Indiana Sportsman Forum banner

need 308 feedback

7K views 25 replies 8 participants last post by  Hookeye 
#1 ·
I am looking for some feedback as i am considering buying a new 308. My budget has me currently limited to three candidates. All a blued finish, synthetic stock, 22" barrel, topped with 3-9X40 Vortex scopes. The Mossberg and Savage are nearly the same price, while the Ruger is $100+ above the others. I'm looking for a "tree beater" to be used on yotes and deer.

Ruger - American Rifle
Mossberg - Patriot Rifle
Savage - Axis
 
#5 ·
Last fall,I bought a Ruger American in 308 with a Vortex Crossfire scope combo from Rural King for around $480ish.
I debated for a couple YEARS,and handled a bunch of different rifles,LOL!
While it is not a $1000+ work of art, it feels great in my hands. Recoil is not bad, ammo is readily available, it is LOUD.
I am by no means an expert marksman,200 yards with a rest is not a problem.
P.S.
I LOVE MY RUGER!!!!!!
 
#9 ·
Last fall,I bought a Ruger American in 308 with a Vortex Crossfire scope combo from Rural King for around $480ish.
I debated for a couple YEARS,and handled a bunch of different rifles,LOL!
While it is not a $1000+ work of art, it feels great in my hands. Recoil is not bad, ammo is readily available, it is LOUD.
I am by no means an expert marksman,200 yards with a rest is not a problem.
P.S.
I LOVE MY RUGER!!!!!!
This is one specifically I am looking at.....you had any issues with the rotary mag design?
 
#6 ·
My 11 yr old daughter has a muddy girl .243 ruger American and a vortex scope as well.
I have a load for her and of course I sighted it in for her.
Imagine the looks I got while doing this with her rifle at the range but when o started busting the 10”x10” steel plate at 500 consistently things changed to hey cool gun.
Lol
 
#8 ·
My 11 yr old daughter has a muddy girl .243 ruger American and a vortex scope as well.
I have a load for her and of course I sighted it in for her.
Imagine the looks I got while doing this with her rifle at the range but when o started busting the 10"x10" steel plate at 500 consistently things changed to hey cool gun.
Lol
Have you had any issues with the rotary mag? I have read in other places that this is the weak link in the Ruger American gun.....the mags don't feed consistently OR break.
 
#13 ·
Well, in looking at my options and looking at what I would have to spend to get what I wanted/liked. I stretched the budget a bit.....but, I found one I have been really pleased with thus far. I bought a Howa 1500 Gameking in 308 (gun, scope and scope rings package). I really like the Hogue stock. I was not impressed with the composite stocks many of the bargain guns had...and wood added a significant cost. The rubber Hogue gives me a good grip on the gun. It has a nice trigger (adjustable) and recoil pad and I like the scope as well. The IR plex reticle on the scope was a surprise to me, but not something I had to have. I have about 40 rounds thru it so far and it's "close enough" at 3" at 200 yards shooting just from a rest. I really need to put it in a vice and fine tune it, but that will come later. Whole package to my local dealer for $460 + $20 FFL transfer. I think it will be a very practical deer gun for me as well as a yote gun for my boy. I really think my 14 yo daughter could use it if she wanted to as well. It isn't fancy. It isn't pretty. It isn't match grade. It should however do a fine job for what I wanted it for.....hunting and shooting deer and yotes.
Shoe Product Wine Sleeve Waist

Font Gadget Astronomical object Circle Technology
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rutnut
#15 ·
Hope it shoots good for you.
I have heard some complaints though on the forend being very flexible.
There is a way to fix it though.
You take a dremel tool and grind out a bunch of material and then take some carbon arrows and epoxy/bed them in there.
That is the first I have heard of an issue. I have not noticed any such thing. I have been pleased so far.
 
#16 ·
Although I don’t have a howa, (I’ve got a Winchester) I do have the 308, it’s a great caliber for what I want to do with it, I’ve shot 2 deer and both of them fell where they stood. I’ve got a small bipod on mine for longer range shooting, which it’s capable of putting 3 shot groups around 2” at 300 yards.... great gun.
 
