Best bolt action rifle for $2000 or under

[Nature Boy]

CZ makes a quality rifle for the price, but there are some shortcomings in my opinion...
I despise the two position safety, my stock trigger was junk and the barrel is a little long for me.
If you go to AHR, a #1 upgrade will put you right at the $2K mark and take care of the first two issues I mentioned.
Move up to the #2 upgrade and the $2K budget is blown by another grand, but your barrel will be shorter and several other upgrades.
I went with a #2 upgrade for my 375H&H.

Some will say that you shouldn't have to have work done on a brand new rifle.
The way I see it, I will have a semi-custom rifle in a DG caliber for about $3K.
If I were to do this with almost any other company, the starting price is $4K.

That's Wayne, right? Yeah, I will likely do that in #1. I don't mind the longer barrel though but I'm pretty tall at 6'4" and have long arms. I agree with you. When I was looking it was CZ, Winchester or Ruger. I wanted .416 rigby and I knew the CZ had the bigger action (Winchester solved their issues that said it sounds like). The thing that sold me on CZ was many PH's telling me they can take some punishment and dirt and still operate well.

 

[Cousin Bongo]

Thanks. I would not get a Blaser, too many horror stories from African PH's. Whats DVC?

Was unaware of PHs having horror stories about the Blaser 93. What horror stories? Are there any PHs here on this site with insight to this? Much appreciated.

Regardless, the Steyr Scout would be my first choice for an over-the-counter caliber .30 rifle.

DVC is Latin for Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas. Translated it means Accuracy, Power, Speed.

CB

 

[BeeMaa]

That's Wayne, right? Yeah, I will likely do that in #1. I don't mind the longer barrel though but I'm pretty tall at 6'4" and have long arms. I agree with you. When I was looking it was CZ, Winchester or Ruger. I wanted .416 rigby and I knew the CZ had the bigger action (Winchester solved their issues that said it sounds like). The thing that sold me on CZ was many PH's telling me they can take some punishment and dirt and still operate well.

One of the big points with me (along with the beefy action) is the 19mm dovetail rails with a notch.
One rifle, a couple of scopes in QD mounts...good for many different situations.
And my PH called CZ the Toyota Land Cruiser of rifles...everyone has one, they take a beating and keep on working.

Yes, Wayne at American Hunting Rifles.
He's working on mine now.

 

[Nature Boy]

Was unaware of PHs having horror stories about the Blaser 93. What horror stories? Are there any PHs here on this site with insight to this? Much appreciated.

Regardless, the Steyr Scout would be my first choice for an over-the-counter caliber .30 rifle.

DVC is Latin for Diligentia, Vis, Celeritas. Translated it means Accuracy, Power, Speed.

CB

I'm not an expert but I heard of multiple stories where rounds were firing (on their own), etc. Maybe they have fixed some of this stuff?

 

[Cousin Bongo]

I'm not an expert but I heard of multiple stories where rounds were firing (on their own), etc. Maybe they have fixed some of this stuff?

Thanks. The Blaser R93 had an issue with a few rifles way back in 2002/2003. Blaser issued a recall and fixed the problem. I haven't heard of any problems since and a quick search on the net didn't show anything. If anyone knows of any, please let us know. Thanks.

This is from: http://www.firearmsid.com/Recalls/FA_Recalls 1.htm
"BLASER
MODEL R93, RIFLES

RECALL: Blaser has been committed to designing and manufacturing the safest most reliable firearms in the world since 1963. In keeping with this commitment to our customers, Blaser is conducting a recall of its R93 rifles sold in the US.
What is the Problem?
The R93 trigger assembly uses stainless steel pins for corrosion resistance. We have learned that a small number of non-stainless steel pins were inadvertently used in some R93's. Note: the UIT, CISM, and LRS/LRS2 are not affected by this recall.
What could happen?
An accidental discharge from the off safe position may occur if an R93 with non-stainless steel pins is used and the pins have corroded due to moisture. In this situation, once the firing pin has been cocked (into the off-safe position), the rifle may discharge.

Warning:
Use of your R93 rifle may result in an accident severe injury or death to the user or bystanders.
Stop using your R93 immediately. Do not use your rifle until it has been inspected.
What should you do to ensure your safety?
Removal of the trigger housing and trigger subassembly for inspection is required. This inspection should only be made by SIGARMS Inc., Blaser's US representative, located in Exeter, New Hampshire. Call the recall hotline number below to coordinate the inspection of your R93 rifle: Please contact us toll-free at1-877-442-7671 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST).
What will we do for you?
Upon calling, we will inform you how to return your R93 and give you an estimated time frame for return. Once we have your rifle in our facility, we will conduct a complete inspection of your R93 and replace your pins if they are not made from stainless steel. We will also clean and ensure your R93 is ready for more adventures. Please do not contact the dealer where you purchased the R93, as we will serve you directly. We will return your serviced R93 to you along with an expression of our appreciation.

