.308 Rifle help

[Mtn_Infantry]

Not sure where you are in Texas but I have a bunch of Savages, as well as others. .308 is my preferred North American caliber for the hunting I do (.257wby is rapidly catching on). I own them on all different flavors.

Dollar for Dollar, I don’t think any of the other manufacturers compete in terms of both Accuracy and Durability out of the box. The modularity of their stocks is great and allows you to basically have a youth model you can grow with the Hunter or start out fitting an above average sized adult with a longer LOP (like myself). Compared to older Savages the new stuff is leaps and bounds ahead of where they once were.

That said, any of the brands you mentioned would be a great option. Ruger #1’s and Weatherby’s are another couple of favorites.

 

[matt vejar]

Have a Tikka 30-06, is buy far my favorite gun and wish it was a 308 just because they kick less and all you need for pigs and deer!!!

 

[Rick Cox]

I am looking at buying a third Tikka T3X In .223. They are new on Gunbroker for $650 shipping included From Europtic. This is the most accurate rifle for the money And has the smoothest action in its class. There are many, many custom accessories available for it now.

I have one with a 1/8 twist. Very accurate with all slugs, but especially 65 and 70 grains. As you have noted, it has a very smooth action.

 

[F. Vaccaro]

I love the .308. If I were looking for one I’d look for a Ruger 77, Weatherby Vanguard, or a Savage. Probably in that order. I would want a 1-10 twist.

 

[Berettaco]

If you’re looking for a brand new rifle I’d go with tikka. I have 6 tikkas and all of them shoot under MOA with factory ammo and 1/2 MOA with handloads.
If you search a bit you may find a nice used Winchester 70, Mauser, rem 700, nosler, etc… never know what shows up in the used section of the gunshop or late night gunbroker/gunsinternational search

 

[WAB]

I recommend looking at Bergara. I have a Bergara 308 Win and it shoots sub MOA.

Unlike many of the others, they are guaranteed to shoot moa or better.

 

[Inline6]

Seekins Precision HAVAK PH2

It is a few dollars more than your budget.

Have not handled the Bergara have read lots of good reports. The few people who I personally know that have them have been happy customers.

 

[Areaonereal]

A Tikka 1 in 11 twist would not be a problem in a 308, why would you want to shoot a 210 or 220 gr in it. It as it sits would handle any hunting bullet from 200 gr on down, A 308 just screams …feed me a 165 or 168 and watch what I can do. Weatherby Vanguard also is a very good option.

 

[shootist~]

Have a Tikka 30-06, is buy far my favorite gun and wish it was a 308 just because they kick less and all you need for pigs and deer!!!

If you reload, 56 grains of H4350 and a Hornady 150 gives 308W velocity (2,786 fps) in my T3X 30-06 with very good accuracy. The same load also works just as well in a couple of friend's 06s - another T3X and a Ruger Americam. Moderate loads of 4895 (either one) also work well with 150s at 308 velocity (and under).

180 gr A-Frames are my proven 30-06 plains game load, but serious practice from the sticks with 150s is way more pleasant.

 

[Philip Glass]

I have one with a 1/8 twist. Very accurate with all slugs, but especially 65 and 70 grains. As you have noted, it has a very smooth action.

Nice!

 

[Philip Glass]

Unlike many of the others, they are guaranteed to shoot moa or better.

Tikka shoot moa before they leave the factory.

 

[WAB]

Tikka shoot moa before they leave the factory.

I’m not saying they don’t, I’ve owned both and like both. The Bergara comes with a 1 moa guarantee. Maybe tikka does now, but the one I bought didn’t.

Personally I think the Bergara has a better trigger, and Bergara made their reputation building barrels long before they made rifles.

Neither the Tikka or Bergara have particularly great stocks. They’re not terrible but they don’t measure up to the pillar bedded stock on a M-70 extreme weather for instance.

