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Best Bolt Action 308 Hunting Rifles Under $1000

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Browse the best 308 hunting rifles under $1000 recommended for medium to large game hunting at 850 to 1000 yards.
  • 308 Winchester
  • Bolt Action
  • $750-$1,000
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When Winchester introduced the .308 caliber cartridge in its Model 88, Model 100, and Model 70 in 1952, it took the shooting world by storm. The .308 was a child of war, a cartridge that could trace its roots to the automatic weapons introduced by the Germans in the later years of World War II. It has a shorter case than its rival the .30-06, making it easier to slide and load than the longer .06.

The ballistics on the .308 cartridge are tremendous, nearly identical with the very popular .30-06, and perfect for hunting medium to large game. Heavier .308 rounds, such as the 178-grain, are preferred for hunting larger game such as elk, moose, and even black bear. Heavier bullets deliver substantial knockdown power out to 500 yards and beyond. The accuracy of the .308 using heavier rounds is the reason this cartridge was the preferred caliber for Army and Marine Corps snipers for four decades.

While the .308 can be fired from a semi-automatic weapon, its best accuracy and top energy come in the familiar bolt action rifle. The accuracy and energy the come from a .308 bolt action rifles is especially useful for making longer distance kill shots over 400 yards. .

A bolt action holds a scope better than a lever action or semi-automatic. The shorter length of pull in a .308 allows a hunter or target shooter to maintain a target easier than a longer draw and once again, the power released in the chamber of a bolt action rifle is unparalleled in both safety for the shooter and power delivered on target.

The .308 is currently being challenged by new, more popular cartridges such as the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.5 PRC, and big boomers including the 28 Nosler and .338 win. mag. but this 70+-year-old platform remains a favorite of hunters and long-distance shooters against the younger competition. The .308 is a caliber that competes well with both the Creedmoor and the .30-06 and comes in a huge variety of platforms by dozens of manufacturers.

One of the best features of the .308 bolt action rifle is a value. Given the caliber’s popularity, a lot of manufactures produce a quality gun well under $1000. You can pick up a reliable, accurate bolt action .308 in the $700 to $1000 range. .