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re: Advice on first hunting rifle
Posted on 11/5/19 at 7:50 am to TigerinOkieHell
Posted on 11/5/19 at 7:50 am to TigerinOkieHell
A co worker just purchased a Ruger American 30-06 and put a Leupold VX-Freedom 4-12x40 on it. $700 after tax for a rifle with an adjustable trigger and decent optics. When he dropped my sled off after sighting it in, he showed me his paperwork. He and his son are going to kill a lot of animals with it.
Id recommend going synthetic. You are guaranteed to add "character" to a walnut stock. I have an SHR 970 with lots of character on it.
Id recommend going synthetic. You are guaranteed to add "character" to a walnut stock. I have an SHR 970 with lots of character on it.
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Posted on 11/5/19 at 7:50 am to RoIITide
You're right RT. I was trying to recommend a combo in the $600 range. That's why I offered up the Savage Axis II in 308 and the Vortex Viper HS scope that Midway has on sale. I still think that would be a great entry level rifle for him and under budget. :)
Posted on 11/5/19 at 7:55 am to ChatRabbit77
quote:
6.5x55
Posted on 11/5/19 at 7:55 am to RoIITide
quote:
If your budget is allowing $1,000 + then disregard my recommendation
For that budget you can get something that is functional, beautiful, and you could proudly pass down one day.
This thread is going to be awesome.
Well, I say my budget, I do still have to get it past the wife
so I still very much appreciate the recommendations that aren't as much of a hit to the bank.Posted on 11/5/19 at 8:38 am to TigerinOkieHell
Vortex optics are really good for their price point also. Just bought a Vortex viper 6.5-20X 50mm. Shot my first hog with it after sighting it in. Eye relief isn't top of the line but is pretty easy also. It was a little pricier at $700 so there is that but they have options in any price point you want.
As far as caliber, anything .223 or larger will do. .223, .308, 30-06, 6.5 creedmore, are all good deer rounds. The 6.5 and .223, the shot placement will matter a little more, but only marginally. I like the .223 and .308 rounds since the rounds are usually more affordable and I shoot a lot when I go to the range.
If the wife wants you to keep lower in the budget, the Ruger American .308 is an excellent rifle.
As far as caliber, anything .223 or larger will do. .223, .308, 30-06, 6.5 creedmore, are all good deer rounds. The 6.5 and .223, the shot placement will matter a little more, but only marginally. I like the .223 and .308 rounds since the rounds are usually more affordable and I shoot a lot when I go to the range.
If the wife wants you to keep lower in the budget, the Ruger American .308 is an excellent rifle.
This post was edited on 11/5/19 at 8:39 am
Posted on 11/5/19 at 8:56 am to WhiskeyThrottle
A lot of good recommendations in this thread. I'll add in one that I have and have been very impressed with.
Take a look at the Mossberg Patriot. Mossberg did a lot of research and put out a really nice rifle in my opinion. Mine is 308 with a Vortex 3-9 x 40. It's sub MOA all day with Remington Corelokts. I have the Synthetic and wish I would've waited and got the Walnut.
Take a look at the Mossberg Patriot. Mossberg did a lot of research and put out a really nice rifle in my opinion. Mine is 308 with a Vortex 3-9 x 40. It's sub MOA all day with Remington Corelokts. I have the Synthetic and wish I would've waited and got the Walnut.
Posted on 11/5/19 at 8:57 am to TigerinOkieHell
It really won't matter in the end. Get what both looks and feels good to you.
Posted on 11/5/19 at 9:00 am to TigerinOkieHell
Man it is a fantastic time to be in the market for a budget deer rifle, although $600 isnt even budget class anymore. Over $400 you start getting into some really nice rifles. $600 will buy you a a very nice lifetime rifle.
.30-06, .270, and .308 are the most logical choices. All 3 are available in just about every model rifle on the market and have cheap effective ammo readily available
It would stay away from the remington 783. Some good cheap options to look at are ruger american, the many Savage models, mossberg 100 ATR. There are other options as well, I'm just going off memory. These will all leave money for a good scope.
Mid to high end of your budget is tikka T3 (best rifle per dollar out there IMO), weatherby vanguard, remington 700, browning AB3, higher grade savage, etc.
Another suggestion is a CVA or h&r single shot in 35 whelen. That is a very capable 400 yard elk rifle that will double as a great deer rifle and extends your hunting season by two weeks. Well within your budget, and if a louisiana man is going to own only one rifle it's hard to logically justify anything different due to the primitive season rules.
I love talking cheap rifles these days. It's not uncommon to see a $350 rifle shooting half MOA these days.
.30-06, .270, and .308 are the most logical choices. All 3 are available in just about every model rifle on the market and have cheap effective ammo readily available
It would stay away from the remington 783. Some good cheap options to look at are ruger american, the many Savage models, mossberg 100 ATR. There are other options as well, I'm just going off memory. These will all leave money for a good scope.
Mid to high end of your budget is tikka T3 (best rifle per dollar out there IMO), weatherby vanguard, remington 700, browning AB3, higher grade savage, etc.