#18 ·
As I understand it Howa as a company also makes one of the Weatherby Vanguard models ( I don;t recall which one). From what I have seen so far it will do what I need it to do. I plan on using it for deer hunting 95% of the time but I hunt some open fields so some of the ranges was challenging my 30-30.....now I should be able to cover 200 yards if I see the need and didn't go broke in the process. I am sure it will take a few yotes as well as this is a hunting gun and not a bench type gun (which my 22-250 mostly is).
 
#21 ·
Decent walnut sure is pretty.
But it can get beat up pretty easily.
Rain can be a gremlin as well.

I got my Ruger #1 soaked last yr opening weekend.
I'll take a synthetic stocked rifle next time.

The cheap plastic used on lower end rifles can be usable, and if they flex too much, might be remedied with epoxy. I actually like the older cheap stocks on the 700s (checkered).

Sports equipment Air gun Machine gun Trigger Shotgun


Liked the synth on my TC too
Air gun Gun barrel Trigger Wood Tints and shades
 
#22 ·
My Howa in 308 worked well. The houge type stock was great for not worrying about beating it up yet able to feel like I had a grip on it in the rain and cold. The deer I took dropped in it's tracks as well. Not sure if that is the round or the skill/luck of the shot placement. 1 deer doesn't make a strong case...but that's all the data I have at the moment.
 
#24 ·
I will look into those other options as well..... What do you have against the Ruger American model? Just curious.
I heard that American model doesn't have the quality of Rugers' Model 77 Hawkeye rifles. This is what I heard from others that have owned the "American" model. One former owner said the barrel is not a good as the one on the Ruger Hawkeye rifle. I'd buy the Model 77 Hawkeye, even though it costs a few dollars more. I've owned four 77's and all of them have given me "zero" issues. I have one of Rugers' American .22 LR and it's junk in my opinion.(Only)
 
#25 ·
Might get the RAR in .450 BM and drop it in a Magpul stock.
As for walnut and steel..............if going that route I'd get a Ruger #1.
Had a couple, love em.
But being a realist...........I bought a cheap plastic stocked .30-06 for my general big game rifle.
A Steyr Pro Hunter.

Your RAR .22 proly shoots better than the '67 10/22 I got, with Overton stock that was inlet wrong from the factory LOL. Horrible shooter, until made right.
 
#26 ·
I did snag a .308 win, in a Ruger stainless MKII "all weather" (aka "boat paddle").
No longer made, of some cult following.

Recoil reportedly stout w the factory pad (Sims makes a replacement that adds .5" to LOP).
Cannot find the Pachmayr.

Shot it "as is", not bad. My Ruger #1 (pre B) in .280 rem hits me harder.

Pretty cool rifle, purchased for the wet deer hunting we sometimes get.
Did OK w factory heavy trigger and Hornady American Whitetail 150's.
1.25" @100 yds ...........good enough to not mess w experimentation.

Could have polished the trigger, changed the spring. Could have gone w more front action screw torque (supposed to be quite a bit, but I went with less, my Wheeler driver doesn't go above 60 IIRC- did this at 50 in lbs).

Bought it, and ammo, zeroed..............and never took it afield.
One rainy day hunt and I took my old 760 in .35 rem, ground hunted, let a busted 6 pt walk by at 35 yards.

Been a horrible season. Hell, horrible year, and we aint done yet.
LOL

Cool .308 though, just not as gung ho as I used to be (sore back, not bowhunting today).
Am up early enough for once.

Proly take the boat paddle to a shop this weekend to consign.
I have a .30-06 I like better (also all weather- but not stainless, has some finish that supposedly makes it more weatherproof).

Short actions I like better than long. But w a falling block (Ruger #1) it doesn't matter.
Shot horribly (the #1) w one factory ammo, tried another and it seems to like it. So...........keep the #1 and dump the M77mkII.

Of course, the #1 is a sunny day only rifle (better than avg figure in buttstock). Not a .308 either. Purchased for mule deer ...........280 rem. Might pop a doe after Xmas w it.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top