1000 Yards for $500 - Rifle Selection (Savage Axis, Remington 783, Ruger American, Mossberg Patriot)

The Savage Axis, Remington 783, Ruger American, and Mossberg Patriot are excellent platforms for our 1000 yard rifle. But which is the best budget long range rifle?

All of these rifles follow the Savage formula:

1. A sporter barrel affixed to...
2. A tubular action via...
3. A barrel nut.
4. A plastic stock.
5. A detachable double-stack magazine.

In the end I selected a Savage Axis. Its price was lowest, and it has excellent aftermarket parts available, most notably a laminate target stock from Boyds. With a trigger job, the Axis should work very well.

By contrast, the Mossberg Patriot has a great trigger and the most rigid stock, but the price is higher than the others. The Ruger American features a 70-degree bolt throw, but its bolt head is fixed. The Remington 783 is priced well and looks beautiful, but Boyds does not yet offer a target stock.

-The Social Regressive