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Crash wrote:I bought a Savage Model 10 Precision Carbine that meets all my requirements. Probably won't shoot it 'til next week, but I'll let everybody know how it does.

Crash

Great! Let us know how you like it. Remember, forget the 165-168 grain ammo, and buy either Federal or Black Hills ammo topped with 175 grain Sierra Matchkings. The 175 was made for the 1:10 barrel.

bblhd672 wrote:Remington 700 - I've heard a lot of negatives the last few years about quality being somewhat erratic. Are there particular models that you can count on being quality made and accurate?

I'm looking for my first bolt rifle in .308 or 30.06, haven't decided which.

It’s not for sale, but I have a Remington 700 VSF in .308 that was manufactured in 2007 - the last year they made that variant. It is a really good rifle. So I would imagine that if you can find a used 700 that was made in 2007 or earlier, you’d not only get a pretty nice rifle, but you’d save some money too.

Mine (a lefty, no less) came with a 26” 1:10 heavy fluted barrel with target crown, fully floated, with the action full length bedded in aluminum blocks, and set into a tan colored HS Precision varmint profile stock. It’s a dilly. This model was available in .223 Remington and .308 Winchester, with both left and right handed actions. In 2007, I paid $831.00 for mine. If I remember correctly, MSRP at the time was $1,127.00. It is a GREAT rifle. If you could find one used, I’d think you could pick it up for not more than the OP’s $500 threshold....maybe less. Other than a scope and 20MOA rail, the only mods I’ve made to mine were to swap out the factory trigger for a Timney which I set at 2.25 lbs, and an oversized tactical bolt knob. The thing’s a shooter.


Ok....sorry about the gun porn.......no I’m not......yes I am.......nope.

Anyway, 2007 is your cutoff date, if you want to guarantee that you got one not affected by FG’s acquisition of Remington. After that, it is hit or miss. You might still find a good one made later on, but it’s not a guarantee. Like everything else FG touches (Marlin, AAC), Remington’s quality is not what it once was.

If I were buying a NEW precision bolt gun today, I’d probably go with a Savage. My son has one - a 10FP HS Precision - and it’s a dilly too....not so much more accurate than my 700, but maybe more consistent as the barrel heats up. That could just be my cataracts too. Anyway, something like that would be a good choice too. But then, you’re getting well above the $500 limit again.

Also look at Mossberg, which has some very reasonably priced .308 bolt guns with detachable magazines.