First time buyer medium to big game rifle?
- Thread starter Yeshua
- Start date
Yeah look all the following mentioned Rifles are in a Similar class - Good solid shooting rifles Priced in the middle of the road.
Ruger Hawkeyes
Browning Abolts
Remington 700 -sps 'budget model'
Savage 11
Tikka T3
Winchester Model 70
Browning BLR
missed a few but ya get the idea.... down here all around the 1g mark, no doubt a lot cheaper in your neck of the woods.. ALL good rifles for 'beginners' or the Hunter who gets out there an does it.
Next step up is the Model 75 Sakos, 85s etc $$
30-06 an 300 wm quite a difference IMO, The 06 is more user friendly and the Winmag is suitable for a more experienced hunter looking for Range an Big Game animals. the 06 will do it just not so far out.
anyway, good luck
WL
Ruger Hawkeyes
Browning Abolts
Remington 700 -sps 'budget model'
Savage 11
Tikka T3
Winchester Model 70
Browning BLR
missed a few but ya get the idea.... down here all around the 1g mark, no doubt a lot cheaper in your neck of the woods.. ALL good rifles for 'beginners' or the Hunter who gets out there an does it.
Next step up is the Model 75 Sakos, 85s etc $$
30-06 an 300 wm quite a difference IMO, The 06 is more user friendly and the Winmag is suitable for a more experienced hunter looking for Range an Big Game animals. the 06 will do it just not so far out.
anyway, good luck
WL
Spare yourself the indignity and drop Savage from the list of contenders. The new Winchesters would be my first pick, Sako's are nice but overpriced for what you get IMO, Rugers are pretty decent. If your on a tight budget a used Husqvarna commercial 98 is a solid choice even against more modern offerings, and if you can find on a JC Higgins 50/51 are diamonds in the rough.
If you hunt hard and beat on your equipment like I do the savage will make a fine gun. Just replace the base and rings and upgrade the scope when you have the cash. Spend the extra money on ammo and actually shoot it
Consider what type of game hunting and where? Lots of places I hunt is difficult to get more than a 200 yard shot, so long range is not a consideration I would pay extra for. I've shot more moose at less than 50 yards than further away. Cost and availability of ammunition is also something to think about, Small sporting shops don't always have a large selection of specialty ammunition.
My preferred choice for hunting caliber is 30.06 with 180gr, but my 150gr homeloads can reach out to 500 yard targets with reasonable accuracy.
My preferred choice for hunting caliber is 30.06 with 180gr, but my 150gr homeloads can reach out to 500 yard targets with reasonable accuracy.
I think Savage makes a great rifle, especially in the upper range of their line. I have a model 10 and it is fantastic.
More importantly is how it fits YOU and how well you shoot it. Handle (and shoot) as many as you can. Current Winchester's and Remington's don't work for me. The Savage feels like it was built for me. Tikka's fit me well too. Everyone has a preference.
Wood stocked rifles are beautiful, but big game hunts typically have bad weather. Synthetic and stainless are good choices.
I'll swing the pendulem here and say ost modern rifles will outshoot their owner, especially under field conditions. 1MOA is fine for most hunting situations. Even a budget Savage or Stevens can usually do that with Ammo it likes, which leads me to the next point.
BUY THE BEST SCOPE YOU CAN AFFORD. If you can't see it, you can't hit it, early morning low light and afternoon last light is where much of the shooting takes place. A good scope that gathers light, holds zero hunt after hunt and that won't fog is paramount.
As for calibre, well as Cooper said... "Ain't many troubles that a man cain't fix with six hundred dollars and a 30-06."
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Call me frugal, but for me it would be an old version of something. Old Mauser 98, Browning, Ruger 77, a deal on a Schultz would be a great find.
Then spend what you saved on good optics.
I wouldn't spend the money on a new Savage when for the same amount you can get a trusty old gal.
Then spend what you saved on good optics.
I wouldn't spend the money on a new Savage when for the same amount you can get a trusty old gal.
If you are a new shooter of big game rifles, skip the 300 Win Mag.
This is a fine chambering, but dishes out a fair amount of recoil for a person not used to such recoil.
Buy a 30-06, it will do 98% of what the 300 will do, and with a lot less abuse at the back end.
