Farmer friend need a rifle

[Dave Berg]

A reasonably priced bolt action .223 that will be a farm gun....

Savage Axis - about $350, stainless with junk scope $490
Ruger American - about $510, with Vortex 3-9X $580
Remington 700 ADL - about $575
CZ-USA 600 Alpha - about $640
Tikka T3 Lite - about $745, stainless $879

Personally I'd go with the Tikka stainless but that depends on what reasonable is. I grew up on a farm with folks that wanted to have a gun nearby but weren't really into taking care of them so stainless, especially the way Tikka does it, would be important to me. Since I don't know anything about this buyers habits there's not much more I can add.

As far as where to buy it, it's a commodity gun so I'd get a price from Bud's Gun Shop, compare that with what's available on Gunbroker then take the lowest price to a local dealer and ask if he can beat it. If not at least you might have found a receiving dealer....

 

[STOMP442]

Stomp, farms must be totally different in Arizona than they are here. Since the middle of May I can count on one hand the number of days it hasn't rained here. They guy I do work for treats his work guns better than any farmer/rancher I've veer known, Yet still they show signs of rough use.
.

Yep totally different. I can count on one hand since the first of the year the days it HAS rained here. But we have plenty of dirt, dust and vegetation that will grab, bite, poke and stick ya. None of that soft lush green stuff.

 

[JB10]

I have been very happy with the accuracy of my savage axis in 223. I bought it as a bad weather condition preditor rifle. Got it for $295 at bass pro on sale 2 years ago. Shoots clover leaf groups with the cheepo scope that came with it. They are not fancy at all but i dont care if it gets bangged around eather. Now i keep my nice ones for beater weather so they stay nice. Would be a good one to keep in a truck

 

[ebb]

My friend came back from one of the pastures and looked exhausted as was his best hand. I asked what was up , "well , we have been fighting an alligator that has decided to live in one of the water troughs, trying to get him out of the trough cause the cows haven't been able to drink in a day and a half." way not shot it ? I didn't want to shoot up the trough. Then I had to explain a 22 LR to him. So now he is bitching about carrying 2 rifles. He got a nice overhead gun rack for the side by side to protect his hog gun. They will not take the time to baby a gun but he doesn't just abuse one.