Advice for a Hunting Rifle

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Eazy E

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First time poster, new-ish hunter looking for advice. I hope this is the right forum.

Background: I am 30 years old, live in Calgary, and have been hunting a few times for big game with experienced hunters. I did not grow up in a hunting family but absolutely love it and know I'll be doing it for many years to come. I own an inexpensive bolt action .270 win savage with a rudimentary scope.

Requirement: I am looking for advice regarding the purchase of my next rifle. I would rather buy one quality firearm that will last me for years than own several mediocre ones. I would like to hunt big game (deer, elk, bear, moose) and would prefer a left-handed bolt action rifle. My ballpark budget for the rifle would be $2000-$2500, accessories excluded.

Could anybody provide me some of their knowledge regarding what model of rifle to buy? My budget is very ballpark and can adjust based on advice. I have no allegiance to brand or calibre. Quality and long-term value are the keys. I am open to and thankful for all suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Eddie
 
Try them all out, see what fits (and doesn't). You didn't specify your preference (stainless, synthetic , drop mag)

If you're buying a new LH hunting rifle setup, I'd go:

Browning X-bolt Hunter in 30-06 or 300wm, with a Leupold VX-2 3-9x40. Good setup, will last you a good many hunts.
 
I like to keep it simple, If I was starting out today and used your preferences, I'd go with a Winchester model70, in 308 or 30 06.
It works well, has been used by hundreds of thousands over decades, and will do the job.
You should be able to fit a new rifle, sling, and decent scope for your $2000.00 price range
 
Magellann said:
I like to keep it simple, If I was starting out today and used your preferences, I'd go with a Winchester model70, in 308 or 30 06.
It works well, has been used by hundreds of thousands over decades, and will do the job.
You should be able to fit a new rifle, sling, and decent scope for your $2000.00 price range
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100% agree here. 30-06 , model 70 and spend the rest on a decent optic (bushnell elite 3200 or higher) and get yerself a very good pair of binoculars that you are comfortable carrying around.
for a 2500.00 budget
I'd spend 1000.00 to 1500.00 on the rifle package
OR.....
there are fantastic rifles in the EE for sale to save dollars on a quality rifle/optic set up.
then spend the rest on killer boots and high end binos.
 
Your best bet is to go into the gun store and see what fits you/you like.

For that sort of a price, you can get almost anything you want. Figure out the features that are important. Controlled round feed, detachable magazine or not, caliber... the list goes on. Obviously left handed, that'll help narrow the field right off the bat.

As for caliber, what do you like? The 270 you already have is plenty enough gun for bear, moose, deer. If you are more into deer than the others, maybe something like a 25-06 would be a good choice. Alternatively, if you want something bigger, I wouldn't just go 30-06. Step up to a 300win mag if you dont think the 270 wont do the job. If this is just about replacing the 270 with one all around good rifle, THEN the 30-06 is a good choice, but it is not the best choice for smaller game like sheep, antelope, coyote, ect.

edit - I also wouldn't spend $2000 yet. You run the risk of spending a LOT of money on something that down the road you dont like as much as you thought you would. $1000 gets a mighty-fine rifle too, without as much potential for regret. (I would suspect it is easier to sell a used $1000 rifle too, but thats pure speculation on my part I've never tried to sell anything worth that much, let alone $2000...)
 
Suther said:
Your best bet is to go into the gun store and see what fits you/you like.

For that sort of a price, you can get almost anything you want. Figure out the features that are important. Controlled round feed, detachable magazine or not, caliber... the list goes on. Obviously left handed, that'll help narrow the field right off the bat.

As for caliber, what do you like? The 270 you already have is plenty enough gun for bear, moose, deer. If you are more into deer than the others, maybe something like a 25-06 would be a good choice. Alternatively, if you want something bigger, I wouldn't just go 30-06. Step up to a 300win mag if you dont think the 270 wont do the job. If this is just about replacing the 270 with one all around good rifle, THEN the 30-06 is a good choice, but it is not the best choice for smaller game like sheep, antelope, coyote, ect.

edit - I also wouldn't spend $2000 yet. You run the risk of spending a LOT of money on something that down the road you dont like as much as you thought you would. $1000 gets a mighty-fine rifle too, without as much potential for regret. (I would suspect it is easier to sell a used $1000 rifle too, but thats pure speculation on my part I've never tried to sell anything worth that much, let alone $2000...)
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Great advice rifles are not one size fits all..
 
Most importantly do not post a thread like this on EE you will end up with $2500 of I want to help you out because your new worth a thousand bucks.
If it was me my cal. choice would be 1. 6.5x55 2. 270 win 3. 270 wsm 4. 30.06 5. 308
as to rifle choice the win. model 70, tikka t3, browning x-bolt, any sako, are all great rifles save at least 500 bucks for your optics the worst thing you can do to a good gun is top it with a pos. scope.
go to a good gun shop without a 16yrd behind the counter look at every gun, go home think about it go back look at your top three, go home...
 
