2MOA, less than $200, 300 yards

[dross]

Anyone have a rifle recommendation, new or used, that will shoot 2MOA or less, be effective to 300 yards, and cost less than $200?

 

[22lr]

Used Stevens maybe, going to be very limited at that price range. Something single shot or a mil-surp Mauser is probably the best bet. Problem is that rifles can be had for pretty cheap, cheap rifles just don't usually shoot that kind of group without a lot of tweaking, expensive scopes and high grade ammo.

Personal recommendation is a Yugo m48 Mauser. Can still buy em for under $200 and if you shoot good ammo there extremly accurate (at least all 3 of mine were). 8mm is also a very cheap round with a lot of good performance.

 

[dross]

Used Stevens maybe, going to be very limited at that price range. Something single shot or a mil-surp Mauser is probably the best bet. Problem is that rifles can be had for pretty cheap, cheap rifles just don't usually shoot that kind of group without a lot of tweaking, expensive scopes and high grade ammo.

Personal recommendation is a Yugo m48 Mauser. Can still buy em for under $200 and if you shoot good ammo there extremly accurate (at least all 3 of mine were). 8mm is also a very cheap round with a lot of good performance.

Just to clarify, I didn't mean 2 inch groups at 300 yards, I just want the round to be effective out that far.

 

[Disposable Heart]

Hit it on the head: Used Stevens or similar bolt action rifle, check the bore and the barrel crown before buying, count on a good to great optic and decent ammo though.

A break open single shot, with good glass and a decent load, can do that if the shooter is doing his part.

 

[dross]

Hit it on the head: Used Stevens or similar bolt action rifle, check the bore and the barrel crown before buying, count on a good to great optic and decent ammo though.

A break open single shot, with good glass and a decent load, can do that if the shooter is doing his part.

I've been looking at the H&R single shots, but I can't find any reviews that speak to accuracy.

 

[22lr]

Just to clarify, I didn't mean 2 inch groups at 300 yards, I just want the round to be effective out that far.

Ya 8mm will reach out and touch at 300yards no problem. Ballisticly almost identical to 30-06 and superior to 7.62x54. I have shot it out to 500 yards but never put a scope on it so I has only hitting a 55gallon drum at not every shot (not the best shot in the world). That said you really need good commercial/handloaded ammo for accuracy out of the 8mm mil-surps. The mil-surp ammo is cheap ($.20-$.25 a round) but not to well suited for accuracy.

 

[fireball168]

....be effective to 300 yards....

Please define effective.

How much energy do you need to deliver at 300?

 

[dross]

Please define effective.

How much energy do you need to deliver at 300?

About 700 or over

 

[fireball168]

Buy a new Handi Rifle.

Most any of the 223, 243, 270, 280, 7-08, 308 or 30-06 models will hold 2 MOA (or better) with a DIY trigger job and some forend fitting and deliver the energy you require.

It isn't unusual to see them at Gander Mountain under $200.


Trying to find a used Stevens for $200 may be a challenge, I'd buy every one I saw for that kind of money.

 

[22lr]

Trying to find a used Stevens for $200 may be a challenge, I'd buy every one I saw for that kind of money.

Ya that was probably a little overly optimistic.

 

[nate77]

If you can swing a hundred more, Dunhams has their Steven's on sale for $279, $299 out the door. They even come with scope, rings, and mounts, although the scope is a really cheap no name 4x magnification.

 

[nighthawk80]

You use to be able to find a K31 Swiss for under $200. They shoot the 7.5x55 which is similar to a 308 win.

 

[x10]

your very optimistic but I had an NEF handi rifle in 223 that stayed around your 2moa mark, but the one I had did not like Hot rounds would lead to sticky extraction. As in hot I'm talking M855

 

[fireball168]

30 seconds with the 223 Wylde reamer will fix that right up for you.

 

[nighthawk80]

30 seconds with the 223 Wylde reamer will fix that right up for you.

Just a quick thread jack: That basically makes the chamber half way between a regular 223 and a 5.56 right? Or am I understanding that wrong?

 

[mwilson]

keep your eyes open for a marlin. gander in greenwood had one for 200.00 used. looking it over you would have thought it was a savage. barrel nut, acutrigger. went back to get it and it was gone. it was a 30-06

 

[fireball168]

Just a quick thread jack: That basically makes the chamber half way between a regular 223 and a 5.56 right? Or am I understanding that wrong?

Off the top of my head, it is a little more generous than the 5.56 chamber in everything but freebore diameter.

 

[boman]

it is a little more generous than the 5.56 chamber in everything but freebore diameter

Close fireball and easily confused---Actually the Wylde chamber is a slightly generous 223 chamber with a slightly shorter freebore/throat/lead than the 5.56
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[fireball168]

Close fireball and easily confused---Actually the Wylde chamber is a slightly generous 223 chamber with a slightly shorter freebore/throat/lead than the 5.56​

While I don't have the specific chamber prints for my PTG reamers in front of me, here's a handy little comparison chart.

Bigger numbers mean more "generous" chamber dimensions, smaller numbers mean "tighter" chamber dimensions.

Off the top of my head, it is a little more generous than the 5.56 chamber in everything but freebore diameter.

 

[boman]

Actually the Wylde chamber is a slightly generous 223 chamber with a slightly shorter freebore/throat/lead than the 5.56

Actually the Wylde chamber is a slightly generous 223 chamber with a slightly longer freebore/throat/lead than the 5.56.

fixed it!

Steve