Suggestions for a .308 rifle?

[cobber]

Yes, go with the hog hunter with the 11/111 action over the axis. That's worth the extra couple bucks over the axis. And those scoped packages are throw away junk.

Looks interesting, but you would have to replace the stock? Also how does the 20" barrel compare to the 22" available on many other .308s?

 

[johntheplinker]

Dang, I always forget the Tikkas and Howas. They used to be less expensive till everyone caught onto how nice they were.

Came here to say something about the Tikkas. I've got 2, a T3 Lite in .223 and a T3 Hunter in 6.5x55. Both will shoot under .75 MOA 5 shot groups. Bolt slicker than snot, trigger easily adjustable (I haven't felt the need on either of mine), and a good synthetic stock. Only downside I've found is spare mags are crazy expensive and the ejection port is a little small for easy single loading. Granted, they're also over the OP's budget, but they're well worth it IMHO.

 

[Hookeye]

If for deer hunting

I'd opt for a Rem 7600 pump or maybe an old Savage 99.

Plastic stocked bolt action...................every other person runs one.

 

[oldpink]

If for deer hunting

I'd opt for a Rem 7600 pump or maybe an old Savage 99.

Plastic stocked bolt action...................every other person runs one.

That's why walnut was created.

 

[Mosinguy]

https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/long-guns-rifles-shotguns/414211-spanish-fr8-308-mauser.html

 

[cobber]

That's why walnut was created.

And laminate?

 

[oldpink]

And laminate?

Laminate has lots of the advantages of both walnut and synthetic combined, but I'm a traditionalist.
I sighted in my Ruger M77 .30-06 at the DNR range in Huntington just Thursday last week, and I had it clustering five of my reloads consisting of the 165 grain Barnes TTSX moving along at a measured 2780 FPS right at 1" groups or slightly over @ 100 yards.
No laminate, no synthetic, only a walnut stock that I bedded the action in with good old Brownell's Acraglas Gel.