Another suggestion is a CVA or h&r single shot in 35 whelen. That is a very capable 400 yard elk rifle that will double as a great deer rifle and extends your hunting season by two weeks. Well within your budget, and if a louisiana man is going to own only one rifle it's hard to logically justify anything different due to the primitive season rules.
I love talking cheap rifles these days. It's not uncommon to see a $350 rifle shooting half MOA these days.
This post was edited on 11/5/19 at 9:05 am
Posted on 11/5/19 at 9:04 am to WhiskeyThrottle
quote:
223, .308, 30-06, 6.5 creedmore, are all good deer rounds.
This isn’t true. The .223 is considerably less effective on deer compared to the other ones you list here. It shoots a much smaller bullet that is harder on the meat and has a lesser chance of an exit wound which makes blood-trailing difficult.
I’m not saying 223 can’t be used for deer hunting but that it’s considerably less ideal than the others you mentioned.
quote:
The 6.5 and .223, the shot placement will matter a little more, but only marginally
You may be confusing 6.5 Creed with 6.5 Grendel. They both use a 6.5mm projectile but fire from very different cases. The Grendel is shorter and fatter than the creed and fires lower velocity. But having said that, the Grendel is still more effective on deer than 223 Remington.
I agree with you that 308 would be the cheapest to shoot recreationally and is a good deer cartridge.
Posted on 11/5/19 at 9:11 am to bapple
quote:
I agree with you that 308 would be the cheapest to shoot recreationally
You can find Wolf ammo in Grendel for around $6/box. That's pretty cheap.
I have both the Grendel and the 308. Both have done an excellent job on deer/hogs. But, you will have more ammo selection with the 308.
Posted on 11/5/19 at 9:52 am to TigerinOkieHell
quote:
Only follow up Q on the rifle side, does synthetic or wood stock matter at all? I'm assuming no, other than wood looks prettier
That's about it. You won't feel bad about beating up a synthetic gun. There is a pretty big difference between a $1k and $500 optic. Call sportoptics in Hammond and they will point you in the right direction and can explain it a ton better than I can. Also, mention the forum discount. As far as guns go though, CZ is hard to beat at that discounted price. Tikka is my other go-to company.
Posted on 11/5/19 at 1:26 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
quote:
Man it is a fantastic time to be in the market for a budget deer rifle
^Lots of truth here.
Like someone else said, go to a store, actually handle the guns and see which one handles/points/operates best for you.
Personally, I'd feel comfortable getting a "budget" gun w/ a 3-9X scope combo. That's what I did when my son started deer hunting. You can upgrade the scope later after you've hunted enough to know what brand scope and power range you want. I'd look first at the lower priced Savage, Mossberg, Marlin, Howa, T/C Compass and Vaguard. I've personally shot MOA bolts from: Howa (traded it off 25 years ago), Mossberg (shot my prairie dog guide's gun some), Marlin (bought one in 270) and T/C Compass (bought one in 7-08 for grand kid's to hunt w/). In calibers, I'd look at (in order of preference): 7-08, 308 Win, 270, 30-06, 280 Rem, 6.5 Creedmore, 25-06 and 260 Rem.
This post was edited on 11/5/19 at 8:34 pm
Posted on 11/5/19 at 2:10 pm to TigerinOkieHell
Ruger American, Thompson Center, both have good prices and decent rifles for the money
Posted on 11/5/19 at 2:41 pm to bapple
Fair points. 6.5 creedmore (or grendel) and .223 aren't rounds I would use if I had a 30 caliber round as an option. I do have friends that hunt with a .223 and effectively shoot deer. But in the context of this thread, a 30 caliber is IMO the sweet spot for getting deer to lay down quickest. And since the OP is shopping for a new rifle, might as well get one designed to do the job most efficiently.
I am definitely bias towards the 308. Seems like the best all around round as far as ammo affordability, availability, and knock down power.
A good clear and quality scope is what I have found helped me most. I had a fixed 3.5X scope prior to the 6-20X Vortex and it is night and day difference in my ability to hit a target more accurately. As the numbers would imply.
I am definitely bias towards the 308. Seems like the best all around round as far as ammo affordability, availability, and knock down power.
A good clear and quality scope is what I have found helped me most. I had a fixed 3.5X scope prior to the 6-20X Vortex and it is night and day difference in my ability to hit a target more accurately. As the numbers would imply.
Posted on 11/5/19 at 4:12 pm to ChatRabbit77
I recently bought the Leupold vx 3i 3.5x10 40mm on optics planet for 299.00 plus 2 day free shipping
Posted on 11/5/19 at 4:23 pm to TigerinOkieHell
Would a Winchester Model 70 30-06 with upgraded wood, NIB be of interest to you?
Posted on 11/5/19 at 4:50 pm to Bow dude72
My wife got me a VX3i 3.5-10x50 at a similar price at Buds gun shop. It was less than 300.
Posted on 11/5/19 at 5:58 pm to pdubya76
It's hard to beat the price and quality on a leupold xv3.
Posted on 11/6/19 at 8:11 am to TigerinOkieHell
Savage accutrigger
Posted on 11/6/19 at 8:15 am to Timmayy
quote:
.308 .270 30-06 in that order would be my choice.
Any of those would an excellent choice.
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