 

[crs]

Bought my 1953 M70 FWT .308 in the 70s and it has always shot sub MOA.
Sure glad I did not have to consider all the techie stuff in the article above and just bought a Winchester!!

 

[WAB]

Bought my 1953 M70 FWT .308 in the 70s and it has always shot sub MOA.
Sure glad I did not have to consider all the techie stuff in the article above and just bought a Winchester!!
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You can’t go wrong with a M70!

 

[Philip Glass]

I’m not saying they don’t, I’ve owned both and like both. The Bergara comes with a 1 moa guarantee. Maybe tikka does now, but the one I bought didn’t.

Personally I think the Bergara has a better trigger, and Bergara made their reputation building barrels long before they made rifles.

Neither the Tikka or Bergara have particularly great stocks. They’re not terrible but they don’t measure up to the pillar bedded stock on a M-70 extreme weather for instance.

My son-in-law has two Bergaras and he likes them. The Tikka T3 is my lightweight mountain hunting rifle. The Bergara is a bit bulky to me. I bought my wife a Tikka and I am going to get myself another one! Both good choices no Doubt.
Philip

 

[fourfive8]

I would not discount a Winchester Model 70 as has been posted in this thread. Most will shoot 150 gr bullets exceptionally well. Might start looking through the used gun market for an older M70 with good bore. I had a pre-64 M70 Featherweight in 308 and it was a dandy!

 

[C.W. Richter]

Cross the Savage off, do a coin toss, and if going to Africa (Africahunting.com) opt for the 30-06 or better yet 300 WM. It's not Korea or VN. The 308 can't send the high SD, heavy-for-caliber bullets at proper velocity for the PG you'll be hunting with it, at range...Should be fine if you're accustomed to archery or muzzleloader distances and adore stalking! African game are not built like deer. Use More Gun -some author

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Of the three rifles you listed, I’ve only experience with the Tikka. I’ve had three of them in the cabinet over the years. Easily in my opinion the best rifle for the money.

Silky smooth action and very accurate. Last one in was a .308 for my son. I hand loaded up some 165gr bullets with Hodgdon Varget, just middle of the charge range, so medium speed.

First trip to the range, I shot once and made an adjustment. Shot a second time and was dead center and 2 inches high. One more adjustment to put next shots in bullseye.

I handed the rifle to my boy who was shooting a caliber of this size for the first time. He put the next 3 shots into one slightly larger than .308 hole.

Never saw that before nor since on a first trip to the range with a new rifle.

 

[rdog]

I have had a Sauer 100 nice rifle, but a bit plasticity pressed in bbl not able to be re-barreled all cals long action, have a tikka t3x screwed in bbl all cals long action, again bits of plastic in some parts & a plastic magazine . Howa 1500 & Weatherby Vanguard all metal short or long action, i have a 308 Howa HS precision stock cerakote factory rifle, moa all day, love it avail in walnut stock also, the Howa & the Vanguard are built in Japan very good machining, hammer forged bbls good adjustable triggers, M16 style extractor, traditional hinged floor plate & magazine assembly they leave the savage 110 for dead.

 

[Ryan]

Never had a Tikka, though I've heard nothing but good about them. I have a Savage 110 stainless steel (formerly Weather Warrior, now Storm) in 7mm-08 and it has worked great for five years now. Love it for caribou. Factory barrel and hand loads shooting a hair under MOA for all that matters to the animal. Everything is metal but the stock, not so sure about that with a Tikka. I dislike plastic stocks so I got a laminate stock from Boyd's and bedded it. Even with the new stock I'm still pretty sure it is under a grand for the rifle itself.

And while I used a 30-06 because that's what I own in 30 cal, I'd use a 308 in a heartbeat for plains game hunting. When I first started looking around at outfitters they all asked me if I had a 308 or 30-06 and could shoot it properly. That is it. My first PH used a 30-06 as his basic rifle, his partner on the same farm used a 308. Both have taken far more PG in Namibia with those rifles than I ever will.
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