Thinking of getting my first 'cheap' bolt action

[Lagarb]

I was driving home the other night and stopped at Dicks in Oxnard and they have Remington 783's on sale for $350 right now, with a cheap 3-9x40 scope.
I'd mostly be using this for target/range shooting, might take it hunting once a year, or maybe once every other year.

So, is this rifle worth the price? I know it's pretty cheap as it is, I don't expect it to be amazing for what I'd be paying, I just sort of want something to play around with and have fun.
Also, I'd be shooting around 3-600 yards, with maybe up to 1k yards once a year on a friends property up north. I'm thinking of 270win.
What's anyone's thoughts on that? I've heard the 270 is a flatter trajectory out to around 400 yards. (sorry if this is opening up a can of worms on this multi question post here haha )

They have the 783 in multiple calibers: 243win, 270win, 30-06, 308win and 700win mag, all for the same price.

I'm also about to get into reloading, so with that in mind, anyone have any pros/cons for a specific caliber? (I always like the 'bigger is better' mentality for calibers, so I'm really wanting the 700win mag, but I know it's overkill for most anything around here in SoCal, but could be fun for target shooting)

Cheers,
Thomas

[ar15barrels]

270 is not a good target shooting cartridge due to the lack of good target bullets.
Stay with the shorter cartridges like 243 or 308 as they will burn less powder and therefore generate less recoil, making them more fun to shoot.
Get the heaviest barrel you can get for a target gun.
Remington barrels are all the same contour on the OUTSIDE so going with a smaller caliber gets you a heavier barrel as the barrel walls are thicker with a smaller hole down the middle of the barrel.
A 223 works fine for target use out to 600yds, but might not be appropriate for hunting.
Of your listed calibers, 243 is my recommendation.

Guns that are great targets guns are never great hunting guns.
Guns that are great hunting guns are never great target guns.

Rather than compromise, get a gun that is GREAT at one use and then get another gun that is GREAT for the other use later.

[FishnHunt]

I wouldn't get that rifle or a cheap scope.
If you can find a TC venture in one of your calibers Id look at that. I got mine on clearance for 299 years back and it's a tac driver.
I also found my tikka t3 Blued on sale for 449.
Don't rush into it or buy lightly used for less.
I'd look at 7-08.
If you get a tikka which is long action only you can load up some serious what ever on the 308 case.
Edit.
As below mentioned.
Hunting or target as mine Are hunting rifles.

[JackEllis]

In my opinion, if you're going to be hunting deer, go with a .308 (I use a .30-06 for deer and larger). If you're just shooting coyotes, a .243 is plenty of gun. If you're just shooting steel targets beyond 300 yards, a hunting gun might be accurate enough. If you're looking for small groups on paper at those distances, well let's just say bench rest rifles don't look anything like hunting rifles, even in something as small as .22lr, and they can get pretty expensive pretty quickly.

If you do decide on a .243, look for a rifle with a faster twist. Tikka .243s come with a 1:8 twist, which helps stabilize heavier bullets if someone persuades you to use if for deer. With a Vortex Diamondback hunting scope they'll run close to three times the Remington package but they shoot well out of the box. For plinking and varmints, the faster twist is not as necessary since you'll likely use lighter bullets.

I know nothing about Remingtons, especially how well the 783 shoots. They're probably more than accurate enough for hunting. They may not be up to long-range target shooting, but hopefully others who have actually used that rifle can weigh in.

[riftol]

I was driving home the other night and stopped at Dicks in Oxnard and they have Remington 783's on sale for $350 right now, with a cheap 3-9x40 scope.
I'd mostly be using this for target/range shooting, might take it hunting once a year, or maybe once every other year.

.
They have the 783 in multiple calibers: 243win, 270win, 30-06, 308win and 700win mag, all for the same price.

I'm also about to get into reloading, so with that in mind, anyone have any pros/cons for a specific caliber? (I always like the 'bigger is better' mentality for calibers, so I'm really wanting the 700win mag, but I know it's overkill for most anything around here in SoCal, but could be fun for target shooting)

Cheers,
Thomas

Lagarb,


The 308 Winchester is my favorite cartridge.

It is an excellent, short-action chambering for the all-around rifle you want.