We recognize the inconvenience this situation causes our Blaser R93 customers and offer you our sincerest apologies. We are passionate about your safety and we are confident that you would expect nothing less from Blaser.

Source:

• SIGARMS, Inc. Website, August 5, 2002
  
  
• SIGARMS, Inc. Consumer Subscription E Mail Newsletter, Volume C2, Number 3:9
  
  
• American Hunter, October 2002, page 20
  
  
• American Rifleman, November 2002; page 89
  
  
• Shooting Sports Retailer, September/October 2002, page 59

Added 5/25/03
Revised 5/25/03"

There were some "blow up" rumors and misinformation being spread around on the net many years ago, but this was the result of a handloader using handloads that were calculated to be somewhere around 120,000 psi. No other cases could be substantiated.

Sorry about the thread hijack, gang.

CB

 

[Nature Boy]

Thanks. The Blaser R93 had an issue with a few rifles way back in 2002/2003. Blaser issued a recall and fixed the problem. I haven't heard of any problems since and a quick search on the net didn't show anything. If anyone knows of any, please let us know. Thanks.

This is from: http://www.firearmsid.com/Recalls/FA_Recalls 1.htm
"BLASER
MODEL R93, RIFLES

RECALL: Blaser has been committed to designing and manufacturing the safest most reliable firearms in the world since 1963. In keeping with this commitment to our customers, Blaser is conducting a recall of its R93 rifles sold in the US.
What is the Problem?
The R93 trigger assembly uses stainless steel pins for corrosion resistance. We have learned that a small number of non-stainless steel pins were inadvertently used in some R93's. Note: the UIT, CISM, and LRS/LRS2 are not affected by this recall.
What could happen?
An accidental discharge from the off safe position may occur if an R93 with non-stainless steel pins is used and the pins have corroded due to moisture. In this situation, once the firing pin has been cocked (into the off-safe position), the rifle may discharge.

Warning:
Use of your R93 rifle may result in an accident severe injury or death to the user or bystanders.
Stop using your R93 immediately. Do not use your rifle until it has been inspected.
What should you do to ensure your safety?
Removal of the trigger housing and trigger subassembly for inspection is required. This inspection should only be made by SIGARMS Inc., Blaser's US representative, located in Exeter, New Hampshire. Call the recall hotline number below to coordinate the inspection of your R93 rifle: Please contact us toll-free at1-877-442-7671 (8 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST).
What will we do for you?
Upon calling, we will inform you how to return your R93 and give you an estimated time frame for return. Once we have your rifle in our facility, we will conduct a complete inspection of your R93 and replace your pins if they are not made from stainless steel. We will also clean and ensure your R93 is ready for more adventures. Please do not contact the dealer where you purchased the R93, as we will serve you directly. We will return your serviced R93 to you along with an expression of our appreciation.

We recognize the inconvenience this situation causes our Blaser R93 customers and offer you our sincerest apologies. We are passionate about your safety and we are confident that you would expect nothing less from Blaser.

Source:

• SIGARMS, Inc. Website, August 5, 2002
  
  
• SIGARMS, Inc. Consumer Subscription E Mail Newsletter, Volume C2, Number 3:9
  
  
• American Hunter, October 2002, page 20
  
  
• American Rifleman, November 2002; page 89
  
  
• Shooting Sports Retailer, September/October 2002, page 59

Added 5/25/03
Revised 5/25/03"

There were some "blow up" rumors and misinformation being spread around on the net many years ago, but this was the result of a handloader using handloads that were calculated to be somewhere around 120,000 psi. No other cases could be substantiated.

Sorry about the thread hijack, gang.

CB

As you said, I would be most interested in what some of the PH's have to say. I've only been to Africa twice but I've never seen one yet, even for camp guns.

 

[MarkCZ]

CZ for me, I have 3 and they just do what it says on the box. very tough and that is very important for Africa. I did use my friends Sako this year and loved it.
MarkCZ

 

[Nature Boy]

CZ for me, I have 3 and they just do what it says on the box. very tough and that is very important for Africa. I did use my friends Sako this year and loved it.
MarkCZ

I should have figured!

How did you like the Estonia and Finland hunts? What did you hunt for, etc?

 

[Hogpatrol]

I'm in the industry, and perform formal, rigorous brand-comparison testing at least once a year. We test for accuracy, as well as examine the rifles for manufacturing defects, fit and finish flaws, etc. What I can tell you is that today, you'd have to search really hard to find a bad commercial < $2000 bolt-action rifle, and even then you still may come up empty-handed. Ruger, CZ, SAKO, Nosler, Tikka, Savage, Winchester, Remington, Browning, Weatherby, Thompson-Center, heck even the latest newcomers like Franchi: all good, all capable of tremendous accuracy and all feature-rich.

