Mossberg Patriot (.350 Legend)

The Mossberg Patriot is the price floor for a full-size .350 Legend bolt gun. At about $390 street it undercuts every competitor in the category while still delivering a 22 inch barrel, a 4+1 detachable box magazine, and a user-adjustable trigger, the three things that actually matter for a straight-wall deer rifle. For a hunter who needs a second rifle, a loaner, or a first centerfire on a tight budget, nothing else in .350 Legend lands this cheap.

The LBA trigger is the headline. Mossberg's Lightning Bolt Action trigger adjusts from roughly 2 to 7 lb at home, so the owner is not stuck with a heavy factory pull. The 22 inch barrel runs a 1:16 twist that stabilizes the heavy-for-caliber hunting bullets .350 Legend is loaded with, and at about 6.5 lb the synthetic-stocked rifle carries easily on a long walk to a stand. The receiver is drilled and tapped for Weaver bases.

The standard synthetic model is not threaded, so this is a scoped hunting rifle rather than a suppressor host. The fit and finish reflect the price; this is a working gun, not a showpiece. But for putting venison in the freezer in a straight-wall state, the Patriot does the job for the least money.