A wide variety of ammo and plenty of it is available for hunting and target shooting.

It is easily reloaded and reloading components abound.

The 308 is consistently accurate.

It is easy on barrel throats and does not have heavy recoil.

Note that while the 300 Winchester Magnum is an outstanding cartridge you may not have fun shooting it due to its heavy (many would say punishing) recoil.

[Mike0904]

Hey Lagarb, I'm doing just what you are talking about I have a Rem 770 in 270 and a Ruger American in 308. I reload and also shoot mostly cast out of them. the 270 so far is a lot more consistant (IE: accurate) than the 308. They give me plenty of range fun and if I get out for a hunt will do fine.
I play out to 600 on steel with these and do get plenty of hits.
So I say get your inexpensive rifle and start a learning curve.

[save2Acali]

If i were looking for a cheap bolt i am 97% sure i'd go with one of the ruger americans.

[Divernhunter]

I would get a Ruger American.
If I had a bit more money I would get a Tikka.
I would consider a Savage also at the price point you are talking about.
I own all the above brands. I do not own the Rem you are speaking of. There is a reason for that.
"I" would also get the 308 as ammo is cheaper and it is a better cartridge as far as "I am" concerned.
The 7-08 or a 260Rem are also good choices. The 30-06 is an old good cartridge also. All of these will shoot long distance and better bullets can be bought.
I also own rifles/pistols in the above cartridges. I do not own any 270 rifles/pistols and do not want any.

My 2 Cents

My 2 Cents

[Lagarb]

Thanks for everyone's reply's, I'll have to go down and check out what else is available and for what sort of prices.
I do already have my AR-15 which has a decent Nikon scope on it, which I've got zeroed out to 200 yards and easily shoots well enough I could use that for hunting smaller game if needed. I just wanted another, larger, caliber to play around with and shoot.
I guess I'll have to not make an impulse purchase and do a bit more research on this haha

My good friend has a 308 that is a blast to shoot, pun intended; and I've got around 300 rounds of brass for it I could use for reloading, so I suppose I could lean towards that more also.

[WMG]

At least in my area I see Rem 700ADL's for $429 with cheap scope.
If I was going to spend 350 , I'd spend $429 instead.
Since range use seems to be a big part of it's use , I see no reason to not go with a .308 for a few reasons one of which more inexpensive loads as compared to many calibers that you find a lot of non bulk hunting rds in.

[Whiterabbit]

If i were looking for a cheap bolt i am 97% sure i'd go with one of the ruger americans.

If I were looking for a cheap bolt I am 99% sure I would get another MarkX mauser. Then again, I paid $500 (fair market value) for my first one and I'm not sure that's still considered cheap if OP wants to spend $350. 5 Bens is almost 30% more.

[Lagarb]

At least in my area I see Rem 700ADL's for $429 with cheap scope.
If I was going to spend 350 , I'd spend $429 instead.
Since range use seems to be a big part of it's use , I see no reason to not go with a .308 for a few reasons one of which more inexpensive loads as compared to many calibers that you find a lot of non bulk hunting rds in.

Wish I could find one near me for that price!

If I were looking for a cheap bolt I am 99% sure I would get another MarkX mauser. Then again, I paid $500 (fair market value) for my first one and I'm not sure that's still considered cheap if OP wants to spend $350. 5 Bens is almost 30% more.

It's not that I want to spend $350, but I 'would' like to keep it under $500 if I can, I'm not made of money

[save2Acali]

At least in my area I see Rem 700ADL's for $429 with cheap scope.

Where is this mythical land you speak of?

If I were looking for a cheap bolt I am 99% sure I would get another MarkX mauser. Then again, I paid $500 (fair market value) for my first one and I'm not sure that's still considered cheap if OP wants to spend $350. 5 Bens is almost 30% more.

Ive never in my life seen a mauser in a LGS. Than again im young so maybe one day.

[WMG]

Where is this mythical land you speak of?

In PA , at Walmart with the $429 price..... the gun store price is about $450ish ..... it's the black plastic stocked ADL

[save2Acali]

Wal marts cant sell guns here

Less compwtition = higher prices i guess. I think I've seen them for 499 though. Not terrible..