- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Starter rifle for deer
Posted on 8/14/24 at 1:27 pm
Posted on 8/14/24 at 1:27 pm
We were raised fishing and never really did any hunting outside of the occasional duck, but I’ve wanted to try out deer hunting. Have some friends who are into it.
Wanted to pick you guy’s thoughts on a first rifle and caliber.
Nothing overly expensive, but at least reliable.
Was leaning towards the Ruger American in .308.
From what I read, seems reliable for a reasonable price.
If I’m wrong on caliber or if anyone has any other recs, I would appreciate it.
Wanted to pick you guy’s thoughts on a first rifle and caliber.
Nothing overly expensive, but at least reliable.
Was leaning towards the Ruger American in .308.
From what I read, seems reliable for a reasonable price.
If I’m wrong on caliber or if anyone has any other recs, I would appreciate it.
30
Posted on 8/14/24 at 1:30 pm to Scruffy
quote:
Was leaning towards the Ruger American in .308.
Very good choice.
My dad bought me a .308 instead of a senior ring in high school. It's still my go to gun 18 years later.
This post was edited on 8/14/24 at 1:52 pm
Posted on 8/14/24 at 1:30 pm to Scruffy
quote:
Ruger American in .308
I have one of these that I bought a suppressor to attach so I could protect my son's ears better than I have mine over the years. It is the rifle I grab most now that he has other intrests and doesn't come out as much. I flip through a few during the season, but it's my goto at our place in AL.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 1:31 pm to Scruffy
Nothing wrong with getting a 308. It can do nearly anything with the right ammo and you’ll never hurt to find it. Honestly everyone should own one.
The new rugers are slick but the tikka T3x is still the undisputed champ under 1K for a dead nuts reliable, accurate, and functional bolt action.
The new rugers are slick but the tikka T3x is still the undisputed champ under 1K for a dead nuts reliable, accurate, and functional bolt action.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 1:39 pm to Scruffy
Nothin' less than a Christiansen Arms .300 PRC with a 8-32 NightForce. Or a 6.5 Creedmoor.
In all seriousness I'd find a Browning A-Bolt or X-Bolt in .308 and put a quality Leupold 3-10 (maybe a little more magnification if you're shooting over bean fields) on it and call it a day. That combination will stack them all day long and twice on Sunday (where it's legal).
In all seriousness I'd find a Browning A-Bolt or X-Bolt in .308 and put a quality Leupold 3-10 (maybe a little more magnification if you're shooting over bean fields) on it and call it a day. That combination will stack them all day long and twice on Sunday (where it's legal).
Posted on 8/14/24 at 1:45 pm to Scruffy
Scruffy needs a tikka.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 1:46 pm to Scruffy
Ruger american or savage axis for sure
270, 308, 306
Ive got at least 6 savage axis in various calibers and all are amazing for the price. Yeah the stock feels cheap, but shoots great. I have one ruger american, zero complaints
270, 308, 306
Ive got at least 6 savage axis in various calibers and all are amazing for the price. Yeah the stock feels cheap, but shoots great. I have one ruger american, zero complaints
Posted on 8/14/24 at 1:53 pm to Rize
I keep seeing people reference Tikka.
Is it really worth the extra $2-300?
Not penny pinching, just wondering if it is needed for the first purchase.
If the feel or reliability is equal.
Is it really worth the extra $2-300?
Not penny pinching, just wondering if it is needed for the first purchase.
If the feel or reliability is equal.
This post was edited on 8/14/24 at 1:55 pm
Posted on 8/14/24 at 1:56 pm to Scruffy
Buy once, cry once. Tikka’s have a stellar rep for out of the box accuracy.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 2:00 pm to Scruffy
quote:
I keep seeing people reference Tikka. Is it really worth the extra $2-300? Not penny pinching, just wondering if it is needed for the first purchase. If the feel or reliability is equal.
I’d say it’s worth it but I haven’t messed with the updated version of the Ruger.
The old ones felt cheap to me.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 2:05 pm to Scruffy
Very good choice and caliber in my opinion.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 2:14 pm to Scruffy
Savage Ultralight. 308
I bought this gun recently. I wanted a lightweight gun cause I hunt hills and valleys and my old .30-06 is heavy. If you're riding in to hunt out of a shooting house or fixed stand I suppose weight doesn't matter.