Eazy E said:
Requirement: I am looking for advice regarding the purchase of my next rifle. I would rather buy one quality firearm that will last me for years than own several mediocre ones. I would like to hunt big game (deer, elk, bear, moose) and would prefer a left-handed bolt action rifle. My ballpark budget for the rifle would be $2000-$2500, accessories excluded.

Could anybody provide me some of their knowledge regarding what model of rifle to buy? My budget is very ballpark and can adjust based on advice. I have no allegiance to brand or calibre. Quality and long-term value are the keys. I am open to and thankful for all suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Eddie
Click to expand...
IMO you should be looking at European rifles like Sauer, Merkel, Sako, Steyr, Heym, Blaser, etc. The reason being are your requirements that I bolded.

They are of higher quality, they hold value better, many of the European manufacturers have been increasing prices every year for at least the last 10-15 years on the same models available today making the rifle actually appreciate over time if it is well taken care of. For example I have a Sako that the current retail is up over $1000 from when I purchased it.

There are a lot of the entry level rifles that are suggested in this section in almost every thread like this on the used market so resale value is low.
 
Hard to beat the quality of a Tikka rifle for the price. I would suggest .30-06 as the first choice and if you don't mind the recoil, etc. then .300 Winchester Mag as the second choice. Spend the rest of the money on a fine optic and ammunition. Just my $.02.
 
There are a lot of great choices in that price range as you can see. I like sticking with the common calbres like 308 & 30 06 because ammo is easy to find for them as everyone carries it.
 
saskcop said:
Hard to beat the quality of a Tikka rifle for the price. I would suggest .30-06 as the first choice and if you don't mind the recoil, etc. then .300 Winchester Mag as the second choice. Spend the rest of the money on a fine optic and ammunition. Just my $.02.
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This may just be my next rifle, Tikka makes very nice products..
 
Cartridge choice should be one of your last worries. As long as it's a modern-ish rifle cartridge between .25 and .33 you won't have any issues. I'd stick with the more common ones because of ammo and not go too huge because you want something you can practice with comfortably.
There's a lot of nice rifles out there but if I had to suggest one I'd say try a Sako 85. Action is slick, looks pretty, very accurate.
BUT if a $2000 rifle means you have to trim your scope budget, don't do it. The glass is just as important. Get a higher- end Leupold or one of the German makes, with a 50mm objective if you can. I wouldn't look for anything higher than 9 or 10x magnification either.
As some have said, the most important thing is that it fits you correctly.
Good luck!
 
yidava25 said:
The glass is just as important. Get a higher- end Leupold or one of the German makes, with a 50mm objective if you can. I wouldn't look for anything higher than 9 or 10x magnification either.
As some have said, the most important thing is that it fits you correctly.
Good luck!
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Glass is very important. But a 50mm for a 9x or 10x magnification isn't. A good 40mm scope will work just fine and weigh less ontop of the rifle, plus it allows you to mount it closer to the bore axis.

At your price range, you might actually want to look at TWO rifles, that'll do everything you'll ever want. A 25-06 and a 338 win mag makes a fine two-gun battery. So would a 243 and 300 win mag. So would a 22-250 and a 30-06... Im sure you get the idea.
 
Model 70. Quality rifle made from real materials not that cheap recycled beer can metal that so many others feel and look like they are made from.
I got a m70 featherweight for $750ish a few years ago with a zips conquest for on it. Total package was around 1250 tax in. Picked up a m70 super grade a few weeks ago with a leupold vx2 on it and that is one hell of a gun as well. Both will last my lifetime as well as someone else's.
 
Suther said:
Glass is very important. But a 50mm for a 9x or 10x magnification isn't. A good 40mm scope will work just fine and weigh less ontop of the rifle, plus it allows you to mount it closer to the bore axis.

At your price range, you might actually want to look at TWO rifles, that'll do everything you'll ever want. A 25-06 and a 338 win mag makes a fine two-gun battery. So would a 243 and 300 win mag. So would a 22-250 and a 30-06... Im sure you get the idea.
Click to expand...

You're right, a 40mm scope will certainly work. I suggested a larger objective because I've used both and found that the increased low-light performance and larger sight picture more than make up for the weight and height increase, at least for me. If he was building a pure mountain rifle it'd be a different story. To each his own, forming opinions through experience is part of the fun of it.
 
Go to the local range with some friends and ask people to try,shoot one or two rounds from something you already have your eye on.
Most of the people like myself will recomend something that we have in our safes.
Everyone like some type or make of gun for some reason and will always tell others that their reason is the right one,
Nothing wrong in that but so does other person telling you whatever else is also right.
I personally like Sako rifles,Tikka,Winchester M70,lately Kimber and so on...
You need to figure out are you going to walk or climb a lot so weight will be something to look for,
Staying in hunting camps for week or two then stainless for less maintenance,
Horseback,boat involved so maybe synthetic stock...
Treestands and short period of time hunting,nice wood/blued rifle always look nice,
What animal you will mostly be after and long,short range so caliber plays important part.
Do your research but need to set your eyes on few first...
Good luck and no matter how nice or ugly the gun is it is important that fits you and that you feel comfortable handling it...
It is not for beauty contest after all...
 
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