new used 30-06

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I just ordered a Stiga M96 Mauser in 30-06 from Trade-Ex. This is my first purchase from them. I've heard a lot of good things about them so I am confident that I will be pleased with my purchase. I plan to use it for deer and moose. Since I have never hunted moose or deer (my hunting has for many years focussed on small game and upland birds with forays into waterfowling and turkey hunting) and my available time to do so is fairly restricted I thought a budget purchase like this ($259.00 for a 30-06 with a very good bore, good to very good condition, with weaver bases installed) would be sensible until I decide if I will really get into it. Who knows, if I really like the rifle it might be "the one". I looked at the Savage Axis as a budget gun, but I really wanted wood with iron sights.
 
I've had good service from Tradex and would purchase another from them without hesitation. The Mauser action is proven...They look like good shooters and once you take it to the range I'm curious to hear how it groups.
I would suggest putting a recoil pad on, and finding a good quality scope for it as well. Enjoy your new rifle!
 
I think you made a very good choice, enjoy the big game hunting. There really isn't much technical difference between big game hunting and small game hunting, big game hunting just takes longer in every aspect. Scouting, the actual hunting, and field dressing are all much more time consuming endeavors as the game gets bigger. The biggest change you'll note is that going solo becomes less and less practical as the size of the game grows. I still hunt deer solo, and may even hunt Bighorn sheep solo, but for Elk, Moose, and Bison it's a lot easier with more hands. Hunted Wood Bison with three of us, and it was still a good amount of work, totally manageable and it made it a ton easier.

Field dressing a big game animal is straightforward, a supersized version of rabbits. It's a lot easier to roll an animal around even up to 1,500lbs than you'd think too. Have fun, and good luck!
 
I think you will be very happy with your purchase from Tradex. Anthony is a great guy to deal with. The 30-06 is a good caliber for big game in Canada. Let us know how it shoots.

George
 
Thanks for the replies guys. I will post results of my first range trip when it happens. I really have no unrealistic hopes for my first foray into big game hunting next fall. I plan to go north, as the hunting around here is controlled numbers, muzzle loader, and crowded. I have been invited to join local groups but I have no desire to get into muzzle loaders at this time. I thought about going over to the next county where i turkey hunt as they have shotgun seasons, but I really want the experience of still-hunting big woods with a center-fire rifle. I'll be 51 by next fall and the time to attend to "bucket-list" items that I have not yet addressed is waning, lol. As my available time is limited (new job, little time off, son in university in the states that we need to transport/visit) I plan to hunt a few "overlapping" days where deer and moose coincide in the WMU I am thinking of. Of course, I will likely only be holding tags for buck deer and calf moose, but that at least gives me two species to keep an eye open for. If I am successful on deer, I have no doubt I will be able to clean and transport the animal myself. If I should actually bag a calf (very unlikely) I will enlist the assistance of the owner of the cabins where I plan to stay. I have been grouse hunting there a couple of times,and he is a good guy who will be happy to help out, for which services I will gladly reimburse. Now, should I be using/sighting in with 150 gr. or 180gr.?
 
I think you will find the twist rate of the 96 will favour the heavier bullets. I suspect a 180 gr round nose would likely group the best, but a spitzer desgn may be the best compromise.
 
Those 96 Mauser are surprisingly accurate, buy good ammo and a good sling, the 30-06 is all you need for big game... JP.
 
Thanks for all the notes of approval folks. Here's a pic from the Trade-Ex site:

stigamauser.jpg
 
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