1st Cheap Hunting rifle

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MacSeoin

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lowermainland Vancouver
Hi,
I'm looking at getting my 1st hunting rifle and scope.
I'm drawn towards a rifle scope package in 30-06.

Do you guys have any recommendations?
I'm looking at mossberg patriot, savage axis 2, ruger american, remington 783 etc...

Thanks!
 
Look into the weatherby vanguard S2's as well. I just got one for my first hunting rifle and it will shoot 1" groups all day long.
 
Most on this forum will probably recommend that you save for a little longer and not buy a budget rifle. Most on this forum are gun nuts so you can see where that advice comes from.

I think the Weatherby Vanguard is by far the best of the budget guns.

I would advise against getting a scope package. Most scopes that come with them are quite poor, and even if the scope isn't bad the rings and bases are almost invariably horrible.

Look at a basic VX-1 3-9×40mm and good rings and bases and you will be set with whatever rifle you choose.
 
My recommendation is to canvass all your relatives to see what they may have hidden in their closets. You would be amazed at what you may dig up. Check with family friends as well. Lots of old guys want to give their guns to people with interests in hunting etc. My brother was handed a like new Carl Gustav .270 by a family friend just because he was out hunting and the old fella passed him on a dirt road. As an added bonus, a lot of those guns are of excellent quality. Good luck in your search.
 
just having some fun said:
x2 Husqvarna 1600 in 30-06 from TradeEx
Click to expand...

^^^this...then when you are able, get a second

...if i were to start all over again i'd get a 30-06...wise choice...wide range of bullet weights and common like borscht...start reloading too...lee's a good place to start with little $
 
x4 on the TradeEx 1600. I just received one in the mail. Its accurate, and really well made. If I was determined to buy new, and on a budget, Weatherby Vanguard would be my choice. Good luck and have fun!
 
MacSeoin said:
Hi,
I'm looking at getting my 1st hunting rifle and scope.
I'm drawn towards a rifle scope package in 30-06.

Do you guys have any recommendations?
I'm looking at mossberg patriot, savage axis 2, ruger american, remington 783 etc...

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The 30/06 is a good choice, as is a 308 win.

Since you've asked about thoughts on a new "economy" package setup, I would 100% recommend a TC Venture. Excellent, well built, accurate and affordable.

There's a Stainless 308 package in the EE right now that would be a good starter.
 
Keep your costs down on that starter rifle by getting the 30-06. You can practice shooting a ton until you're familiar with the rifle. If you get an oddball like a 260 Rem and you don't know any hand loaders you might not shoot so much. Out of the rifles you listed I vote 783 Remington. I believe there's a walnut model coming very soon.
 
The Savage package rifles aren't THAT bad. Seriously. They shoot

Apparently the Mossberg as well, but no personal experience

The scope and rings aren't top of the line but not bad. I picked one up in 243 a number of years ago and it rode under the front seat of my old suburban a lot for the couple years I owned it. You could always upgrade as you can afford too

The above recommendations are all good. Used - depending on how big a hurry there are usually used Remington 700 and Roger 77's reasonably priced, especially the older tang safety Rugers.Often with rings and/bases.

Scopes - personally although the Leupold are good , unless you go to the vxiii, I would look at the Burris as a good tough scope at reasonable price that is very comparable in quality to the Leupold Rifle man , vx1 and (almost) the vx2

I wouldn't hesitate to get a package and get shooting
 
most expense you will have after the rifle is the ammo, I would spend a bit more for used good rifle like sako, tika, etc around 1000$, than shooting a lot with a cheap rifle , that you will end up selling later.

All you listed will be great for hunting and shooting. They will do the job. But most of us sell the cheap first firearms we bought to end up with a better quality at the end.
 
Go affordable, but not cheap, there is a lot to learn. 30-06 is a good choice, but I would recommend 308. Have a look at Howa, Weatherby Vanguard or the Husqvarna. As someone who's owned the ones you mentioned, there is nothing wrong with them, but at current prices, there are better options.
 
If you search 783 in the forums there are multiple threads on how well they shoot. I was looking to get my first hunting rifle two years ago and was looking for a budget rifle like yourself. After looking at the reviews I bought a 783 in .243 and have no regrets. As others have mentioned the scopes included with factory rifles are typically garbage and this one is no different. The two piece base is fine if properly torqued and loctited down. I replaced my rings with vortex hunter rings and mounted a vortex diamondback scope on it. Since yours is a 30-06 it would be a good idea to buy some better quality rings. I've heard good things about Talley rings but haven't used them myself. Diamondback scopes show up on the RE often and are more than enough scope for your budget build. You could save up and buy a more expensive rifle but there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 783.
 
lledwod said:
x4 on the TradeEx 1600. I just received one in the mail. Its accurate, and really well made. If I was determined to buy new, and on a budget, Weatherby Vanguard would be my choice. Good luck and have fun!
Click to expand...

X5

One of the truly great bargains still out there is a good condition used Husqvarna 30-06 (somewhere around $600.) Then put a good quality fixed power scope on it. There are plenty of used 4X Leupolds for around $200. And if you prefer hands on inspection rather than the mail order lottery, you can still find both at nearly any gun show in Western Canada.

(You do need to watch for stock cracks with the featherweight HVAs. The hairline cracks behind the tang are common but also probably 50% of them have a crack inside the stock right behind the recoil lug. Nothing that can't be easily handled with a section of a threaded bolt sunk into a bit of acragals. Always keep the front guard screw tight.)

Some other great bargains that I see at gun shows are very good condition Parker-Hale sporters (with Mauser 98 or Springfield 03 receivers) in 30-06. I've bumped into plenty that go unsold for $300-$400 (complete with reasonably good scopes already installed)
 
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