Rifle suggestion

[RockIsland]

do yourself a favor and give Bergara a shot probably one of the most accurate rifles I have ever seen. Several guys at my camp have them now and they all perform

^^^This!^^^

For the price point they are fantastic. On par with a Sako.

The Spaniards still make some high quality guns.

[Noah_Zark]

Never shot a SAKO I didn't like . . .

Me, too. My favorite is the straight-grip 28/30:



Noah

[heatheroo]

Never shot a SAKO I didn't like

Finnwolf. Bolt action accuracy in a LA

[P89]

I have a $350 Savage 111 that shoots clover leafs at 100 yards with cheap factory ammo. I do appreciate a nice rifle but you don't have to spend that much to get an accurate rife. Expensive rifles are sweet but not necessary for accuracy.

^This.
My Savage Axis does the same thing out to 300 yards with decent ammo. If it's going to be a hunting rifle it going to get abused a little. No need to go all out.

[edritchey]

Browning X Bolt rifles are some accurate rifles and made very well you might want to look at those too.

[Bang]

Seems bolt action is the category, leaving out lever and pump. Since $1600 appears a viable possibility, Savage or TC (S&W) Compass seem below an already existing standard. But, having both, and both are under MOA, I have to suggest them. As has been pointed out, worrying about damaging a high-quality rifle while hunting is an avoidable distraction.

[OwenP]

I’m primarily looking to hunt deer I don’t know if that changes the conversation at all when considering it done like this

[knight0334]

I*m primarily looking to hunt deer I don*t know if that changes the conversation at all when considering it done like this

You dont need a $1600 Sako to hunt deer when a $200 gun will do the same. The $1400 difference must be accounted for somewhere else like, I like the way it looks/feels, It is far more accurate than any <$1600 gun, etc, etc. Even, "I'm a gun snob, anything less is uncivilized" is reason.


The payback time of 50-120lbs of meat per deer minus hunting license/extra tags will take a long time to offset the additional cost versus a lessor expensive gun.

[God's Country]

I agree with knight. I'm guessing you are new to hunting/deer hunting? You certainly don't need to spend more than a $300-$400 on a basic rifle plus scope. Hit a gun show and you can get one far cheaper.
I hunted with a marlin 336 for decades and I replaced it with a cheap savage .308. I hunt with guys that walk around with rifles and glass that cost many times what my savage and Leupold scope cost. I shoot more and bigger deer than them almost always because I hunt. Every hunter thinks they're going to drop a deer at 400 yards. Some do. Most can't hit a barn at 200 yds. I dropped nice deer over 200 yds with my .30-30 and .308 Most are 100yds and less. Far less.

If this is your first deer rifle find a reasonably priced gun, put a $300-$400 Leupold or Nikon on it and get some hunting experience. Your success won't depend on the money you spent on your rifle.

[pens87pgh]

What these guys all said. My $300 Savage Arms bolt-action .30-06 (including a mounted scope) has been more than sufficient in being a deer slayer. No need to overthink it for this one IMO.