambutan316]

I know it's not on your list, but I would also take a look at the Savage 111 series of rifles. They are very affordable and come with a decent Nikon scope.

[jimmykan]

If you want decent iron sights on your bolt action 308, get the Ruger Gunsite Scout.

I would recommend the newer version with aluminum-bedded synthetic stock and muzzle brake. You will be glad for the muzzle brake, the rifle is light and kicks hard.

The older version had a nicer but heavier laminated stock and an A2 style flash hider.

[RNE228]

If I was looking at 308 rifles... I would look at a mix of new and used.

I like my older Rem700V in 308. Tack driver, especially with 165grbthp Gamekings.

Browning BLR in 308 would be a lot of fun for hunting and plinking. So would a used Savage 99. Both are great lever action rifles.

For a long time, I have thought it would be fun to have one of the Remington 76x pump rifles.

[SimonBirch]

Remington 700 5r