Last week we covered the best bolt action hunting rifles to get you into the woods on the cheap. While those rifles can and do take plenty of game, they are built to a price point. They all share some common shortcomings. For hunters searching for a rifle that will last a lifetime, for just a few dollars more there are many options. So without further ado, let’s take a look at best bolt actions under $1250.
What Are You Paying For
As already established, cheap guns will serviceably kill game. So what are you getting for the extra coin? There are a few common improvements in more expensive rifles. The most obvious of course is accuracy. While budget rifles can be plenty accurate, there is also a higher chance of getting a lemon. Most of the bolt actions under $1250 price range will come with a 1 MOA accuracy guarantee. This offers the buyer peace of mind that their new rifle will shoot accurately or will be replaced.
Another significant improvement is in the feeding of the rifle. The budget rifles tend to have magazine related feeding issues. Additionally, not all budget designs play nicely when the shooter single loads by chucking a round into the ejection port and slamming the bolt home. The higher price point rifles have much smoother and more reliable feeding leading to greater accuracy in the field.
Finally, the more expensive rifles use more durable materials. Many of these rifles will use aluminium, steel, and carbon fiber instead of polymer. This leads to better temperature stability and increased resistance to abuse.
Weatherby Vanguard
The Weatherby Vanguard is the affordable member of Weatherby’s premium stable. These rifles are built on the same actions as the Howa 1500 and are manufactured in Japan. The feature fixed magazine hinged floorplates and three position safeties.
Build quality on the Vanguards is typically very good, with many different variations and models offered. All of the components apart from the polymer stocks are made of steel. In typical Weatherby fashion, the Vanguard tends to have long for caliber featherweight barrels to get maximum ballistic performance while remaining lightweight. This isn’t ideal for high volume target shooting. However, the Vanguards are still quite accurate, coming with a 1 MOA guarantee.
The actions aren’t quite as smooth as others on the list but feeding and function is reliable. The one other drawback of the Vanguard is the weight. These rifles tip the scales around 7.5 lbs which is on the heavy side for a back country hunting rifle. However, this does make them easier to handle in the moment of truth, so it is a trade off.
Browning X-bolt
Next up is the Browning X-bolt. The X-Bolt is Browning’s flagship bolt action rifle, and it delivers a ton of great features. The X-bolt has a three lug bolt design enabling a very short bolt lift and smooth, fast cycling. This makes for quick handling and low scope mounting, which helps get a solid cheek weld with non-adjustable stocks.
Another strength of the X-bolt is the ergonomics. The tang safety which locks the bolt on safe is absolutely perfect. These rifles are average in the weight department, with a standard length rifle weighing 6.75lbs.
The X-bolt still does have a couple of drawbacks. First off, the trigger is good but not great. While much better than the triggers on most budget rifles it is still a bit heavier with a tiny bit of creep when compared to a Bergara or a Tikka trigger. Perhaps the biggest drawback of the X-bolt is the rotary magazine. They have a tendency to wear out over time and are difficult to dissassemble to clean.
Savage 110
Another of the best bolt actions under $1250 is the Savage 110. The Savage 110 is a bit of an odd rifle. On one hand, they are very feature packed with Savage’s Accutrigger and AccuStock. Both are adjustable to fit the shooters preference. This is often undervalued, as rifle fit plays a huge role in shooting well from improvised positions. Also, like most Savage’s the 110’s tend to be very accurate.
However, the actions tend to feel clunky, and extraction and ejection are prone to being weak. The stock, magazine, and trigger guard materials are a flimsy feeling plastic. While the Savage 110 is a feature packed bolt action rifle, its fit, finish, and reliability are not to the same standard as the other rifles in this list.
Bergara B14
The penultimate rifle in the list is the Bergara B14 Hunter. The Bergara is essentially a Remington 700 clone with a Sako style extractor. This allows Bergara owners to take advantage of the huge aftermarket for the 700. The Bergara has the same rocker safety and comes with fixed floorplate and magazine fed models.
The Bergara’s come with excellent triggers and are very reliable feeding. Similar to the Remington 700, I’ve found Bergara’s to be forgivingly accurate with a number of different loadings. Weighing 7lbs bare they are a little heavy for a mountain rifle, but not overly so. Like the Weatherby Vanguard, the entire rifle is metal with the exception of the stock. An in depth review of the B-14 bolt action hunting rifle can be found here.
Tikka T3X
Finally, the last rifle on this list is the Tikka T3X. The T3X is an excellent option in the for a bolt action under $1250. Out of all the rifles mentioned they have the slickest actions. Additionally, they come with very good triggers from the factory. A ten dollar spring swap can drop the pull weight as low as one pound without a trip to the gunsmith.
I have had the opportunity to shoot four different Tikka’s over the years, and all of them would group well under an inch with factory ammo. Whatever Tikka does with their cold hammer forged barrels, more often then not they shoot very well.
As far as drawbacks go, the T3X has a cheap feeling polymer trigger guard and magazine. They are lightweight and function great but do not have the same heirloom quality feel as the action of the rifle does. Furthermore, the polymer stocks have a geometry combine with the light weight in a way that makes the rifles recoil disproportionately sharply compared to other rifles at the price point. Thos interested can read my in depth breakdown of the Tikka here.
Concluding Thoughts
In closing, by increasing the budget to include bolt actions under $1250 hunters open up a ton of great options. All of the rifles here are of good quality and will provide many years of dependable service. In my experience this price range sits at a sweet spot on the price to performance curve. Leave a comment if you have experience with any of these rifles, or if there is a rifle that you think I have missed!