The main reason is that it's a nearly 150-year-old technology, and with the collective manufacturing experience as well as modern tolerance-control and steel-quality, there is no excuse for bringing a dud to market. What at the time of our grandfathers would have been possible only with a painstakingly-put-together custom piece at very high costs, today can be cranked out with a CNC machine for cents on the dollar. Another reason is that, about 15 years ago, Savage changed the rules of the market by bringing out a hyper-accurate rifle with a crisp adjustable trigger for a few hundred dollars. Suddenly, Bubba could walk out of Bass Pro with a $350 rifle/scope combo that likely shot as well or better than his more well-to-do friends' four-figure premium brand or semi-custom rifles. The bar was set: now no brand can afford to offer product of less quality, especially for more money.

Where you start getting substantial differences in performance (again, according to our frequent testing) is in the matchup between rifle brand and ammo type. We've found that each brand tends to be more accurate with certain ammo brand-weight combinations, and we test about 20 types of ammo for each brand. There are no ammo brands that perform superbly or badly across the rifle-brand spectrum--you just get some magical combination with a type of ammo that may perform very well with one brand and average or poorly with another.

So my advice is this. Research which features are important to you (e.g., looks, available calibers, push Vs. controlled-round feeding, stock type and material, location/type of safety, threaded/non threaded, etc.), settle on a specific model, buy it, then test it with as many brands and types of ammo you can (ditto for handloads). I guarantee you that with this admittedly somewhat tedious and expensive process, you'll end up with a tack-driver that will be the envy of all your shooting buddies.

Just curious, what is your sample size and have you ever gotten any $350 duds? I agree, other than aesthetics, money spent on the Kimbers, Coopers, Montanas, and other premium rifles would be better spent on optics. They sure as hell aren't anymore accurate.

 

[wesheltonj]

As you said, I would be most interested in what some of the PH's have to say. I've only been to Africa twice but I've never seen one yet, even for camp guns.

Where I hunted two years ago (Kalahari Rangers), last year they went to a Blaser R8 with a Leica Magnus Scope as their camp gun. If I went back there, I would leave my SAKO at home. And I am a big SAKO fan, but that's a nice set up and I don't have to haul mine around.

 

[Nature Boy]

Where I hunted two years ago (Kalahari Rangers), last year they went to a Blaser R8 with a Leica Magnus Scope as their camp gun. If I went back there, I would leave my SAKO at home. And I am a big SAKO fan, but that's a nice set up and I don't have to haul mine around.

I get that but something about your own gun is nice too. Lol, I still wouldn't get a Blaser.

 

[Nature Boy]

Found this.


The most notable problem with the Blaser R93 is the fact that there have been multiple cases of the bolt on an R93 unlocking when fired and striking the shooter in the face with disastrous results.

It is tough to separate fact from fiction with these incidents.

People in the Blaser fan club state that all of these episodes were the result of the shooter using poor quality handloads that greatly exceed the maximum safe pressure of the rifle. Critics of the rifle counter that the shooters were using factory ammunition and that a rifle design that allows the bolt to fly straight backwards with such force, even when subjected to excess pressure, is inherently flawed.

Sure, all rifle actions will fail, sometimes spectacularly, when subjected to enough abuse. I’ve never seen or heard about a bolt actually flying straight back into the shooter’s face except with the Blaser R93 though.

Interestingly enough, Blaser introduced the new R8 rifle a few years ago as an upgrade to the R93. Among other changes, the R8 features a completely reworked bolt that appears to be better designed than the one on the R93. So far, the R8 has been well received and incorporates almost all of the features people liked about the R93. Additionally, the new bolt appears to be a dramatic improvement over the one in the R93 and there have been no reported incidents of catastrophic bolt failure with the R8.

So, if you really like Blaser rifles and want to hunt with a straight-pull bolt action rifle, buy an R8 instead.

 

[Tom Leoni]

Just curious, what is your sample size and have you ever gotten any $350 duds? I agree, other than aesthetics, money spent on the Kimbers, Coopers, Montanas, and other premium rifles would be better spent on optics. They sure as hell aren't anymore accurate.

Hi, Hogpatrol--the sample size varies, depending on what we are testing for. We do own, however, about 3 specimens of different calibers of each of the major brands--in their basic wood/blue or synthetic/blue big-game hunting configuration (i.e., no varmint or tactical rifle testing so far), so on average we test a couple dozen rifles. No duds--as maddening as it is for a premium-rifle fan like myself to turn out quarter-sized groups with a cheap, ugly rifle

I "blame" it on Savage--as I said--and in a way also on Tikka, which IIRC was the very first brand under $1k to advertise MOA accuracy out of the box.

