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advice needed on rifle

Posted on 8/2/25 at 11:04 pm
Posted by tigertrueAU
Canyon Lake Texas
Member since Oct 2009
1286 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 11:04 pm
beginners budget rifle question for Whitetail and hogs. box blind shooting between 50 and 200 yards.
Ruger American 270 Win $450
or
Savage Axis 6.5 creedmoor $420
both come with serviceable scopes.
Posted by LSUDUCKMAN67
DTB
Member since Sep 2020
1563 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 11:10 pm to
Go .308 you won’t be disappointed
Posted by tigertrueAU
Canyon Lake Texas
Member since Oct 2009
1286 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 11:25 pm to
Savage Axis 308 is $420 and comes with decent scope. available at local academy as well.
Ruger American 308 is $460 but no scope
Posted by Yakker
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2025
178 posts
Posted on 8/2/25 at 11:26 pm to
Between those two choices I would go with the 270.

You may want to upgrade the scope at a later date.

Posted by Koolazzkat
Behind the Tupelo gum tree
Member since May 2021
2950 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 7:24 am to
Coin flip. Both will do what you want with ease.
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
28004 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 7:25 am to
Either would suit you more than well.

They’re both inexpensive but well made rifles and both calibers are more than enough for whitetail hunting in the south.

With the 6.5 just make sure you pick good hunting ammo.
Dumbasses pick match ammo for it, shoot a deer and it runs off and then run down the cartridge. It’s equivalent the 6.5 Swede has killed animals for over 100yrs.
Posted by Sillyinphilly
parts unknown
Member since Mar 2019
24 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 5:40 pm to
The bigger the better. .270 better than cripple more6.5. 30.06 better than .270!
Posted by wrongRob
Tampa FL
Member since Oct 2017
1252 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 5:52 pm to
X2 308 tad better than 270. 308 is nato, typically plenty of ammo available. Add an AR10 down the road
Posted by mudshuvl05
Member since Nov 2023
2805 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 6:51 pm to
Get a 308 Ruger American, put some decent glass on it, and be done with it.

We are in the glory days of being able to get glass that my forefathers only dreamed of, for half what they paid for theirs.

My Ruger American 308 is my every day gun. Stays in the side by side, goes on 95% of my hunts, holds zero, is moa/sub moa on bags with Hornady Precision Hunter rounds, kills everything I shoot at with no tracking, and is plain as shite so I don't feel bad about using it. Ammo is always available in 308.

I've owned a Savage Axis in 270. It was a fine gun, shot well, killed deer, and is basically savage's competitor to the RA, I just have always had an affinity for 308 in southern deer woods, plus I like the feel of a Ruger American much better. Obviously that last part is extremely subjective.
Posted by noon0707
Member since Sep 2010
310 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 7:37 pm to
Of those two I’d go 270. You can find a good selection of ammo and it is a tried and true caliber. You are definitely good out to 200 with it. Save a few bucks over time and put you a good scope on it and you’re good
Posted by Canvasback
Member since Jan 2016
204 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 8:41 pm to
What would the OB recommend for a 12 year old. 7-08 or .308 in the Ruger American?
Posted by Ol boy
Member since Oct 2018
3923 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 8:43 pm to
quote:

What would the OB recommend for a 12 year old. 7-08 or .308 in the Ruger American?

308.
If we get another democrat in office or the next school shooting you may not be able to find 7mm08. 308 is always on the shelf
Posted by Harald Ekernson
Louisiana
Member since May 2025
382 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 9:13 pm to
1.
quote:

beginners

2.
quote:

50 and 200 yards

3.
quote:

6.5 creedmoor

4. Profit

Seriously for some beginners a .270Win or .308Win could be overkill. They have similar felt recoil and muzzle energy and could cause a beginner to develop a bad habit - a flinch.

A 6.5 Creedmoor is more than enough for whitetail from those distances and beyond for broadside shots (which is the type of shot a beginner should be taking).
Posted by bearhc
Member since Sep 2009
5596 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 9:45 pm to
The .270 is perhaps the most legendary American hunting round. I have owned three Ruger rifles: a Ruger American in.243, a mini-14, and of course a Ruger .22. They are all great performers.
Posted by GREENHEAD22
Member since Nov 2009
20500 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 10:35 pm to
Get the 270.
Posted by Pockets
Texas
Member since Mar 2019
439 posts
Posted on 8/3/25 at 11:42 pm to
Another vote for a 270.
You should also look at a Mossberg Patriot for about the same price, you can find them with a Vortex Crossfire ll 3x9 40mm. Go to a gun store and shoulder all 3, find the one that fits you the best.
Posted by hob
Member since Dec 2017
2340 posts
Posted on 8/4/25 at 8:38 am to
I learned during covid that when ammo gets scarce 308 is the easiest to find.
Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt
Here
Member since Jan 2011
70880 posts
Posted on 8/4/25 at 10:36 am to
quote:

beginners budget rifle question for Whitetail and hogs. box blind shooting between 50 and 200 yards.
Ruger American 270 Win $450
or
Savage Axis 6.5 creedmoor $420
both come with serviceable scopes.


Whichever one tickles your pickle more. Either one will be perfectly serviceable for your planned use.
Posted by oleyeller
Vols, Bitch
Member since Oct 2012
32576 posts
Posted on 8/4/25 at 10:40 am to
Ruger 270
Posted by The Torch
DFW The Dub
Member since Aug 2014
27256 posts
Posted on 8/4/25 at 10:43 am to
quote:

Whitetail and hogs. box blind shooting between 50 and 200 yards.


30-06 best all around gun you can get , plenty of ammo from 120 grain to 180.

I had an old woodsmaster that I killed 100 deer with, if you hit them "anywhere" you would find them.

I had one get away out of all the ones I shot and I hit it in the leg by accident
This post was edited on 8/4/25 at 10:45 am
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