Best Affordable.308 Rifle Options for Hunt (2023).

Updated 4/3/2023 Ok, so it’s not quite as flexible as the.306 Springfield, but that’s just our opinion. The tried-and-true.30-caliber is reliable and accurate for all kinds of predators, bull moose, and everything in between. There are many.308 rifles available that can be used to take game. They come in all price ranges, from the top-end to the bargain basement. This is a blessing and curse if you have a yen to buy a hunting iron.308 cartridge. It’s a blessing because you can easily walk down to your local gun shop and find one that suits your needs. Even the most expensive blue-light specials can be quite good. However, it’s a curse, because if you’re a bit more selective–especially if you have tight purse strings–it takes research to find the exact .308 rifle to fill your heart’s desires.We’re catering to the second type of rifleman in this .308 rifle buyer’s guide. The guy who doesn’t have the money to buy a gun but still wants a hunting rifle that will hold its value for a lifetime, shoots well and has a touch of class. Tough, yes. Impossible, no.Searching out these some what rare rifles, we set out the following parameters:Well made–as we said, it should last a lifetime.Accurate–it’s got to be an MOA shooter or dang close.Production–it’s currently made.Less than $1,250–unfortunately, as prices rise across the board, what is considered “affordable” does as well. It is rare to find a rifle with Mauser-style extractors in this class of firearms. Although push-feeds have proven to be hunters, in rugged terrain with a trophy at stake, we can understand why some people want the security of controlled feed. Amazingly, the Hawkeye Compact, with its walnut stock, is among the lightest.308 rifles found in the guide. It weighed in at mountain rifle 5.7 lbs. This is due to the rifle’s 16.50-inch barrel. The rifle is still capable of ethical hunting at close ranges, despite the reduced bore. Other notable features include a cold hammer-forged barrel and a 4-round internal magazine. The Ruger L6 trigger is also excellent, weighing in at 3.5 pounds. Ruger.comSavage 110 hunter. Long ago, Savage Arms proved that a tack-driving rifle was within reach of all shooters. The Model 10 Trophy Hunter is a superbly executed rifle. The.308 rifle, along with other short-action cartridges, has a solid action and barrel made from forged bar stock. This material allows for extremely tight tolerances and outfits hunters with a gun that is as rugged as the terrain. The Model 10 has a few additional features that most hunters find attractive, including Savage’s fully-adjustable AccuTrigger with detachable magazine and detachable case magazine. The gun’s aesthetics and functionality are enhanced by a nice walnut stick with positive checkering. For the price, the Model 10 over-delivers.MSRP: $849, savagearms.comRemington 700 SPSSo, we did say we were shooting for a touch of class. The SPS is not as close to this mark as any 700. It’s still beautiful where it counts. The Model 700 action was the foundation of most precision shooting rigs. It set the standard for reliable, strong push-feed actions. This.308 rifle’s biggest problem is its appearance. It has a very plain synthetic stock with rubberized grips. Although it may not be able to provide precise accuracy, the stock is strong enough to keep you on target when in the field. In .308, the rifle is outfitted with a 24-inch barrel and weighs in at a very manageable 7.5 pounds.MSRP: $850, remington.comBrowning X-Bolt HunterBrowning offers a more affordable line, the A-Bolt. It’s hard to believe that you would compromise when X-Bolt options like the Hunter are more affordable than they are economically priced. Browning isn’t taking chances with the rifles accuracy potential. All X-Bolt barrels are button-rifled and air-gauged, hand-chambered, and lapped using the company’s proprietary process. The barreled action is epoxy-bedded into a Grade 1 walnut stock to make a top-shelf rifle in.308 size. The rifle is fast and accurate, with a 60-degree bolt throw that does not interfere with the scope. The 22-inch barreled rifle has a 4-round center fed rotary magazine and Browning’s three-lever Feather Trigger. MSRP: $1,099.99, browning.comTikka T3x Hunter Tikka is still a valuable commodity in the U.S., but its stock has risen over the past decades. Precision shooters who are looking to save money are the main beneficiaries. Hunters would be wise to check out the Finnish gunmaker. Few rifles can match the performance of the T3x Hunter out of the box. The T3x Hunter has well-thought ergonomics and one of the most reliable production triggers available. Accuracy is what steals attention. The T3x action is to be commended, with plenty to stiffen it up as well as a two-lug bolt for a strong lockup. A Sako-style extractor was also mentioned. Although not as strong as a Mauser, it is still reliable. It is impossible to give more details about this.308 rifle. However, it is safe to say that most