Wanting a high accuracy 308 bolt action rifle what to get?

[clockwork_7mm_gator]

A wood stock Howa 1500, or a Weatherby Vanguard would be hard to beat, or the same in a Bell & Clarson stock

Have been looking for a 1500 walnut hunter in 308 for quite a while. Have seen some 06s. No 308s.

 

[Inline6]

If this is a 'precision' rifle for range use, my vote would be a Tikka T3x Tac A1. I had one in 6.5 and it was a spectacular rifle out to 1200yds. Super heavy, but modular, well built and with an excellent trigger.

A Rem 700 can be an extremely accurate rifle, but they're projects. You buy it, you blueprint it, you swap the trigger, you replace the stock, pillar bed it, swap the extractor and get a new barrel... then it's fantastic. Off the shelf...eh.

I love Tikka, I would not recommend that model. They have had several bolt failures. Had to buy an aftermarket bolt from LRI. Should not need to spend 400.00 for a new bolt due to a poor design. It was a .5 MOA rifle, between that and the mags we had to part ways.

As far as doing all that work to a 700, might as well go custom to begin with. You are at custom action money by the time you buy a stock rifle and do all those up grade.

That has been my experience anyways. YMMV

 

[Mtn_Infantry]

You've got a ton of options to choose from. Savage has several precision models at different price points from an Axis II on up to the Elite Precision. They also have the Model 12's that are routinely tack drivers and with the amount of shooting a lot of BR and F Class Shooters do, the barrel nut makes barrel swaps easy.

Remington 700's I've personally had phenomenal luck with aside from 1 .300WM 5R that I'm still messing with. You could also look semi custom with something like a Masterpiece Arms where you're guaranteed 3/8 MOA or something. Then you can go the complete custom route but now you're well beyond your budget

 

[Sideshow]

Have a look at what Nathen here has to write. If you get book 2 he has a brake down in the back of good and bad rifle designs and why. this will really help you in your choice. Comes in an Ebook version as well so you wont have to wait for the postman

The Entire Nathan Foster Collection

These books draw on the vast experience of Nathan Foster and educate the reader about the areas of cartridge selection, long range rifles, rifle accurizing, rifle maintenance, reloading and long range shooting.

www.ballisticstudies.com

 

[Alistair]

I love Tikka, I would not recommend that model. They have had several bolt failures. Had to buy an aftermarket bolt from LRI. Should not need to spend 400.00 for a new bolt due to a poor design. It was a .5 MOA rifle, between that and the mags we had to part ways.

As far as doing all that work to a 700, might as well go custom to begin with. You are at custom action money by the time you buy a stock rifle and do all those up grade.

That has been my experience anyways. YMMV

Interesting. A lot of guys at my range back in the UK had them as well as myself and we never saw any issues. I didn't mind the mags either.

As for the 700 they're a bit less money than full custom which is why I think they're popular. Again back in the UK when I was looking at such things building the above on a cheap second hand 700 was a 3-4k build versus 5k+ for a full custom. Neither is cheap, but a couple of grand either way isn't nothing.

 

[Inline6]

Interesting. A lot of guys at my range back in the UK had them as well as myself and we never saw any issues. I didn't mind the mags either.

As for the 700 they're a bit less money than full custom which is why I think they're popular. Again back in the UK when I was looking at such things building the above on a cheap second hand 700 was a 3-4k build versus 5k+ for a full custom. Neither is cheap, but a couple of grand either way isn't nothing.

It is the Dovetail in the bolt that breaks (on the bolt body), it only seems to have an issue with that model. In all fairness it was the only model I messed with so it was all I researched.

My go to is Accuracy International, hands down best rifle for me. I would run a TRG22 if 308. Had a TRG42 in 338LM that would shoot 5 rounds under 1/2MOA

Both of them are out of the budget stated, if budget is not considered that is my 1 and 2 pick.

 

[Alistair]

It is the Dovetail in the bolt that breaks (on the bolt body), it only seems to have an issue with that model. In all fairness it was the only model I messed with so it was all I researched.

My go to is Accuracy International, hands down best rifle for me. I would run a TRG22 if 308. Had a TRG42 in 338LM that would shoot 5 rounds under 1/2MOA

Both of them are out of the budget stated, if budget is not considered that is my 1 and 2 pick.

I like AI a lot, really impressive rifles. As you say though, kinda spendy and in a different market segment than the Tikka or whatever.

I think for AI money I could commission a really nice custom to the same standard to be fair.

 

[Inline6]

I like AI a lot, really impressive rifles. As you say though, kinda spendy and in a different market segment than the Tikka or whatever.

I think for AI money I could commission a really nice custom to the same standard to be fair.

Possible, it just won't be as boom proof.

It is not just the rifle you are buying it is the whole system. Trigger, bases, action, firing pin assembly, and chassis.

In 20k+ rounds through one of mine the only issue I had was self-inflicted. I cleaned the grease off of the trigger, shoot a match in a monsoon. The trigger would hang, put grease back on it and continued to shoot the match. Lesson learned.

 

[fourfive8]

This may parallel some info already posted but this is what I've done a couple times when putting together accurate semi-custom rifles in 308 Win. You may not even need a semi-custom though. Brands like the Tikka/Sako and currently Bergara both usually being, out-of-the-box, accurate rifles.

