Help for first rifle?

[jojo95]

Hey guys, I've been looking at this site for a while now, and have seen lots of helpful posts and what not. I am starting this thread in the hopes that you guys could give some advise for the best, first rifle. I want a tactical look, but accuracy is my main concern. Here's the catch, I'm a student on a tight budget, 500$ to be exact. Here's what I'm thinking so far, Stevens 200 .223, Mueller APT 4.5-14 x 40 and a boyd's tacticool stock for the basics. Please let me know if you think this would be a good setup or not, and give me any thoughts on what could be on my budget. Later on I would most likely upgrade the barrel and trigger, once I have another job. Any advice would be great.

Thanks Jordon

 

[BoilerUP]

Jordan,

Welcome to the Hide. Does your $500 budget include the rifle, or rifle AND optic?

IMO Savage is a great place to start for a shooter on a budget. The Stevens 200 is a fine rifle and they shoot well...but the trigger is crappy, the stock tupperware, and the barrel is sporter contour. Not a huge deal with a 223, but something to consider. The upside is you can turn a short action S200 into anything from a 204 up to a 300WSM with a barrel and bolt head.

If your budget will support it:

Look at the 11 Hog Hunter in 223. It has an Accutrigger, heavier contour (Savage calls it medium, its closer to a Rem Light Varmint) barrel, and the same type of crappy stock on the Stevens 200. For a budget setup I'd recommend a Weaver Extended Multi-Slot 20MOA base (Amazon.com), Burris XTR rings, and skip the Mueller APT in favor of the Bushnell 3200 10x40 mil/mil. Install the base/rings optic and shoot the rifle as is, then drop it into a Tacticool or Bell & Carlson A2 Medalist as funds permit and you'll be set for a while.

Savage's 1:9 barrels do very well with 75/77gr factory ammo like FGMM, Nosler Competition, Hornady Match/Steel Match, etc.

 

[hahco]

If your budget will support it:

Look at the 11 Hog Hunter in 223. It has an Accutrigger, heavier contour (Savage calls it medium, its closer to a Rem Light Varmint) barrel, and the same type of crappy stock on the Stevens 200. For a budget setup I'd recommend a Weaver Extended Multi-Slot 20MOA base (Amazon.com), Burris XTR rings, and skip the Mueller APT in favor of the Bushnell 3200 10x40 mil/mil. Install the base/rings optic and shoot the rifle as is, then drop it into a Tacticool or Bell & Carlson A2 Medalist as funds permit and you'll be set for a while.

Yep, agree with this. Opinions vary, of course, but I think this is the lowest cost platform out there that will have some longevity for you. You will have a good barreled action, a good optic, and a good stock.

 

[jojo95]

Jordan,

Welcome to the Hide. Does your $500 budget include the rifle, or rifle AND optic?

IMO Savage is a great place to start for a shooter on a budget. The Stevens 200 is a fine rifle and they shoot well...but the trigger is crappy, the stock tupperware, and the barrel is sporter contour. Not a huge deal with a 223, but something to consider. The upside is you can turn a short action S200 into anything from a 204 up to a 300WSM with a barrel and bolt head.

If your budget will support it:

Look at the 11 Hog Hunter in 223. It has an Accutrigger, heavier contour (Savage calls it medium, its closer to a Rem Light Varmint) barrel, and the same type of crappy stock on the Stevens 200. For a budget setup I'd recommend a Weaver Extended Multi-Slot 20MOA base (Amazon.com), Burris XTR rings, and skip the Mueller APT in favor of the Bushnell 3200 10x40 mil/mil. Install the base/rings optic and shoot the rifle as is, then drop it into a Tacticool or Bell & Carlson A2 Medalist as funds permit and you'll be set for a while.

Savage's 1:9 barrels do very well with 75/77gr factory ammo like FGMM, Nosler Competition, Hornady Match/Steel Match, etc.

Thanks for the info BoilerUP! I have one question, do think that the 200 will suffice with the same setup that you recommended, or should I save my pennies and go with the hog hunter?

 

[hahco]

Thanks for the info BoilerUP! I have one question, do think that the 200 will suffice with the same setup that you recommended, or should I save my pennies and go with the hog hunter?

advantages of hawg hunter are: 1. heavy contour barrel, 2. threaded barrel, 3. accutrigger. so I'd say yes, but its your decision to make. I also prefer the 20" barrel of the HH to the 22" of the stevens.

 

[jojo95]

advantages of hawg hunter are: 1. heavy contour barrel, 2. threaded barrel, 3. accutrigger. so I'd say yes, but its your decision to make. I also prefer the 20" barrel of the HH to the 22" of the stevens.

Thanks hacho, Im defiantly leaning towards the hog hunter now, I think it's the better way to go, even for the price, it has more of what I want on it.

 

[BoilerUP]

The street price of the Hog Hunter is $80-100 more than the Stevens 200. As such, yeah I think its worth the extra money for the heavier contour barrel and the Accutrigger (cuz you won't like the Stevens factory trigger, trust me).

If there is a Dick's Sporting Goods near you, you might also investigate the 11VT; it is a package rifle that comes with a longer (24-26") varmint contour barrel, DBM, Accutrigger and marginally better stock along with fairly crappy but functional 4-12x40 scope. I think they go for $450-550 depending on sales, so thats another option for you.

 

[damoncali]

On that budget, buy something used.

 

[jojo95]

Thanks for the input everybody. Do you think it would be wise to buy a used rifle, at something like an auction, or gun store. And is there any cons other than it being used in the first place?

Thanks again for the great feedback!

 

[damoncali]

Not really. Unless it's REALLY used, and the barrel is shot out. But most people don't shoot that much, so used rifles can be a solid deal. There's a lot out there that sat in a safe for a couple years after getting taken to the range once or twice. A used savage or Remington might be a good starter that you can upgrade later.

For example, this is worth checking out for $550-

http://www.armslist.com/posts/1946192/cincinnati-ohio-rifles-for-sale--remington-700--308

 

[jojo95]

Thanks for all the options guys! It really helped me decide that used is the way to go on my budget. And again thanks for all the input!

Jordon

 

[jojo95]

Another question. Other scope recommendations? I diffidently cant afford thousand dollar glass, so somewhere in the ball park of under 200? What would be the best options for that price?