April 16, 2012
By Brad Fitzpatrick
With the IRS filing deadline upon us, there might be a refund headed your way or maybe the cash is already burning a hole in your pocket. What better way to spend it by exercising your Second Amendment right with a new rifle purchase! Here are six for under $600 that would look great in your safe.
Ruger American Rifle What's more patriotic than spending your refund on a gun that pays tribute to our great nation?
Ruger's new American rifle is designed to maximize accuracy and minimize price, though the American rifle offers a long list of features for a budget rifle including an adjustable two-stage trigger that breaks between three and five pounds, a lightweight synthetic stock, rotary bolt and an integral bedding block. MSRP: $449.
Savage 11/111 Hog Hunter Here's a way to use your government kickback to help the environment, in this case by doing your part to keep America's burgeoning feral hog population in check. Specialty rifles are rarely classified as budget guns, but
Savage's pork puncher is an exception. With a green synthetic stock, carbon steel 20-inch barrel, iron sights and threaded barrel, the Hog Hunter is perfect for pig hunters and anyone else who appreciates the carbine platform. In addition, the Hog Hunter is available in .223, .308 and .338, three all-American cartridges. MSRP: $513.
CZ 455 American The
CZ 455 American gives you an opportunity to take your refund and pay it forward. The 455 platform allows the shooter to change caliber, moving from a .22LR to a .17 in a few easy steps. Plus, with the money you have left over you can buy enough .22 ammo to punch holes in cans until tax time next year. Introduce a new shooter to the sport, plink in the back yard or switch barrels and reduce the local varmint population. MSRP: $424.
Henry Golden Boy Henry lever actions have a long history in America and today's Henrys combine modern engineering technology with classic styling. The Golden Boy comes with a nicely figured walnut stock, brass receiver, octagonal barrel and a tubular magazine capable of holding 16 rounds of .22 LR or 21 .22 shorts. Plus, Abraham Lincoln owned a Henry rifle. What's more American than that? MSRP: $515.
Weatherby Vanguard Series 2 Synthetic With an MSRP of $599, the
Weatherby Vanguard barely makes it in under the price mark. However, the Vanguard offers quite a lot of value for the money. This sub-MOA rifle comes with a fantastic trigger and is available in a wide variety of calibers including the scorching .240 Weatherby Magnum. So chambered, this rifle can reach far out across the fruited plain. MSRP: $599.
Marlin 336 This American classic from
Marlin is chambered in the oh-so-American .30-30, a combination that has served woodsmen in this country for over half a century. Despite its aged engineering, the .30-30 still does what it was designed to do, which is to kill big game at moderate ranges. In addition, modern bullets and powders have stretched the capabilities of the cartridge. Coincidentally, the 336 is an ideal lever gun for mounting a scope. MSRP: $592.
