Been eyeing the glades but I’ve heard people have scope clearance issues with it. Hows it fit on yours?

LOL.... Sounds like something I'd do for a "budget rifle"!

Budget axis 223 would ring steel and 500 and 700 yards all day long. Heavy barrel with original plastic stock. Budget

I’m $2200 into my budget build Savage 16 and still not happy with it compared to the one I dumped 4K in up front. I guess I’ve got 85% the rifle at 55% the cost.

With computer-controlled machining now being so common in firearm production, even today's less expensive rifles offer excellent value. It seems much of the cost difference between a $400 and $1000 rifle is the time spent creating the stock and bluing. I've found very little difference in the shooting accuracy of my $500 Marlin, $700 Henry, and $1200 Winchester lever actions. It's the production time that was spent on the wood and metal that seems to differentiate them most. I've also found no plastic on any of the three, short of the butt plates on the Marlin and Henry.

Weatherby Vanguard

A good choice but not sure it's in the same price range as the Savage Axis or Ruger American. IMO, "value pricing" ends once you get over $500.

True

Too true, one persons “budget/affordable” rifle is another’s “top end” rifle. I know a few folks that consider the Tikka as a budget rifle because it is a “poor man’s Sako

But back to the Weatherby Vanguard, they are definitely teetering on the edge between affordable and mid-priced, but their Select models just “squeak” under the $500 mark, or they used to anyway.

Works great with the SWFA. Plenty of clearance. It’s a much better handle than the factory.

I bought mine new at Carter's Country for $399.00. Of course, that was about 10 years ago.

Now price out a left handed bolt rifle.

you are better off finding 38 special and 357 mag ammo. Left handers are non existent in stores right now