If you had $1500 to spend on a new rifle, what would it be?

[Reece123]

So I have a bit of a decision to make. I recently joined a raffle group on FB and they had a raffle on a new Mathews arc 30. I toss my money in and win. I thought the guy was going to ask for my local dealership, call them and basically pre purchase one and I’d get to pick the color etc. Turns out it was just a cash out. He sends me $1500 and says “let me know what you get!” I’m not mad about that, it just opens the door for more opportunities.

Back story, I just bought a new lift x 29.5 for sub $1k. If I was getting the new arc it would be a 34 to cut out some redundancy but I’m afraid having 2 bows 1 year apart and different ATA may still do that. It’s also hard to justify paying that kind of money when I know in about 8-10 months I can pick one up for around $1k if I wanted to.

I’m wanting to get into western hunting, and have been looking for an excuse to buy a nice new “mountain gun” in something like a 6.5 or 7prc perhaps. I already have a vortex viper 6-24 I picked up that I had planned on using for said gun.

So the question is, if you were in this predicament and were playing with the houses money, what would you buy and why? Mind you, I’m not in any sort of spot of “I should put this towards credit card debt” this is the “I can afford a whole lot of guns out there, but most are hard to justify and this makes it easier to justify”. So, what would it be?

 

[journeyman713]

this -
Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed 7mm PRC

 

[nm.otter]

T3x Lite or Superlite in 6.5 Creedmoor and a Rokstock. No need for the PRC unless you intend to kill stuff beyond 700 yards at typical western elevations.

 

[Chris in TN]

Sell the Vortex scope, spend half your budget on a new rifle, the rest on a better scope.

 

[Reece123]

this -
Browning X-Bolt 2 Speed 7mm PRC

I have been eyeing one of those for a while.

 

[hereinaz]

Sell the Vortex scope, spend half your budget on a new rifle, the rest on a better scope.

This X 100. For $1500 I personally would buy an SWFA 3-9 or 3-15 and a Tikka.

T3x Lite or Superlite in 6.5 Creedmoor and a Rokstock. No need for the PRC unless you intend to kill stuff beyond 700 yards at typical western elevations.

This, but you can go down to a 6 Creedmoor or 1-8 twist .243 and kill just fine.

 

[nm.otter]

you can go down to a 6 Creedmoor

...which might become a factory option relatively soon.

 

[hereinaz]

Tikka rep told me it was coming, back in 2025 SHOT show.

 

[Reece123]

What do you want the rifle to do?
How far you expect to shoot?
Do you care how much it weighs?
You going to go suppressed?
$1500 a hard limit?
You want to tinker or turn-key?

Moa at 400 yards and in, if I can do my part
.
I think realistic shots are somewhere between 3-400.

I’ve never been hunting in the mountains but from what I’ve heard, every pound counts.

I may go suppressed, but I wouldn’t factor that in as that’s part of this decision.

$1500 isn’t necessarily a hard limit. I have an uncle who owns a gun shop. We are fairly close and I’ve worked for him a lot back in high school in the shop. He gives me dealer cost, if he can get it. So that really takes a $1800 retail gun and turns it into about $1500 out of my pocket.

I’m a tinkerer so doesn’t necessarily have to be turn key. I was thinking $1500 for the gun, plus accessories added later.

 

[Sully_44]

...which might become a factory option relatively soon.

Is this speculation, or true?

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

In that price ballpark, I'd have a smith spin a nice cut rifled barrel onto my action of choice.
All guns are somewhat rolling the dice on how accurate they will be, but a nice cut rifle barrel done by a good Smith should get you into an accuracy ballpark that 99 out of 100 factory rifles can't touch. For about the same money as a $1500 factory gun.

 

[MuleyFever]

I would hit a few gun stores and shoulder some rifles and find what you like. Not all stocks are the same. If you plan to upgrade the stock out of the box then just get a Tikka. Cartridge wise 6.5 CM is a great factory round with lots of ammo choices or 6.5 PRC. I think right now they are among the best turn key options with good rifles and ammo available, although the 6 CM is getting more popular and chambered in more rifles.

 

[hereinaz]

Is this speculation, or true?

Yes

 

[Sully_44]

Yes

Yes speculation or yes true?

 

[DoubleDown]

Depends what niche to fill
BAR
Seekins
Ruger no.1
Marlin Trapper

 

[TradLife406]

Tikka and a maven rs1.2. Rokstok.
Caliber 6 UM but that's a little more expensive to get into it. 22 creed but some states are gay and don't allow that for elk. So 6 creed.

 

[Smokinyotes]

For me it would be a left hand Tikka Roughtech ember in 6.5 PrC topped with a NF SHV 3-10 or Trijicon credo.

 

[Johnwell]

I’d probably go tikka in 6.5 prc with a 3-9 swfa and buy a can for what you’re planning on using it for.

 

[sodaksooner]

Save a bit more and pick up a PH3 or a used PH2. Saw a used element in scheels a few weeks ago. 6.5 or 7 prc for $1600. Hated the stock pattern but it was damn nice. I don't need another rifle, but maybe I should run by this weekend and see if they still have it.....

 

[hereinaz]

Yes speculation or yes true?

Both, lol.

Tikka rep told me and others 6 creed was happening. So it has truth, but could happen in 5 years. Never know what those Finnish are going to do. Anything more than that is speculation as far as I know.