Ruger American Ranch chambered in 450 Bushmaster. They are going for about 500 bucks.

 

This is exactly what I was going to recommend. My cousin just picked one up. Nice gun.

 

Personally, I'm a big fan of the Remington 700, and have acquired a couple of them, recently.

Due to Remington's "issues", I'd recommend a Savage Axis or Model 10 (I think that's the number) in .308 Winchester.
Very accurate rifles.
The only issue is that word, "bear" that you put in your original post.
With 180 gr or 165 gr, I'd feel comfortable using either bullet weight on Black Bear, but I'd want more 'horsepower' for Brown/Grizzly/Polar/etc. (At close range, a 12 gauge pump shotgun with Brenneke Slugs would be my #1 choice.)

For MS-13 hellbent on making your life miserable, an RPG would be the defensive arm of choice, for me.


In all actuality, to cover all of the things you're looking for, either Marlin (preferably) or Henry in .45-70 Gov't. would be my choice.
(That's why I now own FIVE of 'em!)

 

I’m not a huge bolt action fan, but if I was going to buy one tomorrow it would probably be a Ruger American compact in .223 that can take AR15 mags.

I’d load it with 75g TAP and use the flush fit mag for hunting, and could keep a mag of 55g close by for other purposes if needed.

It would be a handy little rifle with a fixed 2.5 or 4x scope, or even a red dot.

My only bolt action is a Remington 700 CDL in .270 with a Zeiss 3-9x40 on it. It’s. A beautiful rifle made just before Remington crapped their pants and started turning out lower quality stuff. Truth is though I have seen a lot of rifles that cost half as much out shoot it. It took hand loading and a lot of trial and error to get an honest 1 moa group out of it. It’s just always been a 1.5-2 moa gun.

My father in law’s $250 Mossberg .243 shot a 1 moa group right out of the box with the first ammo he tried in it. It’s lack of accuracy by internet mook standards sure hasn’t kept it from putting a lot of deer in the freezer though.

Everyone in the Internet shoots a 1 moa group, right?

 

My first question would be where are you hunting?
The 450 already shown would be good in a straight wall state or if big bears were a possibility.
If not caliber restricted, a 308 would do well. I'm a savage fan so maybe a model 16.

 

Can I ask why bolt action? Scratching an itch?

 

Dependable=Ruger American.
Good price Ruger American
Accurate Ruger American
Customer service & parts
Good/adequate power- 308W
Available ammo (when back to normal)
200 gr bullet available for bear defense
mountain lions are apparently easily stopped
7.62 Nato good ammo for cartel members

Greater magazine capacity can be an issue. Most "big game " rifles limit to 5 rounds just because of aesthetics .
Adding capacity tends to add cost.
More exotic calibers can have availability issues-beyond our current dilemma.

I'm a a Remington fan and since its the most cloned rifle system of its type it will almost never be without parts.
Cost can be issue.

Ruger American 308Win sounds like the best compromise.

 

Used Tikka T3 (not the newer T3X) in .30-06. That package set me back a wallop of $450.

 

This, but I would choose .270 or .308 or 6.5 Creedmore. Nothing wrong with 30.06, just not known to be quite as accurate. Remington's quality fell off the chart a few years ago, I wouldn't chose the big green R for any gun these days.

 

You can probably find a used Remington 700 cheap. 308 or 243. If you want to go the magpul route you could make it box mag fed.

 

I purchased this a few years ago. Thompson Center Compass with a Vortex Crossfire scope. This is in 300 Win Mag. This will kill anything on the North American Continent. It's never been shot outside of the factory. A deal could be made if this fits your requirements.

 

View attachment 930805

I purchased this a few years ago. Thompson Center Compass with a Vortex Crossfire scope. This is in 300 Win Mag. This will kill anything on the North American Continent. It's never been shot outside of the factory. A deal could be made if this fits your requirements.

I bought one of those chambered in 6.5 CM at Christmas a couple years ago for $199 when they first came out. It is super accurate for what it is. It shoots right with if not out shoots my 700 and T3X. I gave it to my nephew for Christmas last year. Then I bought another one. I haven’t shot it yet to see if it’s as good as the first one.

BTW S&W just divested TC so I don’t know how support will be in the future.

 

I just went through this journey as well. Settled with Ruger American 6.5 creedmore, with vortex scope , $550

 

I’ve got one of those ruger Americans in .450.....your better off with a 12ga shooting slugs. Get you a ruger American chambered in .338 LM or 7mm ultra mag

 

I shoot a Compass by Thompson/Center in .270 Winchester. This particular rifle achieves groups less than 1 inch at 100 yards consistently.
Its barrel bore in the last 6 inches is reduced which gives it the additional accuracy.
It has a 5 round magazine.
A fellow hunter has this same rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor and shoots less than 1 MOA as well.
Around $300.