I bought this gun recently. I wanted a lightweight gun cause I hunt hills and valleys and my old .30-06 is heavy. If you're riding in to hunt out of a shooting house or fixed stand I suppose weight doesn't matter.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 2:25 pm to Harlan County USA
I have an ultralight in 308 as well. Great gun. Put a Trijicon Credo 2.5-15-42 on it. It’s dead arse accurate and I have hit steel with it out to 800 yards.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 2:29 pm to Scruffy
The ruger gen 2 is about the same MSRP as a tikka. I haven’t handled the new ruger but it was presumably made to directly compete. The gen 1 ruger is more of a budget rifle with a dirt cheap stock. Savage axis is the same.
All of them between tikka, ruger, and savage use cold hammer forged barrels. All three are going to shoot well. The fit and finish will just be that much better on the tikka and most importantly it has the best trigger of the three which is worth the extra money IMO and huge for learning to shoot a rifle well.
All of them between tikka, ruger, and savage use cold hammer forged barrels. All three are going to shoot well. The fit and finish will just be that much better on the tikka and most importantly it has the best trigger of the three which is worth the extra money IMO and huge for learning to shoot a rifle well.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 2:37 pm to Scruffy
308 is great cartridge and can be bought fairly easy at any store even during panic time. You can get it super hot with super performance ammo at over 3000fps or reduced ammo for a kid. Both my son and daughter killed deer with a 308sub 10-12yr age and I used one to shoot a mule deer at 350yd.
I only have handled and personally have known of 2 ruger America's rifles but both guys like them and had no issues.
I have a tikka 308 and have known of probably 20 different rifles and they have all been shooters with no issues.
Go handle both and see what you like my opinion is the tikka is more refined and doesn’t feel as cheap as the RA.
My suggestion would be a Stainless tikka 308/ so that I don’t have to worry about corrosion in the barrel.
I only have handled and personally have known of 2 ruger America's rifles but both guys like them and had no issues.
I have a tikka 308 and have known of probably 20 different rifles and they have all been shooters with no issues.
Go handle both and see what you like my opinion is the tikka is more refined and doesn’t feel as cheap as the RA.
My suggestion would be a Stainless tikka 308/ so that I don’t have to worry about corrosion in the barrel.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 3:38 pm to Scruffy
quote:
Was leaning towards the Ruger American in .308.
good choice. Are there better options? Sure, but that gun will be more than sufficient for your needs.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 4:27 pm to Scruffy
quote:
I keep seeing people reference Tikka. Is it really worth the extra $2-300?
Not unless you like it more.
I personally can’t stand the way the gen2 ruger Americans look. But I love the original ruger Americans for a budget gun. I have two that shoot great.
Functionally, you aren’t going to go wrong with the ruger, tikka, or savage. Try to have a look at all of them and get whichever one you like the best. Remember that you’re going to want to have enough money leftover for a decent scope. I would recommend leupold VX-3 3-9x40 but you’ll be ok with a vx-freedom if money is tight.
This post was edited on 8/14/24 at 4:29 pm
Posted on 8/14/24 at 5:11 pm to Rize
quote:
Scruffy needs a tikka.
Scruffy definitely needs to agree with this.
I like 308 but I really like 7mm-08. That is a damn fine caliber but might be hard to find ammo in a pinch.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 6:27 pm to Theduckhunter
I would add Bergara to your list. I found one on sale last year for under 600. Same price range as Tikka in general though.
If you can't kill a deer with a 6.5CM then you either can't shoot or can't buy the right ammo. 308 is a great choice though.
If you can't kill a deer with a 6.5CM then you either can't shoot or can't buy the right ammo. 308 is a great choice though.
Posted on 8/14/24 at 6:56 pm to Scruffy
Not sure what your budget is but .308 is a great Do It All caliber with bullet choices from 100 grain to 220 grain and the Ruger American is a good gun for the money, you can get one with a Vortex Crossfire scope for about $760 at Academy, not the most high end set up but one I’d have no problem using myself.
You might consider the Savage 110 Apex Storm Stainless with Vortex Crossfire for $780 or if you want to spend a little more the Howa 1500 Standard or Synthetic stock and threaded barrel cost $650 and has a 1 MOA guarantee, Weatherby Vanguard Badlands for $770 and the Tikka TX3 lite is about $800. Any of those would be great guns and you can top it with a Leupold VX Freedom or VX-3 in your price range and you’d be set for the rest of your life.
You might consider the Savage 110 Apex Storm Stainless with Vortex Crossfire for $780 or if you want to spend a little more the Howa 1500 Standard or Synthetic stock and threaded barrel cost $650 and has a 1 MOA guarantee, Weatherby Vanguard Badlands for $770 and the Tikka TX3 lite is about $800. Any of those would be great guns and you can top it with a Leupold VX Freedom or VX-3 in your price range and you’d be set for the rest of your life.
Page 1 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News