Deer hunting rifle for a beginner *Update-page 4*

Budget will dictate the best option here.

Give total budget for rifle and scope and we can help.

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tell us where you'll be hunting.

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Eastern SC (Pee Dee Region).

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Do you have any other guns? Because if anyone is like me, and from what I read a lot of you are, once you start buying guns it becomes a habit. Be ready for that.

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Just mainly handguns. Had a couple shotguns but those were mainly for home protection.

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Family guns are great too, maybe talk to some uncles or cousins about your desire and see if they might have something you can start with.

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Sadly not many in my family hunts. I had a couple uncles that use too but they already handed off their guns to their children.

Get something that has available ammo. You can't go wrong deer hunting with a .308 and ammo is everywhere. My .02 cents.

I have killed deer with over 20 different cartridges between 223 and 375 H&H. If you put the bullet in the right place they all work. Most people are best served with the mid cartridges such as 6.5 Cm, 7-08, 270, 308 or 30/06. Given we are subject to ammo shortages for various reasons, 308 is a great choice and ammo is almost always available especially since it is a military caliber (7.62x51).

Regarding specific rifles in your budget range, in the $500-600 range look at Ruger American Rifles, Howa 1500 or Savage 110. If you want to go a little higher look at Tikka and Bergara. Any of those will shoot better than you can.

As far as scopes go, I am a big fan of the Burris Fulfield II series which can be had for under $200. Or the Leupold Freedom series for around $300.

You don’t have to spend any more than that for a great combo that will kill any deer inside of 500 yards if you do your part

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Get something that has available ammo. You can't go wrong deer hunting with a .308 and ammo is everywhere. My .02 cents.

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Coming to post the same advice. Good luck with your new hobby

Tikka t3x is the right answer for rifle.

Caliber- 308, .30-06, .270 or 6.5 creedmoor.

Ruger American gen2 in 6.5 creed or 7mm-08. This Meopta Scope DNZ one piece mount to replace the picatinny rail. Can't beat this combo for around $900.

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I would get blued instead of stainless though.

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The only reason I suggest stainless is if you get it cut down or threaded you’ll want some kind of coating on the end, and if you get a muzzle device, bead blasted stainless is easy to match. My first tikka was blued, my second was stainless. Both shoot great and those are the only reasons I’d get stainless.