hunters are happy taking a Tikka out on the hunt. I hunt a vintage Interarms import from Serbia (the Mark X) and am still amazed at its capabilities. The M70 is almost identical to the Mauser ’98, and is basically the same rifle. Zastava is the most affordable controlled feed rifle on the market. It is certainly a bit rougher than the Mauser rifle. It’s still a class act. The trigger options on the.308 rifle are one of its most interesting features. There are three options: single-stage, single-double-set, or two trigger double-set. The latter two offer nearly a hair-trigger break, helping improve the rifle’s accuracy potential.MSRP: $799, zastavaarmsusa.comHowa 1500 HogueHowa’s one of those companies that’s been around for a spell that everyone just discovered. The precision shooting world has helped to increase the stock of the Japanese barreled-action manufacturer. The irons are also very good hunters. The Hogue model is one of the most affordable.308 rifles available from the company. The iron is equipped with Hogue’s rugged and comfortable Overmolded stock. Grippy rubber coating is a real improvement for hunting guns. It also improves accuracy by pillar-bedding and free-floating your barrel. Add Howa’s HACT trigger with two stages and you have a rifle that can bring meat to the table. MSRP: $579, howausa.comBergara B-14 timberDespite the price tag being slightly higher than the buyer’s guide’s ceiling it’s hard not to consider the Bergara B-14 a valuable weapon in every sense. The Spanish-American company offers so much more than the price tag makes it a bargain. This barrel is one of the most desirable on the market. The 20-inch button-rifled firetube is extremely uniform and manufactured to print cloverleaves. The.308 rifle is paired with the B-14 action and pillar bedded. It has a precision rig’s heart. It’s also a great looking rifle, with a nice piece walnut for the stock-Monte Carlo. The standard Timber comes with an inner 4-round box magazine. However, this can be changed to a removable magazine if desired. CZ-USA announced in 2021 that the CZ 527 and 557 series bolt-action rifles would be discontinued. Instead, the company will be introducing the CZ 600 series. The CZ 600 Lux is the most affordable and traditional model. It features an oil-finished, checkered Bavarian-style walnut barrel, but many modern innovations have been made to improve its functionality. It features a 60-degree bolt throw for smooth and fast cycling, a large wooden bolt knob, and a 2-position safety that is extremely quiet. It has a fiber optic front view, can accept Remington 700-pattern scope bases, and feeds from a 5-round, detachable mag. If all that isn’t enough, each rifle comes with a subMOA accuracy guarantee as well as a threaded muzzle ready to accept suppressors. The complete package is the CZ 600 Lux. MSRP: $999, cz.usa.comS&W M10 SportOK. We’re breaking some rules with this rifle. It is a little more expensive than our limit, but it doesn’t violate the traditional definitions of class. But that’s okay. The MP10 Sport is an AR-10 hunter that’s affordable, reliable, and well-made. The Sport has a 16-inch barrel with 5R rifling. It excels as a nimble brushgun, but it can also reach out with its medium contour offering excellent harmonics. Ambidextrous controls make it lefty-friendly, which is not always the case for hunters or all ARs. A mid-length gas system helps to reduce the rifle’s 8-pound weight. Fairly barebones from there–A2 flash hider, 6-position stock, polymer handguard, Picatinny optics rail–the AR is nonetheless a performer.MSRP: $1,129, smith-wesson.comMauser M18Wait! A Mauser on a budget.308 rifle list. It sounds crazy considering that even vintage war-weathered irons cost a lot nowadays. The M18 was introduced by the German manufacturer a few years ago and has since been regarded as one of the most affordable hunters on the market. The M18 is not a stripped-down M98. The rifle, which was a Mauser creation, does not have the oversized claw extractor. It’s instead the popular and affordable detachable magazine feed, three-lug fatbol. It’s reliable and smooth, and it mates up well with the semi-open action M18. The system, which is married to the 20-inch barrel that was hammer-forged, is undoubtedly one of the most accurate hunting irons available. It does more than just put meat on the plate. The stock is synthetic as you would expect. However, it does not look like it was taken from the recycling bin. It’s strong and stable, making it a solid platform for repeatable accuracy. Although little things like the plastic trigger guard are a bit disappointing, the M18 is a great value. Download your Storm Tactical printable target pack62 printable MOA targets with DOT drills – Rifle range in YARDS. This impressive target pack comes from Storm Tactical and contains 62 printable targets for rifle and handgun range usage. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. This is a great option for long-range shooting. Enter your email address below.