Best sub 2000$ non-heavyweight rifle?

Elkaholic Bob said:
I have a ridgeline, shoots very good. I'm bet shooting xbolts for years. Good shooting rifle but the trigger leaves a lot to be desired. If I was in the market for a rifle in that price range I would take a serious look at a limber, Christensen ridgeline,seekins havok or the barrel field craft. Keep us posted on what you decide on.
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Kimber
 
Bigeclipse said:
What's the best sub 2000$ rifle out there? I'm not looking for used. I will likely have to purchase using credit card. Not a penny over 2000$ Which includes tax so I guess rifles like 1850$ and less. Musts are I'm looking for the best chance of not needing to use a gunsmith for any work so a rifle which shoots well from the get go is critical. I do not want a varmint barrel but I'm also not interested in super pencil barrels. I do not shoot prone and will be shooting out of tree stands or hunting blinds out to 400 yards. Tree stands have shooting rails and I would only shoot out to 200 yards in those. A threaded barrel is a plus but not mandatory. I don't like Tupperware cheap stocks. I like a typical sport style or montecarlo style stock. I prefer non-wood stocks but don't hate wood i just prefer the durability of non wood. If they come bedded that is a plus but if they will shoot well with out that is fine as well. Nice trigger out of the box is also critical. I've been looking at a Bergara Highlander and a Montana xtreme x3 so far. Main targets will be deer. Thanks
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Take a look at the Ruger Guide gun, the Hawkeye Hunter, the Alaskan, the FTW Hunter, and the long range hunter. I own several Rugers, and they're quite accurate, durable and effective. The Ruger Hawkeye standard in 30-06 or .308 would probably do you out to around 400+ yards, for that matter. Mine is accurate enough to group 5 shot into about 5 inches at 600 yards with Sierra 180 bullets(30-06). All the ones listed above except the Ruger standard have threaded barrels and either laminated stocks or synthetic stocks. Some also have open sights, which I especially like, since I have broken scopes on hunts, and they'll all shoot under MOA. Several have 5R rifling. Prices vary from a suggested retail of $979.00 to 1279.00. If you like single shots, you can also find the Ruger No.1 in .308, 30-06, and several other calibers. They're more expensive, but I like them. Try to find one in the medium barreled sporter, though. Even with a 24 inch tube, it will be shorter than a bolt gun with a 22 inch barrel. You will have to look in the used market for a 24" barreled one in 30-06, though, and most people who own No.1's don't sell or trade them.
 
Bigeclipse said:
What's the best sub 2000$ rifle out there? I'm not looking for used. I will likely have to purchase using credit card. Not a penny over 2000$ Which includes tax so I guess rifles like 1850$ and less. Musts are I'm looking for the best chance of not needing to use a gunsmith for any work so a rifle which shoots well from the get go is critical. I do not want a varmint barrel but I'm also not interested in super pencil barrels. I do not shoot prone and will be shooting out of tree stands or hunting blinds out to 400 yards. Tree stands have shooting rails and I would only shoot out to 200 yards in those. A threaded barrel is a plus but not mandatory. I don't like Tupperware cheap stocks. I like a typical sport style or montecarlo style stock. I prefer non-wood stocks but don't hate wood i just prefer the durability of non wood. If they come bedded that is a plus but if they will shoot well with out that is fine as well. Nice trigger out of the box is also critical. I've been looking at a Bergara Highlander and a Montana xtreme x3 so far. Main targets will be deer. Thanks
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A Weatherby Vanguard is guaranteed to deliver .99 MOA with their ammunition or other quality ammunition for 1/4 of your expected cost in virtually caliber you choose. 400 yards is the low side of medium range and a piece of cake for a Weatherby. If you don't like the stock you have got $1500 to play with to buy a better one or get a good scope, rings, bases and sling.
Have fun
 
John Polk said:
A Weatherby Vanguard is guaranteed to deliver .99 MOA with their ammunition or other quality ammunition for 1/4 of your expected cost in virtually caliber you choose. 400 yards is the low side of medium range and a piece of cake for a Weatherby. If you don't like the stock you have got $1500 to play with to buy a better one or get a good scope, rings, bases and sling.
Have fun
Click to expand...
Weatherby Vangards are made by Howa, and are very affordable and again very reliable. Hard to go wrong there.
 
CVCOBRA1 said:
I know you say "not used" and "purchase with credit card" but why not look at the classifieds on here to get some idea.
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Yep, I've bought some really nice, accurate used rifles over the years. And they were pretty inexpensive. My Ruger No.1 25-06 was used. It came with a Loupold scope mounted on it.
 
On top of what I already mentioned... I would agree wholeheartedly that you definitely should peruse the classifieds for a used (and some new) rifles being sold for 2/3 of what usually go for new. I know this because I've been on the selling end of this many times before.
 
Many great suggestions in this thread, I don't think you could go wrong with almost any of them. I very recently went through the same process you are for a new 300 win mag rifle.

I ended up with the Bergara Highlander Premiere.

The others in the running were:
Seekins Precision Havak PH2 (I ended up buying their scope base and rings, manufacturing is top notch)
Fierce Fury
Kimber Mountain Ascent Subalpine
Montana Xtreme Ranch
Weatherby Vanguard First Lite
Browning X-Bolt Hell's Canyon Speed (ruled out due to aftermarket support)
Barrett Fieldcraft (ruled out due to caliber support)
Christensen Ridgeline (ruled out due to many people having CS issues with the barrel wrapping)
Mesa Arms (ruled out due to being too expensive)
 
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