For semi-custom- find a gunsmith who knows how to "blueprint" an action. Get a beater 700 Remington short action whatever as a donor or just an action. Get an HS Precision "regular sporter" stock. Order a 308 cal Krieger barrel of chosen profile and chosen twist (SS or CM, your choice). I like a slightly heavy contour for accuracy. Give the barrel and action (or donor rifle) to gunsmith. Have him blueprint the barreled-action. Remington 700s are one of the easiest actions to blueprint. Unless you want to shoot really long-shanked bullets requiring a long throat, have him use a standard chamber and throat reamer. I've found the standard 10" twist, in most 308s, really prefers 150-155 gr bullets. HS Precision stocks are very rigid which is what you want for an accurate rifle. You can easily relieve the barrel channel to yield a free floated barrel if desired. These may not be the super light weight, current craze rifles but it is the surest way I know to have an accurate, semi-custom rifle at a reasonable cost.

 

[Forrest Halley]

My vote is a savage 10 or 12 in .308. It's a great option that you don't have to spend a whole lot of money on to make it meet your specs.

 

[Daggaboy375]

Bergara B-14 Ridge Rifle in 308 win

Good choice. It's a nice heavier barrel in a handy package. I think most Rem 700 accessories will fit.

You will like it.

DB

 

[rdog]

Have been looking for a 1500 walnut hunter in 308 for quite a while. Have seen some 06s. No 308s.

I have a Howa 1500 26 inch heavy barrel in 308 win fitted to in to a Bell & Carlson
M40 style stock not bedded, just screwed up to 60 inch pounds. fitted with a Leupold LRP VX3I 6.5x 20 scope . As much as i loved the Remington 700 the Howa 1500 is a much better action , better trigger, better extractor better machining finish at a realistic price. This is how it groups at 100 meters i do not think it gets much better than this.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I am looking for a bolt action rifle in 308 capable of .75 moa or better 5 shot groups with a match round it likes. Any thoughts?
Besides the accuracy here are some features/qualities I am wanting. A smooth action feel with great reliability. Both CRF and push feed are fine don't care either way. Barrel length 20"- 24". 1 in 11.25" or faster twist. Great factory trigger or ability to replace with great aftermarket trigger. A stiff strong strait comb stock preferred (do not like some of the flimsy polymer stocks). NO muzzle brakes.

Appreciate any advice to steer me in the right direction. Thanks.

@Rocco490
You don't say what you want the rifle force it hunting or target or a price range.
My son has a Howa 308 and it shoots half inch or better 3 shot groups with 150gn accubonds and SSTs all day every day.
Another good rifle is the Savage range of rifles. There's no such thing as an inaccurate Savage.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I can not believe we've made it to post #17 without someone trying to upsell a caliber. I mean really, what the hell is going on. Everyone knows a 308WIN is garbage compared to the 30-06...and don't even get me started on the 300WM, 300WBY, 30NOSLER, 300RUM...

In all seriousness, you would be hard pressed to find an out of the box rifle that shoots better than a Savage 110 for less money. Comes in a variety of weights, colors and finishes to suit just about every hunter and shooter out there. Stick with the AccuStock models and you will be fine.

Best of luck with it. Let us know how it goes.

@BeeMaa
It's a wonder you didn't try and convince him to get a blaser R8.
At least you recognise that Savage do accurate rifles straight from the box, but so does Howa/ Weatherby vanguard.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Take a hard look at Bergara. As other have mentioned. Have one in 30-06 and an 18inch. 308. both are shooters and quality for the money. sub 1000 dollar rifles easy sub moa with factory

@dchum
It's very easy to buy a sub moa rifle nowdays but it's still hard to find sub moa shooters.
Bob

 

[mark-hunter]

They have had several bolt failures.

First time I hear about that! What kind of bolt failures they had?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Savage. Model 10/12, or get a Savage LRP in 6.5 Creedmoor and a couple cases of Prime ammo and you should be GOLDEN and within max budget!!!

I have no experience with the Tikkas, but some of them are possible candidates as well. If you aren't set on the 308 for a specific reason, a 6.5 caliber has much better ballistics.

@igotit
Even the Stevens 200 aka cheap version of the Savage is exceptionally accurate. My 270 was a 0.3 inch at 100 with 110gns and 1.1 inch at 200 with 130gr ACPs similar to Barnes yes you need to upgrade the trigger but that's it. My mate Greg's Stevens 200 in 223 punches half inch or less 5 shot group at 100 with 55gn Sierra game king hand loads.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Have been looking for a 1500 walnut hunter in 308 for quite a while. Have seen some 06s. No 308s.

@clockwork_7mm_gator
My mate Greg bought a 2nd hand Howa walnut hunter in 30-06 with a fluted barrel and even with factory ammo it shoots less than .75 at 100 and even better with hand loads. Not bad for 500 bucks including scope

 

[fourfive8]

Quite a few factory rifles currently have a reputation for accuracy. None warranting a 100% but many having high percentage out of the box. If I had to pick only one to buy right now it would be a Sako. Cost is always part of the equation that gets thrown in though. So Savage usually has a high representative % of recommendations if for no other reason than base cost. Just can't bring myself to it. A personal thing I think.... having flashbacks of retightening the barrel nut on one while shooting One was enough... in addition to the appearance of that "stove bolt", for lack of a better description... coined by someone else a long time ago. And then there is the resale value side of the coin... but that is another discussion.

 

[YancyW]

I have a Howa 1500 26 inch heavy barrel in 308 win fitted to in to a Bell & Carlson
M40 style stock not bedded, just screwed up to 60 inch pounds. fitted with a Leupold LRP VX3I 6.5x 20 scope . As much as i loved the Remington 700 the Howa 1500 is a much better action , better trigger, better extractor better machining finish at a realistic price. This is how it groups at 100 meters i do not think it gets much better than this.View attachment 491737View attachment 491738

That is an insanely good 10 shot group. A man could spend 5 figures on a rifle setup and not do any better than that