 

Tikka T3x in 270 or 308 . Usually more and cheaper ammo for the 308 . If you don’t want to spend the money the Ruger American .

 

7mm-08. Whatever model, remember the cost of glass to go with it.

 

30-06 Rem 700. The ADL model is very affordable.

I bought my wife a Tikka T3X in .270 that is pretty sweet.

 

I have a Browning X-bolt stalker---a stainless Ruger Hawkeye and a stainless Savage Axis-------the most expensive was $550 when I bought it ---they have jumped up quite a bit since I bought them.

The most rugged is definitely the Ruger---not as accurate as the others but accurate enough.

As for caliber, hard to go wrong with a .30-06, .270 or .308. Take your pick

 

i won't suggest a model, many good ones have been suggested. For bolt actions I will make a suggestion on caliber, stay with standard calibers like 30-06, .308 win or .270. These calibers are great general purpose rifle calibers that will always be available. For the purposes you mentions these calibers fit the bill. I've seen too many new wonderful, new and improved rifle calibers come and go over the last 40 years.

 

There are some good recommendations above and some that are not so good, such as .223 for big game. Neither a magnum nor a big bore Bushmaster is needed for your described tasks. Tikka, Ruger, Sako, or Savage in .30-06 is my recommendation. You can hunt any big game in North American with that one gun in that caliber. If you later decide to buy a gun in a game specific caliber, your .30-06 makes a great back up gun due to its versatility. The old 06 has been getting it done for over 100 years and factory ammo is very common and a large variety of loads and bullet weights are available during normal times.

Hi y'all!


I am looking to buy a bolt-action hunting rifle that I can hunt deer, wild pigs/boar, etc with.


I also want it to be chambered in a caliber that is powerful enough to be used for self-defense against bears, mountain lions, MS-13 members wearing Kevlar, raccoons with dollar bills, etc.


This will be a SHTF gun, so it needs to be very reliable, rugged, tough, and durable.


I would prefer to not spend more than $700-800 at most. Less than $700 would be even better, but I don't know a whole lot about the bolt-action rifle market, so I don't know if there are good quality, rugged, sturdy rifles available for a lower price.


Does anyone have any recommendations for a brand/model and caliber?


I was thinking about a Remington 700, but their bankruptcy issues have made me wonder if there might be problems down the road in terms of warranty, customer service, availability of spare parts, etc. Should I be concerned about this?


If anyone can recommend a tough, reliable, and rugged bolt-action rifle, I would appreciate any suggestions!


Thanks everyone!


I hope you are having a great day!

 

I'm looking for a Mauser action in .308 myself. First choice is a Kimber but none are available, Second and last choice is a Winchester Featherweight. Also none available. So I wait.

 

Winchester is finally getting production going again. The owner of the gun shop I use went on line and found one out of state. It was new and being auctioned. His bid of about $200 over suggested retain won the auction. It is on the way down from Oregon and should be here Friday. It is chambered for the round I wanted, .308 Win. I have an old Leupold 3x9 to go on it and I'm looking forward to sighting it in. This is the first centerfire rifle I've bought in many years.

 

Savage bolt 7mm-08 is the most accurate and least expensive in my safe. Will kill anything in North America.
Ruger 10/22 .22 is very good
Remington 870 Youth 20ga if I could only have one

 

My fiirst recommendation is for a 30-06. For the uses you’re talking about, the ability to find (& load) a variety of ammo will be the greatest. 30-06 has more range and types of ammo than almost anything else, from 110 grain bullets all the way up to 220 grain, and just about every bullet architecture there is. (Let’s assume at some point ammo availability becomes less of an issue. Not that it will ever be what it was...) But, I have to say, as much as I love my Ruger mod. 77 30-06 (now the ‘Hawkeye’), my new favorite is my Ruger American 450 Bushmaster.

It’s a tack driver out to 225 yards and still well over 1/2 ton of energy.

 

I would go for the 6.5CM but .308 would work fine.

low cost bolt action rifles - YouTube

 

I have a savage Axis II with a Vortex scope that’s worth 3+ times the rifle and I have shot it on steel out to 900 yds.

 

I’ve bought, sold and had a lot of bolt action rifles. By far the best I’ve had to date is a Tikka T-3 lite stainless synthetic .308 with Burris mounts and signature rings and Zeiss 3-9X40 scope. I have shorter and other very long range set ups but the tikka is my favorite.

 

I paid less for mine years ago. Shoots great!
Savage Arms

On the far left you can choose your caliber. I chose .30-'06.

 

Hunt and Defense with a bolt? Semi for hogs IMO.