" Budget " ( under 1K, preferably between 500-1K ) Hunting Rifle For Buddy With Limited Funds?

[Gila]

I think a Tikka T3x lite in 6.5 Creed would be a good buy. The stainless hasn’t gone up that much anyway. I paid $850 for my new T3x SS a couple of years ago….Saw them the other day for $900. Blued is good also, just if it is wet where you hunt then SS might be a better buy. Owned Tikkas for 20 years. They are very accurate overall and have a cold hammer forged barrel which few production rifles have. The standard, solid bolt is smooth as butter. I like the trigger, breaks clean and is adjustable down to 2.25lbs. Tikkas just shoot and shoot well.

 

[Gila]

How often do you see a Tikka being sent in for warranty? A bolt gun is a very simple tool. I have had a ton of rifles and shotguns in the past 40+ years and have never needed a warranty for any. Multiple brands, cheap and expensive. Buy with a reputation of the rifle being a shooter, not how great the warranty dept is.

If the Axis works for you, buy it. Sportsman's Warehouse sells them with scope for 350 bucks.

I got stung on a Citori once. It was a piece of crap. Couldn’t get rid of it fast enough. Replaced it with a used Fausti for half the price and it is twice the gun…

 

[Formidilosus]

I'm not sure I could break a Tikka if I tried. IIRC, I think after like 40,000 rounds, @Formidilosus finally broke one.

Nope. The old plastic bolt shroud broke, doesn’t effect function at all.

 

[fmyth]

Blued tikkas are 750. 650 is 2 years ago pricing.

Sent from my SM-G990U using Tapatalk

Nobody posted the link. They are now $640: https://lockedloaded.com/product/ti...5-creedmoor-24.3-31-synthetic-black-stk-blued

 

[Giroguy2000]

I really like my Weatherby Vanguard. Not the smoothest trigger on it, but for 650 I'll take it!

 

[LoggerDan]

Any pawnshop bolt gun will do. First gun, new hunter, no sense in buying new.

 

[long hunter]

Don't cut short pawn shop buys, have gotten a few good deals on quality rifles from pawn shops, The best was a 03A4 Remington sniper rifle complete with a M-84 military rifle scope 175.00 out the door the rifle is in perfect condition. Also, something to remember with the economy the way it is now folks are selling guns to pawn shops especially someone who inherited dads or granddads guns. The younger folks mostly have no idea what they're selling and the pawn shop owner low balls them, also a pawn shop is better to haggle with if looking for a better price.

 

[Pharmseller]

I hear good things about those Tikkas.




P

 

[Desk Jockey]

Another tikka vote. I might suggest 308. Ammo is cheaper and slightly easier to find than 6.5 And both are great deer medicine at the range many will take a shot as a hunter. Plus, your friend would have to get very good at shooting to take advantage of the marginal difference the creed provides at longer distance.

 

[Turkeytider]

How often do you see a Tikka being sent in for warranty? A bolt gun is a very simple tool. I have had a ton of rifles and shotguns in the past 40+ years and have never needed a warranty for any. Multiple brands, cheap and expensive. Buy with a reputation of the rifle being a shooter, not how great the warranty dept is.

If the Axis works for you, buy it. Sportsman's Warehouse sells them with scope for 350 bucks.

It will not be for me to buy. I`ll pass on the preponderance of recommendations for a Tikka. He`s also considering the possibility of a package rifle. I believe Ruger has scope/gun combos for their American (?). I know that Savage has them for both the Axis II and their 110 models. The 110`s are combined with a Vortex Crossfire II.

 

[gtriple]

It will not be for me to buy. I`ll pass on the preponderance of recommendations for a Tikka. He`s also considering the possibility of a package rifle. I believe Ruger has scope/gun combos for their American (?). I know that Savage has them for both the Axis II and their 110 models. The 110`s are combined with a Vortex Crossfire II.

Where are you located?

 

[WyoKid]

I bought a stainless Lite last year for $500 flat. It was like new. Just gotta do some digging.

I concur. They are out there especially if you pick a caliber that is not the new rage. Anything in 6.5 or PRC will be more expensive than 270, 30-06 or 308 in the same gun.

 

[BugleMeTimber]

Wife and I each have Tikka T3X Stainless .270 win's and like em a lot. Also got one in 7mm08 this year and dialing it in. If I were on a budget I'd buy one in a .308 win as it'll be versatile especially if they decide to hunt elk down the road. Ammo is readily available and can be found at an affordable price and you wouldn't have to worry too much about burning out the barrel. Lots of different bullet variations to play with for whatever game is targeted.

 

[Turkeytider]

Where are you located?

Georgia, and you?

 

[wind gypsy]

It will not be for me to buy. I`ll pass on the preponderance of recommendations for a Tikka. He`s also considering the possibility of a package rifle. I believe Ruger has scope/gun combos for their American (?). I know that Savage has them for both the Axis II and their 110 models. The 110`s are combined with a Vortex Crossfire II.

Gross.

 

[wind gypsy]

I concur. They are out there especially if you pick a caliber that is not the new rage. Anything in 6.5 or PRC will be more expensive than 270, 30-06 or 308 in the ame gun.

For new ones, 6.5 creedmoor seems to be the cheapest tikka you can buy. Must be a volume deal.

 

[gtriple]

Georgia, and you?

I'm in SC, near Charlotte. Would he be interested in a used setup? I do a lot of buying/selling locally and can find some pretty good deals.

If he really wants a package deal, this is the one I would get. AICS mags, threaded barrel. It will be a much better rifle long-term than a Savage.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/ruger-american-predator-bolt-action-rifle-with-vortex-crossfire-ii-scope

 

[gtriple]

For new ones, 6.5 creedmoor seems to be the cheapest tikka you can buy. Must be a volume deal.

I think it has something to do with the shame they feel after buying a 6.5CM with a long action rifle.



I own 2.

 

[Turkeytider]

I'm in SC, near Charlotte. Would he be interested in a used setup? I do a lot of buying/selling locally and can find some pretty good deals.

If he really wants a package deal, this is the one I would get. AICS mags, threaded barrel. It will be a much better rifle long-term than a Savage.

https://www.cabelas.com/shop/en/ruger-american-predator-bolt-action-rifle-with-vortex-crossfire-ii-scope

Thanks, I`ll pass it on. I`m not sure at all what he`s going to finally do.

 

[JSMITT6]

I was going to reccomend the Ruger American Predator.. Glad to see others did. That was the rifle that got me into hunting and was fantastic. I have since graduated to better rifles, however I do not regret starting out on the RAP.