My thinking for a first hunting rifle
- Thread starter afish29
- Start date
tactical lever
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Fox Creek, Alberta
Also wanted to add, that you don't need to get too wound up on finding the "perfect" gun right out of the gate. Most of us have found it either doesn't exist, or taken a bumblebee path to find it, sometimes ending up with the first gun we had which may have been a gift, or bought on a budget.
Lots of good used guns to try out, and reselling a used one that you didn't care for is seldom much of a loss.
Lots of good used guns to try out, and reselling a used one that you didn't care for is seldom much of a loss.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Sounds like a Ontario hunt camp type of setting, I’m familiar with the Parry Sound area. What are your camp mates using, that might give you a good idea of what’s been working for them.
If I had to hunt thick brush 50-75m shots I’d want something with good irons, or a lpvo 1-4x20 if I couldn’t use irons anymore. So either a lever action 30-30 or something like a .308 Ruger scout would work well. I’m not a huge fan of the blr but that just preference of a tube fed vs the mag fed lever.
tactical lever
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Fox Creek, Alberta
If you hit the lower "button" on the right it'll open a reply box with the qoute already bracketed. And occasionally I've used the edit function to cut and paste what I meant to quote after a long response.
- Location
- SE corner Sk
To pick the caliber of the rifle you'ld choose, I'd suggest going to your local place that sells ammo and see what they have.
Have a exotic caliber but can't find any ammo isn't the greatest idea...
Have a exotic caliber but can't find any ammo isn't the greatest idea...
MosinMan13
CGN Regular
- Location
- Thornbury Ontario
Well you certainly opened a great can of worms for an early to the site thread.
I can’t speak for the Tikka too much but I can rule out the Ruger Scout, and I’m certain I’ll take crap for that. I’ve owned two, great range toys and super cool rifles but you probably aren’t going to win any favour for showing up to a hunt camp with a short barrelled rifle with a muzzle brake.
Personally, everything you described sounds like lever gun territory.
I would recommend something 30-30 or 44 mag. Henry or Marlin are reasonable bang for buck (pun intended)
Haha I like this, definitely a bit of extra power in the old 45-70
I can’t speak for the Tikka too much but I can rule out the Ruger Scout, and I’m certain I’ll take crap for that. I’ve owned two, great range toys and super cool rifles but you probably aren’t going to win any favour for showing up to a hunt camp with a short barrelled rifle with a muzzle brake.
Personally, everything you described sounds like lever gun territory.
I would recommend something 30-30 or 44 mag. Henry or Marlin are reasonable bang for buck (pun intended)
Haha I like this, definitely a bit of extra power in the old 45-70
I think you’re on the right track for caliber. Personally I don’t think you can beat the 30-06 for Ontario hunting. Tons of ammo selection until you get into reloading. Lighter faster bullets for deer and you can go up to 180’s or even 200’s for moose. But if you are wanting a rifle more compact definitely 308. The 308 is quite efficient with a short barrel so you can go with something with an 18” tube without worrying of too much velocity loss. As for what model of rifle you want comes down to your personal preference and hunting style. For example if you’re hunting on and off of an atv all day then maybe you may want something with a detachable magazine. For easier loaded and unloaded as you are on and off the machine. Or for quick loading if something crosses your path. Where as if you’re walking or hiking all day a hinged floor plate would be the way to go. For me for a hunting rifle in these calibers I would want a rifle under the 7 pound mark. A heavy tactical style rifle is great for shooting off the bench but I quickly find the excess weight unnecessary and annoying when hoofing it up the hills all day. Congratulations on your pal.
Is it pretty common to shoot close enough to other hunters that a muzzle brake is going to be a problem for them? Like when you guys are dogging or whatever, are multiple shooters right beside each other shooting at the same time?
MosinMan13
CGN Regular
- Location
- Thornbury Ontario
I’ll just edit that down because it’s besides the point, I was just commenting on it being unnecessary. Which is just my opinion.
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Ok! Wasn't trying to give you a hard time, just wouldn't know why people at the camp would take some kinda issue with it.
Agreed, buy Tikkas when they are priced well at like $965 as they have been since Boxing day. Or $1129 for the stainless versions. The Superlite is currently $1299 on Cabelas lol. And the plastic hasn't failed here yet. Better reliability than I can say for lots of rifles that are supposed to be higher quality lol
I love my Tikkas T3 series rifles (5) All shoot Good ! Great Triggers ! Feed Excellent ! RJ
Attachments
You can't beat that.
The complaints about "plastic" etc are just about always perception vs reality.
You've got a few rifles Jim haha. By now think you've figured out what works and what don't ;P Lemme guess no parts breakages yet?
