Most Accurate Budget Bolt-Action Rifle for Bench

[Barbarossa]

http://www.americanrifleman.org/mobile/article.php?id=33715

[JohnnyMtn]

Anyone have opinions on the Howa 1500?

I've also been looking for a solid, lower-prices bolt in .308 and the Howa has been on my radar. Just haven't heard any first hand accounts as to its quality.

[superbarnie]

From my research, I think the Savage 11/111 trophy hunter package is the best deal. It's pretty much the best bang for your buck at $600. I know this is over your $400 budget, but this comes with a pretty decent Nikon 3-9x40 BDC reticle scope. If you bought a Savage Axis or something then you would still have to buy a scope, rings, and mount which would be atleast $250, which would make the total a lot more. Plus the Savage Axis doesn't have the accutrigger, which the Trophy Hunter has. From the reviews I've read, the 11/111 is very accurate. One reviewer said he could get 1MOA, but I think that may be stretching it. The gun should do perfectly fine to 700yds.

If you already have scope, or do not want the 111 package for whatever reason, you should try to find a used Weatherby Vanguard. These are guaranteed to shoot 1MOA, meaning the rifle can hit 1" at 100yds and 10" at 1000 yards. Vanguards go for around $700 new, but you can try to find a used one for around your price range. Also, you can get the Howa 1500 which is essentially same as the Vanguard except with a different stock and should be cheaper.

If you don't want any of these for some reason, then I would suggest you go for the Ruger American. It has a much smoother trigger (Marksman adjustable trigger) than the Axis. I've read reviews saying that the Ruger American can shoot close to 1MOA, whereas the Axis shoots around 2MOA. Plus the American has a lot nicer stock and is much better looking too . Plus, it's Axis vs American. Do you really want to chose to Nazi gun? Go 'Murica!

You will probably be fine with any of the choices, but I do not recommend the Axis. There is not really anything special about it, no Accutrigger, no Accustock, and the accuracy is just decent. You'll probably find yourself buying aftermarket stocks and triggers for it and end up spending even more then if you bought a decent gun from the get go. At its price range go for the Ruger American or for just a little more money get the Savage 11/111 trophy hunter package. The trophy hunter package would probably cost less in the long run unless you already have a scope and mounts and rings.

If you want to buy a affordable scope to go with the rifle, then I would recommend the Primary Arms 4-14X44 Mil Mil FFP Scope. Only costs $229 and has features you would normally find on much more expensive scopes. Military Arms channel recently did a review on this scope and he says it's really good.

[billmaykafer]

M96 Swedish Mauser 6.5X55 use PPU sp or hand load.

[gotshotgun?]

Great write-up Superbarnie.

[allright]

I second the cz varmit, it's a great gun and the "set trigger" is great


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ar15barrels]

Ratings for each in the following relative scale: Good-Fair-Poor

Ruger American Predator
(1) accuracy good
(2) smoothness of operation fair
(3) fit good
(4) accessorizing poor

Savage Axis Heavy Barrel
(1) accuracy good
(2) smoothness of operation poor
(3) fit fair
(4) accessorizing fair

Mossberg MVP Varmint.
(1) accuracy good
(2) smoothness of operation poor
(3) fit poor
(4) accessorizing poor

Adding the following comparisons since people keep suggesting options outside of the OP's limited scope:

Remington 700
(1) accuracy good
(2) smoothness of operation good
(3) fit fair
(4) accessorizing good

T/C Venture
(1) accuracy good
(2) smoothness of operation good
(3) fit good
(4) accessorizing poor

CZ 550 varmint
(1) accuracy good
(2) smoothness of operation good
(3) fit good
(4) accessorizing fair

Howa 1500/Weatherby Vanguard
(1) accuracy good
(2) smoothness of operation good
(3) fit good
(4) accessorizing poor

Tikka T3
(1) accuracy good
(2) smoothness of operation good
(3) fit good
(4) accessorizing poor

Mosin Nagant
(1) accuracy good
(2) smoothness of operation fair
(3) fit poor
(4) accessorizing good

Swiss K31
(1) accuracy good
(2) smoothness of operation good
(3) fit good
(4) accessorizing poor

Mauser 98 (various makers)
(1) accuracy good
(2) smoothness of operation good
(3) fit fair
(4) accessorizing fair

[Gutz]

Swiss K31.

from Sniper's Hide:

Ballistically they will be pretty much identical.

.308Win: Higher peak operating pressure.
7.5x55: Lower peak operating pressure but more case capacity.

The 7.5x55mm case is VERY similar to a .284Win case necked up to .308". As a matter of fact, many used to do just that to get reloadable 7.5x55 cases (before they became easily available).

If you chambered a modern bolt action in 7.5x55 (with higher pressures), should run like a 30/06.

