Looking for a decent brush .308

[deckhandmike]

Get any Remington 700. It’s like a 10/22 or glock. You can find any configuration you need and upgrade to the moon. If you get some other budget build you will get stuck with way less options once you realize it’s a POS.

Don’t get hung up on stainless, you clean any gun that gets wet. I’d pick a weight and barrel length you want. For .308 I use a 20” rem 700 with a heavy barrel for pigs and deer. 20” is fine for under 500 yards. You can go heavy or light but I went heavy since I’m not walking farther than I can drag a critter. So realistically I’m not hiking farther than a mile from the truck with this gun.

[sigstroker]

There is a stainless Axis II, but you have to find one in stock:

https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting-gear-gun-supplies/rifles/savage-arms-axis-ii-xp-stainless-rifle/p/p48568

[RNE228]

For a brush gun in 308, in order
Savage 99
Browning BLR
Remington 76x/76xx

Savage 99 is a great brush gun - I shoot 300 Sav.
The BLR is a nice handling lever available in 308
The Rem 76x is a nice option. Pump action in 308; similar in feel to a 870 shotgun.

The Henry Long Ranger in 308 would be worth checking out

[bigbossman]

To me, a "brush gun" is a short, lighter rifle with open sights, or maybe a low power scout type long eye relief scope.

Lever guns come to mind at once, like the Winchester 94, Savage 99, Marlin 336, etc....... none of which are .308. Savage has a lever gun in .308 Savage, which is essentially a rimmed .308. The venerable Savage 99 does come in a .308 chambering, and it kills mule deer and pronghorn dead... I've seen it.

For more modern stuff, you might take a look at the Mossberg MVP scout rifles. Short, handy, and comes in .308 among other calibers.

[seal20]

Savage Scout

[RNE228]

Savage 99 was offered in 308 Winchester for many years.

The older 300 Savage cartridge is the cartridge the 308Win was based on. It's still a great cartridge(I have two), although ammo selection is limited. I haven't seen an all copper yet. And yes, it works great on deer and antelope, at least in Wyoming where lead is still used

Browning BLR is a great lever action that comes in 308. Fun to play with in 223 too

Lever guns come to mind at once, like the Winchester 94, Savage 99, Marlin 336, etc....... none of which are .308. Savage has a lever gun in .308 Savage, which is essentially a rimmed .308. The venerable Savage 99 does come in a .308 chambering, and it kills mule deer and pronghorn dead... I've seen it.

[RNE228]

Another to consider is the Remington or Browning semi-autos. Both have been available for decades. Rem 74x/74xx, Browning BAR.

[sigstroker]

So...I've never hunted before. I'm in the market for a 4x4 four wheeler to go hunting with. I assume the rifle will encounter extreme weather. I probably won't go after anything bigger then deer, but I might in the future hence the .308.

It would cost more than $500, but an AR would be rugged enough for the job. The receivers are aluminum, and if the typical military type coatings on the barrel aren't durable enough for you, there are stainless barrels. 16 inch barrels and 36" overall length. A Grendel or 6mm ARC or even a .350 Legend would be enough for deer, or you could get a large frame if you really want a .308. If you already have an AR you just need an upper or barrel.

[bigbossman]

Savage 99 was offered in 308 Winchester for many years.

The older 300 Savage cartridge is the cartridge the 308Win was based on. It's still a great cartridge(I have two), although ammo selection is limited. I haven't seen an all copper yet. And yes, it works great on deer and antelope, at least in Wyoming where lead is still used

Browning BLR is a great lever action that comes in 308. Fun to play with in 223 too

Yeah - if you re-read my post, I contradicted myself. Of course the Savage 99 came in .308..... I was typing faster than I was thinking.

[RNE228]

I do that frequently myself...

Yeah - if you re-read my post, I contradicted myself. Of course the Savage 99 came in .308..... I was typing faster than I was thinking.

[Kerplow]

Here you go

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/915614569

[deckhandmike]

6.8spc works just fine.

[Imageview]

[deckhandmike]

Those single shots are kinda fun. I got a 12 gauge slug gun by hr that looks like some Elmer Fudd cannon. It’s ridiculous but I love it.

[Cowboy T]

I was thinking stainless/synthetic as ill likely be in the snow and rain. I'd like to spend around $500 but have a max of $1000. At the $1000 point I'd have to include a scope. Adjustable trigger would also be nice. Any I should look at? I was looking at the savage axis 2 but they don't have stainless apparently. The gun shop guy was trying to lean me towards cheracote(sp)? But I think if it got dropped or it snagged on something then I'd have corrosion issues. Thoughts?

You don't have to have a stainless rifle to avoid corrosion. People have been using traditional blued carbon-steel rifles for a very, very long time without corrosion issues, in all sorts of weather. As long as you clean your gun after use, like you should be doing with *any* gun anyway, you'll be fine.

I've got Mosin Nagant rifles of various types, both Soviet and Finnish, that are OLD. They saw war use. They don't have rust problems, and yes, I do take them out for exercise.

Therefore, to answer your question....

I think a Ruger American in .308 Win would be excellent for what you're looking to do. This is a lightweight rifle, that shoots well, with a 22" barrel, and is under $500. It's one of the better rifles, I think, for the money.

As for a scope, just put any decent Leupold VX-Freedom on top of it, or a used VX-1 or Redfield Revolution, and you'll be all set.