 

[JPbowhunter]

In aus sako a7 is $1500. Great value for money

 

[Hogpatrol]

Hi, Hogpatrol--the sample size varies, depending on what we are testing for. We do own, however, about 3 specimens of different calibers of each of the major brands--in their basic wood/blue or synthetic/blue big-game hunting configuration (i.e., no varmint or tactical rifle testing so far), so on average we test a couple dozen rifles. No duds--as maddening as it is for a premium-rifle fan like myself to turn out quarter-sized groups with a cheap, ugly rifle

I "blame" it on Savage--as I said--and in a way also on Tikka, which IIRC was the very first brand under $1k to advertise MOA accuracy out of the box.

I hear you on the Savage. Put it in a cheap Boyd's stock, bed it, tweak the trigger a little, whip up some some consistent handloads and it'll put those high dollar, pretty boy rifles to shame. Aside from that, I've seen some damn accurate inexpensive Howas too.

Full disclosure, other than CZ and Annie rimfires, all of my rifles are custom, self built on Remington or clone actions.

Here's a target shot by a fellow Africa hunter in his Savage varmint, five shots handloads, .204 @300 meters. Enough to make a custom guy cry.

 

[dobber]

@Travis2282 and deny me the opportunity of a new gun? lol I actually keep my 300

Why not take the 300 Win for moose?

And deny me the opportunity to buy a new gun? lol
Actually my 300 is left at deer camp along with a 30-06 and the 6.5x55

 

[Cousin Bongo]

The most notable problem with the Blaser R93 is the fact that there have been multiple cases of the bolt on an R93 unlocking when fired and striking the shooter in the face with disastrous results.

It is tough to separate fact from fiction with these incidents.

If it were indeed “fact” it would be documented and substianted yet I haven’t been able to find any substantiation other than one case: the infamous blowup from a super high pressure handload. I’ve seen correspondence from Blaser pertaining to this and it’s the only case I know about or Blaser mentions. Blaser was quick to react to the rusty parts/inadvertent firing issue, so I lean towards giving them the benefit of the doubt vs internet scuttlebutt.

You are correct the R8 replaced the R93 for the most part. If I’m not mistaken, R93 production halted in late 2017. If there was a problem, I’d like to think Blaser would’ve stopped production a whole lot sooner. The R8 is better suited to larger chamberings/calibers (hence its redesign from what I gather) but it also weighs a fair bit more.

Doesn’t matter since you’re not interested in it, but it has been an interesting conversation.

CB

 

[Nature Boy]

If it were indeed “fact” it would be documented and substianted yet I haven’t been able to find any substantiation other than one case: the infamous blowup from a super high pressure handload. I’ve seen correspondence from Blaser pertaining to this and it’s the only case I know about or Blaser mentions. Blaser was quick to react to the rusty parts/inadvertent firing issue, so I lean towards giving them the benefit of the doubt vs internet scuttlebutt.

You are correct the R8 replaced the R93 for the most part. If I’m not mistaken, R93 production halted in late 2017. If there was a problem, I’d like to think Blaser would’ve stopped production a whole lot sooner. The R8 is better suited to larger chamberings/calibers (hence its redesign from what I gather) but it also weighs a fair bit more.

Doesn’t matter since you’re not interested in it, but it has been an interesting conversation.

CB

Yeah, always good to have proof vs rumor. I'm not really knocking the gun for that anyway, it's just not on the top of my list for value vs price. I would like to shoot one though to see what they are like.

 

[Grady]

After reading the entire thread, I believe it depends on what are you looking for... There are many great rifles available some very inexpensive some very expensive. As Mr. Leoni states, buy the rifle that suits you (or have a custom one made if you want) then spend the time and effort to find the load that works for you. Reloads of Factory....

I currently own quite the mix of rifles (Winchester M70 - both pre and post 64, Remington 700, Savage, Ruger, and the infamous Blaser R93 - 5 barrels) and have all of them dialed into sub-MOA rifles with the exception of the Blaser in 22-250 and 264 Win Mag (only because I have not spent the time to reload and shoot them enough YET). I am sure with some more work I will have them where I want them.

IMHO, what id more important in a modern rifle is the fit (Stock) of the gun, if its comfortable to shoot, your going to shoot it better than something that does not fit well and is not a pleasure to shoot. After the fit comes the Optics. As the old fable says, a cheaper gun with great optics will normally out shoot a great gun with cheaper optics....in most cases (You can't shoot what you can't see).

So, find a gun that fits you well with the options you want, or find a gun with the options you want and have the stock modified to fitted you. Both you can do for under $2K and use the left over money as seed money for some great Optics (a completely different and painful conversation)

 

[bassasdaindia]

CZ 550 or Win M70