Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Marlin XS7 in .308 with a Vortex Diamondback 3-9x40 scope.
1st rifle, don't know what to buy.
- Thread starter Dman_21
- Start date
heavyBullet
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Just off the island of MTL
Another vote for the Marlin, I have one in 30-06, Great rifle for the price. Accurate, has an adjustable trigger, and a great recoil pad which many of the low cost rifles do not have.
As for the people who say buy an Enfield, when the OP indicates he has a budget between $300 - $600, I just do not get it
. There was similar responses to a thread on the same subject not to long ago. My first deer rifle was an Enfield, but only because I had no money and it was kindly given to me to use for my first time out. With the OP's budget, there is no chance I would go for an Enfield over a Marlin or Savage for a hunting rifle.
As for the people who say buy an Enfield, when the OP indicates he has a budget between $300 - $600, I just do not get it
. There was similar responses to a thread on the same subject not to long ago. My first deer rifle was an Enfield, but only because I had no money and it was kindly given to me to use for my first time out. With the OP's budget, there is no chance I would go for an Enfield over a Marlin or Savage for a hunting rifle.
Another vote for the Enfield .303. Great deer rifle and the cartridge is ample enough to hit deer hard. At this point you should concentrate on learning the skills required to hunt and shoot and not worry too much about which rifle you feel you need at this point. I can honestly say that after 20+ years of deer hunting every deer I have ever shot I could have taken with a $150 Enfield as well as whatever $600 plus rifle I may have used at the time. After you get a feel for where you will be hunting you will be better able to decide if you need a pump,semi, bolt etc. and which calibre will best suit you.
6.5x55 or .260 rem are very sweet cartridges (both basically the same thing) They are low recoil which helps a lot. Nothing like getting dinged in the face by a scope to turn off a new shooter. I had a 6.5x55 and it was THE perfect deer round, will work well for moose with quality, heavy bullets
Just as important is your scope. Buy a bushnell elite 3200 3-9 power off the equipment exchange on this site for $200. Get a gunsmith to mount it in a good quality set of rings (burris signature with the plastic inserts) This scope will also hold 100 % of its resale value.
As for the gun, try a newer bolt action, preferably something with an adjustable trigger.
Enjoy!
Just as important is your scope. Buy a bushnell elite 3200 3-9 power off the equipment exchange on this site for $200. Get a gunsmith to mount it in a good quality set of rings (burris signature with the plastic inserts) This scope will also hold 100 % of its resale value.
As for the gun, try a newer bolt action, preferably something with an adjustable trigger.
Enjoy!
I have that one in .308 Win. I works well and is reasonably accurate. I did add the Timney trigger as I found the original to be "crunchy". The trigger upgrade made a huge difference. I also took the cheap Bushnell scope off and stuck it on my 10/22. I put the Burris FFII BPlex on the Savage. Now it's a shooter. Out of the box, it will do the job at 100 yards.
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- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
Buy a Marlin 45-70 lever gun. Nice selection of cartridges... from hot to medium to luke warm. It can handle any game, anywhere. They are simple to operate, simple to clean, and they look the dog's nads. You don't need a scope if you are keeping shots under 125 yards, which is the effective "ethical" range of the 45-70 anyway.
I think the Tikka T3 lite in either the .30-06 or .270win is the way I want to go. Everything i have read on them they are extremely reliable/accurate, and the used market on them, for this site anyways, is right in my price range. Thanks for the extra push, I think my mind is more or less made up.
meatgrinder
Member
- Location
- eastern ontario
Tc venture, nice gun and affordable. Stick with 30-06, 308 or 270. You can get decent ammo for a good price.
Since you are on such a limited budget, check out the Savage 'Edge' package. I think Cabela's Canada has them on sale right now. Your choice of black or camo synthetic stock, short or long action, with scope already boresighted from the factory. It'll get you in the game until your finances permit upgrading.
I'm not sure where you're writing from, but some areas, such as southern Ontario have calibre restrictions, so you want to make sure whatever calibre you choose is legal for big game in your planned hunting area as well.
I'm not sure where you're writing from, but some areas, such as southern Ontario have calibre restrictions, so you want to make sure whatever calibre you choose is legal for big game in your planned hunting area as well.
pisces-guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- West Kelowna, B.C.
Dman, get a .303 Lee Enfield for peanuts and see how you like hunting...it'll take care of deer and moose out to 150 yards or so. If you decide you like hunting, make sure you consider the Savage with Accutrigger and Accustock, a very reasonably priced and highly accurate rifle! 30.06 if you're pretty certain you'll be going moose hunting, and the .270 has the edge if you're sticking to deer...