[Ishooter]

I think he's only looking for ""...etc.

[spamsucker]

I have the MVP and a bunch of heavy barrel Savages. The savage rifles are not what you'd call slick. They're great but they're not slick like a Winchester or a Remington. Out of the box a Savage is a heck of a rifle and if you get one with the accu-trigger you'll be happy. The MVP has a so-so trigger that's adjusted as light as it'll go out of the box. Hated that. The stock is decent but the mag well is the bedding block and I'm not a huge fan of how janky that looks. The bolt cycles rounds reliably but feels like a barbie-bolt. Never held a ruger american but I love my M77 despite the built in scope bases that limit options.

I love my MVP and I'd buy it again. I've made 5" groups at 650yrds with it and being able to use my 30rd mags in something is sweet. I love my Savage 10 just a little bit more. You can feel that it's a tougher rifle and even if it doesn't feed from AR-15 mags it's a tack driver and a heck of a bargain.

[desertjosh]

From my research, I think the Savage 11/111 trophy hunter package is the best deal. It's pretty much the best bang for your buck at $600. I know this is over your $400 budget, but this comes with a pretty decent Nikon 3-9x40 BDC reticle scope. If you bought a Savage Axis or something then you would still have to buy a scope, rings, and mount which would be atleast $250, which would make the total a lot more. Plus the Savage Axis doesn't have the accutrigger, which the Trophy Hunter has. From the reviews I've read, the 11/111 is very accurate. One reviewer said he could get 1MOA, but I think that may be stretching it. The gun should do perfectly fine to 700yds.

If you already have scope, or do not want the 111 package for whatever reason, you should try to find a used Weatherby Vanguard. These are guaranteed to shoot 1MOA, meaning the rifle can hit 1" at 100yds and 10" at 1000 yards. Vanguards go for around $700 new, but you can try to find a used one for around your price range. Also, you can get the Howa 1500 which is essentially same as the Vanguard except with a different stock and should be cheaper.

If you don't want any of these for some reason, then I would suggest you go for the Ruger American. It has a much smoother trigger (Marksman adjustable trigger) than the Axis. I've read reviews saying that the Ruger American can shoot close to 1MOA, whereas the Axis shoots around 2MOA. Plus the American has a lot nicer stock and is much better looking too . Plus, it's Axis vs American. Do you really want to chose to Nazi gun? Go 'Murica!

You will probably be fine with any of the choices, but I do not recommend the Axis. There is not really anything special about it, no Accutrigger, no Accustock, and the accuracy is just decent. You'll probably find yourself buying aftermarket stocks and triggers for it and end up spending even more then if you bought a decent gun from the get go. At its price range go for the Ruger American or for just a little more money get the Savage 11/111 trophy hunter package. The trophy hunter package would probably cost less in the long run unless you already have a scope and mounts and rings.

If you want to buy a affordable scope to go with the rifle, then I would recommend the Primary Arms 4-16x44 Illuminated Mil Dot Scope. Only costs $160 and has features you would normally find on much more expensive scopes. Military Arms channel recently did a review on this scope and he says it's really good.

Sorry, but no. The Axis is not a 2 MOA gun. I have no idea where you got your info, but its wrong. Maybe with surplus ammo and a hot barrel it might shoot 2MOA, but with quality ammo and slow fire it will be under 1 MOA. YMMV I guess

[E92335i]

Savage Axis is capable of <1 MOA. I agree, probably crappy ammo and hot barrel.

[NorCalFocus]

I bought an Axis for my wife, it is def capable of doing a 1 MOA or less.

Of the budget rifles talked about in this thread, the Axis has the most aftermarket support. When it comes to a bench gun, upgrading the stock, trigger, and maybe a barrel (later on) is a absolute need.

[jeffafa]

Another vote for Savage. I was in the same situation as the OP.
I have the Axis (original, without the accutrigger) in .223. it was $330 from Big 5, which included a cheap Bushnell 4-9x scope. The only thing I added was a Caldwell bi-pod.

From a thread I posted a while back:
I was shooting with the bipod resting on the shelf with the stock on my shoulder, free hand supporting the stock, and I was sitting on a stool.

100 yds., 4 shot groups. Target is a 12" Splatterburst. Center and 3 o'clock are Wolf Gold 55gr and 6 o'clock is PPU 55gr. There is a plastic push-pin between the 8 and 9 ring (4 o'clock) for size reference. The flier above the center was definitely my flinch:

[jpx0123]

Anyone have opinions on the Howa 1500?

I've also been looking for a solid, lower-prices bolt in .308 and the Howa has been on my radar. Just haven't heard any first hand accounts as to its quality.

I have a howa axiom 308. I'm new to the rifle scene so still learning alot. But I have to say howa has a glassy smooth bolt. Seems accurate. Rifle is better than my skill. Def a decent choice.