The Vanguard mentioned is a fine rifle at it's price.
Cheers, Dave.
This is a fine chambering, but dishes out a fair amount of recoil for a person not used to such recoil.
Buy a 30-06, it will do 98% of what the 300 will do, and with a lot less abuse at the back end.
The Vanguard mentioned is a fine rifle at it's price.
Cheers, Dave.
Dave, do you really think the 06 is all that much tamer, recoil wise than the 300? I find it right up there with 180 and 200 gn loads, much like the Whelen. I never noticed a significant reduction until I shot a 270 and 7X57, even my 280 is fairly brisk with 160s. I guess I'm just so insensitive to recoil under 50-60 ft/lbs that I just don't notice much of a difference anymore. My memories though of my first 30-06 are not pleasant and at the same time my 7 Mag was quite shootable, both in 700 BDLs. I know if one can shoot a stoutly loaded 30-06 with 180s you can certainly handle the 7 Mag and the 300 is a small recoil step up from there, given the performance gain. JMHO and YMMV.
Savage makes a fine rifle for the money, it is nice that you can use and abuse them. People either love them or hate them. One thing to consider with Savage rifles is that they do not hold their value too good, most I've seen on EE are on there for a long time even if it is a good deal.
The Vanguard is not much more and it is supposed to be the best bang for your buck.
The Vanguard is not much more and it is supposed to be the best bang for your buck.
nomad 68
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Weatherby vanguard s2 topped with a bushnell elite,leupold vx2 or redfield revolution in 3-9x40 would be an excellent choice and .30-06 would be the biggest i would suggest for a first rifle. It will take any game on the continent.The savage 114 is another nice one that won't break the bank.
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I second this. there is no substitute for quality.
As a new shooter, any particular reason the 300 WM was chosen over the 30-06? If you have not shot either of them, the one thing that is absent from tables and charts is the fact that the 300 WM has a bit of a whallup in the recoil, particularly with lighter rifles. I got wrapped up in a sales pitch about 30 years ago when I was young and stupid, and bought a nice 300 wm. Hated it over my 30-06, particularly since it was a lighter rifle. I found that in the field, my shots were not much longer than 200 yards, so was a complete waste, other than the flatter trajectory. Sold it.
I own a Savage and have sold off any others that I have, except my Predator Max1 in 243, as it is a tack driver. I still hate the looks and those damn magazines. They are a frustratingly annoying contraptions. If I could find another 243 that could shoot as well as this rifle, it would be sold in a heartbeat! I actually think that this rifle is a complete fluke, as it really does shoot that well.
If I were starting off again, now that I'm much older and a little more wiser, I would be taking the advice of many who have written before me. The Weatherby S2 is a really nice offering, as is a Remington. Up a notch in price, then you get into the Winny's, CZ, Browning, Tikka and Sako A7.
On the EE right now is a decent, albeit a tad overpriced in my opinion, new Parker Hale Mauser 98 platform in 30-06, lots of other 30-06's and a Winny Sporter in 300 wm for $650. Good deals to be had, that's for sure.
I own a Savage and have sold off any others that I have, except my Predator Max1 in 243, as it is a tack driver. I still hate the looks and those damn magazines. They are a frustratingly annoying contraptions. If I could find another 243 that could shoot as well as this rifle, it would be sold in a heartbeat! I actually think that this rifle is a complete fluke, as it really does shoot that well.
If I were starting off again, now that I'm much older and a little more wiser, I would be taking the advice of many who have written before me. The Weatherby S2 is a really nice offering, as is a Remington. Up a notch in price, then you get into the Winny's, CZ, Browning, Tikka and Sako A7.
On the EE right now is a decent, albeit a tad overpriced in my opinion, new Parker Hale Mauser 98 platform in 30-06, lots of other 30-06's and a Winny Sporter in 300 wm for $650. Good deals to be had, that's for sure.
Nechako Outdoors has an excellent sale on right now. IMO the .300 WM has too much recoil for a first time user. I'd stick with a .270 or .30-06 as they will both cleanly take game and have significantly less recoil than the .300 WM (I have owned all three). You will find them more fun to shoot, therefore practice more, which in turn will make you a better shot.
